Lerch Bates congratulates
Raquel Guzman Geara, AIA, on being named the recipient of the
2026 AIA Chicago Foundation Dubin Family Young Architect Award. This prestigious honor recognizes emerging architects who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, professional achievement, and service to the architectural community. Guzman Geara will be recognized at
Designight 2026 on Oct. 1 at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance in Millennium Park.
As an Associate and Design & Project Architect at SmithGroup, Guzman Geara has built a career centered on community, mentorship, and empathy. Her work has helped shape impactful educational, workplace, and community-focused environments while advancing meaningful conversations around equity and representation within the profession.
Beyond her project work, Guzman Geara is a passionate advocate for the next generation of architects. She co-founded Arquitina, a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing the number of licensed Latina architects in the United States, and has served in numerous leadership roles with AIA Chicago, AIA Illinois, and AIA National. Her commitment to mentorship and advocacy continues to make a lasting impact across the industry.
Congratulations, Raquel, on this well-deserved recognition. We look forward to celebrating your contributions to architecture, leadership, and community at Designight 2026.
