Emily Grandstaff-Rice

FAIA
Associate Principal, Boston

Emily’s professional career has been built on a commitment to design excellence, equity, and fostering community one project at a time. As 2023 President of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), Emily honed her skills as a compassionate leader, an engaged collaborator, and a change maker in the field. Her work across sectors endeavors to make the architecture profession more representative of the diversity in our society, following an ethos that good design is good business and good for our communities.

Both an architect and project manager, Emily’s work consists of designs for K-12 schools, higher education, cultural and civic institutions, and life science spaces, as well as prominent hospitality projects in Boston and beyond.

Say hello to Emily
Barnard College Roy and Diana Vagelos Science Center
An all-electric adaptive reuse hi-rise lab building at one of the top institutions for women in STEM fields.
Opening remarks at A'23, the AIA Conference on Architecture in San Francisco, CA.
Emily encourages change through the power of design and the impact of positive leadership, empowering peers and colleagues of all experience levels to lead.
"Asking questions helps us understand. To address the needs of our clients and communities, we also need to ask how we will evolve to meet those needs."
Student Engagement Session at Roger Williams University.
Leading the AIA delegation to UNFCCC COP28 in Dubai, advocating for climate-forward design to US-based and world leaders.
Presenting as a panelist at the AIA Women's Leadership Summit 2022 in San Jose, CA.
Outside the Studio
Leadership & Engagement

Emily embodies a holistic design approach. She is a champion of advancing technology, and leads critical conversations about our industry’s impact on communities, people, and the environment.

In the News
Advocating for Equity in Architecture

Continuing to drive progress towards a more inclusive profession, Emily Grandstaff-Rice chaired the Equity in Architecture Commission which led to the creation and oversight of the AIA Guidelines for Equitable Practice.

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