WHEN: Thursday, October 16, from 12 to 7 PM
WHERE: UCSD Park & Market in downtown San Diego.
A New Look. A New Name. A Renewed Mission.
Formerly the little a conference, Converge San Diego is a newly rebranded regional event presented by AIA San Diego in partnership with the U.S. Green Building Council-California. With a fresh name, visual identity, and expanded mission, Converge San Diego invites professionals across disciplines to explore how design can lead the way in building resilient communities.
This year’s conference includes exciting new partnerships and a full afternoon of programs built around design leadership, sustainability, and resilience.
About This Year’s Theme
Converge San Diego 2025 explores Resilient by Design: Strengthening Places, People, and Practices.
This year’s theme invites conversations about how the built environment can adapt, endure, and thrive in the face of change. Sessions and discussions will highlight ideas from architecture, planning, sustainability, equity, infrastructure, and more, all centered on creating stronger and more connected communities.
THE AEC COMMUNITY GATHERS HERE
Converge San Diego is more than just a place to learn and marvel at new concepts. It's a vibrant hub for networking, where the AEC (Architecture, Engineering, Construction and Design) and community come together, fostering connections that can shape the future of design.
Architects, landscape architects, interior designers, engineers, specifiers, contractors, consultants, and aspiring students - all are welcome to join this immersive experience.
Talks & All Things Design and Sustainability
Discover remarkable projects that showcase San Diego's evolving and dynamic urban landscape, engage in captivating design presentations, and revel in the night with food, drinks, industry friends, and interactive displays and exhibits.
Educational Programming
Prepare to be inspired as you engage in enriching educational programming, where experts share their insights and knowledge, leaving you with a fresh perspective on the ever-evolving world of design. From technology in architectural practice to the latest in sustainable design, design trends and equity in the profession, there is truly something for everyone at Converge San Diego ‘25.
The conference gives attendees the opportunity to earn up to 5 CEUs.
Conference Schedule
Checkout the full conference schedule below with programs and keynotes! View the Detailed program Schedule with program descriptions ►
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Check in, grab coffee or tea, and explore the partner expo before the day kicks off.
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Hear from inspiring voices on resilience, design leadership, and cross-disciplinary innovation as we set the tone for the day.
Architects Mosher Drew Panel with Ed Holakiewicz, AIA, Daniel López-Pérez, and Keith York
Scott Paul with Taylor Guitars
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Choose from a variety of concurrent sessions exploring today's most pressing design and sustainability topics.
How to be the Owner of Choice for Decarbonization (Presented By: Celia Hoag, DPR Construction | Eric Corey Freed, CannonDesign | Walt Kanzler , University of California - San Diego)
+1 CEU || TAG: Climate adaptation and regenerative systems || Guggenheim Theatre
Future-Ready Infrastructure: Advancing Resilience Through Workforce Innovation (Presented By: Isaac Kontorovsky, BKF Engineers)
+1 CEU || Tag: Digital resilience and AI integration || Room 213
Product Sustainability Standards: Transparency for Industry Transformation (Presented By: Kara West, Gensler | Juan Sora, Gensler)
+1 CEU | HSW || Tag: Climate adaptation and regenerative systems || Room 214
Providing Places for Nurturing our Community Strengths: County of San Diego Health & Human Services Facility Case Studies (Presented By: Melanie Tylke, County of San Diego | Luis Peris,AIA, PE LEED AP, County of San Diego Department of General Services (DGS) | Colleen FitzSimons, County of San Diego)
+1 CEU | HSW || Tag: Equity and social resilience || Room 211/212
Design as Recovery: Personal and Collective Resilience After Trauma (Presented By: Tomas Ortiz, Orto Studio)
+1 CEU | HSW || TAG: Equity and social resilience || Room 318/319
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Recharge with a coffee or tea and revisit the expo to connect with industry partners and browse innovative solutions.
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Continue the conversation with a second round of breakout sessions offering practical insight and thought leadership.
Designing with Native Plants to Strengthen Place and Ecology (Presented By: Jennifer Montgomery, Schmidt Design Group | Patrick Montgomery, Native West)
+1 CEU | HSW || Tag: Climate adaptation and regenerative systems || Guggenheim Theatre
Polyhaus: Resilient by Design – Rapid, Volume-Maximizing, and Sustainable Urban Infill Housing with Mass Timber (Presented By: Daniel López-Pérez, University of San Diego)
+1 CEU | HSW || TAG: Climate adaptation and regenerative systems || Room 213
Re-imagining Belonging and Home: How the Global Village Community Visioning Process is Empowering Ethnic Diversity and Cultural Exchange (Presented By: Brandon Martella, RNT Architects | Randy Torres-Van Vleck, Partnership for the Advancement of New Americans — PANA | Muna Shegow, Partnership for the Advancement of New Americans — PANA)
+1 CEU || TAG: Equity and social resilience || Room 214
Border Ecologies: Between Water and Land (Presented By: Adriana Eloisa Cuellar, University of San Diego - Border Design Lab | Victoria Zepeda, Promotora de las Bellas Artes)
+1 CEU || Tag: Economic and community durability || Room 211/212
AIA SD COTE Presents: Cardinal Childcare Center: Climate, Context, and Child-Centered Design in a Net-Zero Preschool (COTE Leaders: Matthew Dunbar, Carrier Johnson +Culture | Thomas Brothers, Platt/Whitelaw Architects | Francesca Redetzke, LPA. Presented By: Kenya Huezo, LPA | Alexa Feldman, LPA | Jacob Gottlieb, LPA)
+1 CEU | HSW || TAG: Climate adaptation and regenerative systems || Room 318/319
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Attend either the AIA San Diego Annual Meeting of Members, which includes a year-in-review and voting for the 2026 Board of Directors, or participate in the USGBC-CA Adaptive Materials & Reuse Panel featuring innovative strategies to reduce waste, extend building life cycles, and drive circular design in the built environment.
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Unwind and connect with colleagues over substantial appetizers and ticketed beverages in a lively networking setting.
Converge San Diego 2025 Sponsors
Converge San Diego 2025 EXHIBITORS
Sponsorship Opportunities
Sponsoring Converge San Diego connects your company with hundreds of architects, engineers, and sustainability leaders working to shape a more equitable, climate-ready California. Gain visibility, build relationships, and align your brand with forward-thinking design.
