Ryan Warman Elected President of AIA Kansas City
The American Institute of Architects (AIA) Kansas City Board of Directors named Pearce Construction’s Ryan Warman as the association’s president for 2020.
AIA Kansas City is an organization that has represented the professional interests of architects in the metropolitan area since 1890. Its programs and services aim to enhance public awareness and appreciation of the value architects provide, boost their visibility and stature, and ensure that their concerns and interests are heard by key government and private decision-makers.
Ryan Warman has been involved with AIA since 2002. He served on the Missouri State board, AIA MO, for six years and led as president in 2012. After his term of president of the state board, he got more involved in the local Kansas City chapter. For three years, he served as director of the board. He also made an impact by serving on several committees as well as leading the Young Architects Forum as co-chair for five years.
As the Vice President of Construction Management at Pearce Construction, Ryan Warman has unique experience. He’s a licensed architect who came into construction after working in architecture firms, completing architecture projects including Bartle Hall Ballroom Expansion, the Town of Kansas Bridge, Blue Valley CAPS Building, and several modern residential projects. Having the knowledge and experience in both architecture and construction gives him a valuable perspective from which to lead.
“I’m really excited to be in a position where I can be a bridge between the architecture and construction disciplines of the industry to create broader collaboration and amicability,” Warman says.
Nationally, AIA has over 85,000 members in its nearly 300 chapters. AIA Kansas City currently serves 1,200 members in the greater Kansas City community. Members include licensed architects and associate members working toward their license. These professionals are passionate about creating environments that enhance quality of life and our collective future.
AIA Kansas City is a thriving chapter. As one of the biggest in the country, Kansas City is part of a network of AIA chapters from 17 cities who join together annually to collaborate and learn from one another. Some of the many programs AIA Kansas City has developed, and Warman has been heavily involved in, include the Equity Diversity Committee, Peers Membership program, and Young Architects Forum. Warman says it’s been great to make connections with other chapters across America, and the fact that Kansas City is involved just “shows how strong we are as a chapter.”
A committee of approximately 25 AIA Kansas City members made their final selection for presidential nominees, and all members are invited to vote at an annual event, “Big Night,” which took place in September. Warman won the election, and says he most looks forward to “being in a position where I can have a positive impact in furthering our profession and serving our members so they can have a greater impact on communities and society.”
Warman will be the first president to lead AIA Kansas City’s new five-year plan. The challenge of implementing it is something Warman looks forward to, and he has already hit the ground running. He recently hosted a retreat for AIA Kansas City leaders, where they made plans for 2020, focusing specifically on the topic of elevating the profession—a topic Ryan feels passionately about.
This will be the first time that the president of AIA Kansas City and the chairman of the Builders’ Association are from the same company. Darin Heyen, president of Pearce Construction, currently serves as Chairman of the Builders’ Association—a nonprofit organization that serves the construction industry and its professionals. The fact that these two respected Kansas City organizations are led by Pearce Construction leaders is a testament to the commitment, expertise and passion they have for the industry, which is visible in every project they complete.