Education Practice Leader Jim Hickey Elected to Buffalo/WNY AIA Board of Directors

James Hickey, AIA, Education Practice Leader, has been elected to serve on the Board of Directors for the Buffalo/WNY chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA).

Hickey, who joined Bergmann in 2020, leads the firm’s education practice. He has over a decade of education design experience. He has an extensive resume of design projects for school districts throughout Western New York, and through the COVID-19 pandemic has led Bergmann’s efforts to support the design of healthy education environments for clients across New York State in the prek-through-12 and higher education markets.

Hickey was nominated and elected to the Board of Directors in February 2021 after being involved with the organization for 8 years. He is one of 12 board members who serve as advocates for individuals in the architectural profession, providing design excellence and outstanding professional achievement. He serves on the Emerging Professionals Committee which supports the professional development of architects and provide mentorship for emerging professionals and those that are looking to become licensed in New York State.

For Hickey, this leadership role is a way for him to reconnect with the architectural discipline beyond his leadership role at Bergmann. “This involvement in AIA governance is a way for me to connect back to what drove me to become an architect in the first place,” states Hickey. “I want to promote architecture as form of social change for my community and beyond. Together, we can create a more inclusive society, with more voices and greater diversity. I think this idea of making a positive impact in our broader society is something that lead me to the Education Practice; to create spaces that ‘inspire and support all people to be life-long learners and to grow as global citizens.’ I want to support that for others in this discipline.”

“Jim is passionate about supporting fellow architects and producing designs that truly make a difference for our communities,” said Andrew Raus, AICP, senior vice president, Bergmann. “This is evident in the way he leads our education practice and mentors others around him. The AIA Buffalo/WNY chapter will benefit greatly from his leadership and vision.”

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For more than four decades, Bergmann architects, engineers and planners have been delivering results to clients across the United States and Canada. This team of more than 450 professionals spans the Northeast, Midwest and Atlantic regions. Bergmann develops connections with partners and communities to create dynamic, creative solutions that will stand the test of time, while promoting environmental and functional sustainability. Projects in the Bergmann portfolio range from signature buildings and commercial developments to critical transportation infrastructure and community planning.