School of Architecture Director Jim Stevens named American Institute of Architects Fellow

Jim Stevens, the director of Clemson University’s School of Architecture, has been elevated to the American Institute of Architects (AIA) College of Fellows.

According to the AIA, being raised to the College of Fellows is no easy feat and requires significant contributions to the field of architecture and to society, with only around 3% of AIA members ever being raised to Fellow (FAIA).

Out of the 93 architects to be elevated to the College of Fellows in 2025, Stevens is the only member-architect from South Carolina to be recognized for this honor.

“I am honored to be elevated to AIA’s College of Fellows,” shared Stevens. “AIA has been a vital resource and network throughout my career as an educator, researcher and practitioner. I look forward to my continued involvement with AIA as we work to advance the profession, enhance research opportunities and support the next generation of architects as they shape the future of our built environment.”

AIA’s website explains that the AIA College of Fellows “seeks to stimulate a sharing of interests among Fellows, promote the purposes of AIA, advance the profession of architecture, mentor young architects and be of ever-increasing service to society.”

Throughout Stevens’ career, he has balanced technical practice with architecture’s theoretical underpinnings, established research labs in the U.S. and internationally and advanced the fields of digital fabrication on a global level.

Prior to becoming the director of Clemson’s School of Architecture, Stevens was Chair of the Department of Architecture at Lawrence Technological University, where he was the founding director of makeLab, a digital fabrication lab for teaching and research. Stevens has co-authored multiple books, including Digital Vernacular, Architectural Principles, Tools and Processes (Routledge 2015) and has published numerous peer-reviewed papers and book chapters. He is a licensed architect and is certified by the National Council of Architecture Registration Boards (NCARB). Stevens is a member of the South Carolina Board of Architectural Examiners and the AIA South Carolina State Board.

Additionally, Stevens received the AIA Henry Adams Medal for Excellence in the Study of Architecture and was the 2016 Fulbright Scholar in Albania. He holds a Ph.D. in Architecture from the University of Ferrara in Italy, where he conducted his residency and research at Polis University in Tirana, Albania. Stevens also holds a Master of Architecture degree from North Carolina State University and a Bachelor’s in Fine Arts degree from the Savannah College of Art and Design.

“I am grateful to my colleagues, students and mentors who have supported and inspired my journey,” said Stevens. “I look forward to continuing to contribute to the profession and shaping the future of architecture through research, innovation and education.”

Stevens will be officially invested into the College of Fellows in Boston, Massachusetts, on June 5 during the AIA Conference on Architecture & Design (AIA25), the organization’s annual conference on architecture and design.