Paint and Coatings Industry News

Main News Page

Mickey Jacob to Lead AIA in 2013

Monday, December 17, 2012

More items for Color + Design

Mickey Jacob, FAIA, managing principal at Urban Studio Architects in Tampa, FL, has been named the 89th president of the American Institute of Architects (AIA).

He succeeds Jeff Potter, FAIA, in representing more than 80,000 AIA members.

AIA / Photo by William Stewart

Mickey Jacob, AIA's 89th president, will represent more than 80,000 members.

“I look forward to working together to harness our power to shape the future of the architecture profession with a priority on building leadership and enhancing the impact and role of our emerging professionals,” said Jacob.

“It is our duty to promote thoughtful leadership, bold advocacy, and effective communications to promote the value of design and increase the public awareness of how architecture positively impacts the quality of life in our communities.”

The 155-year-old organization inaugurated Jacobs on Dec. 7 in Washington, D.C.

Experience, Leadership

Jacob has more than 25 years of AIA participation and has held numerous leadership positions with AIA Tampa Bay, AIA Florida, and AIA National.

Following his term as president of AIA Florida in 2004-2005, he served as the 2007-2009 AIA Florida/Caribbean Regional Director on the AIA National Board of Directors. In 2009, he was elected to a two-year term as AIA vice president.

Education, Practice

A native of Windsor, Ontario, Canada, Jacob graduated from the University of Detroit in 1981 and began practicing in Tampa, where he was licensed in 1986. In 1989, Jacob and his partners formed Urban Studio Architects, an architecture and interior architecture practice with a focus on sustainable design practices in a variety of project types. 

Jacob oversees the day-to-day business operations, the development of the firm’s strategic direction, and the implementation of business development, AIA said.

Biographies of the past AIA presidents are available here.

Founded in 1857, AIA has nearly 300 state and local chapters. 

The organization's mission is to provide members with tools and resources to assist them in their careers and business as well as engaging civic and government leaders and the public to find solutions to pressing issues facing communities, institutions, nation and world.