Carmen Stan
I first met Carmen Stan when she walked into an AIA Georgia Equity in Architecture (EQiA) planning meeting. We were still in the early stages of forming the committee, and Carmen arrived on a mission—to inject more energy and materiality into AIA. And, of course, she did just that. She quickly found her place in EQiA and AIA Georgia, championing the goals of the organization and bringing a spark to the profession in a way only Carmen could.
Most of us could never quite figure out how she managed it all—leading EQiA initiatives, designing and managing a dozen projects at Robert M. Cain, Architect at any given time, raising her beautiful daughter with her husband Tony, and still having enough energy in reserve for whatever else came her way.
Her impact was undeniable, and her list of contributions was just as impressive. She started the Equity Extend series, creating casual conversations over coffee or drinks with prominent Georgia architects. She also launched the “Fourteen Questions” series, where she interviewed inspirational figures and shared their stories. One of her biggest passions was compiling a book highlighting Georgia’s inspirational female architects, past and present. Over the years, we had many meetings (often over a beer), gathering research, fine-tuning the format, and dividing up the work. Though she didn’t get to see the project completed, it warms my heart that Heli Shah has taken the baton to bring Carmen’s vision to life.
Those of us lucky enough to have worked with Carmen are all the better for it. She was truly one of a kind—passionate, loving, talented, and fun. I hope her legacy lives on through the work in this website and in the countless ways she left her mark on Atlanta and the architecture profession.
By: Nicole Seekely, Recipient of AIA Georgia's Inaugural Carmen Stan Elevation of the Profession Award
In April 2022, AIA lost one of our brightest and most impactful young leaders – Carmen Stan, AIA. Her career was an exemplar of the Citizen Architect, focusing on design excellence, equity in the profession, and improving the importance of design in the urban planning process. Carmen’s drive and talent led her to numerous accolades and awards, as well as membership and eventual leadership in a number of committees in her local community of Midtown, Atlanta.
