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2026 AIA Wisconsin Associate Award Winner
"She is an inspiring professional who is actively reshaping our field by breaking down barriers for herself and, more importantly, for those who will follow. Her work is creating a more inclusive, connected, and vibrant future for architecture." - Brian Wolff, AIA, NCARB (Nominator)
Taruna Gupta, Associate AIA, is the recipient of the 2026 AIA Wisconsin Associate Award in recognition of her exceptional leadership, service, and commitment to creating a more equitable and inclusive future for the architectural profession. Through her work as an architectural designer, advocate and community leader, Taruna has demonstrated that the impact of architecture extends far beyond the built environment. At HGA, she contributes to projects in the Arts, Community and Education studio while also helping lead firmwide initiatives focused on equity, belonging and sustainability. She serves as co-chair of HGA's BIPOC Connections Employee Resource Group across all 12 offices and actively advances sustainable design through early project engagement and the AIA Framework for Design Excellence.
What distinguishes Taruna is the remarkable breadth of her service beyond the workplace. She is President of Wisco NOMA and has served on the board of Women in Design Milwaukee for nearly a decade, championing opportunities for women and underrepresented professionals through mentorship, outreach, and leadership development. She has been instrumental in Wisco NOMA's Project Pipeline summer camp, introducing students from historically marginalized communities to careers in architecture and design. Taruna also serves as President and Co-Founder of Defining Humanity, a nonprofit organization that connects design expertise with humanitarian causes around the world. Through this work, she has helped advance projects including a 3D-printed school campus in Madagascar, prefabricated housing solutions for individuals experiencing homelessness in California, a residential center for girls rescued from sex trafficking in India, and facilities supporting global social justice and reparations initiatives.
In addition to her many leadership roles, Taruna is a dedicated mentor and advocate for the next generation of design professionals. Through her involvement with the Immigrant Architects Coalition, she supports internationally trained architects as they navigate licensure, leadership development, and professional practice in the United States. Whether mentoring students, creating opportunities for emerging professionals, advancing equity within the profession, or applying design to address pressing social challenges, Taruna consistently leads with generosity, curiosity, and purpose.
