Jessica Timmer, AIA

2025 AIA Wisconsin Young Architect Award Winner

Jessica Timmer, AIA, NCARB is the Residential Practice Area Leader and Senior Vice President at RINKA, and serves as a Director on the AIA Wisconsin Board of Directors and chair of the AIA WI Membership Committee.

"Jessica dedicates abundant time, both within and outside the office, to training and mentoring the next generation of designers and architects...Jessica pairs servant leadership with one-on-one attention to ensure her teams’ growth of knowledge and applied experience from project to project. Many young designers in our office have risen quickly in expertise and responsibility under her tutelage."
- Chad Griswold, AIA (Nominator)

Jessica is recognized for her exceptional leadership in professional practice, mentorship, and service to the architecture community. With under a decade in practice, she has already established a strong reputation for design excellence, technical expertise, and thoughtful team leadership. Her communication, organization, and decision-making skills have earned the trust of clients, consultants, and colleagues alike. In practice, Jessica leads efforts to strengthen design workflows, project delivery processes, and firm-wide BIM capabilities—advancing both project quality and team performance.

Jessica is deeply engaged in mentoring and supporting emerging professionals, both within her workplace and across the broader design community. As a Leadership Advocate in her firm’s mentorship program, she actively supports DEI efforts and fosters an inclusive, growth-minded environment. Her commitment to elevating the profession is also evident through her involvement with Women in Design Milwaukee, where she regularly participates in programming that amplifies voices and builds community among women in the field. She contributes to architectural education through her work with UWM SARUP and the University of Michigan Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning, helping guide young talent into the profession through career fairs, portfolio reviews, and student engagement. Jessica’s integrity, leadership, and dedication to the future of the profession make her a standout recipient of the 2025 Young Architect Award.

AIA Wisconsin Young Architect Award

NOMINATIONS NOW OPEN FOR 2026
Nomination Deadline: Monday, December 1, 2025

The AIA Wisconsin Young Architect Award is given to individuals who, in an early stage of their architectural career, have shown exceptional leadership and made significant contributions to the profession and community at large.

The AIA Wisconsin Young Architects Award recognizes architectural talent in one or more of the following categories:

Design Excellence through the creation of buildings and environments that enhance our built communities;
Practice through leadership, management and/or specialized technical expertise;
Education through teaching, publications and/or research; and
Service through exemplary architecture service and contributions to the profession and society.

The award shall be presented to one member each year.

Criteria

Candidates will be evaluated on how well they meet the program criteria which include:

The nominee shall have proven leadership in professional practice, design, service and/or education.
The nominee shall have evidenced a cumulative effect on the profession of architecture.
The nominee shall have influenced the direction/profession of architecture.
The nominee shall be an individual whose contributions to the profession of architecture have consistently been directed toward the future as well as respectful of the past.

Jury

AIA Wisconsin Young Architects Award Jury consists of the following:

AIA Wisconsin President
AIA Wisconsin Vice President
AIA Wisconsin Secretary/Treasurer
One AIA Wisconsin Fellow
One AIA Member at Large (Chair)

Communication with the jury from the time of submittal to completion of the jury process by the candidate or anyone acting on their behalf is inappropriate and cause for disqualification.

The AIA Wisconsin Young Architect Award Jury shall select an individual for the award from the available submissions and make a recommendation to the Board of Directors who will confirm the award on the member.

Eligibility

Architect members of AIA Wisconsin who have been licensed to practice architecture for ten years or less are eligible to be nominated. The term “Young Architect” has no reference to the age of the nominees. Current members of the AIA Wisconsin Board of Directors are ineligible to apply for the award during their term.

Nomination Procedures

All AIA Wisconsin members in good standing are invited to submit a candidate for consideration for the AIA Wisconsin Young Architect Award. There is no limit on the number of candidates a member may nominate. However, only one will be awarded per year.

There is no limit to how many years a nominee may be submitted for an award: however; a recipient may receive an award only once.

Entry Fee

There is a non-refundable entry fee of $100 for each nomination.

Important Dates

2026 Nominations are due Monday, December 5, 2025.

Nominator Responsibilities

The nominating member is responsible for the following:

Preparation of the Nomination Form.
Communication with the nominee and notification about the selected award recipient.
Attendance at annual Design Awards Gala

General Submittal Requirements

Information submitted should specifically demonstrate how the nominee’s achievement, work, contributions, and experiences meet the purpose and criteria of the award.

Each nomination must be submitted in electronic file format according to the guidelines listed below.
Digital images contained in the PDF file may be of low resolution (72DPI). Upon final selection, nominators and/or recipients may be contacted to provide additional high-resolution images as needed.
Nominations to be submitted online.
Black text on a light/white background is preferred. Provide succinct narratives and descriptive statements with images.
Graphic timelines may be effective for some biographical information.
Letter of support/recommendation should be one page in length and explicit in their recommendation and reason for support.
A page is considered to be one sided and 8.5” x 11”

Award Submission Requirements

1. Nomination Documents (single PDF)

Contact Information
Nomination letter (one page maximum) written by the nominating member summarizing the nominee’s contributions to the criteria above.
One to Three (1-3) Letters of Reference (one page maximum each) from individuals familiar with the nominee’s contributions.
Biography of the nominee (two pages maximum) including date of registration and WI license number, professional history, honors, and activities related to the purpose of the award

2. Photograph of the nominee (JPG format)

3. Exhibit Information (single PDF)

Submit a minimum of four (4) and no more than six (6) exhibits, emphasizing your work and supporting the application. For each project, submit a collection of no more than five (5) drawings, photographs, or other exhibits. External links to articles, proposals, and other supporting materials may also be included.
Include one Declaration of Responsibility Form for each project included in the submittal.
By making a submission, the nominator certifies that permission has been obtained from the photographer(s) to publish the submitted photographs and electronic images for publicity in the interest of the profession.

4. Signed Intern Compensation Disclaimer Download

Delivery

Nominations are collected through a submittal process by completing the form here. Payment and uploads (nomination materials, Headshot, Nomination Documents, Exhibits and Intern Compensation Disclaimer) will be collected at the same time. Please have all the information ready to go when you begin the form.

AIA Wisconsin will not accept responsibility for errors in submitted material. Do not email files.

Complete a Nomination Here