COMMUNITY / Odimo is the 2019 AIA KC Firm of the Year

We are honored to join the list of distinguished AIA Kansas City architecture firms recognized as Firm of the Year. This award is presented to an AIA Member Firm that has shown extraordinary leadership in advancing the cause of architecture and its role in improving the quality of the built environment.

We were recognized as the 2019 AIAKC Firm of the Year specifically for our contributions to the profession, notably Amy Slattery’s work on the AIA National Trust, with the AIA National Women’s Leadership Summit, and for elevating our chapter through these national conversations. Also, for our investment in the profession through Ashley Sadowski’s leadership in the AIA National Design Justice Summit. In 2019, Ashley brought her experience from the national conversation to the local “Design as Protest” workshop that brought together architects, urban planners, students, neighborhood association leaders, political organizers, etc. with the goal of introducing a common language at the intersection of design and social justice issues in our city, our communities, our world, and how we can develop solutions.

Of most significance for 2019, we represented our profession at a high level through our selection as one of the Top 10 Small Businesses by the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce. From the nomination, “Very few architecture firms in our city can claim to have been nominated as a Top 10 Small Business, and none hold this title within their first 4 years of business.”

Perhaps the most meaningful comment from our nomination, “Theirs is a mindset of true altruism. They believe that our profession is better when we all work together, rise together, to do great things together.” This collaborative mindset is fundamental to how we’ve grown as a firm, and how we will continue to grow and support other rising firms and leaders in our industry.

2019 has been an energizing year for us filled with many exciting opportunities with our clients and in our community, as well as a demanding year of growth, expanding our team as well as a new office. Ultimately, we’ve found joy in our hard-earned success, and this award is a wonderful validation of this work.

Thanks again to our team for their hard work, our clients who have trusted us with their project investments, our engineering collaborators, and to the AIAKC board for this recognition. 2020 holds even more growth, advocacy, and opportunity. Just wait to see what we do next!