Alumnus John Neary (M.Arch. ’86) has been elevated to the 2026 class of the American Institute of Architects’ College of Fellows, one of the profession’s highest honors. The AIA Fellowship program recognizes architects who have made significant contributions to architecture and society on a national level; fewer than three percent of AIA members hold the distinction of FAIA.
Neary leads the Facade practice at HOK, overseeing the firm’s building enclosure work from its New York studio. Over more than three decades in practice, he has established a national reputation for advancing the design of high-performance building envelopes, integrating technical innovation, environmental performance, and architectural expression across civic, academic, aviation, and commercial projects.
“I am delighted that John Neary has been recognized with this prestigious honor,” said Dean Igor Marjanović. “It is a testament to a career of service and excellence and to John’s life-long dedication to design research and innovation. His work cannily combines design sophistication with technical expertise, speaking to the importance of a holistic, generalist approach to architecture that fuses formal experimentation with building science, theory, and practice in the most imaginative ways.”
A graduate of the Rice School of Architecture’s master of architecture program, Neary has remained committed to design education and research throughout his career, teaching studios, mentoring early career architects, and contributing to the advancement of facade design as both a technical and disciplinary pursuit. His elevation to the College of Fellows reflects a career defined by leadership, innovation, and lasting impact on the built environment.
The new AIA fellows will be inducted during the 2026 Conference of Architecture and Design in San Diego on June 11 at 2:00 pm. The conference program will also include the Rice School of Architecture’s annual reception for alumni and friends on June 11 at 6:30 pm. Conference participants and all alumni and friends are invited to attend. For more information, please contact Yulia Bocharova at yulia.bocharova@rice.edu.