Sara Goenner Curlee Panelist at AIA Minnesota A’25 MN

Thursday, November 20th, 2025

Sara Goenner Curlee, AIA, LEED AP, joined 11 other panelists who are sustainability leaders in the architecture field, to discuss “Applying the AIA Framework for Design Excellence in Everyday Practice” at the annual AIA Minnesota Conference on November 3, 2025.   

The panel discussion explored how the Framework helps architects navigate the realities of practice—not just the theory or awards criteria but as tools to solve challenges around sustainability, equity and wellness. The panel discussion was followed by a “Networking with Women in Architecture” session where peers and thought leaders held deeper conversations about what it takes to put principles into practice every day.  

The AIA Minnesota Conference was held at the Depot Renaissance Minneapolis Hotel, Minneapolis, MN, on November 3-5, 2025.  

Sara Goenner Curlee is the Sustainability Manager and a Senior Project Architect at Pope Design Group. She uses her sustainability expertise to translate aspirational goals and regulatory requirements into common visions and successful outcomes. Within architectural practice, she’s led the development and integration of firmwide processes and tools based on the AIA Framework for Design Excellence. Sara serves on the national AIA 2030 Working Group and has served as AIA Minnesota COTE co-chair, a technical reviewer for the national AIA COTE Top Ten Awards, and a task force member updating the AIA Framework for Design Excellence.