NJ Chapter of the American Institute of Architects Installs New President

On Jan 8, 2016

The New Jersey chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA-NJ) announced the induction of Justin A. Mihalik, AIA, as the organization’s 2016 president.

A principal at Essex Fells-based J.A. Mihalik Architect LLC, an architecture firm with a satellite office in Brandon, Fla., Mihalik has been a member of AIA-NJ for over 18 years and an active board member for the last 10 years. Most recently, Mihalik served as president-elect, previously serving as AIA-NJ’s first and second vice president and treasurer.

“I look forward to assuming the helm of the AIA-NJ leadership team,” said Mihalik. “As I take over the role of president, I’m eager to represent our organization to promote resilient and sustainable design, innovative building, extensive involvement in our communities, and to showcase the importance of New Jersey architects and architecture.”

As President, Mihalik will be responsible for devising and implementing architectural policy and procedures on behalf of AIA-NJ’s 2,000 members. He will also be responsible for leading the organization’s various legislative and community oriented advocacy campaigns.

Mihalik served as a member of AIA-NJ’s Legislative and Government Affairs Committee, which monitors regulatory issues that affect the practice of architecture for the organization. He also served as vice chair of the New Jersey Architects Political Action Committee (NJAPAC), an affiliate organization that helps inform AIA-NJ architects about how New Jersey legislation affects them and their profession. He also recently served on the ArchiPAC Steering Committee, the political action committee of the American Institute of Architects.  Mihalik is well-known for his expertise in resilient architectural design, and appeared on Al Jazeera, PIX 11, and News 12 in 2015 to discuss the safety of lightweight wood construction.

In recent years, Mihalik has co-helmed the AIA Regional Recovery Working Group, an organization comprising leaders of AIA chapters in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Rhode Island, along with Architecture for Humanity.  In this role, Mihalik was instrumental in organizing a series of workshops bringing together industry and community leaders for discussions on resiliency in the wake of Hurricane Sandy.

Mihalik is a member of the Newark and Suburban Architects, one of AIA-NJ’s six local sections, for which he has served in several positions, including president, treasurer and membership chair. He is an alumnus of the New Jersey Institute of Technology College of Architecture & Design.

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