2025 AD EX Annual Report

Thank You

As we reflect on 2025, we are incredibly grateful for the generosity of our supporters, whose commitment allows us to advance our mission of making architecture and design accessible to all. Through an expanding range of programs, AD EX continues to educate, engage, and inspire Dallas students, residents, and visitors—highlighting the power of design in shaping our daily lives. With your support, we have broadened our reach, strengthened partnerships, and deepened our impact across the community.

This year’s achievements include:

• Awarding $57,550 in scholarships, fellowships, and grants to support aspiring architects and designers.
• A record-breaking Form Follows Fitness 5K with 3,495 participants and unprecedented revenue.
• Expanding our K-12 Camp series and renewing our partnership with the Nasher Sculpture Center for Destination Dallas high school workshops.
• Presenting exhibitions such as Preserving Tomorrow and Time: Sojourns in Stone and Light, exploring sustainability and cultural identity in architecture.
• Hosting a full week of engaging spring break programming, fostering year-round collaboration.
• Partnering with 31 organizations to stay connected to critical conversations shaping Dallas.

As the leading organization of its kind in North Texas, AD EX continues to champion design education and awareness. None of this would be possible without our dedicated donors and partners, and we extend our deepest gratitude.

Sincerely,

Zaida Basora, FAIA
Executive Director

Adriana Guisa, Assoc. AIA
Program Director, AD EX

A Message from Our Board President

As we reflect on the past year and look ahead to the future of the Architecture and Design Foundation, I want to first recognize the incredible dedication of our board, volunteers, staff, sponsors, and supporters whose passion and commitment continue to advance our mission throughout Dallas and North Texas.

This year marks a significant moment of growth and transition for our organization as we begin shaping the next chapter of the Foundation and the future Dallas Architecture Center. More than just a rebrand, this evolution reflects a broader vision: building a stronger public-facing platform for architecture, design, education, and civic dialogue that connects our profession more directly with the communities we serve.

Over the past year, the Foundation has continued to expand its impact through scholarships, public programs, exhibitions, tours, and community events that highlight the significance of design in everyday life. Our signature fundraising events, including the Form Follows Fitness 5K and the Gala for Architecture, continue to grow not only as important sources of support for our mission but also as cultural moments that bring together the architecture, engineering, construction, real estate, and broader civic communities around a shared belief in the power of design.

As architects and design professionals, we have a unique responsibility — and opportunity — to help shape more vibrant, inclusive, and resilient communities. Through the Foundation and the future Dallas Architecture Center, we are building a platform that extends beyond the profession and invites the public to participate in the conversation about the future of our city and the region.

Thank you for your continued support, engagement, and belief in this mission.

With sincere gratitude,

Peter Darby, AIA
2025 – 2026 President
Architecture and Design Foundation