LAS VEGAS — Michele K. Brigida was honored as the 2021 Young Architect Award recipient, at the 2021 AIA Western Mountain Region Awards ceremony on September 28th. This award, the WMR AIA10 Award (formerly the Young Architect Award), “recognizes those individuals who, at an early stage of their architectural career, have shown exceptional leadership in design, education and/or service to the profession”.  Michele was previously honored as the 2020 AIA Nevada Young Architect.

Since joining the firm in 2007, her professional efforts have forged valuable relationships with clients and her contributions have been instrumental in fostering the firms’ commitment to design excellence. Michele’s high level of leadership, client dedication, and devotion to architecture is key to both CSD’s present success and long-term vision. She is a talented architect and designer; having won multiple design awards on the projects she has been a part of. Some of her notable project designs include the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV) Hospitality Hall, UNLV Lee Business School, City of Henderson Fire Station #91, the Rogers Entertainment Center, the Nevada State College Education Academic Building, the Henriksen Butler Showroom, and the Zappos.com Headquarters.

Outside of her daily office practice, Michele dedicates time to the future of the profession; participating in design juries, taking on speaking engagements, and is an active member of the AIA Education and Outreach Committee aiming to reach underrepresented students from varied backgrounds.  She helped organize the ‘SEE ME’ Symposium, showcasing female leadership in architecture and design and is an advocate for Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation of Nevada. Michele’s work has been selected to be a part of the Say it Loud - Beyond the Built Environment Exhibit, which engages community through architecture to advocate equitable, reflectively diverse environments. 

Giving back is her passion. She believes we all have a role to play. It starts within her own firm, helping employees meet their personal and professional growth, offering them a path to succeed; and extends beyond the office, exposing students to opportunities within the architecture field, and beyond.

As a new Mom, she leads by example. Balancing work, motherhood, and giving back, is part of her daily routine. She hopes to one day inspire her 3 year-old daughter. Empowering her to use her voice and talents to make a positive impact. 

Carpenter Sellers Del Gatto Architects (CSD), www.csaarchitects.com, a nationally recognized and award-winning design firm, has been providing excellence in architecture in the Las Vegas area for more than 35 years.   Since its inception in 1986, Carpenter Sellers Del Gatto Architects has received over 165 local, regional and national design awards including the 2019 American Institute of Architects (AIA) Western Mountain Region Architecture Firm of the Year and has had multiple projects published in architectural trade journals, including Architecture magazine.