The Beaux Arts Ball - Celebrating Architectural Talent and Unity

The Beaux Arts Ball, held on May 5 at the Farmington Country Club, marked the culmination of the academic year for the American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS) organization.

The event showcased the talent and dedication of students in the University of Hartford’s Department of Architecture, as the student-run organization is dedicated to advancing leadership, design and service among architecture students.

The exhibition and networking event gave every student the opportunity to present their work, be it a captivating studio project, architectural sketch, or intricate physical model. The ball also provided a valuable chance for the students to connect with local professionals in their field.

This year, the AIAS was immensely grateful to have QA + M Architecture, Tai Soo Kim Partners, The S/L/A/M Collaborative, Inc., and JCJ Architecture as sponsors. Their support helped make it possible to host the event for 110 students and faculty members.

Karen Parzych, associate principal and architect at S/L/A/M, shared her thoughts regarding the ball, saying, “The Beaux Arts Ball was an incredible event celebrating the University of Hartford architecture community. It was great to be able to view student design work, enjoy a meal, and connect with students, faculty, staff, and other industry peers. The AIAS should be proud of all their hard work organizing such a fun night!”

Although the event primarily revolved around the Department of Architecture, it was an inclusive event open to students from all seven schools and colleges within the University. The organizers encouraged everyone to participate and join in the fun.

To add an element of excitement, the event included a friendly competition. As the exhibition ended, a vote was opened to the faculty, professional guests, and fellow students to select their favorite pieces from various categories. The winners of this year's competition were Nour Ghannom M'24, Caleb Jacobsen '23, Alena Doll '25, and Lex Trenn '25, who received well-deserved recognition for their work.

Jason Merendino, an Architectural Design + Technology grad, shared, “This year, as co-president of AIAS, I am happy to have organized this event to not only showcase my work, but also the work of my fellow colleagues!”

As the night progressed, the event transformed into a lively dance, serving as a joyful culmination of a year's worth of hard work and dedication.