Society of American Registered Architects

What Society of American Registered Architects does

The Society of American Registered Architects New York Council (SARA NY) is a regional chapter of a national nonprofit professional society founded in 1956 under the motto 'Architect helping Architect.' The organization serves licensed architects and architecture/interior design students in the New York metropolitan area, offering membership benefits that include continuing education seminars, an ARE exam study group for associates, professional recognition, design expertise referral, and access to peer networking. SARA NY operates as a community-led membership society rather than a technology or commercial product company, with no software platform, proprietary technology stack, or AI components.

SARA NY's core programs center on an annual cycle of events: the flagship SARA NY Design Awards (31st edition in June 2026), the Blueprint for Success student mentoring event, the SARA ART exhibition, a Design & Build Competition for students (launched 2026), and the Sean F. Mellon Memorial Architectural Scholarship. These programs are supported by sponsorships from approximately 25 architecture firms, building product manufacturers (Benjamin Moore, Sherwin-Williams, Glen-Gery Brick, Dal-Tile, Mohawk Group, NanaWall, Schluter), and venue partners (Häfele, Brickworks Design Studio, The New Yorker Hotel, The View at the Battery).

The organization's revenue model relies on annual membership dues (free for students) and event sponsorships processed through the national SARA membership portal at sara-national.org. The organization is governed by an elected Board of Directors (2026 President: Tzara Peterson; Vice President: Lia Dikigoropoulou) with Justin Brown serving as Executive Director. Operations are run by a 1–10 employee team supported by volunteer board members, with the entire program portfolio delivered in the NYC metro area and no disclosed expansion beyond the Northeast United States.

Name

Society of American Registered Architects

Legal name

Society of American Registered Architects

Website

https://sarany.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1956

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

SARA NY is a nonprofit professional membership society serving licensed architects and architecture students in the New York metropolitan area. Founded in 1956, it delivers annual Design Awards, mentoring events, continuing education, and scholarship programs funded by member dues and industry sponsorships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Architectural Association

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Cultural Centers & Community Cultural Organizations (BPAGAHAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Student Organizations & Club Administration (EDALAHAB)

Keywords

• Professional architecture society
• Architectural design awards
• Continuing education seminars
• Professional membership association
• Architectural networking events

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: SARA NY generates revenue through annual membership dues from registered architects and architecture students who join the Society of American Registered Architects. The organization also receives sponsorship revenue from architecture industry vendors and manufacturers who support events and programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

SARA NY operates a nonprofit professional membership society for licensed architects, offering an annual Design Awards program, continuing education seminars, student scholarships and mentoring events (Blueprint for Success), SARA ART exhibitions, ARE exam study groups, and recurring networking events. Membership benefits include professional peer recognition, design expertise referral, camaraderie, and individual achievement recognition, delivered primarily through in-person council activities in the New York area. The organization is funded by annual membership dues and event sponsorships from architecture firms and building-product manufacturers.

Product overview

SARA NY operates as a professional society/organization rather than a technology product company. The organization offers a portfolio of programs and services for architects including the annual SARA NY Design Awards Program (its flagship event now in its 31st year), continuing education seminars, student scholarship programs (Sean F. Mellon Memorial Scholarship), the Blueprint for Success mentoring program, SARA ART exhibitions, Design & Build competitions, ARE exam study groups, and regular networking events. These programs work together under the society's motto 'Architect helping Architect' to serve the architectural profession, support sustainability, and advance members' careers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Blueprint for Success: Annual student mentoring event connecting architecture and interior design students with industry professionals
• SARA NY Design Awards
• SARA ART
• Sean F. Mellon Memorial Architectural Scholarship

Products and services

• SARA NY Design Awards Program Annual design awards program that recognizes outstanding architectural achievements across professional firms and students. The program attracts entries from across the country and around the world from individuals, firms, and students of architecture and allied disciplines.
• Continuing Education Seminars (CEU Events)

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

33 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and moderate.

• Ark DesignminorGTM or Marketing PartnerArchitecture firm that sponsors SARA NY events and programs as part of the 2025 sponsors list.
• Audio CommandminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAudio visual company sponsoring SARA NY events as part of the 2025 sponsors list.
• Benjamin MooreminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPaint manufacturer sponsoring SARA NY events as part of the 2025 sponsors list.
• Glen-Gery BrickminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBrick and stone manufacturer sponsoring SARA NY events as part of the 2025 sponsors list.
• CetraRuddyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerArchitecture firm sponsoring SARA NY events as part of the 2025 sponsors list.
• CHASM ArchitectureminorGTM or Marketing PartnerArchitecture firm sponsoring SARA NY events as part of the 2025 sponsors list.
• ConsigliminorGTM or Marketing PartnerConstruction firm sponsoring SARA NY events as part of the 2025 sponsors list.
• C+GAminorGTM or Marketing PartnerArchitecture firm sponsoring SARA NY events as part of the 2025 sponsors list.
• CTA ArchitectsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerArchitecture firm sponsoring SARA NY events as part of the 2025 sponsors list.
• Dal-TileminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTile manufacturer sponsoring SARA NY events as part of the 2025 sponsors list.
• DattnerminorGTM or Marketing PartnerArchitecture firm sponsoring SARA NY events as part of the 2025 sponsors list.
• DXAminorGTM or Marketing PartnerArchitecture firm sponsoring SARA NY events as part of the 2025 sponsors list.
• LettireminorGTM or Marketing PartnerConstruction company sponsoring SARA NY events as part of the 2025 sponsors list.
• MAP ArchitectsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerArchitecture firm sponsoring SARA NY events as part of the 2025 sponsors list.
• RAMSA (Rockwell Group)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerArchitecture firm sponsoring SARA NY events as part of the 2025 sponsors list.
• SBJ GroupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerConstruction/firm sponsoring SARA NY events as part of the 2025 sponsors list.
• Sherwin-WilliamsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPaint manufacturer sponsoring SARA NY events including SARA ART exhibitions as part of the 2025 sponsors list.
• ACNY (Architects Council of New York)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional organization for architects in New York sponsoring SARA NY events as part of the 2025 sponsors list.
• HäfelemoderateGTM or Marketing PartnerHardware and fittings manufacturer that has hosted SARA NY Holiday Parties at their NYC Showroom. They received an Award of Appreciation for their continued support and hosting of SARA NY events. Major sponsor for 2022 holiday party.
• Ikon 5 ArchitectsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerArchitecture firm sponsoring SARA NY events as part of the 2025 sponsors list.
• Eric J. Smith ArchitectminorGTM or Marketing PartnerArchitecture firm sponsoring SARA NY events as part of the 2025 sponsors list.
• Studio LibeskindminorGTM or Marketing PartnerArchitecture firm of Daniel Libeskind sponsoring SARA NY events as part of the 2025 sponsors list.
• Mohawk GroupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFlooring manufacturer sponsoring SARA NY events as part of the 2025 sponsors list.
• NanaWallminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFolding glass wall systems manufacturer sponsoring SARA NY events as part of the 2025 sponsors list.
• S9 ArchitectureminorGTM or Marketing PartnerArchitecture firm sponsoring SARA NY events as part of the 2025 sponsors list.
• SchluterminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTile and stone installation products manufacturer sponsoring SARA NY events as part of the 2025 sponsors list.
• Zetlin & De ChiaraminorGTM or Marketing PartnerArchitecture law firm sponsoring SARA NY events as part of the 2025 sponsors list.
• Brickworks Design StudiomoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitecture and design firm that hosts SARA NY events including Blueprint for Success student mentoring and Design & Build Competition. Major venue partner for student programs. Hosted SARA ART exhibition and panel discussion on Art & Architecture in Landscape.
• TechnogymminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHigh-end sports equipment company that hosted SARA NY Social event at their Soho Showroom. Provides venue for networking events.
• Marvin Windows and DoorsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWindow and door manufacturer that sponsored architectural boat tours in 2017 and 2018 as educational/CEU events for SARA NY members.
• The View at the BatteryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent venue that hosted the 30th SARA NY Design Awards Gala in 2025 at Manhattan, New York.
• The New Yorker HotelminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHistoric hotel venue that hosted the 31st SARA NY Design Awards in June 2026.
• NCARBminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational Council of Architectural Registration Boards. SARA NY's Young SARA ARE Study Group held meetings and presentations in collaboration with NCARB materials for architects preparing for the ARE exams.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA): The UK's national professional body for architects, offering membership, awards (including RIBA Stirling Prize), and continuing education. Comparable professional-society structure to SARA but operates in a different country with international recognition.
• Chicago Architecture Center: A Chicago-based nonprofit advancing architecture through exhibitions, programs, and member engagement. Operates an analogous member-society-plus-public-programming model in a different U.S. metro.
• Boston Society for Architecture (BSA): A regional professional society for architects in the Boston area offering continuing education, awards, and member programming analogous to SARA NY's portfolio. Comparable in scale and regional-chapter model but serves a different metro.

Others

• NCARB (National Council of Architectural Registration Boards): The national body that develops the ARE exam and licensure standards; collaborates with SARA NY on the Young SARA ARE Study Group. Not a direct competitor but an enabling partner in architect development analogous to SARA's mission.

Direct peers

• National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA): A nonprofit professional organization for minority architects that runs mentorship, awards, and student programs similar in structure to SARA NY. Operates nationally with local chapters, making it a structural analog with broader geographic reach.
• AIA New York: The NYC chapter of AIA, serving the same New York metropolitan architecture community as SARA NY. Competes head-to-head for members, sponsors, and Design Awards prestige in the same geographic territory.
• Association of Licensed Architects: A U.S. professional membership organization specifically for licensed architects, providing education, networking, and an annual design competition. Mirrors SARA's inclusive-licensed-architect positioning and programming mix.
• Society of Architectural Historians: A nonprofit scholarly and professional society with membership, annual awards, and conferences. Operates a similar professional-society model focused on architecture as a discipline, though with a research/historical orientation rather than practicing-architect support.
• Architects Council of New York (ACNY): A New York-based professional organization for architects that sponsors SARA NY events and competes for the same NYC architect membership base. Functions as a direct peer serving a similar community of design professionals in the same region.

Broad incumbents

• American Institute of Architects (AIA): The largest U.S. professional society for architects, with national reach, extensive continuing-education programming, advocacy, and the national AIA Awards. Directly comparable membership model to SARA NY but operates at vastly larger scale and broader scope.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sarany
• Instagraminstagram.com/saranycouncil
• Xx.com/SARANYCouncil
• Facebookfacebook.com/sarany

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Society of American Registered Architects