Teri Canada

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fOUNDER | pRINCIPAL
faia, NOMA, Leed Ap
Teri is an accomplished architect and project leader with more than 29 years of experience guiding award-winning projects from pre-design through construction administration. Throughout her career, she has led design teams in delivering exceptional architectural solutions rooted in the unique needs of the communities they serve. As a co-owner of EVOKE Studio Architecture, Teri partners closely with key stakeholders, crafting a tailored design process for each client and emphasizing clear communication and meaningful community engagement as essential elements of successful design.

Teri’s leadership and design excellence have been widely recognized. After graduating from North Carolina State University, she became one of the first five African American women to be licensed as a Registered Architect in North Carolina. In 2007, she joined The Freelon Group, where her outstanding client engagement skills led to rapid advancement to Senior Associate. She served as Lead Project Manager on nationally recognized projects including the National Center for Civil and Human Rights and Emancipation Park. Her leadership was further acknowledged through selection to Perkins+Will’s Leadership Institute and appointment to the firm’s Diversity Council.

A dedicated mentor and advocate for the profession, Teri has shared her personal and professional experiences as a minority architect, including serving as a seminar panelist at the 2015 National Organization of Minority Architects Conference. Her commitment to community service is demonstrated through leadership and volunteer roles with Preservation Durham, the Durham Rotary Club, Stephen Ministries, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Durham. She has also served on the Board of Advisors for the United Minority Contractors Association of North Carolina and the Durham Arts Council’s SmART Resource Board.

In addition, Teri served as President of the American Institute of Architects Triangle Section in 2025 and now serves as Past President. In 2024, she was elevated to the American Institute of Architects College of Fellows, one of the profession’s highest honors, recognizing her exceptional contributions to architecture and society. This distinction, held by fewer than 3% of AIA members, reflects her sustained influence, leadership, and impact beyond traditional practice.

Mary Lou Williams Center