Remote video URL
Commencement
Carnegie Mellon Architecture graduates throw their caps in celebration on the lawn of the College of Fine Arts building. Credit: Long Q Hong
Commencement Weekend | May 8-10, 2026
Congratulations to the Classes of 2025 and 2026!
We welcomed graduates, family, friends, classmates, faculty and staff to celebrate with us during Commencement Weekend. Thanks to all who joined us in person and around the world (via livestream!) to celebrate our graduates.
Jump To...
2026 Architecture Diploma Ceremonies
Bachelor's Diploma Ceremony
The 2026 Carnegie Mellon Architecture Bachelor's Diploma Ceremony took place on Friday, May 8, 2026. The ceremony included the presentation of diplomas, remarks from our undergraduate and alumni speakers, and announcement of the graduation awards winners.
The ceremony recording is available to view and download for free. The video has chapters to allow for navigation to specific moments in the ceremony.
Master's & Ph.D. Diploma Ceremony
The 2026 Carnegie Mellon Architecture Master's & Ph.D. Diploma Ceremony took place on Friday, May 8, 2026. The ceremony included the hooding of doctoral candidates, presentation of diplomas, remarks from our graduate and alumni speakers, and announcement of the graduation awards winners.
The ceremony recording is available to view and download for free. The video has chapters to allow for navigation to specific moments in the ceremony.
Remote video URL
Photography: The photo gallery is available at the link below. All photos are free for download and use. The full set will be released in the coming days, and will include Pre-Ceremony and Ceremony galleries for both the Bachelor’s and Master’s & Ph.D. Diploma Ceremonies, as well as a Post-Ceremony gallery.
Each year at our diploma ceremony, Carnegie Mellon Architecture has the privilege of bringing a member of our alumni community back to campus to reflect on their education and share the wisdom they’ve gained in their career with our graduating students. We’re proud to announce this year’s alumni speaker: Rachel Zsembery (B.Arch '00), President and CEO of Bergmeyer.
April 23, 2026
Each year, Carnegie Mellon Architecture’s graduating students elect a member of both the undergraduate and graduate graduating classes to speak during the diploma ceremony. We’re proud to announce this year’s undergraduate and graduate student speakers: Aayush Saxena, B.Arch ’26 and Suzy (Zekun) Li, PhD-BPD ’25.
May 5, 2026
Graduation Awards
Carnegie Mellon Architecture is proud to announce the recipients of our 2026 Carnegie Mellon Architecture Graduation Awards, which were announced during the 2026 Diploma Ceremonies on Friday, May 8, 2026. These annual awards recognize the outstanding achievements of our graduating bachelor’s, master’s and Ph.D. students.
May 8, 2026
Carnegie Mellon Architecture recognizes the outstanding achievement of graduating students through its annual Graduation Awards program. The recipients are announced during the diploma ceremonies.
- Alpha Rho Chi Medal: Recognizes either a B.Arch or M.Arch graduate for their leadership and service and what they offer the future of the profession.
- AIA Medal for Academic Excellence: Recognizes one graduate each from the B.Arch and M.Arch programs who has displayed "general excellence" throughout their academic career.
- Bachelor of Arts in Architecture Award: Recognizes exceptional engagement, volunteerism, leadership, and positive citizenship within the CM–A and broader university community. This student serves as a role model to peers through their generosity, integrity, and commitment to supporting others.
- Alumni Design Award: Awarded to a graduating B.Arch student in recognition of exceptional design and representation as demonstrated through studio work within the last two years of the program.
- Master’s Thesis/Capstone Project Graduation Awards: Recognize exceptional design research through a thesis or capstone project completed by a graduating student from each master's program.
- ARCC King Student Medal Program for Excellence in Architectural + Environmental Research: Awarded by the Architectural Research Centers Consortium (ARCC) to recognize a graduating Ph.D. student for innovation, integrity, and scholarship in architectural and/or environmental design research.
Life After Graduation
Career and Professional Development Center
The Career and Professional Development Center (CPDC) offers a variety of career services for students and alumni. In addition to the services described on the CPDC website, alumni can use all of the resources available to current students, including job postings in Handshake.
CMU Alumni Association
Congratulations graduating students and welcome to the Carnegie Mellon University Alumni Association! Learn how to connect with other alumni and engage with the university through events and other alumni programming by joining the CMU Alumni Community. Following graduation, you will begin receiving information about upcoming events, available resources, campus news and more to help introduce you to the Alumni Association. To ensure that you receive these messages, please update your contact information. As your city, job and contact information change over time, please keep your information current so that we can stay in touch!
AIA Membership for New Graduates
You can join The American Institute of Architects (AIA) when you graduate and receive free membership for up to 18 months (for spring graduates, this is the rest of your graduation year and the following year for free). You're eligible for free membership if you’re a first-time member who meets one of the following criteria:
- You have earned a NAAB-accredited architecture degree (B.Arch or M.Arch) within the past 18 months.
- You have earned a non-NAAB accredited architecture degree within the past 18 months and currently work under the supervision of an architect.
- You are a first-time member working under the supervision of an architect and are currently enrolled in an AXP or equivalent activity.