We are excited to congratulate Cody Chelminiak, Assoc. AIA, for his winning design in the 2025 AIA Milwaukee Emerging Professionals Design Competition. Hosted annually by the AIA Milwaukee Emerging Professionals group, this competition challenges architects, students, and emerging professionals to tackle a real-world design challenge in Milwaukee. Each year, the competition pushes the boundaries of innovation while addressing relevant, real-world issues. For 2025, the challenge was focused on Single-Family Residential Design, inviting participants to design a home that blends contemporary needs with long-term sustainability. Cody’s project was celebrated at the 5th Annual AIA Wisconsin Design Awards Gala on October 10 in Milwaukee alongside the 2025 Design Award Winners.
The 2025 Competition Challenge
This year, competitors were given the opportunity to choose from three unique sites in Milwaukee, each presenting its own set of challenges. Cody Chelminiak opted for a design prompt that centered around creating a “forever home” for a retired couple. The challenge was to design a ranch or split-level home that would cater to the couple’s needs as they age in place. With a focus on accessibility, adaptability, and comfort, the design called for open layouts, practical kitchen and bathroom features, and a balance between beauty and function.
Cody’s Winning Design: Steppe
Cody’s design, titled Steppe, goes beyond traditional design solutions, offering an innovative, eco-conscious approach that merges the needs of the client with broader environmental and cultural goals. Rather than using the site for a conventional home with a manicured lawn, Cody reimagined the corner lot as a restoration opportunity for one of the world’s most endangered ecosystems—the Wisconsin native tallgrass prairie. With only 0.1% of this ecosystem remaining, Steppe proposes the creation of a pocket prairie in place of a traditional lawn, emphasizing ecological resilience and contributing to a cultural shift towards environmental sustainability in urban neighborhoods.
Sustainability Meets Accessibility
In terms of design, Steppe is a masterclass in creating a home that balances client needs with long-term accessibility. While the structure is designed as a split-level ranch, Cody innovatively consolidates essential amenities on the main floor to accommodate the couple’s needs as they age. The living space is depressed, creating a sense of verticality and segmentation, while a loft is added for extra space and visual interest.
Accessibility is at the heart of the design, with features like a ramped connection to the living area, a vertical platform lift, and thoughtfully designed kitchen and bathroom spaces that prioritize ease of use and comfort. A central operable breezeway bisects the plan, not only improving circulation within the home but also reinforcing the theme of “splitting” into both interior and exterior spaces. This unique design approach maximizes space while keeping accessibility in mind, ensuring the couple can live comfortably and independently for years to come.
A Model for Future Residential Development
Cody Chelminiak’s Steppe exemplifies the perfect balance of innovative architecture, ecological stewardship, and social responsibility. By integrating thoughtful design with environmental consciousness, the project presents a model for how residential development can honor both the needs of homeowners and the larger community.
Steppe is more than just a “forever home” for a retired couple; it is a forward-thinking approach to architecture that celebrates both human and ecological well-being. This award-winning design proves that with creativity and vision, we can develop homes that are not only functional and accessible but also contribute to environmental renewal.
We are incredibly proud of Cody for his achievement in the AIA Milwaukee Emerging Professionals Design Competition, and we look forward to seeing how his innovative work continues to inspire the architecture community.
Check out the full list of winners: 2025 AIA Milwaukee Emerging Professionals Design Competition Winners | News | AIA Wisconsin
