DIG's Jessica Bailey Named AIA Central New Jersey Emerging Professional of the Year

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J.[October 29, 2026] – In an industry where major career milestones often take decades to build, DIGArchitecture's (DIG) Jessica Bailey, AIA, NCARB, LEED Green Associate, has packed a transformative era of professional growth into a single decade – all under one roof. A “career-long” team member at DIG, the senior project manager has been named the Emerging Professional of the Year by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Central New Jersey chapter as part of its annual Design Awards program. 

The AIA Central NJ Emerging Professional of the Year award spotlights early-career architects – those within 10 years of completing their first architectural degree – who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and made significant contributions to the profession through design excellence, professional engagement and community advocacy. 

While “career-long” may be perceived to be a misnomer for an architect just a decade out of school, Bailey's journey at DIG is a genuine testament to steady, firm-grown talent. 

“I'm deeply honored to receive this recognition from AIA Central New Jersey,” said Bailey. “For me, architecture is about seeing a transformation by watching an idea evolve from paper drawings into a physical building that elevates a community. Since starting my career path, DIGArchitecture has provided an environment where I could grow from an intern into a senior project manager and I'm passionate about paying that forward by mentoring the next generation of students and emerging professionals as they discover their own path in this profession.”  

After earning her Bachelor of Architecture degree with a minor in sustainability from Philadelphia University (now Thomas Jefferson University), she began as an architectural and graphic design intern before officially joining DIG. Over the past 10 years, Bailey has rapidly advanced from architect-in-training to architectural associate, project architect and ultimately to her current leadership role as Senior Project Manager – advancing from newly licensed architect to senior manager in under five years. 

“Jessica's decade-long evolution with our firm speaks volumes about her talent, work ethic and the natural leadership she brings to our studio every single day,” said DIG Principal Swarupa Samant. “When Jessica joined us as a student intern, her enthusiasm for the profession was infectious, earning the immediate investment of our senior staff. Most notably, as she has risen, she has consistently ensured that others are brought along with her by playing a vital role in her tireless mentorship of high school students, college interns and emerging professionals.” 

Throughout her tenure at DIG, Bailey has led some of the firm's complex architectural, educational and civic initiatives across New Jersey, Greater Philadelphia and New York City. On the design front, she served as a key point of contact during the construction documentation phase for the high-profile Camden Central High School renovation, successfully navigating requirements to salvage and display historic building elements. Technically, she established DIG's firmwide graphics standard for LEED documentation and serves as the firm's lead administrator for the Newforma project management platform, which brings rigorous organization to complex multi-prime efforts like the Flemington, NJ School District Referendum. 

Beyond project delivery, Bailey advocates for early-career architects as AIA Central NJ's chair for the AIA New Jersey Emerging Professionals Committee (EPiC) and state liaison, organizing study groups, networking events and firm tours. Deeply committed to diversifying the AEC pipeline, she has spent over four years partnering with the Middlesex County Magnet Schools' Senior Mentorship Program, hosting 60-hour workplace shadowing experiences, participating in career fairs and leading hands-on technology workshops and jobsite tours for local students and college interns. 

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About DIGArchitecture 
Founded in 2006, DIGArchitecture is an award-winning, multidisciplinary architecture, interior design, and environmental graphics firm headquartered in New Brunswick, N.J., with offices in Philadelphia, Pa., and Queens, N.Y. As one of the largest majority Black-owned architectural practices in the region, DIG is dedicated to connecting people and creating opportunities through human-centric, sustainable, and equitable design across the civic, educational, healthcare, senior living, and commercial sectors.