U.S. Virgin Islands: Stacy Bourne

Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Stacy Bourne relocated to the US Virgin Islands (1990). She is the founder and principal architect of the Bourne Group, an architectural firm that focuses on hurricane-resilient architecture and renovations in the US Virgin Islands (2000–). She is also editor-in-chief of Hurricane Havoc (2022–), a blog that disseminates resources for hurricane readiness. Bourne holds a bachelor’s (1990) and master’s (2004) of architecture from Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana, and a master’s of architecture and urban design from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri (1998). She established Innovations by Design in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands (1998); this evolved into the printshop Smart Tech and Print Solutions (2016–2025).

Bourne has served as president of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Virgin Islands (1994–1996 and 2016–2018), regional director of the Florida/Caribbean Region of the AIA (2009–2011), and board chair for the AIA Diversity Council (2009–2011). She has also served as a regional representative of the U.S. Virgin Islands for the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (2015–2020), board member of Women Striving for Success Inc. (2014–2016), board member for the Board of Architects, Engineers, and Land Surveyors in the Government of the Virgin Islands (2015–2020), president of the board of directors of Dial A Ride Virgin Islands (2016–2020), co-chair of the National Disaster Assistance Committee for AIA (2022–2024), advisory board member for the Climate Action Committee for AIA (2023), mentor for the College of Fellows Young Architects program affiliated with AIA (2022–) and for the Crit Scholar program affiliated with AIA (2023–), and chair of the National Disaster Assistance Committee for AIA (2024–). She has also served on the Dean’s Advisor Council for the School of Architecture and Built Environment at Tulane University (2025–). She is a member of the AIA (1994–), the National Organization of Minority Architects (2013–present), the American Planning Association (2021–present), and the National Association of Women in Construction (2021–present). Bourne earned an Outstanding Design award from the American School and Universities (2023 and 2024), and was awarded the Richard Upjohn Medal (2011).