Joyce Owens, FAIA, RIBA, is the first woman to receive the AIA Florida Gold Medal (2022), the highest award from AIA Florida. In 2020, she earned the AIA Florida Medal of Honor for Design, and in 2025, Forbes named her practice one of the Top 200 Residential Architects in America. After 15 years in London, Joyce returned to Florida in 2004. Both of her practices have garnered international recognition for numerous award-winning buildings that are environmentally and regionally sensitive. In South Florida, AJO has become “The Coastal Architect” and is a leader in Tropical Modern architecture and interiors, emphasizing climate-sensitive, resilient, and sustainable principles. In 2018, Joyce was elected to the College of Fellows of the American Institute of Architects, the highest national honor for exceptional contributions to architecture and society.