Peter Exley

Peter Exley, FAIA RIBA, is a Chicago-based architect known for his focus on designing spaces that support children's learning, play, and development. Exley holds a Bachelor of Arts in Architectural Studies from Newcastle University School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape and a Master of Architecture from the University of Pennsylvania. Before founding his own firm, he worked with Skidmore, Owings & Merrill in Chicago and London and with Venturi, Scott Brown and Associates in Philadelphia. Exley and his partner Sharon Exley co-founded Architecture Is Fun, dedicating their practice to creating interactive, play-based, and entertainment-focused environments for both children and adults, beginning with a project for Chicago Children's Museum.

Exley has developed a practice centered on architecture for children, families, and communities, emphasizing the design of learning and play environments. Notable projects include DuPage Children's Museum, House in the Woods, Ronald McDonald House in Oak Lawn, Illinois, Exploration Station children's museum, and exhibits and galleries for Young at Art Museum in Davie, Florida. The "Kids on the Fly" installation at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport received an American Institute of Architects Interior Architecture Award and is recognized for its accessibility, safety, and design. Architecture Is Fun's work has been exhibited at Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago Architecture Foundation, and ICA in Philadelphia.

Exley has received several honors, including the AIA Chicago Young Architect Award, AIA Illinois Excellence in Education Award, and the AIA Chicago Foundation's Professional Excellence & Distinguished Service Award. He was also awarded the Gold Medal for Outstanding Lifetime Service by AIA Illinois for his contributions to civic, cultural, private, and not-for-profit projects. As an author, Exley co-wrote "Design for Kids" and, with Sharon Exley, the monograph "Architecture Is Fun."

Exley served as the 97th President of the American Institute of Architects and represented the organization at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, addressing topics such as equity and resilience in architecture. He has taught as an adjunct professor at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and was appointed Architecture Dean of the Scott Sutherland School at Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen, Scotland. Exley regularly participates in conferences, panel discussions, lectures, workshops, and exhibitions, sharing insights on participatory design and the role of architecture in education and community development. His career demonstrates the importance of thoughtful design in supporting human growth and well-being.