Ilias Papageorgiou is the Founder and Principal of PILA, an architecture and urban design practice based in Athens, and a former Partner at SO-IL in New York. He leads an international practice working across architecture, urbanism, and adaptive reuse. His work is grounded in an understanding of design as a form of cultural exchange, informed by his education at the Harvard Graduate School of Design.

Returning to Greece after more than a decade abroad, Ilias is closely engaged with the country’s rapidly evolving architectural landscape, from sustainable development and adaptive reuse to new approaches to housing and urban regeneration. He is committed to design leadership that balances creativity with responsibility, bringing together diverse perspectives to create places that are environmentally conscious, culturally meaningful, and enduring.

Alongside professional practice, Ilias teaches, lectures, and mentors emerging architects, fostering dialogue between academia and practice. As part of the GSD Alumni Council, he hopes to strengthen connections between the GSD and Greece and the Eastern Mediterranean, supporting students and alumni, and contributing to a global design community rooted in curiosity, generosity, and continuous learning.

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Location: Athens, Greece