Back by popular demand and serving up cross-discipline engagement, the 2026 2nd Annual SEAoK + AIA Kentucky Pickleball Tournament brought together architects and engineers for the ultimate design match-up.
Professional networking doesn’t have to happen in an office, sometimes the best connections happen between volleys!
Hosted at PKL Lex, the tournament included 14 doubles teams and a reserved viewing area to watch the action, drawing over 40 members total. Leo Biagi and Nick Abend from Omni Architects were named the champions.
Just as the event included all skill levels of participants and spectators, the professional experience was diverse as well including students, EITs, licensed PEs and architects, and even firm principals from the structural engineering, architectural, and mechanical engineering industries.
Unlike traditional networking events where conversations can sometimes feel forced, the tournament created an organic environment where connections formed naturally through friendly competition. By the end of it, it was clear that relationships had been built not just across firms, but across experience levels as well. You never know, your pickleball opponent across the court may be the one to help provide your next project! Events like this are successful as they bring a large pool of interest across a broad range of experience levels and personality.
PKL Lex provided the perfect backdrop for the event, with modern indoor courts, a vibrant social atmosphere, and a layout designed for both play and spectating. The facility offers various food and beverage options and blends recreation with community, offering high-quality courts alongside gathering spaces that encourage conversation and connection off the court. Finalists competed for prizes, while first-place winners took home customized trophies, adding a competitive edge.
More importantly, the event reinforced a key mission of SEAoK YMG, which is creating meaningful, lasting professional relationships in a setting where people feel comfortable being themselves. And perhaps most notably, the tournament served as lighthearted proof that architects and engineers can, in fact, get along and work together!
“People who work together will win, whether it be against complex football defenses, or the problems of modern society.”
—Vince Lombardi
SEAoK believes the foundation of engagement is a positive emotional experience and human connection with each other, just as Vince Lombardi said. Here’s to creating design solutions with a team approach across the net!
Special thanks to Amanda Bellamy, Trey Schadt, Erin Stoffer, Auburn Mattingly, and George Stanley for organizing the event.