Member News: Steven Shinn, AIA San Diego Sustainability Update in The Daily Transcript

2018 AIASD President, Steven Shinn, AIA provides an update on San Diego's sustainability efforts and where he sees improvement in the October 24, 2018 edition of The Daily Transcript. Perspectives: San Diego is getting greener (in certain spots)! by Steven Shinn, AIA

San Diego is getting greener, in spots!

In two editorials earlier this year, I noted many professional organizations and non-profits are advocating and promoting sustainable initiatives in our community and our state legislators are driving the movement; but I chastised most local design firms and their clients for taking a back seat in the green and wellness movements.

Recently dockless bikes were introduced to San Diego.  I was excited to see their proliferation and our community reducing the burning of fossil fuels and promoting a healthier life style.  Unfortunately, the bikes have not survived, and most of them have been replaced with electric scooters downtown.  I was discouraged with the trend towards less active commuting and then I saw the new electric scooters with seats.  How rapidly we have regressed to the inactivity of sitting for even short trips.

The San Diego Green Building Council (SDGBC) recently created a new sustainable awards program.  After reviewing the diversity of winners, I was excited again to see some bright spots in the sustainable, health and wellness efforts.  The winners were recognized last month.

The first category honored four sustainable patrons:

• A small construction firm, Simple Construct, received the Patron Award for their drive and leadership to promote sustainable strawbale construction in San Diego. This old, environmental construction technique is going through a rebirth locally.
• The North Park Planning Committee received the Civic Organization Award for integrating comprehensive sustainable strategies into their community plan.
• Alexandria Real Estate Equities was honored with the Private Organization Award for their holistic integration of sustainability, health and wellness into their portfolio of buildings.
• The County of San Diego was honored with the Public Organization Award for their strong focus on pursuing energy efficiency with their Zero Net Energy Portfolio Plan to reduce their energy use by more than half by the year 2030.

The second category was for sustainable certification systems, which honored two civic buildings, four office buildings, a house and mixed-use neighborhood development:

• The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) has several building certification systems. The County of San Diego Alpine Library by Manuel Oncina Architects and Ferguson Pape Baldwin Architects received a LEED Building Design and Construction Award for its focus on sustainability and zero net energy.  The Morena office building, by Delawie Architects, received a Building Design and Construction Award.  The Gensler Architecture Studio received a LEED Interior Design and Construction Award.  The eight block Manchester Pacific Gateway development on our waterfront by Gensler, received an Unbuilt LEED Neighborhood Development award.  A house by JLC Architecture received a LEED Homes Award.  The Millenia office design by Gensler received an Unbuilt LEED Core & Shell Award and an Unbuilt WELL Building Standard Award for promoting health and wellness.
• The Gensler Studio also received a WELL Building Standard Award for promoting health and wellness in the design of their new office space.
• The San Diego International Airport Parking Plaza by Watry Design and Genlser was honored with a ParkSmart Award for pursuing both ParkSmart and Envision certification systems.

The third category was for sustainable building strategies focusing on zero net energy, zero net water and the use of metrics and research to inform design.  The winning projects included two civic buildings, a residential development and office tenant improvement.

• The County of San Diego Alpine Library received a Zero Net Energy Award for being the first library to receive Zero Energy Certification through the International Living Future Institute. San Diego International Airport Parking Plaza also received a Zero Net Energy Award for connecting the building to the airport’s micro grid.
• Silvergate Rancho Bernardo residential design by NOAA, received a Zero Net Water Award for a design achieving a 70% reduction in water use for the buildings and 35% reduction in water use for the landscape.
• LPL Financial by Gensler received a Metric & Research Award for the integration of research and post occupancy metrics to improve the design and performance of the building.

The exciting news for San Diego is small and large companies, private and public organizations are weaving sustainability into our community.  Projects include residential, civic, commercial and mixed use development promoting a wide range of certification systems and strategies.  The County of San Diego and the San Diego International Airport are two clients leading the movement with multiple awards.  Within the design community, the architectural firm Gensler (7 awards) is stepping up along with the following engineers: Coffman Engineers (6 awards), McParlane & Associates (4 awards), MA Engineers (4 awards) and ELEN Consulting (3 awards).  Contractors CW Driver Companies, Swinerton Builders and Dempsey Construction each received two awards.

Now, we need more people in our community to join the sustainability movement.  Ninety percent of employees admit that their attitude about work is adversely affected by the quality of their workplace environment.  Are you asking for sustainable, healthy environments to live, work and play?  Are you riding a bike for errands and exercise?

Research from Dodge Data & Analytics show over 75% of building owners want improved tenant/employee satisfaction with their buildings, and happier, healthier building occupants.  Over 2/3 of owners are expecting buildings to have enhanced ventilation, augmented thermal comfort, improved indoor lighting conditions and effective daylighting.  If you are the client, are you asking for good design and environmental performance? If you are in the design community are you creating people centered designs addressing sustainability and health?  Add to our bright spots.

Steven Shinn, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, WELL AP

Senior Associate, Studio Director

Gensler

AIA COTE: Opposition Letter to EPA Proposal

AIA National's Committee On The Environment (COTE) is asking for architects and firms to sign a letter opposing the Environmental Protection Agency's proposal to rescind regulations around the leak repair, maintenance, and reporting of appliances using substitute refrigerants, including hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). AIA COTE is asking as many architecture firms as possible to sign it and weigh in on this issue.

To sign the letter, please visit: https://p2a.co/SlgBxFL

AIA: Where we stand--Sexual harassment & the architectural profession

From AIA National:

There is no place in the architectural profession for sexual harassment.

We, the members of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), stand together to reshape our profession: to confront those who make the workplace intolerable through harassment and abuse; to give voice to those whose voices are stifled for fear of retaliation; to resolve systemic inequities in our profession that block full access by many who seek it; and to break down cultural, ethnic, racial, and gender barriers that prevent our profession from reflecting the society it serves.

AIA acknowledges that the architectural profession has not yet attained the workplace culture that is required. While AIA has made significant progress in recent years in addressing these issues, we must redouble our efforts. As the voice of the architectural profession, the AIA commits its resources to the following actions to eliminate sexual harassment and assault:

•  We commit to our responsibility as AIA members. Architects understand what it means to strive for excellence in the buildings we design. It is time for all AIA members to work together to make our workplaces excellent. The AIA commits to educating all members on sexual harassment and gender bias.
•  We commit to our responsibility as AIA components. The AIA network at the national, state, and local levels must work together to make sexual harassment a thing of the past. The AIA commits to adopting sexual harassment policies in all components and training for all AIA leaders and component staff.
• We will promote exemplary workplace practices. There are exemplary firms whose practices deserve recognition. The AIA commits to launching a firm recognition program that celebrates and promotes exemplary workplace, firm culture, and equity practices.
• We will change workplace culture. The architectural profession must become a role model for safe, healthy, and equitable work environments. The AIA commits to preparing and distributing equitable workplace best-practice guides for all firms.
•  We will uphold our professional ethics. All AIA members are bound by the AIA Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct. The AIA’s National Ethics Council has been directed by the AIA Board of Directors to recommend updates to the Code of Ethics to address sexual harassment and other equitable workplace principles.
• We are committed to a declaration for national awards. The AIA commits to requiring all nominees for AIA national awards to sign a declaration that certifies adherence to the tenets of the AIA Code of Ethics.
• We will promote collaboration in the architectural, engineering, and construction industries. The AIA commits to work with our colleagues in the American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS), the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA), the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB), the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB), and related organizations in the engineering and construction fields to fully address sexual harassment throughout the construction industry.

In a decade, the face of the profession will change dramatically. What will the future face of architecture look like? Will it equitably represent the society we serve? Our actions today are directed toward an important challenge that we must stand together to overcome.

Architects stand together to reject sexual harassment. Architects stand together to support those who are threatened or abused. Architects stand together to build a model profession that welcomes everyone to safe, healthy, and equitable workplaces. Architects stand together to create a profession that represents the strength and diversity of the communities we serve.

Visit AIA's harassment resources page for updates on these efforts.

___________________________ The AIA is committed to working with its members and firms to change the culture of our profession to one that is diverse, welcoming and treats each individual with dignity and respect. In addition to what it has already delivered, the Institute has the following deliverables in development to supporting this commitment:

• AIA plans to deliver harassment and respectful workplace e-learning courses for all members by the fourth quarter of 2018.
• On June 4, AIA sent component presidents and CACE information and a Model Harassment Policy to assist components with adopting a sexual harassment policy, which is a new Core Member Service requirement for component accreditation. Components are required to submit their adopted proposal by January 2019.
• In April, AIA’s President asked the National Ethics Council (NEC) to make recommendations regarding how the Code of Ethics addresses sexual harassment. The NEC has met twice since then and will provide formal recommendations for consideration by the Institute’s Board of Directors at its upcoming September meeting.
• The AIA will require all nominees for AIA national awards to sign a declaration that certifies adherence to tenets of the AIA Code of Ethics.
• AIA held two sessions on sexual harassment at A’18: a compliance training that addressed building a respectful and harassment free workplace; and a session, guided by experts who answered questions and provided advice based on various scenarios.
• A number of additional sessions were offered at A’18 supporting equity, diversity and inclusion issues.
• A’18 featured a “Commitment Wall” on the Expo Floor where members posted commitments to making their workplaces equitable, diverse and inclusive.
• AIA is continuing to educate members and others through its various communication vehicles, including its newsletter, AIA Architect, and ARCHITECT Magazine. Recent articles have included “Meeting the #MeToo Moment” and “Ethics in Practice for an Equitable Profession.” Upcoming articles will feature a column from Emily Grandstaff-Rice, FAIA, Chair of the Equity & The Future of Architecture Board Committee, and a Q & A piece with Dr. Shirley Davis on why compliance with anti-sexual harassment policies is important for practitioners and firm owners. Another article in July covered the AIA’s conference sessions, focusing on how a strong commitment to combatting sexual harassment requires architects to understand and act on prevention, reporting, and long-term remedies. Meanwhile, ARCHITECT Magazine is reporting on how to establish a sexual harassment policy.
• In addition, the Institute is actively building on more than a decade of work addressing equity, diversity and inclusion, including underlying issues involving sexual harassment, in the profession. The AIA is currently developing  “Guides for Equitable Practice,” which will provide architects and firms with guidance on best practices in equity, diversity and inclusion principles, and how those values can be a part of any architectural practice. The first three guides—"Cultural Competence + Implicit Bias,” “Pay Equity,” and “Workplace Culture”— are scheduled to be available at the end of the year.
• Finally, AIA is committed to launching a firm recognition program that celebrates and promotes exemplary workplaces, firm culture and equity practices.

2019 AIA San Diego Slate of Officers and Directors

OFFICERS

• President: Katherine Lord, AIA
• Immediate Past President: Steven Shinn, AIA
• Vice-President/Pres-Elect: Sandra Gramley, AIA
• Secretary/Treasurer: Laura Shinn, AIA

COMMISSIONERS

• Advocacy: Lance Hosey, FAIA
• Public Awareness: Alahe Aldo, AIA
• Emerging Professionals: Scott Bales, Assoc AIA and Maggie Fulton, Assoc. AIA
• Membership: Michael Robinson, AIA
• Practice: Al Whitley, AIA

*AIACC DIRECTORS

• President: Katherine Lord, AIA
• President-Elect: Sandra Gramley, AIA
• Immediate Past President: Steven Shinn, AIA

*The chapter’s three AIACC directors, per our chapter bylaws, are the president, president-elect, and immediate past president. In effect, they are ex-officio positions.

TIMELINE:

• Aug 22: Committee nominations due
• Aug 26: AIASD Board-approved slate mailed to members 60 days before election.
• Sept 20: Deadline for additional nominations from the members. (Requires five letters/nominations from members in good standing as well as an electronic profile to be distributed to the membership).
• Oct 5: If no additional nominations received, Board Secretary may cast one ballot on behalf of all members for any/all uncontested seats.
• Oct 5: Distribute ballots and post electronic profiles. (Only when additional nominations occur.)
• Oct 18: Deadline for votes to arrive (if a mail ballot has been sent).
• Oct 25: Annual Meeting/Election if Needed; votes tabulated and President declares elections.

Overview of the Nominating/Election Process for the 2019 Board of Directors

BYLAWS SECTION 4.3

(4.31)       Nominations.  [Committee’s] slate shall be approved by the Board of Directors and published in the Chapter newsletter at least 60 days prior to the election.  Noticed in this same publication will be the qualifications for each officer/director position and a time schedule and procedure that would allow more names to be added to the slate by the general membership. All Institute assigned members, in good standing, may be added to the Nominating Committee’s slate by producing letters from five (5) Institute assigned members (in good standing) nominating him/her for a specific officer or director position. Additional nominations are to be received by the Chapter no later than 25 days after the mailing of the Chapter’s newsletter announcing the Nominating Committee’s slate. Profiles of all qualified candidates shall be published in the Chapter’s newsletter and mailed to the membership 20 days prior to the election.

(4.32)       Voting; When Required.  If there is only one nominee for any office or directorship, 20 days before the election, the Secretary may cast a ballot for the full number of votes of the membership for the said nominee, whereupon the President shall declare the candidate(s) elected by acclamation. Otherwise, each contested office and directorship shall be placed on ballots for the voting thereof. Such voting shall be by ballot in accordance with the provisions of these bylaws.

For Sale: Mies van der Rohe, Loewenstein/Oggo- Pompano Lounge Chairs

The AIASD office is selling Mid-Century, Mies van der Rohe, Loewenstein/Oggo- Pompano lounge chairs.

12 frames in good condition. Some still with leather seats and backs.

$50/chair for all 12 ($600). $75/chair if sold in pairs.

To purchase, contact us at (619)232-0109 or info@aiasandiego.org.

AIASD President Steve Shinn in The Daily Transcript: Evolution of Sustainability

2018 AIA San Diego President, Steven Shinn, AIA offered his perspective on the evolution of sustainability in San Diego on June 15, 2018.

To read his op-ed, continue below:

The Evolution of Sustainability in San Diego

Sustainability is evolving in San Diego to include health, wellness, productivity and metrics.

To understand where we are going, it helps to see where we have been.  The term “Sustainability” started as an environmental movement and added social equity, economics and energy agendas.  Now, health, wellness, productivity and metrics are expanding the movement.

The term “Sustainability” was first used in forestry during the 12^th-16^th centuries to identify a sense of balance between resource consumption and renewal.  In 1969, the Santa Barbara oil spill, which devastated wildlife and the natural environment, combined with the Cuyahoga River Fire in Cleveland, due to decades of industrial waste, resulted in the creation of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) in 1969 and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 1970.  In 1972, the Clean Water Act was implemented.  These policies and agency were created to enhance the environmental agenda and focus on human health and natural resource protection.

In 1972, sustainability expanded to the global stage with a focus on social equity and economics.  The UN Conference on the Human Environment focused on revitalizing humanity’s connection with nature with a focus on the rights of all people to adequate food, sound housing, safe water and access to family planning.  The UN used “sustainable” to describe a global population and a desirable state of global equilibrium.

The 1973-74 Arab Oil Embargo created price shocks in the oil market.  In 1975, ASHRAE published Standard 90.1, Energy Conservation in New Building Design which was the first focus on energy consequences of building design.  In 1976, the term “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” was promoted to focus on conservation efforts and the Department of Energy was created in 1977.  Almost 20 years after the oil embargo, the EPA required all states to adopt building energy codes that met ASHRAE90.1.  Energy conservation and reducing CO₂ emissions became integral to the sustainability movement.  In 2000, the USGBC wove environmental, social equity, economics and energy efficiency into LEED, the first major green building certification system which has had a profound impact on the building and construction industries.  In just 18 years, it has grown to include over 92,000 projects in 165 countries and territories.

Today, millennials, the largest generation in the American workforce, are pushing for healthy life styles and work environments.  Their interest in wellness is dramatically impacting the building industry and rapidly growing the $3.7 trillion dollar health and wellness market.  For example, the market for wearable fitness trackers grew from 5.3 million in 2013 to 36.4 million in 2017.  The indoor air quality monitor market was $2.5 billion in 2015 and expected to almost double to $4.6 billion by 2022.  Trends.google.com shows the word search for the term “sustainability” has been relatively level since 2008, but the word search for “health and wellness” has more than doubled and started to compete with “sustainability” in search frequency.

Healthy workplaces lead to improved employee productivity, improved learning, reduced absenteeism and lower staff turnover.  Businesses are now realizing the return on investment (ROI) on healthy design since salaries and benefits for people account for 90% of the costs associated with the lifecycle of a commercial building.  Rent / operations are 9% and energy costs are only 1%.  Improving productivity by 1% is ninety times more cost effective than improving energy efficiency by 1%.

We spend more than 90% of our time indoors.  We need good air, water, nourishment, light, fitness, comfort and sleep to thrive in our buildings.  We are rediscovering the need for our buildings to have a strong connection to nature.  The building industry is responding to this recent market demand for healthy environments with the development of two new certifications, the WELL Building Standard in 2014 and Fitwel in 2017. Both certification systems optimize building design to improve worker health, well-being and productivity.  The WELL Building Standard codifies good building design practices based on over 7 years of scientific and medical research.  It integrates a performance based system which includes measuring, certifying and monitoring healthy features of buildings.  The goal is to have the metrics and data reinforce the research.

Gensler (an integrated architecture, design, planning and consulting firm) has been researching productive buildings since 2005.  The recent 2016 data, based on over 4,000 surveys, show productivity and innovation are enhanced with better designed workspaces.  People are more productive when they have more choice, a wider variety of work environments, more amenities, connections to the outdoors, effective noise management and good design.  The subjective survey results reinforce the scientific and medical research from the WELL Building Standard.

Further research from Dodge Data & Analytics show over 75% of building owners want improved tenant/employee satisfaction with their buildings, and happier, healthier building occupants.  Over 2/3 of owners are expecting buildings to have enhanced ventilation, augmented thermal comfort, improved indoor lighting conditions and effective daylighting.

San Diego has a relatively conservative commercial office market with a focus on ROI.  It is frequently difficult to get developers, owners or tenants interested in the environmental or social equity aspects of sustainability.  Climate change, greenhouse gases, sea level rise are all perceived as future issues to be resolved by the next generation or future technology.  But, San Diego developers and owners are much more interested in the immediate ROI from increased productivity and enhanced health and wellness.  Human nature encourages us to focus on short versus long-term goals or rewards.  Recently, I saw a gentleman at a traffic intersection use his elbow to push the crosswalk button.  In the other hand, he finished smoking a cigarette and tossed the butt into the gutter.  He was clearly concerned about his short-term health and did not want to catch any germs from the crosswalk button, but he was not concerned about his long-term health or the 50 carcinogens in the butt that he tossed into our environment.

There is a rising demand for healthy work places and the rapidly growing research and data are informing good design practices.  Our design community can easily promote health, wellness and productivity in San Diego because the short term return on investment is much more quantifiable now compared to 18 years ago when the LEED Building Certification System augmented the sustainability movement.  As sustainability in San Diego evolves to include health, wellness, productivity and related metrics; the WELL Building Standard will have a larger impact on the building industry than even the LEED Building Standard.

Steven Shinn, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, WELL AP Senior Associate, Studio Director Gensler

Architectural Office Space Available

The Merrimac Building 640 West Beech Little Italy

Available; Architectural office all or by the desk - 2600 SF total.

Please be in touch with Ted Smith 619 228 6083

1. Conference Room 11’ X 25’ 12 seat table, white boards and projection screen
2. Main Drafting Hall 20’ X 52’ with desks for 17 to 20 positions, 20 feet tall
3. Main Hall Mezzanine 11’ X 17’ with space for 6 or second conference room,
4. Exterior Terrace 8’ X 20’
5. Kitchen
6. 3-bathrooms
7. Enclosed Print room
8. Enclosed Loft office 10” X 11’ opens to Mezzanine
9. 320 square foot apartment suite with private bathroom on loft level
10. Rear stair and space for storage

AIA Practice Management Digest: March 2018

The latest edition of the Practice Management Digest has been published! Read several articles on Presentation Strategies: Connecting with potential clients to increase your chances of closing the deal. The AIA National Practice Management Knowledge Community is always looking for topics that you would like to see addressed in an edition of the Digest. If you have topics related to practice management that you'd like explored or articles you would like us to consider, please contact our new PM Digest Editor, Sara Boyer, AIA, at SBoyer@moodynolan.com.

March 2018 Features

How to stop losing projects that should be yours By Bryan Gray, CEO of Revenue Path Group & Jeff Echols, Assoc. AIA

Have you ever wondered why you keep hearing “It was close” when you lose a bid? To start winning more projects, harness the process, speed and emotion that drive decisions, and connect with your audience at a visceral level! Why PowerPoint doesn’t have to suck: 10 tips for better presentations By Bill Schmalz, FAIA

We've all sat through PowerPoint presentations that clearly miss the mark. However, thinking like a spectator can help you craft a better, more-engaging presentation. Here are 10 tips to help make your presentation stronger, and keep the focus on your content. This is not your typical architecture firm, and that’s by design By Rich Friedman

When a downturn strikes, it can be tempting to take whatever work is available to keep the doors open. One firm made a bolder choice: to double down on serving one client type. As a result, the firm not only survived the downturn, it grew exponentially during the lean years. Lessons learned from building a new website By Rich Friedman

Like many firms, our web site has been slow to keep up with our evolved and expanding service offerings. It was time for a reboot. We learned a lot in developing our new website, so here we offer five takeaways that you can put to work in your own firm’s marketing efforts.

Mayor Faulconer Attends HN1M Media Day

On April 10, 2018 the Housing The Next 1 Million invited the media and public to learn about their Affordable Housing Presentation on display at the San Diego City Hall. The presentation includes the November 2017 HN1M Charrette boards, and members from the 12 volunteer neighborhood teams present to explain the goals and content of the display boards. Mayor Kevin Faulconer stopped by and met with Philip Bona, AIA, who led the HN1M initiative in 2017. The display boards are the result of meetings and workshops throughout 2017 with various stakeholders, industry professionals, community groups, and neighbors to explore, brainstorm, talk, listen, and ultimately design innovative solutions that begin to address growth issues facing the public today and into the future.

Following a year-long series of monthly community workshops, along with the formation of community teams throughout the city and county, there was an extensive two-day weekend workshop (called a "Charrette" in the architectural industry). The Display at City Hall represents the only tangible results of this workshop. The teams also included architectural students from the NewSchool of Architecture and Design, who worked alongside citizens and professionals to graphically explore issues and ideas for their own neighborhoods.  This is a local grassroots effort rather than hiring outside consultants to tell the local communities what is best for their future; HN1M wants people understanding, addressing, and participating in the future of their own community.

HN1M has its sights on the San Diego of 2050 and is aware of the current pressures for housing affordability, energy, water, and wastewater infrastructure, mobility, public transit, homelessness, a changing economy, access to healthcare, aging care, environmental and resource stainability, and climate impact to name a few of the challenges ahead. Learn more at www.hn1m.org.

AIASD: Border Wall Statement Featured in CA Building News

AIA San Diego and AIA Palomar's recent statement statement on the proposed border wall security measurements is featured in the Q1 2018 issue of California Building News. Check out the piece on page 40: https://issuu.com/easoncommunications/docs/californiabuildingsnewsq1_2018

AIA National: Architecture billings continue growth into 2018

Architecture billings continue growth into 2018

Business conditions easing in the Northeast, but very strong in the rest of the country

Washington, D.C. – February 21, 2018 – 2018 started on a strong note for architecture firms, as the Architecture Billings Index (ABI) saw its highest January score since 2007. The American Institute of Architects (AIA) reported the January ABI score was 54.7, up from a score of 52.8 in the previous month. This score reflects an increase in design services provided by U.S. architecture firms (any score above 50 indicates an increase in billings). The new projects inquiry index was 61.1, down from a reading of 62.0 the previous month, while the new design contracts index increased slightly from 53.4 to 53.9.

“Healthy conditions continue across all sectors and regions except the Northeast, where firm billings softened for the second consecutive month,” said AIA Chief Economist, Kermit Baker, Hon. AIA, PhD. “With strong billings and healthy growth in new projects to start the year, firms remain generally optimistic about business conditions for the next several months.”

* Every January the AIA research department updates the seasonal factors used to calculate the ABI, resulting in a revision of recent ABI values.

Key January ABI highlights:

•           Regional averages: West (56.2), South (55.3), Midwest (54.8), Northeast (47.3)

•           Sector index breakdown: multi-family residential (56.0), commercial / industrial (53.3), institutional (52.5), mixed practice (50.1)

•           Project inquiries index: 61.1

•           Design contracts index: 53.9

The regional and sector categories are calculated as a 3-month moving average, whereas the national index, design contracts and inquiries are monthly numbers.

About the AIA Architecture Billings Index The Architecture Billings Index (ABI), produced by the AIA Economics & Market Research Group, is a leading economic indicator that provides an approximately nine to twelve month glimpse into the future of nonresidential construction spending activity. The diffusion indexes contained in the full report are derived from a monthly “Work-on-the-Boards” survey that is sent to a panel of AIA member-owned firms. Participants are asked whether their billings increased, decreased, or stayed the same in the month that just ended as compared to the prior month, and the results are then compiled into the ABI.  These monthly results are also seasonally adjusted to allow for comparison to prior months. The monthly ABI index scores are centered around 50, with scores above 50 indicating an aggregate increase in billings, and scores below 50 indicating a decline. The regional and sector data are formulated using a three-month moving average. More information on the ABI and the analysis of its relationship to construction activity can be found in the recently released White Paper, Designing the Construction Future: Reviewing the Performance and Extending the Applications of the AIA’s Architecture Billings Index on the AIA web site.

AIA San Diego and AIA Palomar Statement on Proposed U.S./Mexico Enhanced Border Security Measures

San Diego, CA – February 6, 2018 —The American Institute of Architects, San Diego and Palomar Chapters, ninety-year-old non-profit leaders in the regional design and development sectors with nearly 1,000 members between them, are deeply interested in the topic of border security and the effective regulation of the frontier between the United States of America and Mexico. We embrace the idea that rule-based, transparent, and efficient management of the movement of people and goods between Mexico and the U.S. is vital to our shared well-being. The international border-crossings between San Diego and Tijuana are the world’s busiest, reflecting the long history of settlement, migration and commerce in the region and its emergence as a global economic center. Large, diverse populations on both sides of the border move back and forth between the two regions, with countless people connected by family, culture, language and business, leading to a robust and economically beneficial bilateral relationship.

When considering ways to reduce the entry to the U.S. of persons without legal status, we assert that care must be taken to ensure that far-reaching, long-lasting and expensive responses don’t risk offering cures that are worse than the problem. A plan to spend $20 to $50 billion on greatly extending existing physical barriers, such as walls, to deter undocumented entry from Mexico, should be justified by evidence that these investments will offer significant benefits.

Most who arrive in the U.S. across the southern border without authorization do so where Mexico/U.S. urban areas interface. In limited circumstances, at key paired-city locations, walls and heavy fencing can be useful and contribute to preventing unauthorized entry. However, along much of the rural border, existing fencing, sensing technologies and physical patrolling appear to be vastly more cost-effective. Recently reported steep declines in undocumented entry (as much as 80%) have occurred despite almost no new barrier-building.

At a time when the need for public investment in infrastructure is acute nation-wide, applying many billions of tax dollars to unneeded wall construction is unwise. Dollars should be invested in public bricks and mortar projects such as parks, recreation facilities, libraries, schools and mass transit. For example, an expenditure of $20 billion can create 1,000 elementary schools or 2,500 branch libraries to enhance our local communities.

We urge those considering how to better limit the unauthorized entry of people to the United States along the border with Mexico to weigh carefully the actual extent and cost of the current problem against the significant cultural, political and economic benefits we now derive from our relationship with an important ally. We urge a thoughtful, measured approach to enhancing security along our border with Mexico that is evidence-based and we advocate for infrastructure projects that will enhance our communities and natural environment.

CONTACT

Bastiaan Bouma, (619)232-0109, bbouma@aiasandiego.org

AIA: Consensus Construction Forecast

Pace of construction activity projected to accelerate through 2019 Strength in industrial and institutional sectors offsetting projected easing in commercial construction activity

Contact: Matt Tinder 202-626-7462 mtinder@aia.org

For immediate release: Washington, D.C. – January 29, 2018 – Despite labor shortages and rising material costs that continue to impact the construction sector, construction spending for nonresidential buildings is projected to increase 4% this year and continue at that pace of growth through 2019. The American Institute of Architects (AIA) semi-annual Consensus Construction Forecast indicates the commercial construction sectors will generate much of the expected gains this year, and by 2019 the industrial and institutional sectors will dominate the projected construction growth.

“Rebuilding after the record-breaking losses from natural disasters last year, the recently enacted tax reform bill, and the prospects of an infrastructure package are expected to provide opportunities for even more robust levels of activity within the industry,” said AIA Chief Economist, Kermit Baker, PhD, Hon. AIA. “The Architecture Billings Index (ABI) and other major leading indicators for the industry also point to an upturn in construction activity over the coming year.”

Market Segment Consensus Growth Forecasts	2018	2019
Overall nonresidential building	4.0%	3.9%
Commercial / industrial	4.4%	2.9%
Office space	4.6%	3.0%
Retail	4.4%	3.5%
Hotels	4.1%	0.8%
Industrial facilities	3.3%	5.2%
Institutional	3.8%	4.3%
Education	4.0%	4.9%
Healthcare facilities	4.0%	4.0%
Public safety	3.6%	3.9%
Amusement / recreation	3.3%	2.4%
Religious	-1.1%	0.9%

You can learn more about the Consensus Construction Forecast here: https://www.aia.org/articles/173086-what-slowdown-pace-of-construction-activity

About the AIA Consensus Construction Forecast Panel The AIA Consensus Construction Forecast Panel is conducted twice a year with the leading nonresidential construction forecasters in the United States including, Dodge Data & Analytics, Wells Fargo Securities, IHS-Global Insight, Moody’s economy.com, CMD Group, Associated Builders & Contractors and FMI.  The purpose of the Consensus Construction Forecast Panel is to project business conditions in the construction industry over the coming 12 to 18 months.  The Consensus Construction Forecast Panel has been conducted for 18 years.

About The American Institute of Architects Founded in 1857, the American Institute of Architects consistently works to create more valuable, healthy, secure, and sustainable buildings, neighborhoods, and communities. Through more than 200 international, state and local chapters, the AIA advocates for public policies that promote economic vitality and public wellbeing. Members adhere to a code of ethics and conduct to ensure the highest professional standards. The AIA provides members with tools and resources to assist them in their careers and business as well as engaging civic and government leaders and the public to find solutions to pressing issues facing our communities, institutions, nation and world. Visit www.aia.org.

AIA: Stephen Ayers, FAIA, Architect of the Capitol, to receive 2018 Thomas Jefferson Award

Washington, D.C. – January 26, 2018 – Stephen Ayers, FAIA, Architect of the Capitol, has been selected as the 2018 recipient of the Thomas Jefferson Award for Public Architecture. The Thomas Jefferson Award for Public Architecture recognizes architects in the public and private sectors, public officials, or other individuals who design distinguished public facilities and/or who advocate for design excellence. Ayers will be honored at the AIA Conference on Architecture 2018 in New York City. As the 11th Architect of the Capitol, a position he was appointed to by President Barack Obama in 2010, Ayers cares for the nation’s architectural treasures and uses his prominent voice to advance the profession. His leadership has seen him testify before Congress on more than 50 occasions, where his keen insight on matters of historic preservation, long-range master planning, and sustainability has elevated the discourse on good design to the national level.

Read more here

AIA: 2018 AIA Institute Honor Awards

2018 AIA Institute Honor Awards recognize excellence in architecture, interior architecture, and regional & urban design Washington, D.C. – January 12, 2018 – The American Institute of Architects (AIA) has selected the 2018 recipients of the Institute Honor Awards, the profession’s highest recognition of works that exemplify excellence in architecture, interior architecture and urban design. Selected from roughly 500 submissions, 17 recipients located throughout the world will be honored at the AIA Conference on Architecture 2018 in New York City.

2018 Institute Honor Awards for Architecture

The jury for the 2018 AIA Institute Honor Awards for Architecture includes: Lee Becker, FAIA (Chair), Hartman-Cox Architects; Anne Marie Decker, FAIA, Duvall Decker Architects; Susan Johnson, AIA, Strata; Anna Jones, Assoc. AIA, MOD Design; Caitlin Kessler, AIAS Student Representative, University of Arizona; Marilee Meacock, AIA, KSS Architects; Robert Miller, FAIA, Bohlin Cywinski Jackson; Sharon Prince, Grace Farms Foundation; and Rob Rogers, FAIA, Rogers Partners.

Read more here

AIA National: Architecture Billings end year on positive note

Architecture Billings end year on positive note  

Fourth quarter activity strongest of 2017

  Washington, D.C. – January 24, 2018 – The Architecture Billings Index (ABI) concluded the year in positive terrain, with the December reading capping off three straight months of growth in design billings. The American Institute of Architects (AIA) reported the December ABI score was 52.9, down from a score of 55.0 in the previous month. This score still reflects an increase in design services provided by U.S. architecture firms (any score above 50 indicates an increase in billings). The new projects inquiry index was 61.9, up from a reading of 61.1 the previous month, while the new design contracts index decreased slightly from 53.2 to 52.7.

“Overall, 2017 turned out to be a strong year for architecture firms.  All but two months saw ABI scores in positive territory,” said AIA Chief Economist, Kermit Baker, Hon. AIA, PhD. “Additionally, the overall strength of the fourth quarter lays a good foundation for healthy growth in construction activity in 2018.”

Key December ABI highlights:

• Regional averages: South (56.3), West (53.0), Midwest (52.9), Northeast (49.4)
• Sector index breakdown: multi-family residential (55.4), commercial / industrial (54.8), institutional (51.2), mixed practice (50.4)
• Project inquiries index: 61.9
• Design contracts index: 53.2

The regional and sector categories are calculated as a 3-month moving average, whereas the national index, design contracts and inquiries are monthly numbers.

About the AIA Architecture Billings Index The Architecture Billings Index (ABI), produced by the AIA Economics & Market Research Group, is a leading economic indicator that provides an approximately nine to twelve month glimpse into the future of nonresidential construction spending activity. The diffusion indexes contained in the full report are derived from a monthly “Work-on-the-Boards” survey that is sent to a panel of AIA member-owned firms. Participants are asked whether their billings increased, decreased, or stayed the same in the month that just ended as compared to the prior month, and the results are then compiled into the ABI.  These monthly results are also seasonally adjusted to allow for comparison to prior months. The monthly ABI index scores are centered around 50, with scores above 50 indicating an aggregate increase in billings, and scores below 50 indicating a decline. The regional and sector data are formulated using a three-month moving average. More information on the ABI and the analysis of its relationship to construction activity can be found in the recently released White Paper, Designing the Construction Future: Reviewing the Performance and Extending the Applications of the AIA’s Architecture Billings Index on the AIA web site.

About The American Institute of Architects Founded in 1857, the American Institute of Architects consistently works to create more valuable, healthy, secure, and sustainable buildings, neighborhoods, and communities. Through nearly 300 state and local chapters, the AIA advocates for public policies that promote economic vitality and public wellbeing. Members adhere to a code of ethics and conduct to ensure the highest professional standards. The AIA provides members with tools and resources to assist them in their careers and business as well as engaging civic and government leaders and the public to find solutions to pressing issues facing our communities, institutions, nation and world. Visit www.aia.org.

AIA National: 2018 AIA Institute Honor Awards

2018 AIA Institute Honor Awards recognize excellence in architecture, interior architecture, and regional & urban design

Washington, D.C. – January 12, 2018 – The American Institute of Architects (AIA) has selected the 2018 recipients of the Institute Honor Awards, the profession’s highest recognition of works that exemplify excellence in architecture, interior architecture and urban design. Selected from roughly 500 submissions, 17 recipients located throughout the world will be honored at the AIA Conference on Architecture 2018 in New York City.

2018 Institute Honor Awards for Architecture

The jury for the 2018 AIA Institute Honor Awards for Architecture includes: Lee Becker, FAIA (Chair), Hartman-Cox Architects; Anne Marie Decker, FAIA, Duvall Decker Architects; Susan Johnson, AIA, Strata; Anna Jones, Assoc. AIA, MOD Design; Caitlin Kessler, AIAS Student Representative, University of Arizona; Marilee Meacock, AIA, KSS Architects; Robert Miller, FAIA, Bohlin Cywinski Jackson; Sharon Prince, Grace Farms Foundation; and Rob Rogers, FAIA, Rogers Partners.

Audain Art Museum; Whistler, British Columbia, Canada

Patkau Architects Inc.

The Audain Art Museum is a private museum built to house and exhibit Michael Audain’s personal art collection, including British Columbia art from the late 18th century to the present. The design navigates three main determinants by connecting local culture with the permanent collection and traveling exhibits of all kinds, by spanning the revegetated floodplain of Fitzsimons Creek, and by strategically shedding the enormous snowfall typical of Whistler. The building’s minimal interiors recede behind the art and its calm exterior foregrounds the natural landscape.

The Broad; Los Angeles

Diller Scofidio + Renfro, Associate Firm: Gensler

With its innovative “veil-and-vault” concept, The Broad showcases artworks from the 2,000+ works in the Broad collection. The “vault” storage holding shapes the museum experience for visitors who enter the lobby below its carved underside, shoot through it in the elevator, stand above it in the galleries, and peer in through viewing windows. The vault is enveloped by the “veil,” an airy, honeycomb-like structure that filters daylight into public galleries. Since opening in 2015, The Broad has welcomed more than 1.7 million visitors and has been heralded as a catalyst for urbanizing downtown Los Angeles.

Chicago Riverwalk; Chicago

Ross Barney Architects

As early as Burnham and Bennett’s 1909 “Plan of Chicago”, the Main Branch of Chicago River was envisioned as a place of both leisure and commerce. Nearly a century later the Chicago Riverwalk has realized this vision. Through changes in its shape and form, the continuous river level path drives a series of new programmatic connections to the water. Above all, the Riverwalk honors the iconic quality of the existing urban context by embracing and interpreting Chicago’s layered history.

Gohar Khatoon Girls' School; Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan

Robert Hull, FAIA, and the University of Washington, Department of Architecture

Located in Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan’s fourth largest city, the Gohar Khatoon Girls’ School is an important urban center educating several thousand girls every day. Commissioned by the Balkh Province Ministry of Education, in partnership with a U.S.-based non-profit organization, the school is integrated into the national education system expanding Afghanistan’s push toward the development of women and girls and their contribution and inclusion within Afghan society. Gohar Khatoon supports this process by promoting stability, comfort, and community engagement and has become a model for other girls’ schools in the country.

Manhattan Districts 1/2/5 & Spring Street Salt Shed; New York City

Dattner Architects in association with WXY architecture + urban design

Located at the edge of Manhattan in a dense mixed-use neighborhood, the Department of Sanitation’s garage and a salt shed were signature projects of NYC’s Design Excellence program. The 425,000-square-foot garage’s double skin façade is clad in perforated metal fins, reducing solar loading while providing a strong vertical articulation of the project’s mass. The 5,000-square-foot salt shed, with faceted concrete planes, has become an iconic structure, attracting photo shoots, architectural tourists, and curious locals. The design and siting of these two projects provide a dignified example of vital civic architecture.

Mercer Island Fire Station 92; Mercer Island, Washington

Miller Hull Partnership

From the earliest ages, we are drawn almost magically to the firefighters, firetrucks and the equipment contained in these civic landmarks.  The design for the 8,000-square-foot replacement of FS92, originally built in 1962, embraces this attraction by providing inviting views into the apparatus bay from the main pedestrian and vehicular thoroughfare in this small island community. This visibility promotes a greater connection to the people that the fire station serves, resulting in increased awareness and vocal advocacy for these vital services. The design team incorporated a number of sustainable features to reduce energy use and provide thermal comfort for the firefighters. The station boasts a thermally efficient envelope, and fast-acting bi-fold doors in the vehicle bays reduce the amount of time the doors are opened following an emergency response.

New United States Courthouse; Los Angeles

Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP

The New United States Courthouse – Los Angeles houses the U.S. District Court, Central District of California. The building’s architectural expression is an inextricable union of site orientation, environmental performance and principles that honor the public realm. An innovative hat-truss structure allows this cubic form to “float” above a stone base, opening up new public spaces, giving the project a clear civic presence and separating it from its commercial neighbors. The design is rooted in classic principles of American civic architecture as seen through the lens of 21st Century Los Angeles.

Vol Walker Hall & the Steven L. Anderson Design Center; Fayetteville, Arkansas

Marlon Blackwell Architects

The Steven L. Anderson Design Center is a contemporary addition to a carefully restored and renovated historical building, Vol Walker Hall, the University of Arkansas’s original library and home to the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design since 1968. The coupling of old and new creates a striking hybrid, invigorating the historical center of the university’s campus and revitalizing the educational environment of the School. The expanded facility unites all three departments – architecture, landscape architecture, and interior design – under one roof for the first time, reinforcing the School’s identity and creating cross-disciplinary, collaborative learning environments.

Washington Fruit & Produce Company Headquarters; Yakima, Washington

Graham Baba Architects

Company leaders desired a new office/headquarters that would serve as a refuge from the industrial agribusiness landscape that surround them. They asked for warmer materials, little-to-no concrete, non-boxlike forms, protection from the freeway, and a spare office aesthetic that minimized visible equipment or devices. The approach for the new 16,500-square-foot office was to create an inwardly focused oasis. The building is light, from the delicate, expressive structural beams to the ample amount of daylight throughout. The building tucks into its environment to merge with nature.

2018 Institute Honor Awards for Interior Architecture

The jury for the 2018 AIA Institute Honor Awards for Interior Architecture includes: Brian Caldwell, AIA (Chair), THINKTANK Design Group; Joshua Aidlin, AIA, Aidlin Darling Design; Kiyomi Kurooka, AIA, DWL Architects + Planners Inc.; John Paquin, AIA, Statesville; and William T. Ruhl, AIA, RUHL WALKER Architects.

Chicago Public Library, Chinatown Branch; Chicago

Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP

The Chicago Public Library, Chinatown Branch serves as a civic, educational, and social hub for the city’s Chinatown neighborhood. The most visited branch in the Chicago Public Library system, the library provides a much-needed public gathering place geared toward community activities and technology-based learning. Anchored by a skylit two-story central atrium, the building’s interiors are open concept, flexible, and sustainable, and feature daylighting, panoramic neighborhood views, with bright, comfortable furnishings for visitors of all ages, including a vibrant site-specific 60-foot mural on the history of Chicago’s Chinatown painted by a local artist.

Photographer's Loft; New York City

Desai Chia Architecture

This industrial loft renovation was designed for a photographer seeking a serene live-work environment. The library/reception area immediately off the entry vestibule serves as a hinge for two distinct zones – the east zone flows directly into the ‘private’ domain of her photography studio and private bedroom, while the south zone flows into the ‘public’ domain of her kitchen, dining, and living areas. By cutting and folding the ceiling planes, light gently bounces throughout and anchors the seating areas. Functional raw steel, wood, and resin elements artfully shape the environment throughout.

Reeds Spring Middle School; Reeds Spring, Missouri

Dake Wells Architecture

Taking advantage of the site’s dramatic topography, this new middle school places the two largest programmatic spaces below grade, providing energy efficiency and storm resiliency for nearly 400 students and teachers. A cascading atrium is the heart of the school, flooded with light and activity, connecting collaborative teaching zones and flexible learning environments.  A wood screen references the nearby woods while providing added safety and warmth to the building interior.

Sound Transit University of Washington Station; Seattle

LMN Architects

The Sound Transit University of Washington Station creates a unified solution at one of Seattle’s busiest intersections and provides a unique gateway to the UW campus through its above and below-grade experiences. At the heart of the 156,000-square-foot station, LMN Architects and artist Leo Saul Berk collaborated to create an integrated experience for travelers, where the architecture seamlessly merges with Berk’s artwork, Subterraneum. Backlit perforated metal panels clad the chamber walls, forming patterns of light that express the geological layers of earth, and suffuse the space with ambient light. The Station opened as the second of two stops on the University link in 2016, increasing system ridership by 80 percent.

Square, Inc. Headquarters; San Francisco

Bohlin Cywinski Jackson

Square’s headquarters, spanning four floors of a converted data center, utilizes urban planning principles to transform vast floorplates into a vibrant workplace. A central boulevard, lined with landmarks that break down the scale of the expansive project, serves as the organizational spine of the 295,000-square-foot space. A monumental amphitheater unifies the office floors, providing a flexible venue for a host of activities. Clean lines and predominantly white interiors resonate with Square’s brand at both aesthetic and functional levels, highlighting the company’s core values to create a refined, seamless experience.

2018 Institute Honor Awards for Regional and Urban Design

The jury for the 2018 AIA Institute Honor Awards for Regional and Urban Design includes: Roger Schluntz, FAIA (Chair), School of Architecture and Planning, University of Mexico; Lisa Chronister, AIA, City of Oklahoma City Planning Department; Suzanne DiGeronimo, FAIA, DiGeronimo Architects; Tim Griffin, AIA, Minnesota Design Center; and Gerry Tierney, AIA, Perkins+Will.

Chicago Riverwalk; Chicago

Ross Barney Architects

Utilizing derelict infrastructure, the Chicago Riverwalk is a one-and-a-quarter-mile-long civic space between Lake Michigan and the confluence of the main, north, and south branches of the Chicago River. What might have been unimaginable years ago has been achieved: an activated riverfront in the heart of a booming urban core. The Riverwalk has transformed Chicago and in turn has become a beloved park for residents, visitors, and people of all backgrounds.

Salty Urbanism: Sea Level Rise Adaptation Strategies for Urban Areas; Ft. Lauderdale, Florida

Brooks + Scarpa, Florida Atlantic University and University of Southern California

Salty Urbanism is a sea-level rise adaptation design framework for urban areas that envisions and quantifies the experiential and ecological outcomes of alternative lifestyles within a future of saturated landscapes. As an integrative design tool, Salty Urbanism accommodates a variety of best management practices to be implemented over time. Tactics and techniques outlined are implemented step-wise and successively across various fronts to establish meaningful conversations among stakeholders as they reimagine and realize a prosperous way forward for the region while adapting to sea level rise and climate disruptions.

Urban Watershed Framework Plan: A Reconciliation Landscape for Conway, Arkansas

University of Arkansas Community Design Center

In rapidly growing Conway, Arkansas, the Urban Watershed Framework Plan recalibrates urban infrastructure according to ideals espoused in the concepts of ecosystem services. The plan envisions highly livable green spaces developed through low-tech but high-concept enhancements to investments already servicing Conway’s growth. Employing green infrastructure to deliver ecosystem services, the plan includes a portfolio of retrofits that complement conventional infrastructure that can be transferred to any urban watershed. As ecological problems are often social problems, property owners and low-income residents downstream often suffer the most economic damage. To combat this, the plan bolsters social equity by providing a number of suggested policy revisions and holistic solutions that benefit all interests.

About The American Institute of Architects

Founded in 1857, The American Institute of Architects consistently works to create more valuable, healthy, secure, and sustainable buildings, neighborhoods, and communities. Through nearly 300 international, state and local chapters, AIA advocates for public policies that promote economic vitality and public wellbeing. Members adhere to a code of ethics and conduct to ensure the highest professional standards. AIA provides members with tools and resources to assist them in their careers and business as well as engaging civic and government leaders and the public to find solutions to pressing issues facing our communities, institutions, nation and world.

Contact

Matt Tinder 202-626-7462

AIACC: Indemnity Relief For Design Professionals Effective Immediately In 2018

In April 2017, California Governor Jerry Brown signed into law Senate Bill-496 (SB-496), which modifies the existing Civil Code section 2782.8, adding protections for private contracts entered into by design professionals on or after January 1, 2018 and strengthening the protections available to design professionals with regard to public contracts too. Importantly, the new law limits the “duty to defend” to the comparative fault of the professional in both private and most public construction contracts. Civil Code section 2782.8 previously applied to public contracts entered into by design professionals with local public agencies, excluding state agencies as defined in the statute. The revised 2782.8 places private contracts and public contracts, with non-state agencies, on equal footing with some limited exceptions. Read more on AIACC's blog

AIACC: New Laws Every Employer Needs To Know

Beginning January 1, 2018 three new laws went into effect that every employer in California needs to know. The new laws either affect questions an employer can ask a prospective employee or, for employers of more than 50 people, make important changes to the Parental Leave Act. Read more on AIACC's blog

AIASD: Vacant Committee Chair Opportunities

AIA San Diego is recruiting candidates interested in volunteer committee/knowledge community leadership positions with the Chapter for 2018 & beyond. Chairs are required to be AIA Chapter members (Architect, Associate, Emeritus or Corporate Allied).  Three committee-chair positions are currently vacant. Committee on the Environment (COTE) AIA|San Diego & AIA|Palomar Chapters

Part of a national network of local committees dedicated to advancing the goal of sustainable design.  Note: this is a joint AIA|SD & AIA|Palomar Committee (about 1,000 members all told, across various categories)

Committee Chair Duties

• Recruit members from the AIA|San Diego & AIA|Palomar Chapters;
• Lead a quarterly meeting of committee members;
• Lead the committee to provide programs that support the COTE mission and provide AIA members with the tools they need to meet sustainability goals in their projects and practices;
• Post information to the website that is useful for practitioners;
• Develop and maintain more alignment between the local COTE chapter, other chapters, and the national COTE Advisory Group; act as the liaison and primary point of contact between these groups;
• Support the AIA-SD Design Awards team with regards to the COTE design award.

Women in Architecture (WIA) San Diego Chapter

WIA is an informal AIA networking organization dedicated to supporting women in the San Diego architecture and design community. WIA recognizes that there are gender diversity issues within the architectural profession and strives to increase awareness of women’s contributions to the built environment.

Committee Chair Duties

• Organize regular committee meetings, happy hours, professional development events, lectures, films, tours, volunteering/community building, and book clubs that focus on enhancing the career experience, networking, professional development and employment opportunities for female architects;
• WIA has typically gathered every 2nd Tuesday of the month from 6pm to 8pm, at various locations throughout San Diego;
• The 2018 Chair is permitted flexibility in organizing and running the WIA|SD Committee;
• AIA|Palomar also has a WIA Committee. Cooperation/coordination between the two entities is encouraged;

Custom Residential Architects Network (CRAN) AIA|San Diego & AIA|Palomar Chapters

The Custom Residential Architects Network (CRAN) Knowledge Community (part of a national network supported by AIA) develops knowledge and information to benefit architects who are engaged in, or who are interested in learning more about, custom residential practice including remodels, renovations, restorations, additions & new construction.

Committee Chair Duties

• Facilitate the exchange of knowledge and expertise to promote the professional development of its members via continuing education programs, discussion forums, national symposia and conventions, publications, and local activities;
• Guide the Chapter’s efforts to promote the residential design expertise of our members among selected consumer segments;
• Contribute to creating a strategy for advancing the interests of our members involved in residential design;
• Support an effective response for members of the public who contact the Chapter for information and recommendations, including assisting the Chapter with the development of suitable web-based tools for public-use;
• Contribute to supporting the Chapter when it is approached by media contacts for information or solicitations for design competitions;
• Assist with developing a member-recruitment strategy and outreach;
• Schedule and chair quarterly (or more frequent) gatherings of CRAN|SD-Palomar members.