Scenes from the AIA National Convention

Scenes from the AIA National Convention

AIA President Jeff Potter, FAIA, opened the 2012 AIA National Convention in Washington, D.C., on Thursday morning. This year’s convention theme, Design Connects, said Potter, “captures in two words a simple but powerful idea, that in a world of individuals, design has the power to bring us together.” Image by Matt Martin.

More than 3,000 attendees filled the ballroom of the Walter E. Washington Convention Center for the opening day session of the 2012 AIA National Convention. Image by Matt Martin.

Author and historian David McCullough, two-time Pulitzer Prize winner, was the featured keynote speaker at the opening day general session. In a wide ranging presentation, McCullough recalled a moment with his mentor Vincent Scully: “Once, walking with [Scully]…he told me ‘Architects don’t just build with stone and steel, they build with light.’” Image by Matt Martin.

Attendees at the 2012 AIA National Convention enjoy author David McCullough’s opening day keynote, and treated him to a standing ovation at the conclusion of his presentation. Image by Matt Martin.

Architect of the Capitol Stephen Ayers, FAIA, welcomed AIA members to Washington, D.C., and posed the question: “What symbolizes our freedom and democracy more than our U.S. Capitol Building?” Image by Matt Martin.

The Honorable Vincent Gray, Mayor of the District of Columbia, welcomed AIA members to his city and presented AIA President Jeff Potter, FAIA, a proclamation declaring May 17 as The American Institute of Architects Day in Washington, D.C. Image by Matt Martin.

U.S. Representative Earl Blumenauer, Hon. AIA, from Oregon, told a receptive audience that the country needs more “pencil-ready projects versus shovel-ready projects,” and noted that “good design is key to breaking [current] political and policy impasses.” Image by Matt Martin.

Jeff Potter, FAIA; George Baird, Intl. Assoc. AIA, the 2012 AIA/ACSA Topaz Medallion recipient; and ACSA President Judith Kinnard, following the presentation of the medallion. Image by Matt Martin.

George Baird, Intl. Assoc. AIA, 2012 AIA/ACSA Topaz Medallion recipient, said he “felt fortunate to have been a member of a generation that successfully managed to combine a professional and academic role in architecture.” Image by Matt Martin.

Historian David McCullough signed copies of his new book, <em>The Greater Journey: Americans in Paris</em>, following his keynote presentation on Thursday morning. Image by Matt Martin.

The CES Theater on the Expo show floor is the venue for a wide variety of continuing education events during the 2012 AIA National Convention. In this image, AIA members are learning about aluminum fenestration systems. Image by Matt Martin.

A popular, new feature of this year’s AIA National Convention is the Hanley Wood “Architect Live” broadcast center on the Expo show floor. Image by Matt Martin.

Stephen Chung, AIA, (left) host of Hanley Wood’s “Architect Live” interviews 2012 AIA/ACSA Topaz Medal recipient George Baird, Intl. Assoc. AIA. Image by Matt Martin.

A perennial feature of the AIA National Convention is the Podcast Studio, where dozens of interviews are recorded for future educational uses. Image by Matt Martin.

Volunteers work on a future Sasha Bruce Youthwork group home in southeast Washington, D.C. Reed Construction Data and Hanley Wood collected materials and organized more than 100 AIA convention attendee volunteers. Image by Reed Construction Data.

Mike Waldinger, Hon. AIA, (left) and Washington, D.C., Mayor Vincent Gray, at the AEC Cares/Sasha Bruce Youthwork pre-convention volunteer event on May 15. Image by Reed Construction Data.

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