Own Tomorrow–A Young Architect’s Observations of the Knowledge Leadership Assembly

by Ronda H. Wang, AIA

Summary: Looking back on my first year as the state liaison for the Young Architects Forum from Texas, I can’t help but think of the things I’ve been exposed to during this time—interesting concepts, compelling subjects, and … acronyms? Yes, I now drop the occasional “COTE” and “BIM” during conversations, but few acronyms are as meaningful to me as KLA (also known as the Knowledge Leadership Assembly). The 2006 Knowledge Leadership Assembly, held in September, brought the AIA’s knowledge communities together to facilitate direct links between the needs and wants of the Institute’s membership constituencies and the Board of Directors.

Bruce Blackmer, FAIA, relayed how the Institute recognized in the late 1990s that the interest areas needed much greater autonomy and independence in setting their visions, goals, and specific program objectives, and thus the evolution of the professional interest areas (PIAs) into knowledge-management groups known today as knowledge communities. These communities—along with membership constituencies, such as Young Architects Forum, College of Fellows, National Associates Committee, and Educators/Providers Network— formed the core elements and catalysts of the KLA.

Knowledge endowment for today’s young architects
More than 20 communities strong, knowledge communities are autonomous, independent groups that allow members to deepen their understanding of a specific topic through ongoing learning and knowledge sharing. These communities are vehicles for young architects to adapt to changing markets and create alternate practice models and service delivery because knowledge communities are a living information network. Information flows up and down the knowledge center network, becoming a self-supporting body of knowledge in the process.

Knowledge Communities are a living information network

In a self-assessment survey conducted June 23–July 11, 2006, 19,000+ AIA members were surveyed, with 20 percent responding. Findings reflected a few key ideas that will guide activities:

• 68 percent use the KCs to stay informed about the latest developments
• 41 percent would like to be more involved at the local level
• Relevant information to one’s job includes case studies, best practices, and benchmarking.

At the KLA, AIA Executive Vice President/CEO Chris McEntee reinforced the Institute’s commitment of resources and people to the KC initiatives. This type of support is invaluable, especially to start-up or small firms that traditionally cannot support the overhead of such research. In addition, the assemblies, annual reports, and action plans allow for safe and open discussion of non-proprietary methodologies among practicing architects and consultants.

KCs allow for safe and open discussion of non-proprietary methodologies among practicing architects and consultants

The Voluntary Curriculum
AIA Vice President Mike Rodriquez, AIA; AIA Managing Director of Continuing Education C.D. Pangallo, EdD; and Amy Yurko, AIA, facilitated a discussion session on a program currently under development by the AIA Continuing Education Committee, The Voluntary Curriculum. The program is intended to enhance member value by making continuing education relevant via self-directed professional development. While mandatory continuing education maintains proficiency, the Voluntary Curriculum—still a few months away—will seek to move members well beyond this level. Operating as a “learner management system,” this curriculum will allow members to self-assess their current knowledge and identify gaps they need to close to achieve their desired goals.

Existing programs will maintain the core disciplines (what we need to know): design, building science, practice, and leadership. Specialized and new programs will create focus (what we want to know): service specialties, building types, issues, and trends. Each curriculum will encompass a body of knowledge, defining knowledge needs with increasing depth and complexity.

The Committee on the Environment (COTE), the knowledge community for sustainable design, has rapidly developing resources and is looking for a means to provide access. Using their established “10 Measures of Sustainable Design,” COTE is working with the Continuing Education Committee to identify curricula that cross all sustainability disciplines and categories. Knowledge programs are organized by proficiency. “External” sustainable frameworks such as LEED® also are referenced. The Voluntary Curriculum will begin pilot programs in concert with COTE’s initiatives.

Own your tomorrow
Attending the Knowledge Leadership Assembly has shown me how the AIA is directly working for me as a member. With the KCs’ living strategic plan supported by the resources of knowledgeable people and invigorated leadership, I firmly believe that the intelligent use of the communities will enable young architects to transform architecture into a built environment that is aesthetically pleasing, functionally strong, and satisfying to all involved.