Summary: “Welcome to Washington. Welcome to Grassroots 2007 and the opening session of the AIA’s annual Leadership and Legislative Conference,” said AIA Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer Chris McEntee as she opened the Institute’s annual event for 800 AIA leaders on February 7 in the nation’s capital. McEntee first focused participants’ attention on the press conference that took place earlier that day, when Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.), revealed the people’s choice of the top 150 buildings of America’s favorite architecture. That public survey kicked off AIA150, the Institute’s sesquicentennial celebration, and demonstrates, McEntee says, the public’s passion for architecture.

Listening leads to strategies; strategies, to action
“How can we help prepare AIA members to speak most eloquently to this passion?” McEntee asked. “Listening” is key, she said, whether in our own communities or on Capitol Hill. “Last year, I said I believed my first assignment as Executive Vice President was to engage our members and the national staff in conversation in which my role was to be a close listener. “

Out of listening to all constituencies of the AIA came a new mission statement:

“The American Institute of Architects is the voice of the architectural profession and the resource for its members in service to society.”

With that mission in hand, the AIA’s Strategic Planning Committee created a bold, far-reaching plan, that was both informed by and expressive of the AIA’s core values, McEntee explained, values that have not changed in intent for 150 years. Characteristics of the AIA’s 2007–2009 Strategic Plan include a commitment to pursuing innovation, leveraging the Institute’s strengths, being results-driven, and using communications tools to foster transparency in member communications. “Throughout Grassroots we will have many opportunities to talk about the strategic plan—what it is and how it’s a resource for each of us in whatever way we exercise our leadership on behalf of AIA members everywhere,” McEntee concluded.

Proclaiming Architecture Week
AIA President RK Stewart, FAIA, after thanking McEntee for her leadership, told of a new resolution forthcoming from the Hill: “Yesterday, Senator Mary Landrieu [D-La.] and Rep. Blumenauer jointly introduced a concurrent resolution in both chambers,” he said. “In the Rayburn Building this morning, we witnessed the passage of a resolution celebrating the contributions of the architecture profession during National Architecture Week:

“Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that the contributions of the architectural profession should be recognized and celebrated during ‘National Architecture Week,’ and Congress requests that the President issue a proclamation calling upon the people of the United States and interested organizations to observe such week with appropriate ceremonies and activities.”

“On behalf of society, few professions have more power to help our planet avoid catastrophic consequence than you and I, and the nearly 80,000 men and women we represent, Stewart said. Thanks to the Board’s adoption of targets for reductions in buildings’ fossil fuel use, attention has increasingly focused on the role architects and architecture can play in mitigating society’s impact on climate change. “We need to ally with like-minded constituencies if we are to achieve results. We can’t do it alone,” Stewart concluded. “That’s why we’ve come to Washington.”

Allying on the message of sustainability

Purnell also addressed the importance of the conference participants’ upcoming trip to Capitol Hill. “The difference between us and lobbyists is huge: Their leverage of choice is money; ours is votes,” he said. “The good . . . no, the great news is that unlike some who come to the Hill, we’re not here to advocate self interest; our issues truly serve the public good, which legally, ethically, and historically we are bound to do.”

Purnell then introduced Kateri Callahan, president of the Alliance to Save Energy, a 30-year-old nonprofit organization formed by sitting members of Congress to promote energy efficiency. The group has kept up that tradition and keeps sitting members of Congress on their board and currently works with more than 100 diverse organizations that “try to demonstrate to the Congress that energy efficiency is our greatest energy resource. If the U.S. hadn’t made the efficiency advances that have been put in place in the last 30 years, we would need 40 percent more energy than we use today,” she explained. Additionally, she said, “efficiency certainly is our cleanest resource and can help our economy. Because we still waste so much energy today, efficiency offers us the greatest opportunity to save more energy today.“

Callahan pointed out that the built environment is the single largest energy-using sector in the country. “That’s why we’re so excited to be allied with AIA.” I can’t think of another group that can help us promote sustainability than the AIA, she said. Echoing Purnell’s message, Callahan stressed putting words into actions. Some of the actions she believes would be more effective are new building codes, standards—such as the AIA 2030 Challenge, Energy Star, LEED® building certification, and ASHRAE standards; and extending the 2005 Energy Act, tax incentives, and passing the Energy Act currently before Congress.