First Vice President/President/Elect

1. The AIA and the United States Conference of Mayors are working together to encourage city leaders to take a strong stance in favor of promoting integrated and high-performance building design with a goal of reaching a 50 percent fossil fuel reduction by 2010 and carbon neutral buildings by 2030. What are your plans to support this initiative and to implement the AIA's positions on the environment? More specifically, what role do you see the Associate AIA members playing now and in the future in furthering these objectives?

As your AIA National Vice President and chair of the Board Knowledge Committee (BKC), I participated in the Sustainability Summit held in 2005 that drafted the AIA position statements on carbon reduction and sustainable rating systems, which also became the basis for our alliance with the US Conference of Mayors. Last year, the BKC formed a task group to forward recommendations to the Board of Directors on achieving our sustainable goals. Specific tactics are being developed this year to move toward our 2010 goal. “50 to 50” is a program that will provide 50 ways to get to the 50 percent reductions which we and our firms must implement to meet our goals by 2010. Focused advocacy toward community and legislative leaders to enact these programs is critical to our success, and it is happening based on the widespread recognition of the AIA and architects as leaders toward a sustainable future.

Associate AIA members are ahead of many architects through their knowledge of sustainability initiatives and can take a leadership position in moving both our firms and our members toward implementing sustainable strategies in design and in community planning.

Future Associates have a greater awareness of environmental issues, are gaining greater knowledge in architecture schools today, and they will be able to apply their knowledge in practice to advance our effectiveness against climate change.

2. Where do you see opportunities for architecture students, emerging professionals, and recently licensed professionals to make the greatest contribution to our profession?

The two highest priorities identified in the current AIA National Component strategic plan are Integrated Practice and Sustainability. Both of these issues provide great opportunities for students, emerging professionals and young architects to not only engage with the profession but to also be seen as a resource toward achieving our preferred future.

Integrated Project Delivery is moving swiftly through the profession, and many architects are facing challenges in their practice in adopting and applying new technologies. Students, emerging professionals, and young professionals are often more adept at computing technology, while more experienced professionals may have a better understanding of how buildings are assembled. In an integrated project delivery model, there is a wonderful opportunity to work synergistically as a team, with each learning from each other.

The National Associate Committee’s and emerging professionals’ contributions regarding sustainability and climate change are every bit as important to our future, and have been addressed in the previous response.

3. Some statistics have suggested the rate of attrition among architects is steadily increasing. What initiatives do you suggest/support that will encourage younger members to remain in the field and also to become registered?

It is critical that firms create a supportive learning environment to continue the development of our emerging professionals and AIA Associates. The ideas behind the Intern Friendly Firm developed by the NAC are right on target. My firm’s recognition in 2005 as the AIA National IDP Firm of the Year demonstrates my personal and professional support for the concepts of the Intern Friendly Firm. Firms must be encouraged to treat young members with respect and to pay reasonable compensation that provides a living wage. It is critical that associates receive a fair wage for their efforts, and that work time requirements are reasonable. Data has shown that low compensation and unreasonable expectations regarding the number of hours that emerging professionals are expected to work has contributed significantly to losing younger members from the profession.

AIA Components can play a significant role in younger members remaining in the field. Associates and younger members working with and through components strengthen the components and provide strong connections with the profession. Working on committees and on projects is a great way to become engaged.

The profession and the AIA must provide encouragement for staying in the profession and ultimately for Associates to become licensed. I strongly support the AIA position on timing of the ARE, allowing interns to begin the ARE upon graduation, and not requiring a significant passage of time before they can begin testing.

4. As technology advances and new software is developed, at least some members of the public (including potential clients) seem to believe that it is becoming easier for any “Average Joe” to “design” a building. How do you propose we, leaders of the architecture profession, promote an architect’s value to society? Additionally, how do you see the role of the architect changing as technology advances?

An architect’s value lies in the quality of their ideas, and their application in creating high quality, sustainable design solutions. Our projects are continuing to be more complex and more integrated due to their focus on technology and a sustainable future, therefore we need to demonstrate our value to society through our actions in designing solutions that create healthy, livable, beautiful, and sustainable communities. As we demonstrate our value through action, we need to provide a clear message to the public regarding the value of architects and architecture.

No doubt, the role of the architect is changing with the advancement of integrated practice and building information modeling, plus, our important role in designing a sustainable future for society is paramount. We must work collaboratively with owners, contractors, and with the engineers and other professionals with whom we work to design our buildings and communities to remain vital to the design and construction process. The architect has the opportunity to reestablish a leadership role by engaging all parties to work together to provide creative and sustainable design solutions. Architects also have an opportunity to assist owners beyond initial construction by providing a living electronic building model that can be used to sustainably manage the maintenance and changes to the building over its life.

5. How is the Intern process handled in your firm/office? Would you consider it to be "Intern Friendly"? What would you propose to help make the profession more "Intern Friendly"?

My firm has been nationally recognized as a mentoring firm, and has had that commitment since its establishment in 1945. We employ students, both in high school and in architecture school. We provide a broad practice experience for our emerging professionals, ensuring they are exposed to all aspects of practice and preparing them to be ready to take the ARE at their earliest opportunity. Because of this long-term commitment, our firm was named the AIA National IDP Firm of the Year in 2005 for our mentoring efforts.

Based on my direct leadership within my firm, we have provided study materials, cover the exam cost for our interns to encourage them to become licensed; and have provided financial rewards in the form of increased compensation when they do become licensed. We believe it is critical and only fair that associates receive reasonable compensation for their efforts, that appropriate reward is offered for hard work, and that time responsibilities for associates are managed. We believe in treating interns respectfully and encouraging their advancement as the next generations of leaders in our firm. I am a second generation principal in our firm, and am working to develop the third generation of principals that will lead and grow our firm.

Every firm needs to evaluate what they are able to do, but I believe that the AIA must support emerging professionals to continue the growth and recognition of architects in our ever changing profession and society.