AIA First Vice President Elect Clark Manus Looks Forward to 2011

Summary: Within hours of learning he had prevailed in the elections held at the AIA 2009 National Convention and Design Exposition, Clark D. Manus, FAIA, who will take office in December 2010 as the 2011 AIA president, recorded a podcast on how he sees his upcoming role, where he sees the profession going, and how he plans to position the AIA to address the near future as it unfolds.

Listen to President Elect-elect Manus

In the next two years, the profession and public alike will overcome a current cynicism born of the recent economic downturn, Manus believes. In the larger picture, there is a global focus on sustainability, he says, and AIA members have recognized the need to be equipped with the skills to make significant changes in this regard, such as the 2030 Commitment firms are coming together within the Institute to make. And it isn’t limited to architects in the U.S., he says, noting that sustainable design was at the top of the discussions he had had the previous day with a number of presidents of architecture associations from around the world. There is a global, action-oriented dialogue on which we need to get moving, he says.

Manus has been deeply involved in membership advocacy throughout his 20-year AIA involvement. “All members should be advocates on environment, education, and whatever they feel is important,” he says. “I’m very excited to bring it to a national level.”

Another element Manus feels strongly about is encouraging and motivating younger people thinking of pursuing a career in the profession and, equally important, helping the public see the value of the profession. He sees great importance in motivating people and being “nimble, active advocates for the profession.”