Navigating the Economy

Making Congress Work for Architects

A major economic crisis and profound political change gave the AIA an unprecedented opportunity in 2009 to shape national policy and advance the role that architects play in designing a better built environment. Nowhere was this more the case than with the AIA’s Rebuild and Renew Plan for Green Communities and a Green Economy, launched in late 2008 as Congress and then President-elect Obama began to debate a stimulus plan. Rebuild and Renew marshaled the forces of thousands of AIA members around the country to advocate for investments in infrastructure that would be not just shovel-ready but shovel-worthy.

Thanks in part to the AIA’s efforts, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act included up to $130 billion in investments in buildings, which are estimated to create or save as many as 14,000 architect jobs. By summer, four in 10 architecture firms had reported billable work or inquiries for stimulus-related projects.

Seeking Small Business Relief

Recognizing that even with the Recovery Act, many architecture firms are still struggling, the AIA launched the second phase of its Rebuild and Renew campaign in October. A Blueprint for Long-Term Prosperity focused on freeing up credit, helping small businesses, and laying the groundwork for sustainable development. Already the plan is seeing results; the House passed small businesses credit legislation backed by the AIA and legislation currently moving through Congress includes funding for school construction and transit facilities.

Knowing that high taxes slow recovery, the AIA is pushing for extensions of tax incentives that spur building. Both an extension of the $8000 homebuyers’ tax credit and provisions that allow businesses to carry back losses in 2008 and 2009 to previous years’ tax returns became law this fall following aggressive grassroots lobbying by the AIA and others. The AIA is leading the effort to expand the energy efficient commercial buildings tax deduction. It helped to secure a one-year delay in the three percent withholding tax on government contractors as a part of stimulus. And working with its allies in the engineering community, the AIA has successfully convinced the federal government to reform procurement rules that require a ten percent retainage on A/E firms that do business with the government.

And on health care, the AIA has joined with its allies in the small business community to oppose provisions in health care reform that would place undue paperwork burdens on small firms, and it has briefed top policymakers on the role architects play in designing first-class hospitals and health facilities.

Walking the Walk

Leading Efforts to Green the Codes

This year, the AIA partnered with the International Code Council (ICC) and ASTM International to develop a green companion code to the family of I-codes under a multi-year initiative, IGCC: Safe and Sustainable by the Book. The AIA secured extensive representation on the Sustainable Building Technology Committee (SBTC), including AIA member Chris Green, AIA, serving as Vice-Chair of the Committee, as well as on subject-specific working groups. The Committee continues to meet regularly until the first code draft for comment is completed in the spring of 2010. Currently, Version 3 of the IGCC draft is posted on the ICC Web site. This version is the base document for consideration of changes occurring at the meeting being held this week in Bonita Springs, FL.

Additionally, the AIA partnered with the Department of Energy and New Buildings Institute (NBI) to propose the widest sweeping change to the commercial chapter of the International Energy Conservation Code in IECC history. Together with experts from the NBI and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), the AIA crafted a change to the 2012 code that included the addition of building commissioning, more stringent mechanical system efficiency requirements, and improvements to the fenestration and opaque wall sections of Chapter 5 of the Code. In a 6-5 vote, the IECC committee passed the change proposal, setting the stage for the final action hearings early in 2010. The AIA is working with its partners to ensure a successful public comment period, addressing concerns from industry and positioning the proposal for acceptance by the ICC voting membership. For more information on the changes and comment period, visit the DOE Web site.

Enhancing Sustainable Design Policy

Working with its allies, the AIA helped to ensure that the Waxman-Markey climate change bill passed by the House of Representatives in June provided incentives for sustainable design and construction, including passage of programs to spur green affordable housing, provisions that promote advanced energy codes, investments for retrofits, and a program for green education. In addition, thanks to its direct lobbying efforts, the AIA succeeded in modifying several provisions that may have increased liability for architects.

The AIA also is working with its allies in the building industry on legislation to promote green building at the federal level. And it helped to pass legislation through the House that not only would fund greening of school buildings, but also programs to enhance the education of design students in sustainable design.

Helping Communities “Go Green”

In 2009, the AIA released the fourth report in its acclaimed Local Leaders in Sustainability project, Green Building Policy in a Changing Economic Environment. This report examines the consequences of the current economic situation on green building policy in our nation’s cities by updating and adding to the first report, A Study of Green Building Programs in Our Nation’s Communities. The new report offers case study examples, analysis of the effects of the global economic downturn, recommendations on how cities can continue to go green with the assistance of the architectural community, and interviews with architects and political/civic leaders nationwide.

Supporting State Adoption of the AIA’s Carbon Neutrality Goals

In May, the efforts of AIA members in Washington achieved great success when Gov. Christine Gregoire (D-WA) signed the Efficiency First Bill, S.B. 5854, into law. The bill was drafted by the AIA Washington Council, along with a coalition from the environmental community. Although specific emissions reduction percentages were not set, the bill requires the state energy code to be designed to accelerate construction of increasingly energy-efficient buildings that help achieve the broader goal of building zero fossil-fuel greenhouse gas emission homes and buildings by the year 2031. It also requires the state building code council to adopt state energy codes from 2013 through 2031 that incrementally move toward achieving a 70 percent reduction in annual net-energy consumption.

After the Washington bill’s adoption, at Governor Gregoire’s suggestion and with her assistance, the National Governors Association (NGA) adopted provisions endorsing the AIA’s carbon neutrality goals, joining the U.S. Conference of Mayors and the National Association of Counties, which both previously took similar action. In addition to the NGA’s endorsement, in November, a committee of the Council of State Governments (CSG) voted to include legislation in their suggested state legislation book that reflects the AIA’s carbon neutrality goals. The suggested legislation was based on Washington State’s bill adopted in May. The legislation will now be included in CSG’s compendium for state government officials to use moving forward.

Moving Communities Forward

Creating Livable, Sustainable Communities

The AIA Center for Communities by Design completed 10 SDATs in 2009, including one in Los Angeles.

In 2009, the AIA Center for Communities by Design conducted ten Sustainable Design Assessment Team (SDAT) projects covering 11 states and involving dozens of AIA members, over 100 professional pro bono volunteers, and thousands of stakeholders and citizens. The projects garnered significant attention from political leaders and news media, including over 150 different news stories covering media markets across the country. The “next generation” of architects was heavily involved in these projects, with student charrette volunteers in Nebraska, Vermont, and Massachusetts. During the Indianapolis SDAT in November, more than 60 students from Ball State University pitched in. In Colorado, the SDAT partnered with the University of Colorado, which is doing implementation work on the SDAT team’s recommendations. Visit the SDAT Web site for more information on the program, the teams’ accomplishments in 2009, and looking forward to 2010.

As Congress and the Administration gear up to debate the nation’s transportation programs, the AIA has used the results of its 2008 Moving Communities Forward report to advocate for more investments in livable communities, greener transit facilities, and an increased role for charrettes led by design professionals, like the AIA’s SDATs. The AIA is also working closely with House and Senate lawmakers to pass the Livable Communities Act, which would provide grants for such activities.

Getting the Support of Government

The AIA recognizes the importance of getting public officials involved in AIA-sponsored and led community programming activities. In March, the Center for Communities by Design conducted the first Regional/Urban Design Assistance Team (R/UDAT) ever held in Vermont. Several public officials were involved in the R/UDAT, including the Vermont Secretary of Tourism, the Secretary of Commerce and Community Development, and staffers from U.S. Senators Leahy and Sanders’ offices. Regional projects in Tennessee and Colorado involved dozens of public officials from affected municipalities. The Center’s SDAT in Beatrice, Neb., included both municipal officials as well as state representatives. In October, the Indianapolis SDAT included local officials as well as a federal official, EPA Assistant Secretary Mathy Stanislaus.

Helping Components Deal with Disaster

Through its Disaster Assistance programming efforts, the AIA identified disaster coordinators in six additional states and now has at least one coordinator identified in 36 states. Through its disaster assistance network, the AIA supported disaster recovery mobilization efforts in Washington, Georgia, and Iowa in 2009. The program also sponsored training sessions for architects in Washington, California, Florida, Kansas, Iowa, Tennessee, and Alabama.

In addition to the disaster assistance network, AIA National Board Member Erica Rioux Gees, AIA, testified in July before the House Committee on Homeland Security regarding the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) housing and long-term recovery. In November, Disaster Assistance Program volunteers were invited to participate in stakeholder workshops held by FEMA regional offices to solicit input on a new Disaster Recovery Framework organized by FEMA, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Department of Homeland Security.

Making Our Voices Heard

Showing that Design Matters

The AIA spearheaded and launched a major study recommending that the State Department adopt design excellence in its embassy program. The study, Design for Diplomacy, has already achieved results, and top administration and Congressional leaders are looking to implement additional recommendations in 2010.

In addition to advancing legislation and regulatory reform, the AIA has stepped up its efforts to educate national leaders on the role of architects in public policy. This year, the AIA inaugurated the Design U program during its Grassroots Leadership and Legislative Conference, working with AIA knowledge communities to hold three briefings for Congressional staff on green schools, hospital facilities, and design for aging. In addition, in 2009 four AIA members testified before Congressional committees; in two cases, their testimony has directly led to legislation being advanced in the House.

The AIA has briefed key White House staff on its sustainability and design assistance programs and offered it advice about White House greening efforts. It has met with Education Secretary Duncan to discuss ways the AIA can work with the Department to advance green schools and career pathways for architects, and has spoken to top HUD and Transportation Department officials about the administration’s livability initiative.

Emphasizing the Importance of Civic Engagement

The AIA continued to reinforce the need for architects to advocate at the local, state, and national level. These “citizen architects,” members who serve their communities as an elected official, appointee, or volunteer, were recognized at the annual Citizen Architect Exchange in San Francisco during the AIA National Convention.

The AIA also worked closely with U.S. Representative Earl Blumenauer, Hon. AIA, (D-OR) to launch a transportation and infrastructure forum initiative. In 2009, AIA National partnered with AIA DC and AIA Pasadena Foothills on these forums, and it plans to build the program in 2010.

Building Important Relationships

The AIA continued to build on its existing relationship with organizations such as the US Conference of Mayors Business Council, the National Association of Counties Green Government Advisory Board, the National League of Cities Corporate Partners Council, the National Council of State Legislatures, and other state and local government groups. The AIA was able to present at several conferences on Local Leaders in Sustainability and the Citizen Architect program. AIA leadership also spoke on AIA programs at the Solar Decathlon, Good Jobs/Green Jobs Conference, Greening Rooftops Conference, The George Washington University Partnership for International Strategies in Asia, the American Planning Association federal conference, a joint Chamber of Commerce/Brookings Institute conference held in the U.S. Capitol, and at EcoBuild.

Expanding the AIA’s Credible Voice

The AIA continued to create and provide tools for members and components to help them advocate for the AIA’s positions and policies at the local, state, and national level. Advocacy 201: A Four-part Webcast on Sustainability, released earlier this year, discusses what the AIA is doing on sustainability and what components and members can do to promote this AIA strategic agenda item. This series and the 2007 Advocacy 101 Webinar on how to be an effective advocate are both available on the AIA’s “Get Involved” site, along with many other advocacy resources.

Members also used the AIA Advocacy Center more than ever before. The site was visited by more than 9,500 members in 2009, and those members sent more than 33,000 messages to their legislators on Capitol Hill on issues ranging from small business tax credits to health care to the federal stimulus plan. AIA members also went to Capitol Hill during Grassroots and to meet with their members during Congressional recesses this year. Member meetings during Congressional recesses continue to increase each year.

Finally, the AIA continued to grow a more vigorous ArchiPAC, the federal political action committee of the AIA. Funded solely by voluntary contributions from AIA members and staff, ArchiPAC works to support candidates for Congress that promote the issues of importance to architects and their communities. For more information on ArchiPAC’s activities, visit its Web site.

The Angle is published by the AIA Government Advocacy Team, 1735 New York Ave., NW, Washington, DC, 20006. To contact The Angle, send an email to govaffs@aia.org.

Archive
December 3, 2009 November 19, 2009 November 5, 2009 October 22, 2009 October 8, 2009 September 24, 2009 September 10, 2009 July 30, 2009 July 16, 2009 July 2, 2009		June 18, 2009 May 28, 2009 May 19, 2009 May 14, 2009 April 30, 2009 April 16, 2009 April 2, 2009 March 19, 2009 March 5, 2009 February 19, 2009