Pivoting Beyond Bricks and Mortar

Throughout 2023, the HQ Task Force embarked on a mission to not just find a new address, but to reimagine our presence in Oregon. As we delved into the hearts and minds of our diverse membership, a nuanced picture emerged – one that caused the Task Force to question our initial assumption that the answer to our challenges lay in a new HQ space or spaces.

This brought us to a paradigm shift. After deeply listening, we moved away from our limited exploration of physical space and toward a broad reconsideration of AIA Oregon’s relationship with people and places.

The result is a set of recommendations adopted by the Board of Directors in January 2024. Our top recommendation was that the chapter should not pursue ownership or long-term leases of spaces, for now. From there, we pivoted into what the chapter should do, introducing specific actions and initiatives to strengthen and serve Oregon’s architecture community.

Our recommendations include:

  • Hiring additional AIA Oregon staff to support sections and grow member engagement

  • Investing in new, statewide programs – and providing clarity and resources for anyone involved in planning events

  • Reimagining the structure of section steering committees to provide more support to volunteers, nurture leaders, and encourage broader participation

  • Boosting advocacy and civic involvement at the board level and beyond

  • Developing a mini grant program to support architectural initiatives in Oregon communities

  • Reimagining our Allied Professional membership, with an eye toward building stronger bonds throughout the A/E/C community

We are deeply grateful to the Task Force members who volunteered their time and effort to create this new vision, and to everyone who showed up to help us define our new opportunities together. We look forward to seeing these ideas come to life – and to experiencing the impact of a strengthened foundation and a community-led vision for our chapter.

Elisa Ahn and Alan Scott

Co-chairs, AIA Oregon HQ Task Force

Read the Recommendation Report

Check out the Recommendation Presentation to the AIA Oregon Board

Initiative Background and Document Library

The AIA Oregon team, the HQ Task Force and a team of consultants completed an 18-month visioning, outreach, and engagement process focused on how AIA Oregon can serve members better. The documents below provide insight into the process, the participants, the results, and the important pivots along the way.

  • Final Recommendations (January 2024): The HQ Task Force presented its final recommendations to the AIA Oregon board of directors. The recommendations focus on engagement, programming, and capacity building and contain specific guidance to elevate and strengthen Oregon’s architecture community. The board adopted the recommendations unanimously.

  • Summer Engagement Analysis (August 2023): In summer 2023, the HQ Task Force joined section events around the state to discover what members want for our chapter. These events reached 300+ attendees, giving them the opportunity to share their ideas through conversation and interactive activities. The feedback received at these events led the HQ Task Force to pivot away from pursuing space and toward engagement, programming and capacity building.

  • CACE Survey Results (February 2023): Thirty members of AIA’s Council of Architectural Component Executives (CACE) responded to a survey regarding current and future HQ/Center for Architecture solutions in their chapters. The survey asked about programming considerations, financing models, EDI/access, and other big picture considerations.

  • Member Survey Findings (February 2023): AIA Oregon members responded to a survey that focused on two main questions: Where should the new HQ space or spaces be located? And what should they be used for? The HQ Task Force analyzed the results and made a set of interim recommendations.

  • Project Brief (June 2022): AIA Oregon staff and consultants kicked off the project by defining core guiding factors such as goals, values, audiences, strategic assumptions, and roles.