News from National

Latest residential firm trends

The AIA's Home Design Trends Survey is a recognized source of emerging trends in residential design and business conditions at residential firms. Review the latest release to see the increase in popularity of hands-free sensor faucets in kitchens and bathrooms and the demand for larger pantry space, likely due to COVID-19.  Learn more >

Learning Futures: On the ground

A year into this pandemic, what will be the longer-term impacts on education spaces? Join Fxcollaborative and the AIA Committee on Architecture for Education for an event exploring how COVID-19 has illuminated issues of technology and access, equity, social justice, and our relationship to the natural environment and climate change. March 25 at 2pm ET; Earn 1 LU/HSW. Learn more >

Innovative strategies for measuring the success of housing

This session will present the most common and the most innovative techniques for assessing how a building performs for the wellbeing of its residents. You'll learn how to identify barriers to formal post-occupancy evaluation and strategies to mitigate them. May 3 at 12pm ET | Earn 1 LU/HSW. Learn more >

New Post-Occupancy Evaluation toolkit for courthouses

This Academy of Architecture for Justice toolkit provides the opportunity to gather and analyze information about several aspects of a building’s performance, such as functional area operations, user and occupant satisfaction, maintenance requirements, technical performance, and safety and security. Learn more >

2021 Design for Aging fellowships

These research grants support students and emerging professionals as they increase their understanding of senior environments. Awards range from $5,000-15,000 for topics on the built environment, resident quality of life, and future models of care. Submit by April 30. Learn more >

2021 AIA/ACSA Intersections Research Conference call for papers

AIA and ACSA are accepting abstracts for the 2021 Intersections Research Conference until May 5, 2021. This year’s theme is Communities; and will bring together researchers and designers from practice and academia. There will be five tracks: Equitable Communities, Healthy Communities, Zero-Carbon Communities, Community Localism, and Post-Pandemic Communities. Learn more and submit >

2021 Henry Adams Medal submissions

Submissions are now open through October for the 2021 Henry Adams Medal. Schools may submit the name of one graduate of a BArch, MArch, or DArch program, who displays general excellence throughout his or her academic career for this medal and certificate. Nominate your student >

View the 2020 Medalists >

AIA Issues Statement on Racial Violence

WASHINGTON – March 17, 2021 – The American Institute of Architects (AIA) issued the following statement:

“Violent racism tears at the fabric of modern society. The latest spate of violence targeting members of the Asian community is yet another example of the pernicious impact of racism and inequity in our society. It is another clear call to act to ensure that equity, diversity, and inclusion are central to all that we do, as people and professionals. The challenges ahead and the dreams we share will only be achieved through diverse experiences, perspectives, and talents. Marginalizing, brutalizing, and silencing any group in society, harms and diminishes all of us. We all have a duty to speak up and to act to stop words and deeds that seek to devalue, ostracize, injure, or oppress anyone because of their gender identity or expression, physical disability, who they love, where they come from, the color of their skin, native tongue or any other perceived difference.”

Visit AIA’s website to review the AIA Board statement on systemic racial injustice issued on June 4, 2020.

Robert Ivy, FAIA Peter Exley, FAIA Message to membership

Do you know where you were on Mar 12, 2020?  A year ago, we all had to figure out how to live, work, and learn while coping with a once-in-a-century pandemic. A year later we have learned more than we ever expected.

Certainly, these past 12 months have hurt. The difficulties we have experienced have been both personal and professional.  However, together, we addressed the challenges.  A year ago, as the devastating toll of the COVID-19 health crisis was being felt globally, AIA’s Board, component leaders, and countless members sprang into action to create resources that continue to help members make a positive difference in their communities. A year later the role of the architect to help society meet daunting challenges is clearer than ever before.

The fact is, the COVID-19 public health crisis presented all of us with a choice: To be consumed and overwhelmed by events, or to confront them and offer solutions. This profession chose the latter and our leadership over the past year made clear the power of design to help meet the challenges ahead. Today, far more people better understand the unique abilities of architects to deliver innovative and effective real-world solutions. As we look to the future, we will use that better understanding to advance our shared values of a more sustainable and fairer world through the power of design.

During these past twelve months, faced with daunting trials, we asked, and most members agreed:  We must address the longer-term climate crisis and we must fight to end systemic racial, gender, and class inequities.  They are connected and we have a role to play.  

As architects, we may not have every answer to every crisis, but through this pandemic, we’ve become more resilient, and we can share in the determination and hope for making a better year ahead and a better world.