News from National

Nominations are now open for the 2022 elections

Architect members in good standing may declare candidacy for AIA elected national office (2023 First Vice President or 2023-2024 Secretary). Individuals eligible for selection as a 2023-2025 At-large Director, per the Bylaws, may also declare candidacy. Deadline: Monday, February 14, 2022 at 5pm EST. Learn more >

Framework for Design Excellence and how it relates to Honors & Awards

As part of AIA’s role in the 2030 Commitment, all AIA project-based awards now include the Framework for Design Excellence and an auto-scored metrics scorecard. Please pay attention to the instructions for downloading and uploading the PDF. Learn more about the Framework and how it applies to awards.
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2021 Design for Aging Review Awards

The Design for Aging Review showcases facilities that represent conscientious surroundings and advanced environments for senior living. Check out the eight projects representing the Merit and Special Recognition awards. See the winners >

RUDC Symposium: Virtual migrations

Migrations is the fourth AIA Regional and Urban Design Committee (RUDC) Symposium on the future of urban design education and practice. This series addresses critical challenges facing the architecture profession while bringing together practitioners, educators, and theorists to assert innovative solutions. Earn 2 LU
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Design with love: At home in America

This presentation explores the notion that the best results for all stakeholders occur when a project is conceived and built with purpose. Learn how to look beyond designing a project to delivering on a mission to research, build, and advocate for architecture that promotes justice and human dignity. Register >

AIA applauds President Biden signing Infrastructure

AIA encourages Congress to continue to make meaningful investments in Build Back Better.

WASHINGTON – Nov. 15, 2021 – The American Institute of Architects (AIA) applauds enactment of the bipartisan infrastructure bill that will allow the U.S. to make meaningful advancements towards building a more resilient and sustainable built environment.  

"This bipartisan legislation affirms AIA’s long-held contention that buildings are infrastructure,” said AIA 2021 President Peter Exley, FAIA. “It is encouraging to see Congress make meaningful investment in building sector energy efficiency and resilience. While the infrastructure deal is an important step forward for our nation, more needs to be done if we are going win in this race against time for our planet. We continue to urge Congress to support the significant climate investments contained in the Build Back Better bill, as well as aggressive emissions reduction commitments at COP26 that will combat climate change.”

AIA advocated for several provisions included in the “Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act,” (H.R. 3684), which will improve safety, resilience and sustainability in the built environment. Key provisions that would improve the built environment, include:

• Providing $3.5 billion in funding for the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Weatherization Assistance Program, which increases energy efficiency and reduces costs for low-income households.

• Authorizing $500 million in competitive grants to support energy-efficient and renewable energy in schools.

• Allocating $1 billion for the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program.

• Allocating $500 million for grants established from the Safeguarding Tomorrow through Ongoing Risk Mitigation Act (STORM Act), which mitigates hazards to reduce risks from disasters.

• Providing $250 million in funding to establish the Energy Efficiency Revolving Loan Fund Capitalization Grant Program, which states could use to improve the energy efficiency of residential and commercial buildings.

• Establishing a $225 million competitive grant program within the DOE's Building Technologies Office to support cost-effective building code implementation.

• Establishing a $40 million grant program to train individuals to conduct energy audits and surveys of commercial and residential buildings.

• Developing building, training, and assessment centers through institutions of higher education and Tribal colleges to train architects, engineers, and other professionals about energy-efficient design and technologies, along with fostering additional research.

• Allowing the Metropolitan Transportation Planning authorities to use federal funding to promote more walkable and multi-modal communities.

Since February, the AIA and its members have been advocating for members of Congress to include federal funding for buildings in the infrastructure package. So far, AIA members have sent more than five thousand letters to their respective members of Congress. On July 23, an op-ed authored by Exley, “U.S. building infrastructure needs 21st century upgrades,” appeared in The Hill outlining why buildings are a critical part of America’s infrastructure.

Visit AIA’s website to learn more about its advocacy efforts.

News from National

022 Call for National Committees

The 2022 Call for National Committee applications is now open. The deadline to submit is 5pm ET, Monday, November 8. Please share this opportunity with those you think might be interested in national volunteer service. Learn more >

Firm billings for September 2021

AIA's Architecture Billings Index is a recognized leading indicator for nonresidential construction and is available to AIA members for free. September’s index reported another month of healthy business conditions, with an ABI score of 56.6. Firms also reported investing most heavily in technology for communication and collaboration. Learn more >

Tuition and ARE Scholarships now open

Applications are open for tuition scholarships and additional ARE grants. Scholarships are available for students attending NAAB-accredited architecture programs and aspiring African American architects studying for the Architect Registration Examination. Apply today >

Taking sustainable justice guidelines to the next level

This workshop is hosted collaboratively by the Research Committee and Sustainable Justice Committee of The AIA Academy of Architecture for Justice. Session participants will help transform the existing "Sustainable Justice Guidelines into a living resource that responds to both past and current events in the justice system. Earn 3 LU/HSW. Register now >

Facility Guidelines Institute 2022 Edition: Changes coming to the Emergency Department

Join us to learn more about the major additions and revisions coming to the Emergency Department chapter within the upcoming release of FGI 2022 Edition. Bryan Langlands (NBBJ) and Virginia Pankey (HOK), both members of the Health Guidelines Review Committee for the 2022 Edition, will review the upcoming changes.
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CODAsummit: Art, Technology, and Place

CODAworx, the hub of the commissioned art economy, is a driving force in large-scale public art, often associated with architectural commissions. The upcoming CODAsummit, November 10-12 in Scottsdale, Ariz., will highlight the intersection of Art, Technology, and Place. This year’s online exhibition and webinars have attracted a broad audience of architects and allied members, and with your help, we could draw more.
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