Despite increasing diversity in students and young professionals entering the field, architecture remains a remarkably homogeneous profession. How can we help retain more diverse voices in our profession? As practitioners, what can we do? Using topics and resources from the just-released AIA Guides for Equitable Practice, this event series is a recurring monthly, small group based discussion. Each month we will gather to discuss a different topic, and explore how we can promote equity, diversity and inclusion within our own firms.

Also join these committees at their upcoming events:

YAF’s ARE Program Discussion | May 22

New Date: UDF’s Happy Hour & Committee Meeting | May 22

COHO’s Trickle Down Town Film Screening | May 22

Bertschi School Tour | May 23

SIAF + DRT Social Hour | May 28

and SIAF’s Emerging Markets in Africa | May 29

From August 6–25, the Seattle Design Festival (SDF) will connect designers, community members and civic leaders to explore how we design for Balance. Since 2011, Design in Public and AIA Seattle have presented the festival with hundreds of partner organizations to celebrate and explore how design improves the quality of our lives and our shared city.  Check out our Call for Proposals on DesigninPublic.org. We invite you to collaborate with SDF 2019: Balance. Proposals due May 22.  

AIA Northwest Washington (NWW) serves our members in North Puget Sound, supporting and promoting the design profession through educational programs and other activities. Check here for their latest updates.

Join NWW in Mt. Vernon May 24 for the Wood Product Tour Field Trip.

And Save the Date for August 23 for the 2019 AIA NWW / AGC Scholarship Golf Tournament in Burlington, Washington.

Recipient of AIA Seattle’s 2018 Emerging Professionals Travel Scholarship, Laura Bartunek Assoc. AIA explored the concept of rain as a creative catalyst within design. The exhibit catalogs these tales of rain through a series of climate illustrations and architectural research models, asking and inspiring us to think differently about our weather.  Join Laura for her tour of the exhibit March 28.

Join us for our inaugural City Leaders Breakfast series event, featuring Seattle City Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda, who will discuss What’s Next for Housing in Seattle, a look at the post-MHA agenda to address housing affordability in the city. We’ll discuss the future for ADUs in Seattle, as well as that of duplexes and triplexes, zoning changes, policy ideas around displacement and ties between transit and affordable housing.

Each year, AIA Seattle recognizes leadership and achievement in design and the built environment through our honors program. At this year’s President’s Dinner, we are thrilled to celebrate our 2019 Honorees, Fellows and Regional Award Winners at a reception and sit-down dinner at the Palace Ballroom! Join us to celebrate these individuals who’ve championed outstanding design in our city and region.

This month in state and local advocacy: the Washington Legislature adjourns, increasing B&O tax on architectural services; updates to Seattle housing legislation regarding ADUs, anti-displacement, and the Fort Lawton Redevelopment plan; plus events in conjunction with HDC’s Affordable Housing Week. Read the full May Advocacy Update here.