Submissions are open for the 2020 Honor Awards for Washington Architecture! In the midst of a public health crisis and critical reckonings with systemic racism, we are wary to suggest that design solves problems. And yet, we believe in AIA Seattle’s vision of a culture of design that fosters equitable, resilient, and thriving communities. You play a vital role in showcasing the design leadership in our region – we encourage you to share your work. Stay connected and start a new conversation. What’s new this year and the Call for Submissions + Guidelines here.

As AIA Seattle reflects on our pursuit of racial justice, we are committing to a process of transparency in what measurable actions we are taking. As a member-led organization, we are establishing this evolving list for the sake of mutual accountability — so you may see what we are doing, and tell us where we should be moving in the future. As we establish new protocols, goals, and activities, we will add them to the top of this list.

Find our Racial Justice Resources Page here. And Read our statement here.

AIA Seattle’s Young Architects Forum and Urban Design Forum present Towards a Region of Short Distances – a design competition that is live now! This competition seeks ideas and proposals for incrementally reshaping our region’s automobile-centric areas towards walking and transit. The competition is open to anyone, and we hope to showcase the work in a publication and open a discussion about the future of Seattle’s development.

Submissions due by August 15!

AIA Seattle’s 2020 ADU Tour has been moved to an online format – the ADU Showcase. This Showcase highlights ADUs designed by AIA Seattle member architects. Each ADU is uniquely designed based on local regulations, site conditions, family needs, and client preferences

We are accepting applications for attached or detached ADUs to showcase on our website. You can find more info here and access the submittal form to submit your project. Stay tuned for the online showcase!

The Seattle Architecture Foundation 23rd Annual Model exhibit, Iterations, celebrates the germination of a design idea and how it’s nurtured over time through the exploration of writing, drawing, modeling and material studies.

The exhibit will be on display August 12 – December 12, 2020

Look to our events calendar for the listing of upcoming committee meetings.

Community is more important than ever. As a member-based organization, AIA Seattle is rapidly shifting its response to this public health crisis with remote learning and engagement opportunities, and aggregating regional and national resources for our members. Programming updates will continue to be made on our events calendar, and homepage.

Our Public Policy Board is taking a critical look at our advocacy positions and  practices to better incorporate diverse voices, and amplify the work of BIPOC community groups. We will add a race and social justice section to all our policy position statements and develop a formal policy statement on race and social justice in the built environment. We will focus these efforts around our top priority issues – housing and climate – but will apply this lens to all issues we work on, including transportation, homelessness, and more. Contact Kirsten Smith for more info.

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.

AIA Seattle believes our world needs the visionary and integrative thinking of architects and designers, and that design solutions can positively impact our communities. Guided by our values of excellence, advocacy, integrity, equity and stewardship, we prepare our profession to lead, and deploy design to make a difference, so that we are all able to do our best work in a culture of design the fosters equitable, resilient, thriving communities. Read about the planning process, member feedback and our mission, vision, values in our new strategic plan.