The AIA Seattle Happy Hour Series is a monthly gathering presented by the Young Architects Forum and Women in Design committees to encourage connections within the Seattle design community. This year’s series will explore the exciting innovations and advancements that…
STATE NEWS State Legislative Session Update The state legislature adjourned for the year on March 10. Thank to you all of you who supported AIA’s efforts in Olympia. Here is a list of AIA’s highlights from the session (you can…
In February, the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections (SDCI) and the Office of Sustainability and Environment (OSE) released a draft SEPA ordinance on tree protections. The ordinance would expand the types and sizes of trees that are regulated, require…
NATIONAL NEWS National Building Performance Standard Effort At the United States Conference of Mayors winter meeting in January, President Biden announced a new partnership with state and local governments to reduce carbon emissions from the built environment. Known as the…
AIA Seattle believes the vision for City of Seattle should be a livable city with a variety of housing near many types of amenities, retail cores, and transit that appeals to and is accessible to everyone, where everything residents need…
STATE NEWS State Building Code Council Releases 2021 Commercial Energy Code The 2021 commercial energy code amendments have been released by the State Building Code Council; you can view the proposed rule here. Public comments can be emailed to sbcc@des.wa.gov…
STATE NEWS Washington’s Redistricting Process Ends Washington’s redistricting saga has ended, with the state Supreme Court declining to develop its own district maps and allowing the maps approved after the deadline by the state’s redistricting commission to take effect. You…
STATE NEWS Washington Redistricting Washington’s redistricting commission, charged with determining new state and Congressional legislative districts after the 2020 census, failed to meet its Nov. 15 deadline to agree on new district maps. The failure of the panel, made up…
The American Institute of Architects (AIA) Northwest Washington Section hosted its virtual Design Awards on October 7 to celebrate excellence in Design. The jury included Dr. Sharon Egretta Sutton, FAIA (New York, Parsons School of Design), Rik Allen (Skagit County, Artist), and Tiffani Candler (Greater…
STATE NEWS Washington’s Tax System Overhaul Committee Would Like Your Feedback Are you fed up with Washington’s tax system? This is your opportunity to let legislators know what you’d like to see instead. The state’s Tax Structure Work Group, led…
*This page is not intended for your reference, not the public – please do not forward the link* Seattle Design Review Coalition Documents Seattle for Everyone issue page Seattle Design Review recommendations 7/21 Design Review talking points for…
The Architecture for Health Committee is pleased to open the call for new members to its board. The committee is seeking two replacements this year: Architect member from Washington Affiliate member from Oregon Architect Board Member Thane Eddington and Affiliate Board…
OVERVIEW This year’s AIA AHC Fall Event includes two days of virtual interdisciplinary presentations, design case studies, and conversations continuing the theme of resiliency in design and construction, while maintaining our focus on emotional well-being and mental health for all…
STATE NEWS Washington’s Tax System Overhaul Under Discussion Washington has a multi-year Tax Structure Work Group led by a bipartisan group of legislators and charged with researching, evaluating, and conducting public outreach around developing a new state taxation system that…
Background Earlier this year, in compliance with state legislation (HB 1377) passed in 2019, the Seattle City Council passed and Mayor Jenny Durkan signed legislation to allow religious institutions to access additional development capacity when they redevelop their property for…
Legislation to rename Seattle’s single family zoning category from “Single Family” to “Neighborhood Residential” will be voted on at a Sept. 24th Land Use & Neighborhoods City Council Committee meeting. This legislation does not make actual changes to the existing…
AUGUST 2021 AIA Media Outreach In the wake of the “heat dome,” The Everett Herald ran an op-ed by AIA Seattle Board Member Michael Stevens AIA of Dykeman Architects about the use of heat pumps as a climate-friendly way to…
LOCAL NEWS 2020 MHA Report Released Seattle’s Office of Housing released its first annual report on the city’s Mandatory Housing Affordability and Incentive Zoning program, including long-anticipated data on housing projects’ use of payment versus performance under the program. While…
Honorees are nominated by their peers and selected by the Fellows & Honors committee each spring. AIA Seattle is delighted to recognize these recipients for their exceptional achievements and to showcase the diversity of professionals who make our region’s design…
AIA Northwest Washington’s Steering Committee invites you to share your most dynamic, new work! We invite you to submit to AIA Northwest Washington’s 2021 Design Awards. The intent of the Design Awards is to encourage excellence in architectural design and…
NATIONAL NEWS California Gas Ban Lawsuit Dismissed A federal court in San Francisco dismissed a preemption challenge to the ban on gas hookups in new construction in Berkeley, California. California has more than 40 cities that have implemented gas bans…
STATE NEWS State Legislative Session Adjourns Washington’s Legislature adjourned on April 25, ending a historic, nearly all-virtual session in which Democratic leadership focused on four key areas: COVID relief, economic recovery, racial equity, and climate change. Gov. Inslee is still…
NATIONAL NEWS Housing Supply & Affordability Act In Congress, Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota introduced the Housing Supply and Affordability Act to encourage cities and rural communities to lift barriers to new housing construction. The bipartisan bill would authorize…
AIA Northwest Washington Section is proud to offer its annual scholarship fund, designed to encourage and assist local residents pursuing a degree in architecture. The scholarship is open to students (inclusive of those with immediately family) from Whatcom, Skagit, Island,…
NATIONAL NEWS Biden Reverses Trump’s Classical Architecture Order In February, President Joe Biden reversed Former President Donald Trump’s move to preference classical architecture in federal buildings as part of the new administration’s review of Trump-era executive orders. Under former President…
Call for Lighting Talk Presentations AHC Spring Conference: Resiliency Through Emotional Well-Being and Mental Health April 22 & 23, 2021 – Virtual OVERVIEW This year’s AIA AHC Spring Event includes two days of virtual interdisciplinary presentations, design case studies, and…
Brian Court FAIA has brought sustainable design to the forefront of the public realm with his performance-driven design process that works in harmony with natural forces, shaping our environment and establishing a low-impact, regenerative future. Since joining Miller Hull in…
NATIONAL NEWS Green Infrastructure Investments During AIA National’s virtual Grassroots conference this week, AIA members from across the country met with their U.S. senators and representatives to discuss Congressional investments in green building infrastructure that can address public health and…
STATE NEWS State Code Returned to Feb. 1 Implementation Date On Jan. 12, Governor Inslee reversed a Jan. 8 decision by the State Building Code Council which delayed the implementation date of the 2018 building codes from Feb. 1…
Local We endorsed the Seattle Planning Commission’s Growth Strategy White Paper, Evolving Seattle’s Growth Strategy. We provided feedback to SDCI on the Seattle Services Portal. We organized architect focus groups for Seattle Public Utilities’ update on solid waste planning and…
NATIONAL NEWS AIA National Approves Rule on Justice Facility Spaces In December, AIA National’s Board of Directors approved new rules to the AIA’s Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct prohibiting members from knowingly designing spaces intended for execution and torture,…
STATE NEWS State Energy Strategy Draft Released Washington’s draft State Energy Strategy has been released for public comment. Section D focuses on energy consumption and emissions from the built environment and can be found on pages 63-90. The State Energy…
The Northwest Washington Section Scholarship Fund has awarded one scholarships totaling $4000 to a local student pursuing Architectural education. 2020-21 Recipient: My name is Matthew Robinson, I was born and raised in Bellingham Washington and I am 22 years old.…
The American Institute of Architects (AIA) Northwest Washington Section hosted its virtual Design Awards on October 15 to celebrate excellence in Design. The jury included Karen Braitmayer (Seattle, Studio Pacifica), Linda Smeins (Bellingham, Professor Emeritus, Western Washington University), and Susan McCants (Seattle, Splice). The jury…
VOTE! Don’t forget to submit your ballot by Nov. 3. If you are not registered, the deadline is Oct. 26 for mail or online registrations, but you can register to vote up to Nov. 3 if you show up…
Join us for an extended look at how design is impacted by the COVID pandemic. BACK TO THE OFFICE: RETURN STRATEGIES June 2020 These town halls, one for medium-large firms and one for small firms, explored how firms and individuals…
