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 happy hours will highlight connections between designers and builders throughout the design and construction process.

Join us every second Thursday through December!
**Note exceptions on date below

Mark your calendar & click to print the 2020 AIA Seattle Happy Hour Series Poster to pin up at your firm!

2020 SCHEDULE

February 27: DLR Group

March 12: SABArchitects + Path With Art – POSTPONED, new date TBC

April 9: Hoshide Wanzer Architects + Johnston Architects – POSTPONED, new date TBC

May 14: NAC Architecture + Coughlin Porter Lundeen

June 11: Weber Thompson + Turner Construction, hosted at Watershed

July 9: CLARK|BARNES + tk1sc

August 13: Magnusson Klemencic Associates w/ Structural Engineers Association of Washington Young Members Group

September 10: Lease Crutcher Lewis + Perkins and Will

October 8: Baylis Architects*

November 12: Dykeman, Inc.*

December 10: Gensler

Click through for details on each happy hour.
*Note that these two happy hours are located in Bellevue and Everett, respectively.

All happy hours are hosted in accessible locations with zero-step entry, and accessible restrooms. More specific accessibility information is available on each event page, and can be discussed on your individual registration for each program.

Interested in hosting a future happy hour? Please contact the YAF co-chairs at youngarchitectsforum@aiaseattle.temp312.kinsta.cloud and AIA Seattle Membership & Volunteer Manager, Connor Descheemaker. Happy Hour hosts must be current Firm Network partners or Corporate Allied Partners.

In response to COVID-19 public health advisory, Courses 2-4 have been pushed back a month and moved online. Please stay tuned for further program information.  

Revised and refined since the 2019 sold-out premier, this 4-part project management series is tailored to prepare practitioners for the deep interdisciplinary collaboration that distinguishes design and construction practice in our region.  Getting it Done: The Art of Project Management will focus on the “secret sauce” and most powerful components of successful project management: Communication, Collaboration and Client Care. While we will ground the classes in a review of “traditional” project management tools and resources, our primary focus will be weaving those tools into deeper people and teaming skills and approaches. Each moderated course will convene local experts—architects, engineers, contractors, owners and other industry perspectives—to present skills-based content and participate on interactive panel discussions. The series is designed for cohort-based learning with architects, engineers and contractors at every table. The primary goals of the series are:

• Apply communication, collaboration, and client care skills as the core principles of successful project management
• Build capacity, commitment, and application to deep collaboration for diverse AEC teams
• Promote shared understanding across disciplines and build long-term relationships among our profession’s current and future leaders
• Develop tools and management techniques to master rapidly-evolving project delivery methods and formats

Intended Audience

We invite a committed cohort of up to 80 A/E/C professionals from a variety of firm sizes and experience levels/project type experiences to gain a competitive edge and build new relationships through this interactive, in-depth study of project management.  One of the goals of this series is growing interdisciplinary collaboration among a diverse group of A/E/C professionals, so the following registration spots are reserved to help meet that goal:

• 55 Architects + Architectural Designers | Targeting up to 2 individuals from the same firm 
• 25 Engineers + Contractors | Targeting up to 2 individuals from the same firm 

PLEASE NOTE: Series registrants commit to participate in all four courses, March-June, understanding that the content has been designed sequentially for cohort-based learning. A few a la carte registration spots are now available, see below to register.

Course Dates + A La Carte Registration

All courses will be held at The Mountaineers, 7700 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115. 

Course 1 | Wait, What’s My Job?
March 4, 2020 (full day)

Courses 2-4 have been pushed back a month and moved online. Please stay tuned for further program information. 

Course 2 | Can’t Work Without ‘Em… (people!)
April 1, 2020 (full day) May 6, 2020 

Course 3 | Making it Work (in the day-to-day)
May 6, 2020 (full day) June 3, 2020 

Course 4 | Change Management with (relative) Ease
June 3, 2020 (full day) July 1, 2020 

The registration deadline is 2 days prior to each respective course. Please direct any registration inquiries to Zoe Guckenheimer. In alignment with AIA Seattle’s efforts to reduce carbon emissions and support sustainable food sourcing, all catered meals are vegetarian. 

Course Descriptions + Learning Objectives

March 4 | Wait, What’s My Job?

The kick-off is all about getting to know one another, defining the role of a project manager, establishing shared meaning on terms, and defining that the ‘secret sauce’ of great project management is (spoiler alert!) not the newest project management tools (but we’ll touch on those briefly). Rather, it’s the “soft” skills and techniques you use every day that matter most.  Hear from your peers and interdisciplinary panelists about what it means to be a collaborative project manager.  Course learning objectives include:

1. Deepen and personalize the definition of project management
2. Apply traditional, core project management tools and resources to support people-smart project leadership
3. Explore how different contract forms drive collaborative project delivery and their associated risks/rewards
4. Understand the key provisions of a design professional agreement and how to prevent challenges

April 1 May 6 | Can’t Work Without ‘Em… (people!) This course date has changed. Please stay tuned for further program information. 

Relationships are foundational to every aspect of project management.  Now that you know what your job is, course 2 prepares you to set up your projects for success.  Get to know (and adapt to) different styles and personalities, develop tools for kicking-off projects, apply effective meeting facilitation, and integrate client care throughout.  Hear from your peers and interdisciplinary panelists about their techniques, and from owners and clients about their expectations.  Course learning objectives include:

1. Define and apply the principles of successful collaboration with all team members (A/E/C/O)
2. Develop tools for adapting your PM approach and tools to different communication and learning styles
3. Explore various methods and tools for launching projects, focusing on decision-making protocol and communication process
4. Develop process for setting, maintaining, and checking in on expectations, with all project stakeholders

May 6 June 3 | Making it Work (in the day-to-day) This course date has changed. Please stay tuned for further program information. 

With the contract as your guide and the secret sauce in your grasp (relationships + communication + collaboration), course 3 will explore some critical know-how and know-why to get a project done.  Understand design and construction scheduling and get a better grasp on budgets, forecasting profitability, and the financial motivations of everyone involved.  Practice collaboration-building methodologies of target value design and pull scheduling.  Learn from your peers and a variety of disciplines about how they get projects done.  Course learning objectives include:

1. Apply sound processes for establishing project schedule and managing profitability and cost risk
2. Define, implement, and track schedule efficiency
3. Apply different approaches to defining, measuring, forecasting and assessing project performance
4. Monitor project evolution with an understanding of all participants’ profit, professional, and other goals

June 3 July 1 | Change Management with (relative) Ease This course date has changed. Please stay tuned for further program information.

The final course circles back to the fundamentals with change and risk management in mind.  Learn to identify, communicate and manage risk throughout a project, to manage conflict (remember all those different styles and personalities?), hone your negotiating skills, and explore successful change management.  Hear from your peers and colleagues about identifying and managing the inevitable and ensure success start to finish.  Course learning objectives include:

1. Apply contract negotiation and documentation approaches to strengthen relationships with clients and reduce challenges
2. Monitor and integrate changes in projects with an understanding of all participants’ risks and profitability goals
3. Understand differences and apply techniques for conflict styles and strategies for conflict resolution
4. Define and set personal goals for applying communication, collaboration and client care skills learned

All sessions and speakers subject to change.

Speakers + Panelists Include:

Adam Crain 2Plys | Dace Campbell McKinstry | Marlene Chen, AIA, LEED AP Olson Kundig | Christopher Colley, RA, Assoc. DBIA, LEED AP Graham Construction | Jason Collins PCS Structural Solutions | Mohammed Haq, P.E. PAE Engineers | Laura Lohman and Reeve Elliott Seneca Group | Patreese Martin, AIA, LEED AP BD+C Bohlin Cywinski Jackson | Sam Miller LMN Architects | Tom Owens Mendel Owens | Lindsey Pflugrath Cairncross & Hempelmann | Jeremiah Powers NBBJ | Elizabeth Rinehart, LEED AP Walsh Construction Co. | Ted Sive, FSMPS, Honorary AIA (Seattle) Ted Sive Consulting | Heather Johnston and Heather Skeehan GLY Construction | Bill Strong, FSMPS, CPSM, Associate AIA Bill Strong Consulting | Rico Quirindongo DLR Group | Jim Phillips Forma Construction | Cheryl Jacobs NAC | Allan Montpellier PAE Engineers | Brian Aske Lease Crutcher Lewis | Carrie Sturts Dossick University of Washington, College of Built Environments | Janice Zahn Port of Seattle

All sessions and speakers subject to change.

Special thanks to our Project Management Series Planning Taskforce

Marlene Chen, AIA, LEED AP | Olson Kundig
Christopher Colley, RA, Assoc. DBIA, LEED AP | Graham Construction
Reeve Elliott | Seneca Group
Mohammed Haq, P.E. | PAE Engineers
Patreese Martin, AIA, LEED AP BD+C | Bohlin Cywinski Jackson
Heather Skeehan | GLY Construction
Ted Sive, FSMPS, Honorary AIA Seattle | Ted Sive Consulting  | Program Moderator 

Special thanks to our Project Management Series Sponsors

Registration or Credit Questions?
Contact Zoe Guckenheimer Program and Project Coordinator at AIA Seattle

Program Content Questions?
Contact Cassie Blair, Associate Director of Programs & Impact at AIA Seattle

Join us for five upcoming sessions to learn from Code experts. 
All in-person sessions will be held at Seattle City Hall, Bertha Knight Landes Room | 600 Fourth Ave, Seattle, WA 98104

Session 1 | Cracking Code: 2018 Fire Code Revisions + Impacts on Design
February 20, 2020 | 12:00PM – 4:30PM // Class Credit: 4 LUs|HSW

Session 2 | Cracking Code: Commercial Energy Code Update
April 29, 2020 | ONLINE | 12:00PM – 4:30PM // Class Credit: 4 LUs|HSW

Session 3 | Cracking Code: Residential Code Rodeo – Residential Energy Code + ADU/DADUs
July 23, 2020 | ONLINE | 12:00PM – 4:30PM // Class Credit: 4 LUs|HSW

Session 4 | Cracking Code: Back to the Future – 2018 IBC Code Updates
September 23-24, 2020 | ONLINE | 12:00PM – 2:00PM // Class Credit: 4 LUs|HSW

Session 5 | Cracking Code: Code 101 – Beginner’s Guide to Using the Code
November 3-4, 2020 | ONLINE | 12:00PM – 2:00PM // Class Credit: 4 LUs|HSW

Times and dates subject to change.

Special Thanks to our 2020 Code Series Sponsors

Code Committee

Special thanks to the Code Committee for planning this series of sessions!

Registration or Credit Questions?
Contact Zoe Guckenheimer, Program & Event Coordinator at AIA Seattle

Program Questions?
Contact Connor Descheemaker, Member Engagement Manager at AIA Seattle

Sponsorship Questions?
Contact Kristen Lound, Associate Director, Growth & Operations at AIA Seattle

STATE NEWS

Governor Releases Supplemental Budget
On Dec. 18, Gov. Inslee released his proposed 2020 Supplemental Budget, which makes adjustments to the two-year state budget passed by the Legislature earlier this year. During the 2020 legislative session that runs from Jan. 13 to March 14, the State House and Senate will develop their own supplemental budgets and will work to reconcile the three versions. Inslee’s proposal adds new funding for homeless shelters, early learning education, and the state’s efforts to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in state employment.

Housing Availability Coalition
AIA Seattle has joined a regional housing coalition led by the Master Builders of King & Snohomish Counties that will focus on state legislation to expand housing availability. Priority legislation includes: increased funding for the state’s Housing Trust Fund and the creation of a permanent funding source in 2021; a state mandate for density near transit; statewide ADU reform (similar to what Seattle passed earlier this year) to require local governments to allow ADUs in specific areas; and an expansion of legislation passed in 2019 to provide financial incentives to local governments that take measures to increase housing density.

New AIA|WA Board Representatives from Seattle
In January, AIA|WA will welcome two new board members to represent AIA Seattle members.  Elizabeth de Regt AIA is an architect and urban designer at ZGF specializing in master planning. She joined the AIA Seattle Board in September as an Advocate Director and will serve as the liaison between the two boards. Doug Ito AIA will also join the AIA|WA Board. He is a principal at SMR Architects and serves as the co-chair of AIA Seattle’s Housing Task Force. He is actively involved in affordable housing advocacy and serves on the board of the Housing Development Consortium of Seattle and King County. Elizabeth and Doug will replace Peggy Heim AIA and Mark Cork AIA on the state board. Thanks to both Peggy and Mark for your service and advocacy on behalf of architects in Washington!

LOCAL NEWS

Housing Policy Statement Finalized for AIA Seattle’s Board
After four months of review, AIA Seattle’s Housing Policy Statement has been finalized and sent to the Board for approval. The Board will consider the statement at its Dec. 19 meeting. Thanks to all members who participated in discussions on this comprehensive statement. The policy statement will guide AIA’s policy work on housing issues (and related climate and transportation issues) moving forward.

Seattle Passes 2020 Budget
The Seattle City Council passed a 2020 budget on Nov. 25 after making $25 million in changes to Mayor Jenny Durkan’s $6.5 billion proposal. While the bulk of the city’s spending is reserved for basic services provided by the utilities, police, fire, and transportation departments, Council additions to Durkan’s budget included a new tax on Uber and Lyft rides, an expansion of the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion program, and funding for additional tiny house villages and public bathrooms. Funds to pay for these additions will largely come from the Mercer Mega Block transaction. The final budget documents are here.

SDCI Seeks Comments on SEPA Thresholds
Seattle’s Dept. of Construction and Inspections is seeking comment on two Director’s Rules addressing SEPA Thresholds:

• Draft Director’s Rule 16-2019 determines where higher SEPA infill development thresholds will be in effect for most urban centers and urban villages. There are two different exemption levels that may apply within urban centers and urban villages, depending on whether the growth estimates defined in the city’s 2035 Comprehensive Plan have been exceeded. This rule describes terms, processes, and limits on how exemption levels will be applied. More info here.
• Sometime this month, SDCI will publish Director’s Rule 17-2019, which has similar updated information about SEPA thresholds and will be open for a 30-day comment period. Once released, you will be able to view that information under Draft Director’s Rules on SDCI’s Director’s Rules page.

Comments Sought on Solid Waste Storage and Access Sections of Land Use Code
Seattle Public Utilities and SDCI are seeking comments on ways to improve the solid waste storage and access sections of Land Use Code. An ordinance currently in draft format would require multifamily buildings to provide on-floor collection locations for recycling, composting, and garbage. Other changes include clarifications, additions for solid waste driver and pedestrian safety, and the inclusion of existing practices. This table summarizes the major proposed changes to the code. The proposed ordinance amended language is here. Because the ordinance has not been officially submitted, the comment period is not yet open. We will notify you when it is, or you can check the SPU website.

OPPORTUNITIES

Attend AIA Washington Council’s Lobbying Day in Olympia
Join your fellow architects from across the state in Olympia for our annual Capitol Connections event on Thursday, January 23, 2020. At Capitol Connections, you’ll learn about the issues impacting the practice of architecture that are up for consideration during the 2020 legislative session. You’ll also have the opportunity to join other architects at meetings with your own legislators, hear from legislators working on key AIA|WA topics, talk to AIA|WA’s lobbyists, and get a glimpse into how your state legislature operates. Travel costs for all members will be reimbursed. More info here.

EVENTS

AIA Seattle Committee Meetings
AIA Seattle members and others are invited to attend these policy-focused committee meetings, which occur monthly:

• Housing Task Force Monthly Meeting: Jan. 9, noon-1:15 pm @ CFAD – discussion on how AIA can better showcase quality residential design.
• Transportation Task Force Monthly Meeting: Jan. 14, 5:30-6:30 @ CFAD – work session on 2020 priorities.

Let Kirsten know if you’d like to be added to the email list for either task force.

We’d love to hear from you! To comment or for more information on these or any other topics, please contact:

Kirsten Smith
Manager of Policy & Advocacy
AIA Seattle & AIA Washington Council
206-957-1926 | kirstens@aiaseattle.temp312.kinsta.cloud

Happy New Year from AIA Seattle Advocacy!

**CALL IS NOW CLOSED. 2019 AHC Fall session registration available here.**

AIA Seattle Call for Lightning Talk Presentations
2019 AHC FALL EVENT: LESSONS LEARNED
Nov 22, 2019, Mt. Baker Rowing and Sailing Center, Seattle

FORUM OVERVIEW
This year’s Architecture for Health Committee Fall Event includes one day of interdisciplinary presentations, design case studies, and conversations around Lessons Learned in the Healthcare Design and Construction Industry. In our rapidly changing landscape of Healthcare Organizations how are design teams adapting to a constantly evolving landscape? What lessons from past project and complex renovations can be shared with our peers to make us all better? As our project delivery models shift how can we learn from the experience of other to better serve our clients? On November 22nd, we welcome architects, engineers, contractors and healthcare professionals to join us at this dynamic program that concludes with a tour of the Burien Northwest Kidney Center which recently completed construction.

INTENDED AUDIENCE
The AHC Fall Event audience includes: Architects, Engineers, Contractors, Healthcare Practitioners and Policymakers, Facility Owners/Managers, Urban Designers and Planners, and Public Health Professionals. The planning task force welcomes emerging professionals to the program, as their future leadership is central to our mission.

CALL FOR LIGHTNING TALK PRESENTATIONS
Submission Deadline: Friday October 18, 2019
We seek to convene a series of short “lightning” talk presentations (think  PechaKucha format) that will educate the audience to recent lessons learned in the Healthcare AEC industry. We welcome a diversity of proposals from a variety of disciplines focused on design, construction and project delivery.

PRESENTATION TOPICS
Proposals should specifically address lessons learned in the context of healthcare or healthcare environments. Possible subtopics are included below, but the list is not comprehensive, and should not limit submitters.

o  Planning or design strategies that improve patient care

o  Implementation of technologies in the design and construction industry

o  Complex Acute Care Renovations

o  Alternate Project Delivery Methods

o  Joint Venture Partnerships

o  Implementation of research to patient care

PRESENTATION FORMAT
Lightning talk presentations are short, maximum of seven (7) minutes in length. Inspired by  PechaKucha’s concise format, presentations must limit their slides (number of slides may vary), and set them to advance automatically. Standard audio, visual, and digital media will be supported.

If selected, presenters must submit their final PowerPoint presentation files to AIA staff no later than 5:00pm on Monday, November 1, 2019.  A PowerPoint template will be provided in advance, and late presentations cannot be accepted.

We encourage presenters to use the following questions as a guide to preparing their short talks:

o  WHAT is the LESSON LEARNED that your lightning talk will focus on? Is it a process, a tool, a product, a space, an interaction, etc.?

o  WHY the lesson? Identify the problem or challenge that prompted the lesson learned.

o  HOW was the solution developed, tested, implemented in the context of healthcare?

o  WHO were the stakeholders involved.? Who was impacted? Who was required to embrace the change

and/or assume the risks?

EVALUATION CRITERIA AND SELECTION PROCESS
Lightning talk proposals will be evaluated by the AHC Fall Event Planning Task Force with AIA staff. Successful proposals will:

o  Align with the forum theme and objectives

o  Deepen audience understanding of a particular design solutions

o  Offer fresh insight and relevant information through the combination of words and visuals

Speakers should be able to effectively communicate messages to a variety of audience members. While relevant examples of innovation projects can be used for presentation (and credit given to the appropriate individuals/teams), the lightning talk sessions are not a platform for marketing a person or firm’s portfolio, services, or, strategies.

SUBMISSION PROCESS + KEY DATES
Please complete this submission form by 5:00pm on October 18, 2019.

Schedule and Deadlines

• Friday, October 18 5:00PM Proposals due
• Wednesday, October 23: Acceptances issued
• Friday, November 1: Final PowerPoint presentations due to AIA staff
• Friday November 22 AHC Fall Event Presentations

INQUIRIES
Please address any questions and e‐mail all submissions to:

Chris Carlson
AIA Seattle Architecture for Health Committee Board Member
chris@buffalodesign.com
206 467‐6306

Clearly a top priority for Democrats this session, legislation to address climate change performed very strongly.  The increase in the number of Senate seats held by Democrats after the 2018 election allowed Democrats to push these bills few with very few or no Republican votes.  In some cases, they were also able to lose the votes of one or more moderate Democrats from rural or industrial districts and still pass the legislation.  This year the Democrats adopted a different strategy to climate legislation, choosing a piecemeal approach that addressed climate issues on a sector-by-sector basis rather than pursuing the larger climate taxation schemes they attempted (unsuccessfully) in previous years.

Clean Buildings
Governor Inslee’s clean buildings bill was AIA|WA’s top priority and the version sponsored by Rep. Beth Doglio (D-Olympia) succeeded after a process involving many compromises to garner Democratic votes.  This included dropping a provision to allow local governments to develop voluntary residential “stretch codes” that go beyond existing code.  The core pieces of the final bill include building performance standards and incentives for large commercial buildings (> 50,000 sq. ft.); natural gas conservation standards; and requirements for electric vehicle infrastructure in new buildings.

Additional AIA|WA priority bills on climate included:

HFCs:  Legislation to establish deadlines for banning greenhouse gasses (largely hydrofluorocarbons, or HFCs) in refrigerants passed and will be signed by the Governor.  This bill reinstates Obama-era EPA regulations designed to end the use of HFCs, although the Washington version does not go as far as California’s regulations, which passed last year.

Toxic Materials: legislation to further restrict the use of toxic materials in consumer and building products passed and will be signed by the Governor.  The bill instructs the Department of Ecology to identify classes of chemicals that may be restricted at a rate of five every five years.

PACER:  An AIA|WA-supported bill that would have authorized a commercial property assessed clean energy and resilience (PACER) program in Washington passed one committee but failed to move further.  This bill would have established an alternative source of funding to provide loans for energy efficiency improvements which would have been repaid through assessments on the property.  Under this program, loans remain with the property if sold.  This bill will be an AIA|WA priority next year.

AIA|WA monitored but did not actively support the following additional climate bills:

Fossil-Free Electricity: a bill to phase out use of natural gas and coal in power generation to reach a 100 percent clean energy standard by 2045 passed and will be signed by the Governor.  The legislation, the strictest clean energy law in the nation, also bans the sale of coal-powered electricity to retail electricity consumers by 2026.

Net Metering: legislation passed to require electric utilities to make conventional net metering available to eligible customer-generators.  It will be signed by the Governor.

Appliance Efficiency: a bill to develop stricter appliance efficiency standards passed and will be signed into law.

HEAL Act: the Healthy Environment for All Act received a lot of publicity.  It would have addressed environmental disparities that disproportionally impact low-income, Native American and minority communities.  Although passed by both houses, the House and Senate ultimately could not agree on a single version, and the bill failed to pass.

Clean Fuels Program: a bill to limit greenhouse gas emissions in transportation fuels passed the House but failed to pass the Senate.  It would have reduced consumption of traditional gasoline and diesel over time as alternative options like biogas and electricity become more common. This bill faced strong opposition from the oil industry and legislators who argued it would significantly raise the price of gas.

For more information, contact Kirsten Smith, manager of policy & advocacy.

AIA Northwest Washington’s Steering Committee invites you to share your most dynamic, new work!

Join us as we celebrate the best architectural designs available from the AIA members in Whatcom, Skagit, Island, and San Juan Counties for the Northwest Washington Design Awards. These projects represent the finest standards in sustainability, innovation, building performance, and overall integration with client and surrounding community. The awards presentation will follow the keynote speaker presentation: “Making Room: Housing for a Changing America” by Chrysanthe Broikos, a Curator of the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C. She will also provide complimentary booklets about the Making Room exhibition.

HOW TO SUBMIT

Call for Submissions opens: August 12, 2019
Submission Deadline: September 16, 2019 at 5pm PDT

We invite you to submit to AIA Northwest Washington’s 2019 Design Awards. The intent of the Design Awards is to encourage excellence in architectural design and planning and to provide an avenue through which architects may gain recognition by their peers and the public. The ultimate goal is to raise the standards of architectural design excellence by both the architectural community and the public. We encourage you to join the conversation and tell your design story.

Submission deadline: September 16 at 5:00pm PDT. Finalize and complete payment before this deadline.

**At the discretion of the AIA NWW Design Awards Committee, late submissions may be accepted after 5:00pm PDT on September 16, and a late submission fee will be applied. No fees will be refunded for submissions that are disqualified or incomplete.

Please submit for the following categories:

• Residential
• Commercial
• Unbuilt Project

Submission Fee: $150 for first project submitted, $100 for each additional project. (If submitting multiple projects, submit each project separately.)

Complete this application and upload the four (4) described documents to the below link.
**This application sheet details all submission requirements, and includes a form that you will submit to the below link.

At the discretion of the AIA NWW Design Awards Committee, late submissions may be accepted after 5:00pm PDT on September 16, and a late submission fee will be applied. No fees will be refunded for submissions that are disqualified or incomplete.

LIVE EVENT ON OCTOBER 3

The Northwest Washington Design Awards is a marquee program, drawing over 100 attendees and featuring an awards presentation and panel discussion, featuring the awards jury. Full details on the program can be found here. This program provides an essential occasion for the San Juan, Skagit, Island, and Whatcom county architecture community to celebrate its progress and growth within itself, and in conversation with the community at-large.

QUESTIONS?

Questions about Submitting? Contact AIA Northwest Washington Coordinator, Karen Bacon.

Questions about attending the Live Event? Contact AIA Seattle Membership and Volunteer Manager, Connor Descheemaker.

Sponsorship Questions? Contact AIA Northwest Washington Steering Committee chair, Dave Christensen.

SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR 2019 HONOR AWARDS SPONSORS

Names and logos forthcoming.

NATIONAL NEWS

AIA National Issues Report on Building Codes and Climate Change

AIA National’s Blue Ribbon Panel for Codes and Standards issued a report outlining AIA’s vision for the adoption and application of building codes as design tools in a resource-constrained future. The publication, Disruption, Evolution and Change: AIA’s Vision for the Future of Design and Construction, details an aspirational path forward for the profession’s commitment to meeting 2030 climate objectives. The four focus areas of the report – energy, health/safety, welfare and transparency – help to frame discussions and partnerships to advance environmentally responsible design and construction. As part of the report, AIA National issued the following statement of values related to building codes and climate change:

WHERE ARCHITECTS STAND: A STATEMENT OF OUR VALUES
We stand for protecting communities from the impact of climate change. Global warming and man-made hazards pose an increasing threat to the safety of the public and the vitality of our nation. Rising sea levels and devastating natural disasters result in unacceptable losses of life and property. Resilient and adaptable buildings are a community’s first line of defense against disasters and changing conditions of life and property. That is why we advocate for robust building codes and policies that make our communities more resilient.

STATE NEWS

Architect Named as New Member of the State House

Senator Guy Palumbo (D) resigned last month from his State Senate seat representing the 1st legislative district (Bothell, Maltby). After Rep. Derek Stanford (D) from the same district was appointed to the open senate seat by the King and Snohomish County Councils, Stanford’s House seat was allotted to Bothell Deputy Mayor Davina Duerr. She will hold the seat through the 2020 elections (and will likely run for reelection then). Duerr has a bachelor’s degree in architecture from Syracuse University and is a senior interior architect at Ware Malcomb in Bellevue. She is the first architect member of the state legislature in recent years. The publication Washington State Wire published a Q&A with Rep. Duerr here. In it, she talks about the value architects bring to public policy:

Well, I am an architect by education and career… And I would say that definitely plays into my qualifications because architects are problem-solvers. Every design project is a puzzle to solve and I think that is very similar to the role of a legislator. You see problems and you try to fix them.

Energy Code Updates

Washington’s State Building Code Council (SBCC) is in the process of reviewing proposed amendments to the 2018 commercial and residential codes as approved by the Council’s Energy Code Technical Advisory Group.

Residential
Twenty-four proposals have been accepted by both the SBCC’s Energy Code Technical Advisory Group and the full Council to be moved forward to public comment. The proposed residential energy code amendments are open for public comment through Sept. 27, 2019. The SBCC will  take public comments in person at hearings in Spokane (Sept. 13) and Olympia (Sept. 27). More info, and information about each proposal, is available here.

Commercial
The SBCC will vote on the proposed changes to the 2018 commercial energy code on July 26. Comments on the proposed changes will be accepted through July 26. More info, including how to comment, is available here.

The anticipated effective date for the 2018 commercial and residential code updates is July 1, 2020.

Residential Architect Sought to Serve on State Building Code Council’s Building Code Technical Advisory Group

AIA Washington Council is seeking an architect willing to serve on the SBCC’s Building Code Technical Advisory Group (TAG), which makes recommendations to the Council on the International Building Code and the International Existing Building Code. The TAG has an open seat in the category of Home Designer, so we are looking for someone who primarily does residential work. The TAG reviews new model codes against the previous version, assesses statewide amendment proposals and makes recommendations for the SBCC’s consideration. Members of a TAG are generally asked to serve for a full code cycle, but they may serve longer if desired. For more information, contact Kirsten.

LOCAL NEWS

Seattle Enacts ADU Legislation

The Seattle City Council voted unanimously to allow the construction of more and larger accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in all neighborhoods while removing requirements that property owners live on site and provide off-street parking. Two ADUs will now be allowed on each lot, either two attached ADUs or one attached ADU and one detached ADU. The legislation will also cap the size of any newly constructed house, whether it has an ADU or not, to 2,500 square feet or a floor-area-ratio (FAR) of 0.5, whichever is greater. The square footage of any ADUs are not counted in the FAR limit. Two amendments were approved prior to final passage: one grants an additional 35 square feet of floor space for bicycle storage and the second directs the city to study the use of ADUs as short-term rentals and states the Council’s intent to restrict such use if it is “excessive.” An amendment by Councilmember Lisa Herbold to require one year of property ownership before a second ADU could be built was defeated 7-1. Mayor Durkan signed the legislation on July 9, and it will take effect on August 8 with the exception of the FAR limits for single family homes, which will not go into effect until March 1, 2020. AIA Seattle’s Housing Task Force supported this legislation with technical comments, meetings with legislators and staff, an ADU tour and more. Special thank yous to Matt Hutchins AIA, Sheri Newbold AIA and Karen DeLucas AIA for your advocacy.

Join Seattle’s Transit Advisory Board

Seattle’s Transit Advisory Board is accepting applications for new members to help advise Seattle on challenges and opportunities related to transit and public transportation. The Board advises the Mayor and City Council on planning, project development and policies and makes recommendations to all city departments. Applications are due by August 5. More info here.

Join Seattle’s Bicycle Advisory Board

The City of Seattle’s Bicycle Advisory Board is seeking members for 2-year appointed terms. Board members meet monthly to advise the Mayor and the City Council, participate in planning and project development, evaluate policies and make recommendations to city departments, including the Seattle Department of Transportation. More details here. To apply, send a resume and cover letter via email to Serena.Lehman@seattle.gov.

The 20 by 2020 Building Challenge

AIA Seattle partner organizations working on climate issues, including Shift Zero, have established the 20 by 2020 Building Challenge to provide “proof of concept” evidence that ambitious energy targets and science-based design and modeling can propel our shift to a carbon-sustainable future. Buildings that are certified as zero energy by Passive House, Built Green or ILFI are eligible to participate in the Challenge. More info here, including the deeply energy efficient projects already signed up and designed by firms including Nicholson Kovalchick (NK) Architects, Perkins + Will, First Lamp Architecture, Weber Thompson and Mithun.

Seattle City Council Elections

Washington’s Primary Election ballots must be postmarked by August 6, 2019. In Seattle, seven of the nine city council seats are up for election, and five of those seats have retiring incumbents.

The following sites offer information on the council candidates and some offer endorsements. Some sites do not include all candidates for each seat.

• Seattle Channel video voters’ guide
• The Urbanist endorsements
• Seattle Times candidate info
• Seattle Times endorsements
• Seattle Transit Blog endorsements
• Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce endorsements
• Sierra Club Seattle endorsements
• Downtown Seattle Association Candidate Scorecard
• MLK Labor Council endorsements
• Seattle Transit Riders’ Union endorsements
• The Stranger endorsements

If you have additional resources to add to this list, please let Kirsten know.

Still have your Democracy Vouchers? Information on how to use them may be found here.

OPPORTUNITIES

Vanguard Conference for Rising Urban Leaders  Sept. 30 – Oct. 3, Sacramento
The Vanguard Conference is a free event for rising urban leaders run by Next City. Potential attendees must apply for one of 40 slots. The conference welcomes entrepreneurs, community developers, activists, artists, designers, urban planners and sustainability experts – anyone committed to improving cities – and offers an opportunity to meet rising urban leaders working to improve cities across sectors. AIA Seattle will pay the travel costs for any member who applies and is accepted. Note that the application deadline date is very soon – July 22 – and there is a $35 fee for applying.

Young Professionals in Transportation – Seattle
YPT Seattle connects transportation professionals working in sectors across the city with an emphasis on bringing new transportation professionals to the table. YPT has grown into a national organization that supports the next generation of transportation professionals through regular leadership seminars, networking happy hours and business meetings. YPT Seattle welcomes transportation engineers, urban planners, transportation energy/infrastructure professionals, port/maritime/ferry professions and civil engineering professionals in the Greater Seattle area. More info here.

EVENTS

AIA Seattle Task Force Meetings

AIA Seattle members are invited to attend these policy-focused meetings, which occur monthly:

• Transportation Task Force Monthly Meeting: Aug. 13, 5:30-6:30 pm @ CFAD
  
•  Housing Task Force Monthly Meeting: Aug. 8, noon-1:15 pm @ CFAD

Let Kirsten know if you’d like to be added to the email list for either task force.

Other Events

Getting to Zero Forum  Oct. 10-11, Oakland
A solutions-focused event dedicated to zero energy and zero carbon buildings. Through AIA’s membership in Shift Zero, AIA members can receive a 10% discount on the Full Forum pass using the code GTZ19SZ10.

Built Green Conference  Sept. 12, Lynnwood
Cutting-edge information on green building and sustainability through an array of immersive topics related to green building. Info here.

For more information on these or any other topics, please contact:

Kirsten Smith
Manager of Policy and Advocacy
AIA Washington Council & AIA Seattle
206-957-1926| kirstens@aiaseattle.temp312.kinsta.cloud

AIA Seattle supports the city’s goal (originally one of the 65 HALA recommendations) to encourage more backyard cottages by removing regulatory barriers and making it easier for property owners to create accessory dwelling units (ADUs). On May 13, Seattle’s Hearing Examiner ruled on an appeal of the final environmental impact statement related to the proposed changes, allowing the city’s ADU legislation to proceed. Councilmember Mike O’Brien is expected to introduce his ADU proposal (the current draft is here) on May 29, followed by public input at the Sustainability and Transportation Committee on June 11 and committee votes on amendments (and possibly the full legislation) on June 18.

The proposal will allow an AADU and a DADU on the same lot, would no longer require off-street parking for accessory units and would no longer require owners of properties with accessory units to live on site – among other changes. Click here for a full list of changes under the proposal.

Members: please take the time to provide comments on the proposed legislation to your legislators. These can be brief and can be made via email or phone (“Please support the ADU reforms”) or in person at the June 11 hearing. There will be another public hearing later in the summer when the full Council considers the legislation. Please identify yourself as an architect!

June 11 Public Hearing on the proposed ADU legislation
Sustainability and Transportation Committee (Councilmembers O’Brien, Pacheco, Sawant, Harrell)
Tuesday, June 11, from 5:30 – 9:30 pm
City Council Chambers

Public testimony is limited to two minutes per person. Focus on what is most important to you!

Resources from MOAR – More Options for Accessory Residences
On Tuesday, May 28 (5:15-8:15 pm), MOAR is hosting an open house for community members to learn and prepare for their June 11 testimony.
Sign up here for testimony alerts and resources from MOAR.
Talking points in support of the ADU legislation

Other resources
Seattle City Council ADU EIS page
O’Brien proposed ADU legislation text
Email your City Councilmembers

For more information, contact Kirsten Smith at AIA Seattle.