NATIONAL NEWS AIA Makes Big Move on Climate This month AIA National launched an initiative to drive climate action within the architecture profession. As part of this effort, AIA called on architects around the world to support humanity’s collective call…
Its aim is to form a collective voice to advocate on behalf of zero net carbon buildings; inform policy solutions; and educate policymakers at all levels of government. Shift Zero’s diverse membership of local, regional and statewide organizations unites a…
Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan announced a plan to speed up the conversion of homes that burn oil for heat to cleaner electric heating as part of the city’s 2018 Seattle Climate Strategy. The City Council with consider legislation that would…
Seattle City Councilmember Mike O’Brien introduced a resolution laying out the agenda for a Green New Deal for Seattle and an ordinance creating a Green New Deal Oversight Board. The resolution endorses the Federal Green New Deal and identifies five…
On May 8, Mayor Durkan signed Electric Vehicle Readiness legislation into law. The new rules went into effect on June 7. The legislation will require all new buildings with off-street parking to include electric vehicle charging infrastructure. The goals are…
After months in limbo, Seattle’s Central City Connector Streetcar line was approved by Mayor Durkan to move forward, albeit with higher cost estimates and a timeline five years later than initially planned. Some design and engineering for the project will…
The ordinance will implement MHA in Seattle’s 27 urban villages and all other commercial and multifamily residential areas. All urban villages and multifamily residential and commercial zones will see zoning changes, allowing slightly larger or taller buildings. Additional development capacity…
Seattle City Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda spoke as part of AIA Seattle’s City Leaders Breakfast Series on June 12. She spoke about her housing priorities on the Council, including ADUs, allowing more duplexes and triplexes and more upzoning. She also talked…
On June 10, the Seattle City Council voted to approve the city’s plan to turn the former military site at Fort Lawton into 237 affordable homes for low-income seniors and formerly homeless individuals alongside supportive services, workforce housing and affordable…
Two ADUs will now be allowed on each lot, either two attached ADUs or one attached ADU and one detached ADU. The maximum DADU size will increase from 800 to 1,000 square feet and the minimum lot size for DADUs…
STATE NEWS Residential Energy Code Update Washington’s State Building Code Council (SBCC) is in the process of reviewing proposed amendments to the 2018 residential energy codes as approved by the SBCC’s Energy Code Technical Advisory Group. The proposed residential energy…
Mayor Durkan announced her Housing Seattle Now initiative outlining various strategies and policies to address housing and homelessness. This initiative rebrands the Housing Affordability and Livability Agenda, which AIA Seattle previously endorsed. Durkan outlined four priorities for Housing Seattle Now:…
STATE NEWS State Legislative Session We are reposting AIA Washington Council’s final report on this year’s legislative session, which can be found here. AIA|WA encourages members to attend their state legislators’ in-district open-houses over the summer and fall. These are…
STATE NEWS State Legislative Session The Legislature adjourned minutes before midnight on April 28, marking the first time in 10 years that a legislature has ended a budget-writing session on time. The state budgets were pushed through in the final…
FEDERAL NEWS AIA Pledges Support for the Invest in America Act AIA National is supporting a newly-introduced federal bill, the Invest in America Act (HR 2210), which was introduced on April 10 by Rep. John Larson (D-Connecticut) and Rep. Kenny…
FEDERAL NEWS AIA Grassroots An AIA Seattle contingent attended AIA’s Grassroots conference in Washington, D.C. this month and participated in Hill Day, where AIA members from across the nation head to Capitol Hill to meet with their legislators. AIA Seattle…
FEDERAL NEWS Virtual Capitol Hill Day AIA members not attending AIA National’s Grassroots conference in DC next month are invited to participate in a Virtual Capitol Hill Day instead. On March 6, AIA members will be able to use this…
STATE NEWS 2019 Legislative Session The 2019 state legislative session began this week in Olympia and will run through April 28. AIA Washington Council is already participating in hearings on bills related to the Governor’s clean buildings climate package and…
NATIONAL NEWS From AIA National: ICC Voting Open The ICC has concluded its Public Comment Hearings for Group A of the 2021 ICC, and registered members may now vote on proposals that will directly impact the next edition of the…
NATIONAL NEWS AIA Secures Language to Better Utilize Architects for Disaster Recovery Efforts Congress and President Trump enacted the Disaster Recovery Reform Act in October, paving the way for AIA to advance opportunities for architects to better serve communities when…
NATIONAL NEWS AIA Seattle Director Represents AIA at Global Climate Action Summit AIA Seattle Executive Director Lisa Richmond joined the AIA National delegation at the Global Climate Action Summit in San Francisco in mid-September. The Summit was convened by the…
NATIONAL NEWS AIA Adds Voice in Opposition to Asbestos AIA National issued comments to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Acting Administrator this month on asbestos, opposing a proposed new federal rule that would create a pathway to consider new uses…
STATE NEWS I-1631 Reaches Ballot, Endorsements Sought The signature gathering effort for Washington Initiative 1631, which would establish a carbon fee to reduce incentives for fossil fuel use, generate funds to invest in renewable resources and promote energy efficiency, was…
STATE NEWS Mass Timber AIA Washington Council submitted a proposal to the State Building Code Council (SBCC) in May to permit the use of mass timber in the construction of taller buildings. Proposals are currently being reviewed by the SBCC’s…
STATE NEWS AIA Seattle Endorses I-1631 AIA Seattle’s Board of Directors has endorsed Washington Initiative 1631, the Protect Washington Act, which would establish a carbon fee to reduce incentives for fossil fuel use, generate funds to invest in renewable resources…
STATE NEWS Carbon Ballot Measure This month a Thurston County judge approved the ballot title language for I-1631, this year’s carbon initiative aimed at reaching the November ballot. Ballot titles can make or break an initiative, and the judge’s…
STATE NEWS Legislative Session This year’s 60-day legislative session was characterized by significant movement on several Democratic priorities that had been stalled in recent years. As a result of the Democrats taking full control of state government in 2018, bills…
With the 2018 Legislative Session in full swing, it continues to be a busy time in advocacy for the built environment. Read on to learn more about the bills AIA Washington Council is following most closely, as well as updates on Shift Zero, Seattle’s search for a new Seattle City Light CEO, and ways to get involved locally. Read more
Interested in receiving advocacy information straight to your inbox? Take this short survey to sign up to receive our periodic Advocacy Update Enewsletter and let us know your advocacy interests. Read more
EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt announced on Oct. 10 that his agency will withdraw the Clean Power Plan which requires states to meet specific carbon emission reduction standards based on their individual energy consumption. Architects Advocate is asking members to take…
Legislators look to their constituents to bring information to their attention and to let them know how they want to be represented. Architects can play a key role in public policy debates and decisions on issues important to the built…
AIA Seattle opposes President Trump’s move to withdraw the United States from the Paris climate agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and strengthen the world’s ability to deal with the impacts of climate change. We stand with AIA President Thomas…
AIA Seattle’s public policy advocacy efforts span all aspects of a well-designed, livable city. Our concept of a livable city includes one where everyone has a home. AIA Seattle’s Public Policy Board has been exploring issues related to homelessness and…
Opportunities to Comment ADUs/DADUs Comment on the scope of Seattle’s proposed ADU environmental impact statement, comment period extended to Nov. 16: http://www.seattle.gov/council/adu-eis Opportunities for Action Urban Design Transform downtown Seattle by volunteering your time on the Lid I-5 project Climate…
AIA Washington Council’s Spring Advocacy Conference prepares members for the next legislative session AIA Washington Council held its Spring Advocacy Conference in June to make preparations for the 2018 state legislative session. Although the 2017 session remained stuck in budget…
Seattle will have a new mayor next year, and the built environment of our city is under stress like never before. How do the candidates propose to accommodate the 3,125 new Seattleites who arrive each month while addressing the homelessness…
