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…
(VIRTUAL) LIVE EVENT BROADCAST ON MONDAY, NOVEMBER 16 The Honor Awards for Washington Architecture is AIA Seattle’s annual marquee program, drawing hundreds of attendees to an event of unique rigor and breadth. This nationally-recognized program provides an important opportunity for…
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 —…
The Housing Imperative Nine Totally Necessary Evolutionary Changes for Seattle’s Residential Neighborhoods The Urbanist 4.16.20 Cities turn to ‘missing middle’ housing to keep older millennials from leaving Washington Post 12.9.17 Bring Back Missing Middle Housing AARP 2019 History of Seattle…
Dear AIA Seattle Members and Community At-Large, AIA Seattle joins powerful community voices raised to condemn the murder of George Floyd and the broader system of racism, violence, injustice and inequity that it represents. We see the sustained anguish of Black people…
As this public health crisis continues to evolve, we are committed to providing as many up to date resources as possible. Since many counties are being – or have been – approved for Governor Jay Inslee’s “Phase 2,” there is…
On April 27th, City Council passed emergency legislation making temporary six-month land use permitting process changes that: Exempt affordable housing from design review Keep projects normally subject to Design Review moving forward by allowing City staff to complete review processes…
As we all work to navigate these unprecedented times, AIA Seattle and AIA Washington Council are working to make sure you have the resources you need to take advantage of federal, state, and local programs designed to help firms and…
Gov. Inslee’s Stay Home Stay Healthy has been extended to May 4. The order outlines the requirements for all people to remain in their homes “except to conduct or participate in essential activities and/or employment in providing essential business services.”…
SDCI Q&A On May 20, AIA Seattle held an online Q&A with SDCI about their project-related processes during COVID. You can watch that video here. Use password 8x+8M8uA Codes SDCI Delays 2018 Construction Code Implementation to November On March…
ONLINE SHOWCASE OVERVIEW AIA Seattle’s 2020 public tour of built DADUs and AADUs in Seattle has been cancelled. However, we are moving our tour online with a showcase of AIA member ADUs via an online tour covering a larger geographic…
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…
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…
STATE NEWS Washington’s 2020 Legislative Session is Underway The state legislative session kicked off this week and will run through mid-March. AIA Washington Council will be providing weekly updates on the bills it is tracking and any new developments. Key…
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…
Filmed live on May 20 at the 2019 Housing Design Forum, Density Done Right is now available in 7 individual sessions online for up to 7.25 continuing education HSW credits.This series of case studies and lightning talks offers innovative strategies…
NATIONAL NEWS ICC Vote on AIA’s Zero Code Renewable Energy Appendix In coordination with Architecture 2030, AIA National submitted a Zero Code Renewable Energy Appendix to become part of the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). The Appendix is optional…
SEATTLE, November 5, 2019—The American Institute of Architects (AIA) Seattle chapter hosted the 69th annual Honor Awards for Washington Architecture on November 4 to celebrate excellence in design. The distinguished jury included Bryan C. Lee Jr. (New Orleans), Lisa Matthiessen…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
LIVE EVENT ON NOVEMBER 4 AT TOWN HALL SEATTLE The Honor Awards for Washington Architecture is AIA Seattle’s annual marquee program, drawing hundreds of attendees to a lecture-style event of unique rigor and breadth. This nationally-recognized program provides an important…
AIA Seattle is a member-led organization that depends on volunteer leadership and initiative. We are deeply grateful for the enormous energy and effort our board members and other volunteer leaders devote to our organization. Brendan Connolly AIA – President-Elect Member…
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…
This is not a series. Individual session registration will be available 6-8 weeks in advance of each half-day course, and presenters, session times and locations will vary. Session 1 | Mastering Communications with Clients and Project Teams July 17, 2019 //…
Saturday, June 15 11:00 am – 4:00 pm ADUs on the Tour Download: Quick reference brochure of tour sites 1. Crown Hill DADU 626 NW 75th St., Seattle, WA 98117 Contemporary two-level unit with a…
