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March 2020
The Center is Closed March 9 – May 31
AIA Seattle staff will be working remotely and adjusting planned meetings, events, and gatherings for the health and well-being of our volunteers and the entire Seattle community. Please check the website for any last minute change during this evolving situation. Please see our Message to AIA Seattle Members About Covid-19 Coronavirus for more information and our Resources page.
June 2020
Omar Gandhi Presents Defining a Process | Virtual Housing Design Week
Adhering to the original theme imbued with new meaning, AIA Seattle presents Finding Balance Across the Spectrum of Residential Design: Virtual Housing Design Week. Join us online June 8-12 for a full week of continuing education webinars, discussions, film screenings, art, and engagement focused on small scale residential design inspiration and practice issues. Design Week kicks off with keynote Omar Gandhi’s presentation Defining a Process. If you would like to purchase a design week pass for all-inclusive discounted access to the…
DATE CHANGE | Brigitte Shim + Howard Sutcliffe Present housing/house/home | Virtual Housing Design Week
Black Lives Matter Seattle-King County has called for a General Strike and Silent March in the state of Washington on Friday, June 12. In response, this session has been rescheduled for Monday, June 15. Adhering to the original theme imbued with new meaning, AIA Seattle presents Finding Balance Across the Spectrum of Residential Design: Virtual Housing Design Week. Join us online June 8-12 for a full week of continuing education webinars, discussions, film screenings, art, and engagement focused on small…
April 2022
Road to Code | Beyond the IBC – Expanding Knowledge Across the Code Family
This is the second session in the 2022 Road to Code series presented by AIA Seattle’s Code Committee. While most architects are very familiar with the International Building Code, there are many elements in the broader family of codes that affect architectural design. This program will provide a tour of the design issues for architects that can be found in the Fire Code, Mechanical Code, Plumbing Code, National Electric Code and some key NFPA standards and codes. Join us online April 19…
SPARC: Existential Crisis or Opportunity – The Impact of 3D-Printed Houses on Residential Architecture
Join AIA Seattle’s Small Practice & Residential Committee for a discussion on new technology surrounding 3D-printed housing, and the evolving role of architects in this work. Read more
Practicing Equity and Advocacy in Rapid Decarbonization
In the urgent call to respond to our climate crisis, we must recognize that decarbonization is directly connected to health, safety, and equity. AEC professionals are working on design and policy changes to rapidly eliminate carbon emissions from our built environment. But what barriers prevent us from taking leaps towards rapid decarbonization, despite this necessity? What responsibilities do architects have as advocates? And how do we ensure our processes support equitable and resilient communities? Through exploring 1) the health impacts…
Power + Place – Keynote with Bryan Lee Jr. | Practicing Equity and Advocacy in Rapid Decarbonization
Join us online, April 25-26, 2022 for AIA Seattle’s 2022 (Virtual) Climate Leadership Summit: Practicing Equity and Advocacy in Rapid Decarbonization. The Summit will kick-off with keynote Bryan Lee Jr.’s presentation Power + Place. Our values are validated through the spaces and places we design and subsequently build. Power + Place explores the privilege and power structures that have defined injustice in the built environment from America’s inception. We will look at the history of the design justice movement and…
June 2022
Precedents & Possibilities Transforming Residential Practice
Across changing circumstances, residential design and practice is ever-evolving. What are the precedents shaping design decisions today? And what practices today might present new and innovative possibilities for the future? This year’s Housing Design Forum seeks to explore the inspiring work in this region spanning the past, present, and future of residential practice and transforming the way we design. Addressing the constraints and opportunities of designing in the Pacific Northwest, sessions will explore: designing for people and place; innovative modes…
July 2022
2022 Small Firm Series: Session 1
Join us IN-PERSON at MG2 on Wednesday, July 6, 2022 for Session 1: Stabilize Your Small Firm with Strategic Business Planning of AIA Seattle’s 2022 Small Firm Series (4 AIA LU). Managing a growing design firm offers a variety of unique challenges and opportunities. An unpredictable business environment and a quickening pace of change requires firm owners to adapt, but how can firm owners proactively prepare for growth in uncertain times? We will demystify the business planning process. Each attendee will…
September 2022
2022 Small Firm Series: Session 2
Join us ONLINE on Wednesday, September 7, 2022 for Session 2: Effective Strategies for Advancing Emerging Leaders and Transitioning Ownership of AIA Seattle’s 2022 Small Firm Series (4 AIA LU). How do firms succeed in transitioning ownership and leadership? When should firm leaders begin thinking about ownership transition, and what options are available to firm founders approaching retirement? How can successors truly leverage the knowledge and connections of the founder? Planning for leadership transition brings up many questions and few answers;…
Road to Code | Significant Changes to the ICC/ANSI A117.1 – 2017
This is the third session in the 2022 Road to Code series presented by AIA Seattle’s Code Committee. Approximately every 6 years, ICC publishes updates for the ICC A117.1 Accessibility Standard. The latest 2017 version contains significant changes to the basic building blocks used in accessible spaces. This presentation will explore the key changes in great detail and how these changes will impact design in public, common use, and multifamily residential spaces. Join us online September 21 and September 22, 2022…
November 2022
Road to Code | Topical Issues in Residential Design
This is the fourth and final session in the 2022 Road to Code series presented by AIA Seattle’s Code Committee. This two day presentation will explore current trends and issues associated with designing under the Seattle Residential Code. Day 1 will cover substantial alterations definitions and enforcement/Fire walls in lieu of substantial alterations. Day 2 will cover loft typology/AADU and DADU design/Building configuration impacts. Join us online November 15 and November 16, 2022 (12-2pm each day) for Road to Code |…
December 2022
2022 Small Firm Series: Session 3
Join us ONLINE on Wednesday, December 7, 2022 for Session 3: Operations & Design: New Approaches to Old Ways of Working of AIA Seattle’s 2022 Small Firm Series (4 AIA LU). Business planning and professional development mean little without proper implementation. How will you structure your team for the greatest results? What bottlenecks are slowing down your design execution? How can adopting new ways of working transform your firm? This session will explore alternative ways of thinking about your day-to-day operations using…
March 2023
Code Reload | 2021 Building Code Updates
This is the first session in the 2023 Code Reload Series presented by AIA Seattle’s Code Committee. This two day program will provide an understanding of the changes between current 2018 IBC based codes and the new 2021 IBC based codes, including the codes as adopted by the City of Seattle. It will also go into how to interpret and apply key code provisions that apply to most buildings. Join us online March 22 and March 23, 2023 (12-2pm each…
SPARC’s Contemporary Residential Design Series – The Past and Future of Regional Design on Puget Sound
In this presentation, UW Professor Jeffrey Karl Ochsner FAIA will talk about the history of regionalism in Seattle architecture and will frame a discussion of what regionalist ideas have come to mean today. Read more
May 2023
AIANWW: 2021 A117.1 Code Changes Webinar
Review changes from the 2018 to the 2021 edition of the ICC A117.1 Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities. The background behind many of the changes will be discussed to provide the participant with an understanding of the intent of the changes and how to apply it to their everyday work. Read more
Decarbonization for Health Equity & Community Resilience
Through examining 1) indoor air quality and the right to positive health outcomes; 2) adaptive reuse strategies, the circular economy, and electrification; and 3) case studies demonstrating what “good” looks like through responsible building in projects and practice, this year’s thought leadership summit will take a systems-approach to explore high-impact decarbonization strategies that nurture our communities and ecosystems. How do we redefine “standard of care” to ensure climate-smart solutions? What does it look like to co-create with community to achieve our…
AIA NWW: WSEC-C Code Changes Webinar
Join AIA NWW section and learn about upcoming WSEC-C code changes. Read more
Conversations Toward Resilience: Urban Heat and Air Quality
Join AIA Seattle’s Adaptation and Resilience Committee for a panel discussion on urban heat and air quality in the Puget Sound region. Our panelists will share their latest research, design strategies, and community-based initiatives related to the complexities of equitably addressing urban heat and air quality at a variety of project scales. Audience questions and discussion will follow presentations by each panelist.
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June 2023
Housing Now! Design / Access / Delivery
The Puget Sound Regional Council estimates the Seattle metro area needs 800,000 new homes by the year 2050, and the City of Seattle is preparing for the next Comprehensive Plan Update in 2024. What role will architects play in addressing this? How can we ensure the integration of new design solutions and policy interventions prioritize access, affordability, equity, and livability in rapidly changing neighborhoods? Housing Now! serves as a resonant theme as we address the pressing need for housing at…
September 2023
Culture Change in Practice: A Leadership Cohort 2023 | Workshop 1
This four-part, peer-based learning program was designed by a team of architects and allied professionals to specifically provide architecture and allied firms the tools and community to meet the explicit goals and metrics laid out in NOMA NW’s Call-to-Action. The first workshop of Culture Change in Practice: A Leadership Cohort 2023 is scheduled for Friday, September 15, 9:00am-12:00pm PT, in person at DLR Group (51 University St #600). Workshop 1: Power and Privilege September 15, 9am-12pm PT | In-Person @…
Code Reload | Beyond Single Family
Session 3 of the Code Reload series explore case studies for small scale residential development and commercial projects, looking at code implications when moving beyond single family residential. Read more
October 2023
Culture Change in Practice: A Leadership Cohort 2023 | Workshop 2
This four-part, peer-based learning program was designed by a team of architects and allied professionals to specifically provide architecture and allied firms the tools and community to meet the explicit goals and metrics laid out in NOMA NW’s Call-to-Action. The second workshop of Culture Change in Practice: A Leadership Cohort 2023 is scheduled for Friday, October 6, 9:00am-12:00pm PT, online. Workshop 2: Conflict Transformations October 6, 9am-12pm PT | Online Conflict is often seen as a barrier and obstacle to progress.…
AHC Fall 2023 – Designing for All: Accessibility in Health and Wellness
This year’s AIA AHC Fall Event includes one day of interdisciplinary presentations, design case studies, discussions, and building tours focusing on inclusive and accessible design in the healthcare environment. The Fall event will explore how design solutions and the design process can improve accessibility and inclusion for as many users as possible within the healthcare setting. Read more
Culture Change in Practice: A Leadership Cohort 2023 | Workshop 3
This four-part, peer-based learning program was designed by a team of architects and allied professionals to specifically provide architecture and allied firms the tools and community to meet the explicit goals and metrics laid out in NOMA NW’s Call-to-Action. The third workshop of Culture Change in Practice: A Leadership Cohort 2023 is scheduled for Friday, October 27, 9:00am-12:00pm PT, online. Workshop 3: The Value Case and Business Case for Equity Work October 27, 9am-12pm PT | Online This third workshop will offer…
November 2023
Code Reload | Code 101 & Workshop
This is the fourth and final session in the 2023 Code Reload Series presented in joint collaboration by AIA Seattle’s Code Committee and the Young Architects Forum (YAF). This in-person seminar will focus on a broad overview of the 2021 IBC to present the basics of how the code is organized and used. The seminar will also include a hands-on workshop focusing on Chapter 5 Allowable Areas and Area Increases, as well as Chapter 10 Means of Egress. Join us…
Culture Change in Practice: A Leadership Cohort 2023 | Workshop 4
This four-part, peer-based learning program was designed by a team of architects and allied professionals to specifically provide architecture and allied firms the tools and community to meet the explicit goals and metrics laid out in NOMA NW’s Call-to-Action. The fourth and final workshop of Culture Change in Practice: A Leadership Cohort 2023 is scheduled for Friday, November 17, 9:00am-12:00pm PT, in person at DLR Group (51 University St #600). Workshop 4: Initiatives and Impact November 17, 9am-12pm PT | In-Person…
December 2023
AADU | Prioritizing Health, Wellness, and Equity through Material Choice
Join Asian American Designers Union (AADU-S) and this year’s Net Zero conference speakers discuss about how architects and manufacturers have a significant role to play in moving the practice of material selection beyond one based on aesthetics, cost and durability to one that equally considers embodied carbon, toxicity, human health and social equity. Read more
AIA Seattle Office Closed December 25 – January 1
Happy Holidays – we will see you in the new year! Read more
February 2024
2024 Path to Fellowship
Are you a seasoned professional who is considering applying for AIA Fellowship? Or are you an emerging professional who’s curious about steps you can take now to make a future application more competitive? Join a panel of local FAIAs to learn more about the College of Fellows eligibility and submittal process, our chapter’s coaching and nomination of candidates, and tricks and tools you can employ now to tell your own professional story. Read more
March 2024
Code Mode | Code Flexibility (Alternative Code Approaches)
Join us for an insightful seminar on the International Building Code and Fire Code, delving into innovative solutions for scenarios not explicitly covered by the codes or situations where strict compliance is challenging. Our experts will guide you through the avenues available, such as code modifications, alternative materials and methods, and the use of engineering reports or judgements. Read more
April 2024
Future Forward: Accelerating Change Together
AEC professionals play an important role in advancing climate action and addressing the impacts of the built environment. However, there is a critical need for substantial and collective progress. We must apply our learning towards actionable solutions that are simple, scalable, wholistic, and forward-looking. How do we drive change and positive outcomes in our practice and communities? How do we galvanize around a shared vision of the world we want to live in? Read more
May 2024
Code Mode | Understanding the Seattle Existing Building Code
Join us for a two day seminar on understanding the Seattle Existing Building Code (SEBC). Day 1 delves into the code’s philosophy and explores requirements for building reuse and substantial alterations. Day 2 features case studies to illustrate practical applications and emphasizes key compliance areas such as substantial alterations, building performance, and changes of use within existing structures. Participants will gain insight into critical code compliance areas, including Seattle’s unique substantial alteration definitions and requirements for building reuse. Read more
AADU-S x Iris Pan: The Future is Physital
Join the Asian American Designers Union and Iris Pan, a globally-recognized pioneer in the fields of User Experience Design, Emerging Technology Design, Integrative Product Design, discover the design trends made possible with the latest AI and XR technologies. Read more
June 2024
Housing: A Stage for Life
Housing: A Stage for Life seeks to respond to the evolving housing landscape and explore how housing can center specific community needs and support people through various life stages. This year’s program will spotlight policy interventions, innovative project case studies, community perspectives, and inspiring design that foreground users while addressing actionable solutions to develop more plentiful, quality, diverse, and sustainable housing options in Seattle and beyond. Read more
September 2024
Code Mode | Introduction to Land Use Code in the Puget Sound Region
Without a doubt, land use codes shape architect’s designs, providing both challenging constraints and existing opportunities. This two day program explores the origin of the policies that impact these codes, starting with the Washington’s Growth Management Act, the subsequent regional policies, and local comprehensive plans. Read more
