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Advocacy

Architects care about the places they live, and have the knowledge and tools to make a difference through design.

Through advocacy, AIA Seattle promotes a well-designed, sustainable city with opportunities for all and creates opportunities for architects to impact public policy and civic issues. Our advocacy agenda spans all scales of design in our city. AIA Seattle’s Public Policy Board (PPB) leads our advocacy efforts. Input and ideas from members are always welcome.

Ongoing Advocacy Priorities Include:

Latest Advocacy Updates

A big fail by the state redistricting commission; C-PACER comes to King County; Mayor Durkan announces climate initiatives from Glasgow; opportunities to serve on Seattle boards; ongoing Comp Plan programming – November 2021.

Energy codes continue to move away from fossil gas; single family zones renamed; King County moves out of the shadows on climate; opportunities to join the Seattle Planning Commission or sign up for advocacy training – October 2021.

Getting serious about replacing the B&O; renaming single family zones; proposed Design Review changes; AIA’s Housing Policy Statement; Seattle Budget School – September 2021

Neighborhood Residential’s moment arrives; small lot development standards proposed for Belltown; Seattle’s new stormwater code goes into effect; new uses for downtown storefronts are under consideration; and Climate Advocacy Week returns! – August 2021

A CA judge paves the way for new gas bans; Washington rolls out its new Clean Building Performance Standard; OPCD issues its race and social justice growth strategy report; “neighborhood residential” makes its formal debut – July 2021

Washington’s state legislative session concludes; the Attorney General weighs in on the stamping of architectural documents; Seattle’s Comprehensive Plan update is set to kick off – May 2021

A Federal Push for Greater Housing Supply; the State Legislature adjourns on April 25; King County’s new energy code update; Housing Development around Sound Transit’s new Light Rail stations; Opportunities to Participate in AIA Seattle’s Policy Programming – April 2021

President Biden reversed Trump’s Classical Architecture Mandate; the State Legislature passes the halfway mark; Seattle’s Comprehensive Plan process gets ready for public engagement; AIA Seattle kicks off 15-Minute Seattle programming; opportunities to join local, state, and national boards and committees – March 2021

Federal Advocacy on Green Infrastructure; an Update on the State Legislative session; Seattle passes energy code update; Seattle Public Schools votes on fossil fuel-free future – February 2021

The State Building Code (again); the State Legislative session kicks off; Rico Quirindongo AIA hits city hall; Seattle updates its green building incentive; your opportunity to meet the state Legislature’s only architect – January 2021

State Advocacy

AIA Washington Council is hard at work for you, promoting legislation on green buildings and livable places, supporting a sustainable state economy, and protecting your ability to practice architecture. Learn more at aiawa.org.

National Advocacy

The AIA represents the interests of architects before the federal government and policy-making bodies. This outreach, coupled with sustained member participation and active involvement in the political process, enables the AIA to advocate on behalf of legislative, regulatory, and related issues important to AIA members. Learn more at aia.org or review AIA National’s 2020 policy platform here.

Contact

For additional information on AIA Seattle public policy priorities and activities, or to share your views as an AIA Seattle member, contact Manager of Policy & Advocacy Kirsten Smith.

Advocacy Updates Archive

2020

A state legislative session like no other; Climate Advocacy Week wrap-up; new affordable housing measures in Seattle – December 2020

State election results; Washington’s new (draft) State Energy Strategy; AIA’s Climate Advocacy Week; Seattle Design Review Board vacancies – November 2020

VOTE VOTE VOTE! Washington’s State Energy Strategy; AIA Seattle’s Climate Advocacy Week; King County sales tax for homeless housing; residential electrification tips; AIA Washington Council’s advocacy training – October 2020

National AIA policy platform, state rulemaking updates, Omnibus legislation, virtual Design Review, Portland’s zoning reform – August 2020

Social Justice, Codes and movement on opening of offices – June 2020

Inching toward Phase 2; designers hack hand washing on the streets; Seattle rolls out Stay Healthy Streets; your opportunity to help develop ICC code – May 2020

COVID resources, more climate webinars, legislative adjustments to Seattle’s MHA program and its ADU laws – April 2020

COVID-19 updates, Architect Advocacy in action, the state legislative session concludes in Olympia; the YIMBY Act moves forward in Washington, D.C.; AIA supports a delay in Seattle’s 2018 codes implementation – March 2020

Trump Administration proposal on federal building design; the state legislative session passes the halfway mark; new solid waste guidance from SPU; Seattle’s Green New Deal; Mayor Durkan’s Affordable Middle-Income Housing Advisory Council issues recommendations – February 2020

2020 state legislative session underway in Olympia; the Seattle Planning Commission weighs in on a new growth strategy for Seattle; Mayor Durkan issues a directive for all-electric municipal buildings; Seattle’s pre-approved DADU program is open for submittals; SDCI seeks Accela feedback – January 2020

2019

AIA joins a regional housing coalition; Seattle completes its 2020 budget; Seattle seeks comments on SEPA thresholds and solid waste storage – December 2019

AIA works on the state’s implementation process for the new energy performance standard for commercial buildings; the Seattle City Council closes out the budget and other last minute items prior to the new council taking office in January; AIA|WA state legislative agenda set in advance of the 2020 session’s January kick-off – November 2019

AIA|WA’s Advocacy Summit, pre-approved plans for DADUs, AIA Seattle’s Housing Policy Statement, Seattle’s budget process – October 2019

Local, state, and national action on climate; AIA’s policy statement on homelessness; local transportation initiatives; your chance to “Taco-bout Justice” – September 2019

Seattle’s bold moves on climate; Durkan announces Housing Seattle Now; and the Central City Connector Streetcar gets the green light – August 2019

ADU legislation signed; AIA National’s Disruption, Evolution and Change; an architect joins the State House – July 2019

ADUs, Fort Lawton Redevelopment and Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda’s appearance at our first City Leaders Breakfast – June 2019

State Legislature Adjourns; updates to Seattle housing legislation, and Affordable Housing Week – May 2019

AIA pledges support for Invest in America Act, the 2019 legislative session nears the finish line; and AIA Seattle focuses in on housing through a variety of events – April 2019

Updates from AIA Grassroots, Olympia, and Shift Zero; plus MHA passes, and more – March 2019

AIA hosts Virtual Capitol Hill Day, updates on the 2019 legislative session from AIA|WA, & opportunities to get involved – February 2019

2019 Legislative Session Kicks Off; AIA Seattle Joins the Housing Development Consortium – January 2019

2018

2021 ICC Voting Open; AIA|WA Reacts to Midterm Election Results; MHA Lawsuit Concludes; and more – November 2018

Disaster Recovery Reform Act, 2018 Advocacy Summit, Seattle’s final ADU EIS, & opportunities to get involved – October 2018

Report from Global Climate Action Summit, AIA Washington Council Advocacy Summit and 2019 legislative priorities, & more – September 2018

AIA Initiative to combat school violence through design; SDCI responds to complaints against Accela portal, SDF 2018, & more – August 2018

I-1631 reaches the November ballot, discussions on B&O tax reform continue, & the 2030 Challenge Pilot Program – July 2018

Mass Timber, Early Community Outreach for Design Review, Seattle’s ADU Draft EIS, MHA, & opportunities to get involved – June 2018

I-1631 Endorsement, Seattle Climate Action Plan, & Waterfront Local Improvement District (LID) – May 2018

Climate Initiatives, Parking Reform, Advocacy Events & More – April 2018

Passing of the Capital Budget, Climate and Housing Initiatives, & more – March 2018

2018 Legislative Session, Shift Zero, & Local News + Events – February 2018

Capital Budget Passes, Parking Reform, Housing, & more – January 2018

2017

New Advocacy Update Enewsletter, Capital Budget, 2018 Priorities, & more – December 2017

AIA Seattle Homelessness Task Force, Capital Budget, & Advocacy Opportunities – September 2017

Summer 2017 Advocacy Updates – Mayoral Forum, Capital Budget & more – July 2017

Seattle Mayoral Candidates Forum on the Built Environment – July 17, 2017

Comment on Seattle’s MHA Draft EIS – June 2017

Seattle’s Next MHA + Upzone Area: Chinatown/International District – May 2017

What’s Happening With the Waterfront? – May 2017

City Council Votes on HALA-related rezones for downtown and SLU – April 2017

Federal, State and Local Advocacy Updates – and a New Advocacy Manager – March 2017

HALA: What’s Happening Now – February 2017

Carbon Pricing Discussions in Olympia – January 2017

2016

Endorsement of I-732, Action on Transit, Living Buildings and more – September 2016

Opposing Initiative 122 and other advocacy issues – May 2016

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