Advocacy Update – August 2021

LOCAL NEWS

2020 MHA Report Released
Seattle’s Office of Housing released its first annual report on the city’s Mandatory Housing Affordability and Incentive Zoning program, including long-anticipated data on housing projects’ use of payment versus performance under the program. While any adjustments to the MHA pricing will likely occur only as part of the city’s major Comprehensive Plan update (2021-24), AIA is interested in member comments on what you are seeing in this report. Please contact Kirsten.

Legislation to Rename Seattle’s Single Family Zones Moves Through Council
Legislation to rename Seattle’s single family zoning category to “neighborhood residential” was discussed during the Council’s Land Use and Neighborhoods Committee meeting on July 28 and will be up for a public hearing in the same committee on Sept. 22 followed by a committee vote tentatively scheduled for Sept. 24. If you would like to weigh in with your city councilmember(s) on this issue, you can do so via email or phone. You can also testify via phone at either of the Sept. 22 or Sept. 24 committee meetings. This change would impact the name only; it would not impact what is currently allowed in single family zones. Any changes to existing zoning will be part of the major Comprehensive Plan Update scheduled to be completed in 2024.

Council Committee Passes Legislation to Fill Downtown Storefronts
Legislation to allow additional uses for downtown storefronts was approved by the City Council’s Land Use and Neighborhoods Committee on July 28 and will move to the full City Council for approval in September. The legislation is aimed at finding uses for empty downtown spaces by allowing additional uses that are currently allowed in other neighborhoods but not downtown. The ordinance would be temporary, lasting for 12 months (unless Council extends it), but any permits authorized under it would be permanent. Additional info is contained in the Director’s Memo. This is a good time to contact your city councilmember(s) if you would like to comment on this legislation.

Small Lot Development Standards Legislation Introduced
Seattle’s Office of Planning and Community Development has proposed legislation to support development on small lots in the Downtown Mixed Residential zones of Belltown. The purpose is to simplify building forms, allowing more consistent floor layouts that will enable modular and panelized construction. The goal is to facilitate more housing in Belltown’s DMR zones by implementing one of the recommendations of the Affordable Middle-Income Housing Advisory Council on innovative construction. This legislation is currently pending before the Council’s Land Use and Neighborhoods Committee.

Seattle’s Stormwater Code Update Takes Effect
Seattle’s updated Stormwater Code and Manual went into effect on July 1. There are some significant changes, which you can review on SDCI’s Stormwater Code website. SDCI will hold Q&A sessions on the code every Wednesday in August from 2-3 pm.

Regional Housing Strategy Open for Comment
In July, the Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC) released its draft Regional Housing Strategy (RHS). The strategy is a collection of regional and local measures to preserve, improve, and expand the region’s housing inventory. It is intended to support the region’s many housing actors and future housing planning actions, including Washington’s Growth Management Act and PSRC’s (King, Kitsap, Pierce, and Snohomish Counties) Vision 2050, that help direct the four-county region’s growth. You can read more about the Strategy itself here. The PSRC is seeking public comment on the draft document, which you can access here.

Shoreline Moves Forward on Energy Code Proposal
On August 16, the Shoreline City Council voted to direct city staff to develop an ordinance that would adopt stronger energy code provisions for commercial and large multifamily buildings. Shoreline is taking the lead from Seattle’s 2021 code language, which largely eliminates fossil fuels from new commercial buildings. See the Shoreline City Council notes here. AIA Seattle submitted a letter in support of this action. Thank you to C. Ray Allshouse AIA, Shoreline’s building official, and Duane Jonlin FAIA, Energy Code & Conservation Advisor for the City of Seattle, for helping to move this proposal forward.

OPPORTUNITIES

Seattle Bicycle Advisory Board Seeks New Members
The Seattle Bicycle Advisory Board is a public volunteer board that advises the Mayor, City Council, and City Departments on projects, policies, and programs that improve or impact bicycling conditions in Seattle. Three seats are currently open on the Board. More information is available here. Applications are due by Friday, August 27.

EVENTS

Join us at the Seattle Design Festival! Aug. 21-22
The Seattle Design Festival Block Party is a two-day street fair celebrating the powerful ways design affects our lives. This fun outdoor event is an opportunity for the design community and the public to come together and interact through large-scale design installations, performances, and design activities all centered around the Festival’s 2021 theme, EMERGE. Join us Aug. 21-22 at Lake Union Park!

AIA Seattle Committee Meetings

AIA Seattle’s Housing Task Force meets monthly via Zoom on the second Thursday of each month at noon via Zoom. For info on how to access the meeting, contact Kirsten.

Upcoming Events – Dates TBD
These online events will occur in September or October but do not yet have a firm date. If you would like to be notified when one or more are scheduled, please let Kirsten know.

Seattle Housing Policy Update – AIA’s Public Policy Board will provide an update on the many pieces of housing policy swirling around Seattle right now (late September).
Seattle Budget Process 101 – Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda’s staff will lead us in an overview of how Seattle’s annual budgeting process works and how you can provide input and advocacy (mid-September – the budget process itself will run October-November).
Climate Advocacy Week – this event is back to provide support for local energy codes designed to get fossil fuels out of buildings. The 2021 edition will focus on King County’s effort to update its energy code for commercial and large multifamily buildings. King County’s changes will be similar to but slightly different than the Seattle Energy Code update that was the subject of last year’s Climate Advocacy Week. We’ll be looking for AIA members interested in joining a virtual group meeting with their King County Councilmember and presenting a webinar for those who want to learn more about the King County process and other building electrification measures locally and statewide (early October).

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

Posted in Advocacy, Public Policy Board

AIA Seattle Announces 2021 Honorees

Honorees are nominated by their peers and selected by the Fellows & Honors committee each spring. AIA Seattle is delighted to recognize these recipients for their exceptional achievements and to showcase the diversity of professionals who make our region’s design community so purposeful and beautiful. Please join us in congratulating the 2021 Honorees!

Individual Awardees Celebration Monday, November 8 at Town Hall Seattle

This year, we are excited to recognize and celebrate our individual awardees for their outstanding contributions to the profession and our community at the Individual Awardees Celebration on Monday, November 8 at Town Hall Seattle.

Individual Awardees Celebration | Town Hall Seattle’s Forum

4:30pm – Doors Open for Individual Awardees Celebration (Forum Entrance off Seneca St)
- Bar opens (21+)
5:15pm – Individual Awardees Celebration Begins | Town Hall Seattle’s Forum
6:30pm – Program Ends
- Those also attending the Honor Awards Live Event will make their way to the lobby

Interested in continuing the night with us at the Honor Awards for Washington Architecture Live Event? Learn more and get tickets here.

2021 HONOREES

Gold Medal

Anne Schopf FAIA

Anne Schopf FAIA has been recognized, over her 37-year career, with more than 80 international, national, regional, and local design awards, including four AIA COTE Top Ten Awards. Anne joined Mahlum Nordfors McKinley Gordon in 1990 and became Design Partner in 2004, helping to transform the practice into a Design First Firm. She continues to drive the firm’s vision of creating healthy and sustainable environments for the communities they serve. Elevated to Fellow of the Institute under Category 1 Design, Anne was awarded the Medal of Honor from AIA Northwest Pacific Region in 2013, and under her leadership, Mahlum received the AIA NWPR Firm Award in 2014.

Anne’s deep commitment to design excellence and building performance has led her to participate at a national AIA leadership level with both the Committee on the Environment and the Committee on Design. With the aim to transform the culture of design into one that examines environmental performance and social impact as an imperative, Anne has driven performance metrics into design awards programs nationwide through the development of the Common App, sparking local AIA Components and Knowledge Communities to incorporate performance metrics as a part of their submission and jurying process. Anne has also successfully sponsored over 25 international architects for elevation to Honorary FAIA. In Seattle, Anne served as Chair of the Honor Awards program, previously sat on the Board of Directors, participated in numerous committees, and served as AIA Seattle’s President in 2010.

Young Architect Award

Chris Hellstern AIA

Chris is the Living Building Challenge Services Director, architect and author with The Miller Hull Partnership in Seattle with a variety of project experience including five certified Living Buildings and several more currently in design. Chris has dedicated his career to progressing sustainability within the built environment. Having completed numerous projects including public and private facilities he works with teams to initiate, plan and coordinate the execution of sustainable goals ranging from Zero Energy certification to Living Building Challenge Certified projects.

His book, Living Building Education, chronicles the story behind his first Living Building, the Bertschi School. Chris founded the Seattle 2030 Roundtable and co-founded the Healthy Materials Collaborative. A Living Future Accredited professional and a Living Building Challenge Hero, Chris is a university guest lecturer and speaker at numerous conferences across the country. He works on state and local environmental policy with AIA Washington, publishes articles and volunteers with local school groups mentoring students about sustainable practices and advocacy. As an Affiliate Instructor with the University of Washington, Chris teaches a graduate sustainability course for the College of Built Environments.

Margaret Knight AIA

Margaret is a licensed architect in the state of Washington, has served on AIA Seattle’s Board of Directors, and is a past chair of AIA Seattle’s Diversity Roundtable (DRT). As a woman of color, Margaret is passionate about encouraging and promoting diversity within the architectural profession.

Following her graduation from Cornell University, Margaret conducted participatory design workshops in Kenya, to create productive public spaces outside of Nairobi. Since joining Schemata Workshop in 2015, Margaret has worked on several community-focused projects centered around EDI issues impacting Seattle area communities. From affordable housing projects to neighborhood design guidelines in Seattle’s Central Area and Chinatown-International District, Margaret is passionate about the role community engagement can play in the design process, especially in communities of color. She believes that representation matters, and has focused her efforts outside of the office on exposing minority youth to the design profession through Architects in Schools programming, Hip Hop Architecture camps, and Sawhorse Revolution collaborations. Margaret speaks publicly about the power of community engagement and the importance of diversity, and strives to incorporate these themes in all of the work that she does.

Honorary AIA Seattle Membership

Jennifer Guthrie FASLA, PLA

Jennifer Guthrie is a founding partner of GGN and a Fellow of the American Society of Landscape Architects. Jennifer’s design leadership merges a guiding, experiential vision with innovative and precise detailing. Her work ranges broadly, encompassing urban districts of green streets and mixed-use housing, public squares, rooftop gardens, urban farms, and cultural institutions. Examples of these diverse project types include the University of Washington’s West Campus Residences & Streetscape, the Lurie Garden at Millennium Park in Chicago, the Spring District in Bellevue, and the Long Beach Civic Center in California.

GGN was the recipient of the 2017 ASLA National Landscape Architecture Firm Award. Additionally, Jennifer and her partners received the Smithsonian’s Cooper-Hewitt National Design Award for Landscape Architecture in 2011. Jennifer’s work has received numerous national and regional Honor Awards from ASLA and AIA. She is a former President of the Landscape Architectural Foundation Board and she currently serves on the CEO Roundtable.

Kristine Kenney ASLA, LEED AP

University Landscape Architect & Director of Campus Planning + Architecture
University of Washington

Kristine is an accomplished and dedicated steward of the University of Washington campus, where she directs the planning and physical development of the built environment, both inside and out. With a strong commitment to solving complex issues through creative solutions, Kristine is adept at strategically navigating and cultivating cross-functional discourse amongst campus leaders, trade experts, and design professionals to effectively balance limited resources with unlimited ambitions. Throughout her career, she has been recognized by her peers with professional awards commending the positive and inclusive culture she fosters, resulting in high-impact, results-oriented teams. Within the design profession, she has earned great respect for her tenacious advocacy and encouragement to continually strive for design excellence, resulting in numerous project design awards at the University of Washington. One of her proudest accomplishments is the vision and insight she provided over a ten-year timeframe, resulting in the reenvisioned lower Rainer Vista, an iconic and campus-defining landscape. In her free time, Kristine enjoys relishing in the seasonal beauty of the Pacific Northwest, whether that’s getting her hands dirty in the garden or actively immersing herself in nature with family and friends.

Nicole DeNamur WELL AP

Nicole DeNamur is an attorney, WELL AP and Faculty, Fitwel Ambassador, EcoDistricts AP and LEED Green Associate. She helps her clients identify and manage the risks of sustainable innovation so they can do great work without the surprises. Before launching her consulting company – Sustainable Strategies – Nicole practiced construction and insurance coverage law in the Seattle area for more than a decade. She leverages this experience to guide her clients as they pursue robust sustainability goals, and her strength lies in her ability to view sustainability issues through a legal and risk management lens.

Nicole’s work focuses on creating collaborative spaces and uniting diverse groups to mitigate climate change through the built environment. She also specializes in issues related to the intersection of buildings with human health and wellness. Nicole is particularly focused on creating safe, accessible and inclusive spaces that allow all occupants to thrive. In addition to her consulting work, Nicole is an award-winning contributing author and has developed and taught graduate-level courses at the University of Washington and Boston Architectural College.

Tory Laughlin-Taylor

Tory Laughlin Taylor is a real estate advisor in affordable housing development, engaged in organizations and strategies that leverage values-driven capital to deliver enduring affordability in our Puget Sound communities. For over three decades she has been financing, building and operating multi-family housing for low-income working people, driven by the conviction that economic access to desirable housing is the foundation of a healthy equitable society. In her career she has originated over 1,000 units of permanently affordable housing for people earning about half of median income.

A Seattle native, Tory has a BA from Harvard College and an MBA in Real Estate Finance and Development from George Washington University. She has served on the Seattle Design Commission, the Seattle Housing Levy Oversight Committee, and the Washington State Affordable Housing Advisory Board.

Community Service Award

Kate Simonen AIA, SE

Kate Simonen, AIA, SE is the executive director of the Carbon Leadership Forum and Professor and Chair of the Department of Architecture at the University of Washington. Connecting significant professional experience in high performance building design and technical expertise in environmental life cycle assessment she works to spur collective action to bring net embodied carbon to zero through cutting-edge research, cross-sector collaboration, and the incubation of new approaches. Kate directs the research of the Carbon Leadership Forum and convenes collaborative initiatives such as the Embodied Carbon in Construction Calculator (the EC3 tool) and the Structural Engineers 2050 Challenge.

Allied Organization Award

Sawhorse Revolution

Founded in 2010, Sawhorse Revolution fosters confident, community-oriented youth through the power of carpentry and craft. We are inspired to create equitable change within a framework of “feet-on-the-ground” education and job-training, empowerment, and leadership, in and for our community. Sawhorse programs team teens with professional carpenters and architects to build and design projects that make a real difference in their community. We partner with schools and low-income housing organizations in central and south Seattle to ensure our free programs reach youth furthest from educational justice – so that they can make a real difference in their own neighborhoods. To date, Sawhorse students have built 58 structures, partnered with 100+ community groups, and Sawhorse has served over 800 youth in Central and South Seattle. The structures we build with our students stand as testaments to the long-term benefit of our programs; these projects can be anything from a series of projects built for BIPOC-led food justice organizations, to 25+ tiny homes for the homeless placed in city-sanctioned encampments, to a 225 sq. ft social justice lending library. By responding to a variety of local needs, we give students leadership and agency in their own communities, allowing them to apply their creativity collaboratively to change the worlds around them.

NATIONAL HONORS

2021 Young Architect Award

Myer Harrell AIA

2021 Honorary AIA

Vincent Martinez Hon. AIA

2021 AIA College of Fellows

Brian Court FAIA
Grace H. Kim FAIA
Eric Lagerberg FAIA, LEED AP
Erica Loynd FAIA
Richard E. (Rick) Mohler, FAIA, NCARB

View the 2021 Fellows and National Awards announcement for more information.

Posted in For the Profession

2021 Honor Awards

AIA Seattle’s Honor Awards for Washington Architecture is a nationally-recognized program that explores and honors projects designed by architects throughout the state of Washington. This annual program provides an important opportunity for the design community to share and celebrate its achievements both among practitioners and with the community at-large. Awarded projects are revealed for the first time at the live event.

2021 HONOR AWARDS ON NOVEMBER 8 AT TOWN HALL SEATTLE

This year’s program on November 8 will return to in-person celebrations of our greater design community, recognizing both project teams and — for the first time — individual awardees. The program consists of two distinct events, connected by the themes of recognition and celebration, both hosted on November 8 at Town Hall Seattle.

Individual Awardees Celebration | Town Hall Seattle’s Forum

4:30pm – Doors Open for Individual Awardees Celebration (Forum Entrance off Seneca St)
- Bar opens (21+)
5:15pm – Individual Awardees Celebration Begins
6:30pm – Program Ends
- Those also attending the Honor Awards Live Event will make their way to the lobby

Honor Awards Live Event | Town Hall Seattle’s Great Hall

5:30pm – Lobby Opens for Honor Awards (Lobby Entrance off 8th Avenue)
6:15pm – Live Pianist Performance by Jovino Santos Neto Begins in the Great Hall
7:00pm – Honor Awards Program Begins
- Livestreaming of the Honor Awards Program begins for remote ticket-holders
9:00pm – Program Ends

THE JURY PROCESS

Jury Deliberations will take place virtually this year. Each juror individually reviews all projects submitted before group deliberations. Over the course of two days (this year online), the jury will agree on criteria and selections for award recognition. Awards are the final determination of the jury.

MEET THE JURY

Katherine Darnstadt AIA, NOMA, LEED AP | Latent Design | Chicago

Katherine Darnstadt is the founder of Latent Design, a progressive architecture and urbanism firm leveraging civic innovation and social impact to design more equitable spaces and systems. Since founding her practice in 2010, Katherine and her firm have prototyped new urban design systems to advance urban agriculture, support small business, created spaces for youth makers, advanced building innovation, and created public space frameworks. She and the firm have been published, exhibited and featured widely, most notably at the International Venice Architecture Biennial, Architizer A+ Awards, Chicago Ideas Week, NPR, American Institute of Architects Young Architects Honor Award winner and Crain’s Chicago 40 Under 40. She currently teaches at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago and previously at Northwestern University.

Sharon Johnston FAIA | Johnston Marklee | Los Angeles

Sharon Johnston, FAIA, is founding partner of Los Angeles-based firm Johnston Marklee and Professor in Practice at the Harvard Graduate School of Design. Since its establishment in 1998, Johnston Marklee has been recognized internationally with over 50 major awards. Projects by Johnston Marklee span thirteen countries and are diverse in scale and type. Recent projects include the Menil Drawing Institute in Houston; a renovation of the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago; the new Dropbox global headquarters in San Francisco; and the new UCLA Margo Leavin Graduate Art Studios in Culver City. Publications on the work of the firm include House Is a House Is a House Is a House Is a House (Birkhauser, 2016); 2G N. 67 and El Croquis N. 198. In 2019, Sharon was named Architectural Record’s Women in Architecture: New Generation Leader. Together with partner Mark Lee, Sharon was Co-Artistic Director of the 2017 Chicago Architecture Biennial.

Helena Zambrano AIA, CPHC | Mahlum | Portland

Helena is a licensed architect in the United States and Mexico with over 10 years of national and international experience. She is a Project Architect at Mahlum with a passion for environmental systems, and a strong advocate for the use of evidence to inform design. Emphasizing the design of daylit spaces, Helena’s work has been recognized with local, national, and international design awards. Prior to joining Mahlum, Helena was Sustainability Director at Overland Partners in San Antonio, TX. She currently serves on the AIA’s National Committee on the Environment, in which capacity she worked to establish the Framework for Design Excellence and led the development of both the “COTE Super Spreadsheet” and the ‘“AIA Common App”, two tools that raise the status of sustainability metrics and reframe the way design awards recognize architecture.

BROADEN CONVERSATIONS ABOUT RESILIENCE IN DESIGN

Every year, jurors praise submissions that reveal the story behind the marketing images. What concepts and considerations drove the design? How did the design team creatively address the project parameters? What is the project’s benefit or impact? Ultimately, what makes this an award-winning project? We encourage submitters to use the project narrative, captions, and the inclusion of process work as opportunities to graphically tell a design story.

In addition to the jury’s own criteria, the AIA Seattle community has identified four considerations for the submission review process:

Inspiration | How does the project manifest its stated intent–in form and function–revealing innovation in both thought and practice?
Problem-solving | How does the project creatively address challenges inherent in its site, budget, program, materials, collaboration, and context? What are the organizing principles informing design?
Environmental Sensitivity | How does the project exhibit serious intent to minimize negative environmental impact and enhance its relationship to the environment?
Social Impact | How does the project enhance the community in which it is situated? How does it help promote a vibrant and equitable community?

Additionally, the Common App offers BUILT project submitters Ten Measures for Design Excellence to consider as you tell your project story.

YOUNG VOICES SELECTION

Initiated in 2018, the Young Voices Selection (YVS) program aims to elevate and engage the voices of young designers through direct participation and representation in AIA Seattle’s Honor Awards for Washington Architecture. Three young designers, nominated by firm leaders within AIA Seattle’s Firm Network and selected by the Honor Awards Committee, will be given the opportunity to review, deliberate, and select ONE Built project submission. This chosen project, the “Young Voices Selection,” will be recognized at the Live Event in November and selected by this year’s Young Voices…

Kayla Ford | Integrus Architecture
Alex Ianchenko | The Miller Hull Partnership
Ryan Nungester | Environmental Works

QUESTIONS?

Questions about attending the Live Event? Contact AIA Seattle Programs Coordinator, Andrea Aguilera

Questions about the Live Event? Contact AIA Seattle Programs Manger, Zoe Guckenheimer.

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

THANK YOU TO OUR 2021 HONOR AWARDS SPONSORS

Posted in For the Profession, Honor Awards, Uncategorized

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: 2021 Northwest Washington Design Awards

Well-lit, beachside home interior with blue sky in background. Purple text band with white font on top reads: Call for Submissions. Purple text band with white font on bottom reads: AIA Northwest Washington. Purple text bubble in bottom-right with gold font reads: 2021 Design Awards

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

We invite you to submit to AIA Northwest Washington’s 2021 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.

HOW TO SUBMIT

Call for Submissions opens: August 2, 2021
Submission Deadline: DEADLINE EXTENDED to September 9, 2021 5pm PDT.

We invite you to submit to AIA Northwest Washington’s 2021 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 9 at 5:00pm PDT. Finalize and complete payment before this deadline.
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 9, and a late submission fee will be applied. No fees will be refunded for submissions that are disqualified or incomplete.

NEW THIS YEAR: 25-YEAR AWARD

The 25-Year Award showcases buildings that set a precedent. The award is conferred on a building that has stood the test of time for 25+ years and continues to set standards of excellence for its architectural design and significance.

Any AIA|NWW member, group of members, or committee may submit their own project(s) or submit by nominating a project by a different architect or firm.

Submission Fee: None

Complete this application for the 25-Year Award and upload the three (3) 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.

LIVE EVENT ON OCTOBER 7

The Northwest Washington Design Awards is a marquee program, drawing over 100 attendees and featuring an awards presentation and keynote presentation. Full details on the virtual 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 Program Manager, Karen Bacon.

Questions about attending the Virtual Event? Contact AIA Seattle Member Engagement Manager, Connor Descheemaker.

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

SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR 2021 HONOR AWARDS SPONSORS

Posted in Uncategorized

Advocacy Update – July 2021

NATIONAL NEWS

California Gas Ban Lawsuit Dismissed
A federal court in San Francisco dismissed a preemption challenge to the ban on gas hookups in new construction in Berkeley, California. California has more than 40 cities that have implemented gas bans or other restrictions, and this outcome will inform further efforts there and in other states. Seattle attempted a gas ban for new construction in 2019, but the effort, led by former Councilmember Mike O’Brien, was unsuccessful. Seattle’s new energy code does not ban gas but restricts the use of gas (and electric resistance) for space heating and water heating in commercial and taller multifamily buildings. Other gas uses, such as cooking and decorative fireplaces, are not impacted.

STATE NEWS

Stamping Questions Return to the Attorney General
AIA Washington Council submitted formal comments to the Attorney General’s office in response to a request, likely spurred by an engineering firm in the Yakima area, for an official opinion allowing engineers to stamp a full set of drawings, including architecture drawings, that fall outside of the exemptions outlined in state statute. This request was apparently triggered by a separate opinion released by the Attorney General’s office earlier this year, which found that engineers are not allowed to stamp documents that are architectural in nature. (AIA|WA made the request for this opinion.) While local governments allowing engineers to stamp architectural drawings has largely been an issue on the east side of the state, an unfavorable opinion by the Attorney General’s office will impact western Washington as well. Complicating the matter is the fact that state statute does not clearly define engineering or architectural work – rather, it says only that architectural work is work that requires an architect’s education and training, and it provides similar language regarding engineering work. There is no timetable for the Attorney General’s office to respond, and it could take more than a year.

State Begins Outreach to Owners on the Clean Buildings Performance Standard
The Washington State Department of Commerce reminds owners and operators of commercial properties 50,000 sq ft and above to review the list of buildings that are subject to Washington’s Clean Buildings Performance Standard. Building owners should expect to receive a letter later this summer notifying them that their building is likely subject to the standard and providing additional direction on next steps – and they will have questions for their architects. Reporting and compliance requirements are phased in beginning June 2026 based on building size. Owners may be eligible for the state’s Early Adopter Incentive program, regardless of whether they are required to make energy efficiency improvements to comply with the standard or not. The program offers performance-based incentive payments to building owners who get a head start on compliance or who simply choose to make qualifying improvements to their buildings.

LOCAL NEWS

Seattle Approves Policy for Affordable Housing on Property Owned by Religious Organizations – with a Disappointing Change
In compliance with state legislation (HB 1377) passed in 2019, the Seattle City Council passed and Mayor Jenny Durkan signed legislation to allow religious institutions to access additional development capacity when they redevelop their property for long-term rent- and income-restricted affordable housing. The state law requires such projects to target households at a maximum of 80% AMI (area mean income), but it allows local governments to lower that threshold. AIA strongly supported this legislation, but we have concerns about the final version, which was amended to provide development bonuses only to projects at 60% AMI or below.

Donald King FAIA and Renée Chang FAIA have publicly argued that this change eliminates the ability of the Black churches that are working with the Nehemiah Initiative to utilize the program because projects at 60% AMI are so financially perilous that only large developers can secure the major grants and federal tax grants to develop them. AIA is working on a letter to be cosigned by the National Organization of Minority Architects Northwest (NOMA NW) to Mayor Durkan and City Councilmembers echoing these comments and arguing that the final legislation will deny the independent, bottom-up community organizations that have the opportunity to most impact BIPOC lives and communities access to the program that was intended to serve them. AIA is calling on the City Council to recall the legislation and revisit the AMI threshold.

Growth Strategy Racial Equity Toolkit Report Released
In 2019, a budget proviso requested by Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda provided funding for a racial equity toolkit analysis of Seattle’s urban village growth strategy. That report was delayed by the Durkan administration, in part due to COVID. It was finally released this week and was presented to the City Council’s Land Use and Neighborhoods Committee by Rico Quirindongo AIA, Director of the Office of Planning and Community Development. You can watch that Council hearing here. The document itself is here. The report will help guide Seattle’s Comprehensive Plan Update that kicks off this year and will inform a deeper analysis of Seattle’s existing urban village growth strategy using the city’s Racial Equity Toolkit. We encourage AIA members to review the report and send any comments to Kirsten – or directly to your Councilmembers.

Renaming Seattle’s Single-Family Zones
In June, City Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda announced that the renaming of Seattle’s single-family zoning category to “neighborhood residential” will kick off with a public hearing during the Council’s Land Use and Neighborhoods Committee meeting on July 28. AIA Seattle has supported this change because it provides a better reflection of the current make-up of these zones and is an important step in the direction of greater equity among neighborhoods. While this is a small adjustment, it will be important to secure this change as Seattle heads into its major Comprehensive Plan update. Importantly, this proposal will be part of the annual Comprehensive Plan update legislation considered by the Council this year, not the multi-year Comprehensive Plan update that has yet to begin.

Mayor Durkan Proposal to Fill Downtown Storefronts
In June, Mayor Durkan announced legislation to allow additional uses for downtown storefronts in an effort to fill empty spaces and revitalize downtown. The ordinance would be temporary, lasting for 12 months, unless Council extends it. The proposal would expand the uses that would be allowed in these spaces to include bike parking, art installations, gyms, medical offices, museums, and other items not currently allowed under the city’s usage guidelines. The ordinance is not yet scheduled to go before Council. AIA Seattle’s Public Policy Board argues that this program should do more to encourage more affordable spaces and should specifically target the BIPOC community. They also question why this change should be temporary. If you have comments to add to the discussion, please let Kirsten know. AIA Seattle will likely send a letter to Mayor Durkan and councilmembers on this topic, and we’d like your feedback.

OPPORTUNITIES

Built Environment Candidate Forums
If you missed our Built Environment Candidate Forums for city of Seattle candidates, you can view the recordings here:

Ballots will be mailed this week and must be mailed back by Aug. 3. Please vote!

Lid I-5 Newsletter
Support Lid-I-5’s campaign for federal funding as part of federal highway mitigation legislation; walk the freeway during Lid I-5’s July 28 tour; read the City of Seattle’s recently-released I-5 Feasibility Study.

EVENTS

AIA Seattle Advocacy Committee Meetings

AIA Seattle’s Housing Task Force meets monthly via Zoom on the second Thursday of each month at noon via Zoom. For info on how to access the meeting, contact Kirsten.

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

Posted in Advocacy, Housing, Public Policy Board

Letter from Executive Director, Lisa Richmond: Farewell

Dear AIA Seattle Colleagues,

As most of you know, next Wednesday, June 30 is my last day with AIA Seattle, and these final days are bittersweet. I have enjoyed every moment of my time within this community. You have inspired me daily with your commitment to excellence, your passion, your creative ideas and willingness to share them. Thank you for welcoming me into the fold 15 years ago.

AIA Seattle will be announcing a new Executive Director within the next few weeks. I know you will embrace them as a valued member of our AIA family.

The next 12 months will be an exciting time for AIA Seattle. In addition to welcoming a new director, we will see the fruition of plans and changes that have been in the works over the past year. Our Board of Directors is finalizing three new Imperative Statements, formally committing to leadership on Climate, Equity and Housing. We will be implementing a refined brand strategy and more efficient governance model for the Seattle Design Festival, recognizing the power, momentum and recognizability of the festival to the public. And coming out of COVID, the staff is ramping up for in-person programming this fall and a full complement of events, classes, exhibits and advocacy efforts in 2022.

I’m taking a gap year to reflect and renew before stepping into the next chapter of my career. My time will include travel and outdoors adventures, volunteering, education, and maybe even some continuing connection with AIA. If you’d like to keep in touch, you can also find me on Linkedin.

All the best to you, and thank you for giving me the opportunity to call AIA Seattle home.

Sincerely,
Lisa Richmond Hon. AIA
Executive Director
AIA Seattle + Design in Public

Posted in Design In Public, For the Profession, For the Public

2021-2022 Board of Directors

AIA Seattle’s Board Nominating Committee is pleased to present this slate of accomplished members to fill open seats on our Board of Directors beginning September 1, 2021. All AIA and Associate AIA members were eligible to vote. Votes are yes or no for each nominee, and write-in votes are allowed. Voting by at least 10% of the membership is required to validate an election.

Voting closed on June 15, 2021

Heather Skeehan AIA – President-Elect
Member since: 2014 | Pronouns: She/Her

Through working in the architecture (ZGF), construction (GLY), and now owner/developer (citizenM) sides of the industry, leading teams and developing a diverse array of projects, I have learned an approach to projects that focuses on: identifying shared values and goals; deep collaboration and empathy; and use of tools to embed and support the use of diverse data that can be used throughout the life of a building.

I went to Tulane School of Architecture and was a member of the inaugural Tulane URBANbuild teams. In addition to the AIA Seattle Board, I am on the advisory board for the Tombolo Institute at Bellevue College. I have served on the board of the Washington Ensemble Theater and been a member of the Swedish Standing Advisory Committee. I regularly present to industry groups and participate in panel discussions of topics driving the industry.

More than anything, I am passionate about food.

Statement of Interest: The way buildings come to be is technically complicated, involves a diverse array of individuals, and is often behind other fields in the adaptation of technologies and cultural attitudes that shape high-performing/high-profiting teams in other industries.
As the industry continues to diversify and buildings continue to become more complicated, the importance of coming back to the shared goals and values of a project & the built environment is increasingly important, as is leaning on and helping guide the expertise of the broad team (the designers, the architects, the project managers, the builders, the engineers, the inspectors, the client, the users, and the surrounding community). As the impact of the built environment on communities and the climate is increasingly clarified, the role of the architect is expanding to encompass responsibilities and skills that may not have been previously considered but which we, as a profession, are excited and willing to learn and embrace.

Michelle Hill AIA – Secretary
Member since: 2006 | Pronouns: She/Her

Michele is an Architect at Broderick Architects, with over 12 years of experience in architecture and urban planning. Her work is varied among institutional, commercial, ecclesiastical, and residential projects, with expertise in early learning centers and projects with complex land use or code issues. A consistent thread throughout her work is an emphasis on beautiful and functional spaces that improve people’s daily lives. Within AIA Seattle, Michele is active in the Women in Design committee and currently serves in appointed positions on the Membership Steering Committee, Member Advancement Steering Committee, and JE:DI Task Force. Michele holds a Bachelor of Architecture degree from Virginia Tech, with minors in public & urban affairs and French, and a Master of Urban Planning degree from the University of Washington, with an environmental planning specialization. Outside of work, you can find Michele exploring the Pacific Northwest on foot or by sailboat.

Statement of Interest: AIA Seattle has placed itself at the forefront of AIA and the architecture field as a leader in responding to climate change and, more recently, in addressing diversity, equity, and inclusion within our profession. The visionary work that has elevated our chapter as a national leader is due to the collaborative efforts of our members, AIA Seattle staff, and the Board of Directors. I look forward to continuing this legacy of leadership as we remain focused on addressing today’s wicked problems. I am particularly excited about the concrete steps we are taking toward becoming a truly inclusive profession, enriched and empowered by the diverse voices we contain and we serve.

Heather Pogue AIA – Dev Com
Member since: 2008 | Pronouns: She/Her

Heather Pogue is the lead designer and Registered Architect behind Jeunesse Architects. Having worked on almost all project types over her career, Heather found that custom homes and small retail & restaurant spaces were where she could offer the most value, working closely with the project team and designing both interior and exterior environments from a more holistic approach. She delights in finding solutions that are as beautiful as they are budget conscientious, finding ways to manipulate materials into textures, and understanding architecture as an ever-evolving space made living by the people who activate it. Having also participated in every stage of the architectural process over the years, Heather knows that each piece matters to make an overall successful project. That rigor extends into her practice: listening, providing insight, and delighting in the collaboration. With clear communication from the start and a detailed eye through the final days of construction, she founded Jeunesse Architects with client advocacy, quality service, and design rigor in mind.

In addition to architecture, she is a published writer, podcast developer, and former college-radio DJ. She lives and works in Seattle and can be found cross country skiing or mountain biking in the Methow Valley and volunteering as a Garden Steward with the Washington Park Arboretum.

Statement of Interest: There are two intentional reasons why I joined AIA. As a member, to be engaged through thoughtful programming and as an architect, to find abundant resources. I was in Austin at the time of my early career and AIA had pulled me in with its zeal to serve the community. They ran the hippest homes tour every year, screened the indie architecture films when they came to town, and engaged the public as much as the architects. Most importantly, they actively listened to what the architects were seeking and used agility to find the answers, and adjusted programming to meet those needs. This kept their position of relevancy to the members they were serving. I found that time to be rewarding and thrilling because I was always looking to AIA Austin for ways to be inspired and ways to have a more successful career.

I became interested in serving on the board in Seattle to provide the same to others what I found early in my Austin career as an emerging architect. I see AIA Seattle as a place to knit that kind of community, mingling architects with the public to spread the audience we reach, and serving the members’ needs with agility and relevancy. I would like to make use of my position on the board to give back to others what I received during those early days of my career, to find ways to provide sources for community, connection, and encouragement to those we serve.

Marijana Misic AIA – Mem Com
Member since: 2013 | Pronouns: She/Her

A native of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Marijana (pronounced Mariyana) Misic has moved to Seattle in 2001 in her pursuit of BA in Architecture at the University of Washington. Her current career focus at Mahlum is on higher education projects, specifically student housing. The majority of her career has previously revolved around mixed-use urban developments. With the understanding of the importance a built environment has on one’s well-being, Marijana strives to bring thoughtful design closer to the everyday user. She believes that smart growth and strong communities create better and more livable cities.

Marijana has been a licensed architect in the State of Washington since 2013. In 2017 she has received the AIA Seattle Young Architect Award. She has been an active member of AIA Diversity Roundtable since 2015, and its co-chair from 2018-2020. With a few of her esteemed committee members, she is currently championing DRT’s collaboration with Sawhorse Revolution through mentoring youth about architecture, and stewarding youth envisioned designs towards built projects.

When not “architecting around,” Marijana enjoys coffee, reading, biking, and skiing.

Statement of Interest: Through my active participation in AIA Seattle’s Diversity Roundtable committee for the past 6 years, I learned to appreciate the importance of amplifying diverse perspectives within our profession. With my personal investment in this goal, as well as experience as co-chair of the Diversity Roundtable committee, I believe I can be an asset to the AIA Seattle Board of Directors, specifically to Membership Steering Committee. I strongly believe in members shaping the future of our AIA chapter and am excited for the opportunity to serve and channel our members input towards that future.

Matt Hutchins AIA – PPB
Member since: 2007 | Pronouns: He/Him

As a founder of CAST architecture, Matt has spent more than twenty years working to increase the vitality of cities and protect the environment. Through his design and policy work, Matt is an advocate for better density, abundant housing options, vibrant urban spaces, open space, and sustainable building.

Matt is a Seattle Planning Commissioner and former Design Review Board Member. For AIA Seattle he has served on the Housing Task Force, Residential Design Forum, and Public Policy Board, and was honored as Volunteer of the Year in 2020. He co-founded the grassroots group MOAR (More Options for Accessory Residences) to support zoning reform for accessory dwellings in Seattle. In 2019, he was named one of 35 Most Influential People by Seattle Magazine. He received a Master of Architecture from Arizona State University and a Bachelor of Environmental Design from the University of Colorado. He is a Certified Passive House Designer.

Statement of Interest: Architects have a unique ability to look at the world and visualize how it could be. Today, we’re faced with deep challenges around housing affordability, climate change, and systemic racism, and as architects, we have a responsibility to use our insight and vision to project persuasive solutions and ultimately build resilient, connected, sustainable communities. As a Director, I would work to create opportunities for architects to leverage their experience, knowledge, and vision to serve our common good.

Nicole DeNamur – Finance
Member since: 2019 | Pronouns: She/Her

I grew up in rural Wisconsin, had the opportunity to study at BioSphere 2, and graduated from the University of Michigan’s School of Natural Resources and Environment. Through these experiences, I gained a deep appreciation and reverence for our natural world, which directly translates into my work.

I began my career as a construction and insurance coverage attorney, practicing law for more than a decade in the Seattle area. During this time, I learned how construction projects succeed – and how they fail, and how contractual, legal, and regulatory frameworks can impact project success. In 2020, I saw the opportunity to leverage this experience to effect greater change and launched my own consulting company – Sustainable Strategies.

I am a LEED Green Associate, WELL AP and Faculty, Fitwel Ambassador, and EcoDistricts AP. I am also a proud Affiliate Instructor at the University of Washington, Department of Real Estate, where I teach my course, Risk and Reward in Sustainable Development. Teaching is an incredibly rewarding experience, and I learn so much from my students.

I believe that sustainable spaces should be inclusive and accessible, and I am passionate about empowering communities to advocate for healthier spaces to live, learn and work. Much of my work focuses on creating safe and collaborative spaces and uniting diverse groups to mitigate climate change through the built environment.

Statement of Interest:

I am interested in serving on the AIA Seattle Board of Directors because it presents the opportunity to support an industry and an organization that is positioned to drive real change. I have truly enjoyed co-chairing the Professional Practice Steering Committee, and look forward to applying the skills I learned, and the relationships I built in that role, to a leadership position with the Board.

The design community, and related industries, play a significant and important role in shaping our communities. I believe that diverse perspectives, and collaboration across industries, are some of the keys to solving big challenges like climate change. I want to lend my personal and professional perspective to this role, and the Board’s work. I also know how much representation matters and I would bring my whole self to Board service. As an organization, I believe AIA Seattle should be working on driving deeper and broader equity through the built environment. And while I recognize and appreciate that as an organization the AIA has already prioritized this work, I know that there is a long way to go and a lot of work to be done – I look forward to diving even deeper into this work.

I want to be an active voice in this critical dialogue, even if these conversations are uncomfortable or awkward at times. Equally important, I look forward to actively listening and learning from my peers.

Cory Hitzemann – Dev Com
Member since: 2003 | Pronouns: He/Him

Cory has spent his entire 20+ year career with Coughlin Porter Lundeen designing structures throughout Puget Sound. He has extensive experience with education, office, residential, and civic facilities, with particular expertise with steel and mass timber. As a longtime supporter of the sustainable design movement, he also enjoys existing building renovations where a structure’s valuable embodied carbon can be preserved for decades to come.

Statement of Interest: As a longtime AIA Allied Partner, my career has benefitted from the program offerings and networking opportunities AIA provides. Joining the board would allow me the chance to give back and help AIA Seattle to continue to thrive and play an active role in the region. Engaging younger members and the community at large are things AIA Seattle should continue to focus on as the region continues to grow and evolve.

Posted in For the Profession, Home Page

Advocacy Update – May 2021

STATE NEWS

State Legislative Session Adjourns
Washington’s Legislature adjourned on April 25, ending a historic, nearly all-virtual session in which Democratic leadership focused on four key areas: COVID relief, economic recovery, racial equity, and climate change. Gov. Inslee is still signing bills into law. You can read AIA Washington Council’s final legislative report here. If you have questions, contact Kirsten.

AG’s Office Issues Opinion on Stamping of Architectural Documents
Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson’s office issued an opinion that only architects may stamp architectural plans submitted to local governments for review. Last year, AIA Washington Council asked a state legislator to submit a request for this formal opinion to respond to Kennewick city officials, who had been allowing engineers to stamp architectural drawings against current law. A 1990 Attorney General’s opinion supported this practice, but the law it cited was changed by the Legislature in 2010 as a result of AIA-requested amendments to the Architects Practice Act. Kennewick officials said they would not follow this law without a new opinion by the Attorney General’s office.

The formal opinion, available here, was issued on March 31 and applies to all local jurisdictions in the state. It confirms that, under the 2010 amendments to the Architects Practice Act, the stamping and submission of architectural drawings constitutes the practice of architecture and thus requires registration with the Washington Board for Architecture. An engineer may not stamp architectural drawings.

LOCAL NEWS

Seattle Comprehensive Plan 2024
This fall, Seattle will begin its process of developing the city’s 2024 Comprehensive Plan under the state’s Growth Management Act (GMA), which requires most counties and cities to prepare comprehensive plans that show how they will manage population growth over the following two decades. The GMA defines a set of goals for managing growth and lays out the basic contents of comprehensive plans. But Seattle will have significant opportunities to craft the scope and content of its plan, and that process will be open to public input throughout the plan’s development cycle. Seattle’s process is expected to revise the city’s existing growth management strategy, address the need for significantly more housing units, enhance racial and social equity, incorporate ways to address climate change, and more.

Seattle’s Office of Planning and Community Development will begin the scoping process this fall, and AIA Seattle will be offering programming to get architects and members of the public prepared to participate. If you are interested in helping with this effort, please let Kirsten know.

OPPORTUNITIES

Built Environment Candidate Forums
Along with ULI, ASLA, NOMA NW and others, AIA Seattle will be hosting two city of Seattle candidate forums on built environment issues in June/July. One forum each will be dedicated to the mayoral race and the council races for positions 8 and 9. If you are interested in helping design the forums, please contact Kirsten.

NCARB Committees
The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) is accepting applications for volunteers to serve on committees for July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022. More information about NCARB committees can be found here. Applications are available here.

EVENTS

West Coast Downtowns: Resilience, Recovery and Beyond – Wednesday, May 26 | 5-6:30 pm
AIA Seattle and the City of Seattle Office of Planning and Community Development present a panel discussion on how San Francisco, Portland, and Seattle are looking to transform their downtowns beyond the central business district into active, vibrant neighborhoods that serve all residents and center each city. More info.

15-Minute City Series – June
In June, AIA Seattle presents 15-Minute Seattle: Creating Livable Places for All, a comprehensive look at how Seattle can become a city of complete neighborhoods where residents can work, shop, access services, and socialize – all within a short walk from their homes. The featured event, Housing Innovation in the 15-Minute City, includes a keynote presentation by Kristian Skovbakke Villadsen of Gehl in Copenhagen and a separate panel discussion on housing policy that supports the population needed for 15-minute city neighborhoods. Look for additional programming to be added to the series site, here.

Seattle City Light Lighting Design Lab Code Compliance Classes – June
Seattle City Light’s Lighting Design Lab is offering a series of three heat pump webinars in June that will cover the new Seattle code requirements for heat pump space heating and water heating. The Lighting Design Lab now offers AIA learning units for these free courses. Additional upcoming classes are listed here.

Heating Multifamily Units in Seattle June 10, 10:00-noon
Heat Pump Space Heating for Commercial and Institutional Buildings June 15, 10:00-noon
Heat Pump Water Heating in Seattle June 22, 10:00-noon

AIA Seattle Committee Meetings
The Center for Architecture and Design is closed until the governor’s Stay Home Stay Healthy order is lifted. All meetings and events are either canceled or moved to an online or conference call format. Check AIA’s events page for more details on specific events.

AIA Seattle’s Housing Task Force continues to meet monthly on the second Thursday of each month at noon via Zoom.
AIA Seattle’s Transportation Task Force meets on the second Tuesday of each month from 5:30-6:30 pm via Zoom.

For info on how to access either meeting, contact Kirsten.

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

Posted in Advocacy

Join Us For 15-Minute Seattle: Creating Livable Places for All

Want to learn more about the 15-minute city concept? Visit the 15-Minute City Resources Page!

UPCOMING PROGRAMS

Housing Innovation in the 15-Minute City

Kristian Skovbakke Villadsen’s 15-Minute Cities for People

Monday, June 7 | 10:30 – 11:30am PT | Opening Keynote

Housing Density in the 15-Minute City: Policy and Purpose

Tuesday, June 8 | 10:30am – 12:30pm PT | Panel Discussion

Join us June 7-8 for the series kick-off event, Housing Innovation in the 15-Minute City, to examine the concept of complete neighborhoods as an urban design framework and explore how Seattle can support full-service neighborhoods by providing a mix of housing options for homeowners, renters, and people of different ages and walks of life. Registration includes continuing education credit (Full Program: 3 AIA LU HSW; Keynote-Only: 1 AIA LU HSW).

Recipes for Walkability: A Forum on 15-Minute Cities by Seattle Neighborhood Greenways

Thursday, June 10 | 6:00 – 7:30pm PT

Everyone should have access to their daily needs within a short walk. Cities around the world used to be based on this principle, but then many, including Seattle, lost their way by remaking cities to be car dependent. Now, this idea is making a comeback. It has a huge potential to make Seattle a safer, healthier, more equitable, more sustainable, and more enjoyable place to live. This Seattle Neighborhood Greenways presentation features panelists Dhyana Quintanar Solares, Jeff Hou, Radhika Nair, Shannon Nichol, and moderator David Goldberg.

When It Takes You Two Hours And Three Buses To Get To The Grocery Store

Monday, June 14 | Noon – 1:00pm PT

How can we create a transportation system that encourages people with the privilege to drive to choose to do it less? Start with those who can’t drive. A presentation by Disability Rights Washington, featuring Anna Zivarts, Director of the Disability Mobility Initiative at Disability Rights Washington.

Designing for Dignity: Rethinking Our Role in Solving Seattle’s Homelessness & Housing Crisis

Thursday, June 17 | 4:00 – 5:30pm PT | Presentation and Group Discussion

Elizabeth Mahan, winner of the 2018-2019 IIDA (International Interior Design Association) Northern Pacific Chapter’s Spencer de Mille Traveling Fellowship, presents her research on the impact of design on homelessness abroad. Her work explores how design choices impact the housing retention rates of formerly homeless individuals and families and supports the restoration of their dignity.

People Centered Design in Smaller Cities: Rediscovering the Small-Town Roots of the 15-minute City

Monday, June 21 | 4:00 – 5:30pm PT

How are urban design concepts from larger cities being used to generate better small city experiences? Join us for a look at how the 15-minute city can impact city design wherever you are. Featuring Rodney Rutherford and Cary Westerbeck.

Equity Considerations in the 15-Minute City by AIA Seattle’s Urban Design Forum

Wednesday, June 23 | 5:30 – 7:00pm PT

Seattle’s current growth strategy has led to displaced individuals and communities and starkly unequal outcomes based on race and income level. Can our new growth strategy address these historical wrongs? How can we ensure that planning for Seattle’s future means planning for everyone?

15-Minutes in Cascadia: A Conversation with Portland, Seattle, and Vancouver City Planners

Tuesday, June 29 | 4:00 – 5:30pm PT

The 15-Minute City concept originated in Europe but has quickly influenced neighborhood planning and city design across the word. Cascadia is no exception, with the region’s large (and small) cities exploring how to develop more complete neighborhoods that put people-centered design at the forefront of land use decisions.

Questions?
Contact Kirsten Smith, Manager of Policy and Advocacy at AIA Seattle

Posted in For the Profession, For the Public, Housing

Advocacy Update – April 2021

NATIONAL NEWS

Housing Supply & Affordability Act
In Congress, Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota introduced the Housing Supply and Affordability Act to encourage cities and rural communities to lift barriers to new housing construction. The bipartisan bill would authorize $1.5 billion for federal grants to local governments that commit to increasing their supply of local housing. Eligible local governments will be able to apply for grants to build out housing policy plans, or local roadmaps, that will identify a pathway to creating greater housing affordability and availability. AIA National has endorsed the legislation. Legislation enacted in Washington in 2019 (by Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon, D-West Seattle) has been successful in providing similar local government funding to boost planning around increased housing capacity.

STATE NEWS

State Legislative Session Nears April 25 Adjournment
With a week and a half to go in the legislative session, bills that have not passed both the House and the Senate are dead for the year (all dead bills will return in 2022). There is an exception for any bill necessary to implement the budget, and the remaining days will be spent by legislators out of public view, negotiating the final Operating, Capital, and Transportation budgets. Although not finalized, the Capital Budget will be the largest ever produced by the state.

You can read AIA Washington Council’s March legislative report here. You can also follow along at AIA|WA’s Legislative Center. Highlights since our last report include:

Climate: HB 1050 to further reduce emissions from HFCs passed both the House and the Senate and is awaiting signature by Governor Inslee; HB 1280 to require large public buildings to undergo all-electric analysis in the planning phase passed the House but did not make it to consideration on the Senate floor and is dead until next year; SB 5141, to add environmental justice requirements to state agency decision making processes, passed both houses and is headed to the governor.

Tax: legislation to implement a capital gains tax passed the Senate and is currently in the House Finance Committee (this bill is budget-related and the normal deadlines do not apply). This remains the only major tax bill that is likely to advance this year, as both the House and Senate Operating budgets (controlled by the Democrats) are tied to a capital gains bill passing.

Growth Management: legislation (HB 1220) to add more robust housing elements to the Growth Management Act, requiring planning for a wide range of housing needs, including homeless housing, passed both houses and will go to the governor. HB 1099, to add a new climate element to the GMA, including a focus on reducing single-occupancy vehicle trips, died twice after a last-ditch effort to add it to a separate bill that was moving. AIA|WA supported both bills, and we will work with stakeholders to get HB 1099 passed next year.

Housing: unlike last year, most bills related to encouraging greater housing availability did not survive this year. One that did, SB 5235, would prohibit owner-occupancy requirements for lots with an ADU and ban local limits on the number of persons who can reside in a home beyond state law. That bill has been sent to the governor. Two housing financing bills, HB 1070 to allow the use of local tax revenue for affordable housing and related services to include the acquisition and construction of affordable housing and facilities; and HB 1189, to authorize tax increment financing for local governments, are on their way to the governor. HB 1277 would create a permanent state-funded rental assistance and housing stability program with a new $100 document recording fee on real estate-related transactions; it passed the House but, because it is budget-related, it has more time to pass the Senate.

Race & Social Justice: a key priority of Democratic leadership, a significant number of criminal justice and police reform bills passed the legislature this year. These include legislation to prohibit private detention facilities; restore voting rights to individuals with felony convictions who have completed their post-sentence requirements; provide greater state oversight over use-of-force incidents; require police officers to intervene when a colleague uses excessive force; and more. You can see the full list on AIA’s bill tracking matrix.

For more information, contact Kirsten. You may view AIA’s bill tracking matrix here.

LOCAL NEWS

King County Commercial Energy Code Update
Following the successful adoption of Seattle’s commercial energy code update, King County is proposing similar improvements to its commercial energy code, which covers unincorporated parts of the county. Draft codes, including a plain-language summary of the proposed updates, can be found on the King County website. If you would like to comment on any part of the proposed code, send your comments to permittinglegislation@kingcounty.gov by April 30.

Light Rail Station Neighborhood Designs Released
Seattle’s Office of Planning and Community Development released a draft plan for the neighborhoods surrounding the future light rail station areas at 130^th and 145^thstreets in north Seattle. They are seeking public feedback via an online open house and survey – responses must be filed by April 16. AIA has worked to support policies that encourage denser housing opportunities around transit stations – the city’s draft plan has been criticized for providing lackluster housing density in station neighborhoods. We will be monitoring the progress of these plans as they develop and provide comments where appropriate.

Charter Amendment on Homelessness Filed
Compassion Seattle, a group of non-profits, business organizations, and community organizations ranging from the Downtown Seattle Association to the Downtown Emergency Services Center and the Housing Development Consortium, filed a city of Seattle charter amendment that would mandate a comprehensive strategy of housing, services, and clearance resources to address Seattle’s homelessness crisis. It would also mandate sweeps of homeless encampments on public property. Critically, the amendment fails to identify sources of funding for the services and housing it would offer. The measure will require 33,000 signatures from Seattle voters to qualify for inclusion on the November ballot. AIA Seattle would likely not take a position on the initiative prior to it reaching the ballot, but AIA’s Committee on Homelessness will be leading that discussion. Everyone is welcome to attend COHO meetings on the 2^nd Tuesday of each month at noon. More info here.

OPPORTUNITIES

Built Environment Candidate Forums
Along with ULI, ASLA, and others, AIA Seattle will be hosting two city of Seattle candidate forums on built environment issues in June/July. One forum each will be dedicated to the mayoral race and the council races for positions 8 and 9. If you are interested in helping design the forums, please contact Kirsten.

15-Minute Seattle Series
AIA Seattle’s Housing Task Force is developing 15-Minute Seattle: Creating Livable Places for All, a series of programs that will kick off in June. The series will present a comprehensive look at how Seattle can become a city of complete neighborhoods where residents can work, shop, access services, and socialize – all within a short walk from their homes. The Housing Task Force will present the featured event, Housing Innovation in the 15-Minute City, with a keynote by Kristian Skovbakke Villadsen of Gehl in Copenhagen and a separate panel discussion on housing policy that supports the population needed for 15-minute city neighborhoods. We are looking for AIA committees and partner organizations that are interested in providing complementary programming under the 15-Minute Seattle banner (think: other amenities and characteristics of the 15-minute city, like walkability, child care, access to food options, etc.). For more information, please contact Kirsten.

Next to Lead Leadership Training
Next to Lead, a new AIA National leadership training program for ethnically diverse women in architecture, is looking for candidates who are AIA members with at least 5 years of experience in architecture (you do not have to be licensed) for its pilot cohort. This 2-year program is designed to teach essential leadership skills alongside successful, diverse women leaders with decades of experience. It includes a one-year leadership impact residency – a volunteer leadership opportunity within AIA where participants will serve on a collaborative project developed with a local or state component or with the AIA. Applications are due April 30. AIA Washington Council will pay the participant cost for any AIA member from Washington selected for the program.

Seattle Comprehensive Plan 2024
This fall, Seattle will begin its process of developing the city’s 2024 Comprehensive Plan under the state’s Growth Management Act (GMA), which requires most counties and cities in the state to prepare comprehensive plans that show how they will manage population growth over the following two decades. The GMA defines a set of goals for managing growth and lays out the basic contents of comprehensive plans. But Seattle will have a significant opportunity to craft the scope and content of its plan, and that process will be open to public input throughout the plan’s development cycle. Seattle’s Office of Planning and Community Development will begin the scoping process, and AIA Seattle will be offering programming to get architects and members of the public prepared to participate. If you are interested in helping with this effort, please let Kirsten know.

New WA Energy Code Trainings
The 2018 Washington State Energy Code went into effect February 1, 2021. BetterBuiltNW has produced a series of on-demand training videos, Chasing Opportunities in the Washington Energy Code. The videos take a deep dive into the new requirements, focusing on the following:

Efficient Building Envelope Options
Build Tight & Ventilate Right
H/AC System Inside Options

Watch the videos anytime on BetterBuiltNW’s Youtube Channel. For additional training opportunities on WSEC-R, visit the WSU Energy Program website.

NCARB Committees
The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) is accepting applications for volunteers to serve on committees from July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022. More information about NCARB committees can be found here. Applications are available here.

EVENTS

AIA Seattle Committee Meetings

AIA Seattle’s Housing Task Force continues to meet monthly on the second Thursday of each month at noon via Zoom.
AIA Seattle’s Transportation Task Force meets on the second Tuesday of each month from 5:30-6:30 pm via Zoom.

For info on how to access either meeting, contact Kirsten.

Carbon Leadership Forum Building Reuse Webinar – April 16, 9-10 am
Join the CLF with guest speakers Larry Strain, Donald King FAIA, and Kristian Kicinski to discuss building reuse. The group will address embodied vs. operational carbon for new and renovated buildings, as well as the community considerations related to these development decisions. Register

Northwest Green Home Virtual Tour – May 1, 8, 15
The Northwest Green Home Tour is the Northwest EcoBuilding Guild’s annual educational event that showcases local, sustainable, and green new homes, remodels, and energy retrofits in the Puget Sound area. Sites are still being accepted for the virtual tour.

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

Posted in Advocacy

2021 Culture Change in Practice: A Leadership Cohort

Culture Change Leadership Cohort graphic

This four-part, peer-based learning program was designed by a team of architects and allied professionals over the past nine months 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 architectural profession is still predominantly white and predominantly male. Of the AIA Seattle’s over 2,600 members, just 33 are African American, and 4 are Indigenous American, while only 31% are women according to AIA members’ self-reported data. Creating culture change within architecture firms is a critical step to creating a more diverse and equitable profession. And through this professional change, AIA Seattle hopes to influence broader cultural change, due to the unique role of architects in crafting our physical environment.

This program builds off AIA Seattle’s Intercultural Leadership Program and Conversations Toward A More Equitable Practice series in 2019, and is part of our Racial Justice Commitments, enumerated following the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Manuel Ellis, Ahmaud Arbery, and numerous others in 2020 and our local Racial Justice Town Hall in June. In the wake of a spring of anti-AAPI violence and a deeply embedded set of built environment-centric challenges, AIA Seattle is using this program as another opportunity to equip ourselves and our members to learn how to be antiracist, and build more equitable relationships in our firms, and in the projects and communities we serve.

TARGET PARTICIPANTS – FIRM LEADERS

We invite a dedicated cohort of 40 firm leaders who have committed to, or are considering, the NOMA NW Call-to-Action Pledge. This peer-to-peer learning cohort, facilitated by Dr. Anu Taranath, will support firms’ ability to live up to the goals of the pledge and equip leaders to catalyze change outward in their own firms.

(40) Firm Leaders: lead firms, lead practice groups, lead teams, are direct supervisors, make key decisions and have significant influence and power in shaping the culture and staffing of the firm or projects i.e Principals, Partners, Owners – with the intent of facilitating broader impact within their firms and industry

Space is limited to 40 total registrants. At this time, we request that no more than two (2) individuals per firm participate.

FULL SERIES COST

PLEASE NOTE: Each registration confirms a spot for one individual based on the size of their firm. Up to two (2) individuals per firm may participate.

$350 1-7 Employees (firm size)
$800 8-49 Employees (firm size)
$1200 50+ Employees (firm size)
$1200 CAP Sponsors

Registration has closed.

Registration Deadline: Thursday, May 21, 5:00pm PT. All sessions and speakers subject to change.

Registration includes all four courses in the series. Individual course registration is not available. All registration questions can be directed to Andrea Aguilera.

In recognition that this fee may present a hardship to some firms who are nevertheless committed to investing in the work, limited reduced rate options are available on a first come, first serve basis (priority given to AIA members). Please submit the Scholarship / Reduced Rate Request Form via email by Thursday, May 21, 5:00pm PT.

COMMITMENT + SCHEDULE

Series registrants commit to participate in all four courses, understanding that the content will be designed sequentially for cohort-based learning.

Session 1 | Monday, May 24, 9:00am-12:00pm PT

Session 2 | Monday, June 21, 9:00am-12:00pm PT

Session 3 | Monday, October 4 October 11, 9:00am-12:00pm PT

Session 4 | Monday, December 6, 9:00am-12:00pm PT

Guiding questions and readings will be sent to participants prior to, and following, each session.

MEET THE FACILITATOR

Dr. Anu Taranath, Dr. Anu Consulting: dialogues for justice | Dr. Anu Taranath brings both passion and expertise to her work as a speaker, facilitator, author and educator. A University of Washington professor for the past 20 years, she teaches about race, gender, equity, and global literatures. As a DEI and racial equity consultant, she offers coaching, training, facilitation and other types of partnerships. Her book Beyond Guilt Trips: Mindful Travel in an Unequal World was named a Finalist for four book awards including the Washington State Book Award. Included in Fodor’s Travel’s “13 Books to Inspire Your Travels” and Oprah Magazine’s “Best 26 Travel Books of All Times,” Dr. Anu and her book have been profiled in YES!, AFAR, Bitch, Mindful and National Geographic magazines. Please visit www.anutaranath.com for more on Dr. Anu and her work.

SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR FIRM LEADERSHIP TRAINING SPONSORS

ARUP | Betts, Patterson & Mines P.S. | Coughlin Porter Lundeen | FSi Engineers | AP Design Professionals

SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR PLANNING TEAM

Whitney Lewis, Assoc. AIA, Diversity Roundtable/GGLO | Jennie C. Li, Planning in Color | Meredith Everist AIA, Baylis Architects/AIA Seattle Board Past President | Marijana Misic AIA, Mahlum Architects | Simba Mafundikwa Assoc. AIA, GGLO/NOMA NW | Michael Bryant, Mithun Architects/NOMA NW | Veronica Barrow Assoc. AIA, Veronica Barrow Design/NOMA NW | Richard Murray, Diversity Roundtable/Planning In Color | Patreese Martin AIA, Bohlin Cywinski Jackson | Susan Frieson AIA, NOMA NW/Weber Thompson | Genevieve MacNeil Assoc. AIA, Gensler | Kristen Riley Assoc. AIA, LMN Architects | Mathew Albores AIA, The Miller Hull Partnership | Mark Chubb Assoc. AIA, Code Unlimited

Registration or Credit Questions?
Contact Andrea Aguilera, Programs Coordinator at AIA Seattle

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

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

Posted in Uncategorized

2021 Northwest Washington Section Scholarship

AIA Northwest Washington Section is proud to offer its annual scholarship fund, designed to encourage and assist local residents pursuing a degree in architecture. The scholarship is open to students (inclusive of those with immediately family) from Whatcom, Skagit, Island, and San Juan counties currently enrolled in an accredited school of architecture, regardless of location. The scholarship is awarded to 2-3 applicants per year, for up to $5000 in funds raised by the annual AIA Northwest Washington/Associated General Contractors of Washington Scholarship Golf Tournament.

Applications for the scholarship are due at 5pm 0n Wednesday, June 30 to the Section’s staff contact, Connor Descheemaker. Complete application and submission details here.

Learn more about the AIA Northwest Washington section and get engaged here.

Posted in Uncategorized

Advocacy Update – March 2021

NATIONAL NEWS

Biden Reverses Trump’s Classical Architecture Order
In February, President Joe Biden reversed Former President Donald Trump’s move to preference classical architecture in federal buildings as part of the new administration’s review of Trump-era executive orders. Under former President Trump’s executive order, government agencies could mandate an architectural style preference for federal courthouses and other federal buildings. It also promoted “classical” and “traditional” architecture above other designs and required extensive justification to use other styles. AIA National worked to stop the order for more than a year. “By overturning this order, the Biden Administration has restored communities with the freedom of design choice that is essential to designing federal buildings that best serve the public,” said AIA 2021 President Peter Exley FAIA in AIA National’s statement.

STATE NEWS

State Legislative Session Passes the Halfway Mark
We are more than halfway through Washington’s 2021 state legislative session; bills that have not passed out of their house of origin (except for bills necessary to implement the budget) are dead for the year. You can read AIA Washington Council’s February legislative report here. You can also follow along at AIA|WA’s Legislative Center. Highlights for AIA thus far include:

Practice: alternative project delivery reauthorization for state contracting continues to move towards enactment. AIA-opposed bills to weaken both professional licensing and local governments’ ability to review architectural and engineering plans have died.
Climate: AIA’s priority bill to promote building electrification failed to win enough support among Democrats and is dead for 2021; AIA will work with stakeholders on this bill over the summer and fall to be ready to move it forward in 2022. Embodied carbon legislation also died, but a pilot program may be resurrected in the budget negotiations at the end of the session. Bills that continue to move include HB 1050, reducing emissions from hydroflourocarbons; HB 1184, water quality standards for greywater systems; and SB 5141, environmental justice.
School construction: once again, bills to amend Washington’s constitution to lower the threshold for voters to pass school bonds for new construction failed to move forward.
Tax: legislation to implement a capital gains tax passed the Senate and is currently in the House. This is the only major tax bill that is likely to advance this year.
Growth management: legislation to add climate, equity, and more robust housing elements to the existing planning requirements under the Growth Management Act (HB 1099 and HB 1220) passed the House and are currently being considered in the Senate.
Housing: unlike last year, most bills related to encouraging greater housing availability did not survive the house of origin cut-off. One that did, SB 5235, would prohibit owner-occupancy requirements for lots with an ADU and ban local limits on the number of persons who can reside in a home beyond state law. That bill is pending in the House. AIA is also tracking bills that add additional funding mechanisms for local governments to pay for affordable housing.
Social justice: AIA is tracking a large number of bills on renter’s rights, criminal justice, legal reforms, and additional equity-related measures and encouraging members to weigh in with their legislators on bills that are important to you. These bills –particularly criminal justice reform – have been prioritized by Democratic leadership. You can see the full list on AIA’s bill tracking matrix.

You may view AIA’s bill tracking matrix found here (‘AIA’s bill tracker’ under Tools).
For more information, contact Kirsten.

LOCAL NEWS

Democracy Vouchers Available for Seattle Elections
Seattle residents should have received your four Democracy Vouchers for the 2021 campaign season. Hard copies were mailed in early February. If you signed up for online vouchers in 2019, you will not receive hard copy vouchers but should have received an email from the city linking to the online system. The vouchers are worth $25 each and can be signed over to individual candidates for Seattle mayor, city council, and city attorney anytime through November. Campaigns turn the vouchers over to the city for reimbursement. Seattle residents can send their vouchers to any qualified campaigns they choose for the primary or the general election. However, be aware that campaigns can max out on Democracy Voucher money before the end of election season. More info on how to use your vouchers is available here.

Seattle Comprehensive Plan 2024
This summer, Seattle will begin its process of developing the city’s 2024 Comprehensive Plan under the state’s Growth Management Act (GMA), which requires most counties and cities in the state to prepare comprehensive plans that show how they will manage population over the following two decades. The GMA defines a set of goals for managing growth and lays out the basic contents of comprehensive plans. But Seattle will have significant opportunity to craft the scope and content of its plan, and that process will be open to public input throughout the plan’s development cycle. Seattle’s Office of Planning and Community Development will begin the scoping process this July, and AIA Seattle will be offering programming to get architects and members of the public prepared to participate. If you are interested in helping with this effort, please let Kirsten know.

15-Minute Seattle Series
AIA Seattle’s Housing Task Force is developing 15-Minute Seattle: Creating Livable Places for All, a series of programs that will kick off in June. The series will present a comprehensive look at how Seattle can become a 15-minute city where residents can work, shop, access services, and socialize – all within a short walk from their homes. The Housing Task Force will present the featured event on housing innovation in the 15-minute city with a keynote by Kristian Skovbakke Villadsen of Gehl in Copenhagen. Using the concept of complete neighborhoods as a framework, we will explore how Seattle can provide a mix of housing options for homeowners, renters, and people of different ages and walks of life. We are looking for AIA committees and partner organizations that are interested in providing complementary programming under the 15-Minute Seattle banner (think: other amenities and characteristics of the 15-minute city, like walkability, transit, green spaces and public spaces, child care, access to food options, etc.). For more information, please contact Kirsten.

OPPORTUNITIES

Seattle Pedestrian Advisory Board
The Seattle Pedestrian Advisory Board is seeking two new members to serve two-year terms starting this spring. The Pedestrian Advisory Board advises the Mayor, City Council, and city departments on projects, policies, and programs that improve or affect walking and rolling conditions in Seattle. Members also serve as stewards of Seattle’s Pedestrian Master Plan vision. More info available here. Applications are due March 23.

Seattle Renters’ Commission
The City of Seattle is seeking community members to serve on the Seattle Renters’ Commission (SRC). The Seattle Renters’ Commission advises the City on policies and issues of interest to renters citywide. Members of the Seattle Renters’ Commission must be a renter within the City of Seattle at the time of their appointment and throughout their term. The Commission consists of people living in an array of rental housing types, to include students, low-income renters, LGBTQ renters, people with past felony convictions, people in subsidized housing, and those who have experienced homelessness. Those interested in being considered should complete the online application by Monday, April 12 at 5 p.m.

Washington State Board for Architects
The Washington State Board for Architects will have a Board Member position available starting in June 2021. The seven-member, governor-appointed board is made up of six registered architects who reside in Washington and have at least eight years’ experience in responsible charge of architectural work or teaching – and one member of the public. The Board’s primary function is to protect the public’s health, safety, and welfare through regulating the practice of architecture. Board member responsibilities include:

Attending board meetings (approx. 4 a year)
Participating in board committees for specific projects
Acting as a case manager or as part of the judicial panel in disciplinary cases
Representing the board responsibly to the profession and the public
Attending national council meetings as needed
Reviewing applications as needed

This is a fantastic opportunity for someone looking to participate in shaping the profession; women and architects of color are encouraged to apply. More information about this position is available here. Applications should be submitted by April 15.

EVENTS

AIA Seattle Committee Meetings

AIA Seattle’s Housing Task Force continues to meet monthly on the second Thursday of each month at noon via Zoom.
AIA Seattle’s Transportation Task Force meets on the second Tuesday of each month from 5:30-6:30 pm via Zoom.

For info on how to access either meeting, contact Kirsten.

Post-COVID Urbanism by AIA’s Urban Design Forum March 24
This roundtable event provides a platform to discuss opportunities and challenges regarding the tactical urbanism measures Seattle has implemented to mitigate the impact of the pandemic on our communities. As we prepare for a future beyond the pandemic, we ask, “What is Post-COVID Urbanism?” How do we maintain a safe, healthy environment that provides a connected system of neighborhoods and that brings economic viability equitably to all businesses? More info

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

Posted in Advocacy

Letter from Executive Director, Lisa Richmond: Transition

Dear AIA Seattle Community,

I am writing to share some bittersweet news. After 14 wonderful years with AIA Seattle, I will be stepping down as Executive Director at the end of June. After so many fulfilling years in this role, I plan on taking a gap year to spend time with family, travel, and explore new ideas.

Working with AIA Seattle has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. We have accomplished so much together: successfully advocating for local policy change to promote an equitable, well designed, and sustainable city; creating the Seattle Design Festival and the Center for Architecture and Design; leading the Institute through national education programs like AIA+2030 and Materials Matter; and elevating the ideas and interests of AIA members through myriad committees and events.

AIA Seattle is a collective endeavor, the sum of the energy and passion of engaged members, committed leaders and capable staff. Its success is not dependent on any one individual. AIA Seattle will continue to thrive and grow, dedicated to the mission to champion the central role of architects in creating and sustaining a better built environment. The Board of Directors is actively working with an executive search firm and will soon be sharing more information about an executive director hiring process.

I remain totally invested in AIA Seattle’s success, and plan to set your new director up for success. Our whole team is committed to a smooth, successful, and transparent transition process. Look for more information about the hiring process and farewell events in coming weeks.

It has been my great honor and pleasure to serve as your Executive Director, and I will take with me not only pride in the work we have done together, but also the warmth of the relationships we have forged. Thank you for giving me this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Sincerely,
Lisa Richmond Hon. AIA
Executive Director
AIA Seattle + Design in Public

Posted in Design In Public, For the Profession, For the Public

AHC: Call for Spring 2021 Conference Lightning Talks

White text on purple background: Architecture for Health Committee

Call for Lighting Talk Presentations

AHC Spring Conference: Resiliency Through Emotional Well-Being and Mental Health
April 22 & 23, 2021 – Virtual

OVERVIEW

This year’s AIA AHC Spring Event includes two days of virtual interdisciplinary presentations, design case studies, and conversations around how we can address design and construction resiliency, while maintaining an ever-present focus on emotional well-being and mental health for all occupants. How we can overcome obstacles and challenges that prevent us from truly wholistic and resilient design in healthcare environments? How do we measure the environmental, economic, and psychological value of regulation, manage risk, and keep humans at the center of design? On April 22^nd and 23^rd we welcome AEC and healthcare professionals to join us at this dynamic program.

INTENDED AUDIENCE

The AHC Spring Event audience includes: Architects, Designers, 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 partnership is central to defining a sustainable future.

CALL FOR LIGHTNING TALK PRESENTATIONS

Submission Deadline: March 17, 2021

We seek to convene a series of short “lightning” talk presentations (think PechaKucha format) that will deepen the audience’s understanding of current research and design innovations driving towards a focus on:

Community
Mental health
Well-being
Jobsite Safety
Resiliency
Wholistic healthcare environments

Lightning Talks are an opportunity to share ideas and concepts under development and pushing the bounds of convention. We welcome a diversity of proposals from a variety of disciplines deploying design thinking to build a brighter future and strongly encourage emerging professionals and young designers to propose.

PRESENTATION TOPICS

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

Innovative planning or design strategies that improve health outcomes.
Processes or techniques that integrate disaster preparedness into design (eg. wildfire, earthquakes, active shooter, pandemic).
Implementation of innovative techniques or technologies for jobsite and occupant safety.
Methodologies for measuring and monitoring care during construction.
Integrating mental health of patient care providers in design.
Aging infrastructure, system redundancy, and the level of resiliency required.
Integrating wellness technology into patient care and staff care.
Systems solutions addressing present and future pandemic preparedness and vaccine distribution.

PRESENTATION FORMAT

Lightning talk presentations are short, and should be no more than 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.

Presenters must submit their final PowerPoint presentation files to AHC no later than 5:00pm PST on Thursday, April 15^th. A PowerPoint template will be provided in advance, and late presentations will not be accepted.

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

WHAT is the INNOVATION that your lightning talk will focus on? Is it a process, a tool, a product, a space, an interaction, etc.?
WHY the innovation? Identify the problem or challenge that prompted the innovation.
HOW was the innovation developed, tested, implemented in the context of healthcare environments?
WHO were the stakeholders in research, funding, implementation, etc.? Who was impacted by the innovation? 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 AIA Seattle AHC Board Members with AIA staff. Successful proposals will:

Align with the event theme and objectives
Deepen audience understanding of a particular design innovation
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. Preference will be given to proposals by emerging professionals and young designers.

SUBMISSION PROCESS + KEY DATES

Please complete the submission form linked below by 5:00pm on March 17, 2021. Late submissions will not be accepted.

Schedule and Deadlines

March 4, 2021: Call for lightning talks goes out
March 17, 2021: Proposals due
April 1, 2021: Acceptances issued
April 15, 2021: Final PowerPoint presentations due to AHC Committee
April 22 or 23, 2021: Presentations at 2021 AIA AHC Spring Event: Resiliency Through Emotional Well-Being and Mental Health 8am – 12pm both days. NOTE: Exact date and time of presentation TBD pending finalization of conference schedule.

Registration

Free registration is offered to all presenters who want to attend the full 2-day AIA AHC Spring Event. Please be advised that presenters will be responsible for their travel, lodging and any other expenses and arrangements.

Inquiries

Please address any questions to:

Architecture for Health Committee
Spring Event Committee
AHCchairs@aiaseattle.temp312.kinsta.cloud

Posted in Architects, For the Profession

THE STATE OF HIGHER EDUCATION – A LOOK AT TODAY & TOMORROW

White background, with red-to-blue gradient image of small group, duo, and independent education images with VR and computers. Text: The State of Higher Education; A look at Today and Tomorrow; A panel discussion of what is working, what's not, and what to try next. Wednesday, January 20th, 12-1pm PST

While the pandemic shone a spotlight on the vulnerabilities that have plagued higher education, it also represents an opportunity to improve the system holistically. As an extension of DLR Group’s ongoing research into The Evolution of CampusSM, Jackie Eckhardt moderates this Jan 20th discussion touching on aspects of the current realities facing local institutions including panelists’ perspectives from Bellevue College, Central Washington University, and Washington State University-TriCities.

Click here to view a full recording of the live webinar.

MODERATOR

Jackie Eckhardt, AIA, LEED AP BD+C | Higher Education Leader | DLR Group

PANELISTS

Posted in Uncategorized Tagged with: Committee, Design, Education, Major Programs, Webinar

AIA Seattle Announces 2021 Fellows & National Awards

2021 AIA Seattle Fellows and National Awardees collage

Brian Court FAIA has brought sustainable design to the forefront of the public realm with his performance-driven design process that works in harmony with natural forces, shaping our environment and establishing a low-impact, regenerative future. Since joining Miller Hull in 2001, Brian has led the design of numerous high profile and complex landmark projects using a deft combination of time-tested and innovative design strategies and emerging technologies. This has earned him the reputation as an advocate for groundbreaking sustainable design.

Brian has a master’s degree in architecture from the University of Washington and continues to give back to the program as a guest reviewer and thesis critic. Pushing the boundaries of current practice make him a highly sought-after speaker and instructor who regularly shares his insight and experience with other designers and students. Additionally, Brian was honored with the distinguished and singular Young Architect Award by AIA Seattle in 2013.

Grace H. Kim FAIA is an architect and co-founding principal of Schemata Workshop, a Seattle-based architectural practice with a keen focus on building community and social equity. Her clients include a range of public housing authorities and social service providers, as well as municipalities and private clients. Her work is deeply rooted in race, equity and inclusion – and she seeks to include the voices and cultures of people of color and marginalized populations through her projects.

Grace is also the founder of Capitol Hill Urban Cohousing, a collaborative residential community which includes her street level office and a rooftop urban farm. She walks the talk of sustainability – leaving a small ecological footprint while incorporating holistic ideals of social and economic resilience into her daily life. She is an internationally recognized expert in cohousing – her TED talk has over 2.4M views.

Grace serves on the Seattle Planning Commission and on the Board of Directors for the Housing Development Consortium – a membership organization that advocates for housing policy at the local and state levels.

Eric Lagerberg FAIA, LEED AP has led a career of nearly 30 years, emerging as a global guiding force in the design of retail and consumer-focused environments. A consummate leader, Eric brings the unique perspective of a professional who has worked and lived around the world—as a designer as well as a client. This broad view allows him to see the work from all aspects and to drive solutions that accommodate operational considerations without compromising design.

Lagerberg’s professional experience includes leadership positions at, among others, Starbucks, Callison and CRTKL, the global architecture, design and planning firm. At CRTKL, he directed the efforts of nearly 400 creative professionals across 22 offices internationally. Under his leadership, the practice developed an award-winning portfolio of work for some of the world’s most recognizable (and demanding) brands and retailers. With Eric at the helm of its retail team, CRTKL consistently ranked as the top retail design firm in the world.

A passionate but diligent ambassador for the profession, Eric has taken a global path in his career. In the late 1990’s, he relocated from Seattle to London and, eventually, to Beijing to work with Western retailers expanding into emerging markets—an assignment that tested his skills as an architect as much as a diplomat. Eric’s commitment to quality design, business integrity and client service proved to be invaluable in helping American commercial interests break into what many had considered an impenetrable market. And, in the spirit of a true educator, he wasted no time in sharing his knowledge through lectures, articles and talks that encouraged colleagues, peers and even competitors to test their limits and push boundaries.

Eric received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Architecture from the University of Washington and a Master of Architecture degree from The Ohio State University. He currently lives in Seattle with his wife Park.

DLR Group Principal Erica Loynd FAIA is a national justice design expert leading teams to elevate conditions for disenfranchised people, creating environments and setting innovative justice standards that support wellness, equity, & transformative programs to successfully return people to their communities. Erica engages clients and organizations to empower change from the top down, addressing physical and operational policies and practices related to mental health, programs, medical treatment, enhanced physical environments, safety for inmates, public, staff, and officers. Her projects have led to $1.7 billion dollars of construction for justice and civic projects and over 5.25 million total square feet of space. Volunteering with AIA WA Council as the state licensure advisor, AIA Seattle’s mentorship programs and membership steering committee, she has worked with architects and aspiring candidates to enrich their careers in architecture. As an expert in government facility design and construction, Erica has been leading the national AIA Academy of Architecture for Justice Knowledge Community to push for innovations in research and operations to better serve all people.

Richard E (Rick) Mohler, FAIA, NCARB is an Associate Professor of Architecture at the University of Washington College of Built Environments with over thirty-five years of professional practice garnering more than a dozen local and regional AIA awards and multiple design competition wins. His teaching, research, practice and advocacy are focused on the nexus of urban housing, transportation and the public realm and he leverages his teaching to address these issues while strengthening connections between the profession, academy, government and community. Rick co-chaired the AIA Seattle Public Policy Board, is co-chair of the Seattle Planning Commission, an Affiliate Fellow of the UW Runstad Center for Real Estate Studies, an Urban@UW Fellow, an NCARB Scholar in Professional Practice and a founding member of Sound Communities, a volunteer group of civic leaders focused on leveraging the region’s $60B transit investment to build complete neighborhoods with an abundance of affordable housing at transit hubs. He is the recipient of a 2020 R+D Award from ARCHITECT magazine for ADUniverse, an online application for Seattle homeowners to determine the feasibility of building an accessory dwelling unit on their parcel and a 2021 ACSA/AIA Housing Design Education Award for his “Neighborhoods for All” design studio focused on missing middle housing types taught in collaboration with the Seattle Planning Commission.

The work of these Fellows demonstrates the power of architecture to address issues of urban housing, retail design, justice facilities, cohousing and social equity, and sustainable design.

The Fellowship program was developed to elevate those architects who have made a significant contribution to architecture and society and who have achieved a standard of excellence in the profession. Election to fellowship not only recognizes the achievements of architects as individuals but also their significant contribution to architecture and society on a national level.

Out of a total AIA membership of over 90,000, there are approximately 3,000 distinguished with the honor of fellowship and honorary fellowship.

National Awards

Honorary AIA

Through his 14-year tenure at Architecture 2030, Vincent Martinez, Hon. AIA, has been working to solve the climate crisis by catalyzing global building decarbonization efforts through the development and activation of robust networks focused on private sector commitments, education, training, and public policies. Vincent also helps set the organization’s vision and currently leads Architecture 2030’s work on urban zero-net-carbon buildings and public policy. Vincent is an honorary member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and was the 2018 chair of the AIA Energy Leadership Group, a former member of the AIA Sustainability Leadership Group, and is a current member of the AIA Committee for Climate Action and Design Excellence.

This award is given to an allied professional whose contributions the Institute bear national significance.

The 2021 Fellows and National honorees will be honored by AIA National in the year to come, and celebrated at the AIA Seattle awards ceremony in Fall 2021.

Young Architect

Myer Harrell, AIA, LFA, LEED AP BD+C, Homes is a trusted industry leader in high performance design, drawing on his teaching, research, and volunteer service to inspire commercial design practice. He is a Principal and Director of Sustainability for Weber Thompson, an integrated design firm in Seattle nationally recognized for their commitment to sustainability.

Myer was named AIA Seattle Young Architect in 2011, has served on the AIA Seattle Board of Directors since 2016, and is the current president-elect. Nationally, he serves on the AIA Continuing Education Committee. His past service includes the USGBC Greenbuild Program Working Group, the USGBC Education Events Committee, and the Cascadia Green Building Council Board of Directors.

Myer earned a Bachelor of Science in Architecture at the University of Maryland and a Master in Architecture and Commercial Real Estate Certificate from the University of Washington. He has co-instructed architecture studios at the University of Washington and has been invited as a guest lecturer and studio critic. His current research includes building-integrated agriculture, land-use incentives for deep green projects, and crafting a business case for sustainable design choices.

Posted in For the Profession

Advocacy Update – February 2021

NATIONAL NEWS

Green Infrastructure Investments
During AIA National’s virtual Grassroots conference this week, AIA members from across the country met with their U.S. senators and representatives to discuss Congressional investments in green building infrastructure that can address public health and housing needs related to COVID, the pandemic-related economic recession, and our ongoing climate crisis. Attendees from Washington met with the offices of Senator Patty Murray, Senator Maria Cantwell, and Representatives Pramila Jayapal and Marilyn Strickland to discuss the climate impact of buildings and the importance of green infrastructure investments.

STATE NEWS

State Legislative Session
The state’s first online legislative session has been progressing smoothly. Bills needed to pass out of their policy committees by Feb. 15 to remain alive, and bills that have moved on to fiscal committees must pass out of those by Feb. 22. The virtual format means that architects have been able to testify directly to legislators on bills that impact the profession – thank you to all those who have done so over the last several weeks! You can read AIA Washington Council’s January legislative report here; look for an updated version after the fiscal committee cut-off next week. You can also follow along at AIA|WA’s Legislative Center. Highlights for AIA thus far include:

Practice: alternative project delivery reauthorization for state contracting is moving quickly through the process. A group of occupational licensing bills which AIA opposed because they impacted architect licenses failed to pass out of committee. One bill which AIA does support, to allow individuals with prior criminal convictions to petition a licensing body to become licensed, did pass out of committee.
Climate: bills to address building electrification; embodied carbon requirements for state contracts; reducing emissions from HFCs; water quality standards for greywater systems; and environmental justice all passed out of their policy committees and are pending before fiscal committees this week.
School construction: a bill to amend Washington’s constitution to lower the threshold to 55 percent for voters to pass school bonds remains alive; but, because a constitutional amendment requires a two-thirds vote of both houses, it will be difficult to pass.
Tax: the big tax bills that have gained media attention – the wealth tax, the capital gains tax, and the high value assets tax – all have extra time to pass out of their fiscal committees. The Senate version of the capital gains tax was heard this week and amended to include higher thresholds and a lower tax rate.
Growth management: legislation to add climate, equity, and more robust housing elements to the existing planning requirements under the Growth Management Act remain alive and pending before the House Appropriations Committee.
Housing: a slew of bills related to facilitating more housing; preventing eviction; and providing affordable housing funding mechanisms for local governments remain alive. We will have a better sense of which bills have traction after the Feb. 22 fiscal committee cut-off.
Social justice: similarly, AIA|WA is tracking a large number of bills on renter’s rights, criminal justice, legal reforms, and additional equity-related measures. Next week’s fiscal committee cut-off will give us a clearer picture of the areas legislators are prioritizing.

For more information, contact Kirsten.

LOCAL NEWS

State and Local Codes
A reminder that last month Governor Inslee reversed a decision by the State Building Code Council to further delay the implementation date of the 2018 state building codes, which means they went into effect on February 1.

The Seattle City Council approved the Seattle Construction Codes this month (except for the Fire Code, which is pending), and they take effect on March 15. As of February 1, SDCI will accept permit applications using either the 2015 or 2018 codes. After March 15, SDCI will only accept permit applications that use the 2018 codes.

Seattle Energy Code: on Feb. 1, the City Council approved the Seattle Energy Code updates by a vote of 9-0. This code was the subject of AIA Seattle’s Climate Advocacy Week in December, when members met with city councilmembers to discuss the importance of strengthening the city’s energy code requirements. Thank you to all AIA members who participated in outreach to the Council – your efforts made a difference! Special thanks to Mike Fowler AIA, Chris Hellstern AIA, and Nathaniel Gundersen Assoc. AIA for representing architects and AIA Seattle by providing testimony at Council hearings. And particular kudos to Duane Jonlin FAIA of Seattle’s Department of Construction and Inspections, who shepherded this code through the long technical and political processes.

Seattle Schools Chart Path to Fossil Fuel Free
In February, Seattle Public Schools became the first school district in Washington to pass a resolution to transition to 100 percent clean and renewable energy by 2040 by eliminating all use of fossil fuels in district electricity, heating, cooling, cooking, and transportation. The school board also resolved to halt constructing new buildings with fossil fuel infrastructure immediately, to choose electric and other clean appliances for any major renovations and replacements, and to prioritize zero-emission vehicles where feasible for any new vehicle purchases. AIA Seattle sent the School Board a letter in support of the resolution.

OPPORTUNITIES

Applicants Sought for the Seattle Women’s Commission
The Seattle Office for Civil Rights is currently recruiting to fill seven vacancies on the Seattle Women’s Commission. The Commission seeks candidates with diverse backgrounds in women’s rights, community engagement, law, public policy, advocacy, social services, education, and business and who are committed to racial equity. The Seattle Women’s Commission advises the Mayor, City Council, and city departments on matters that relate to women’s issues. The deadline to apply is March 8. More info here.

EVENTS

AIA Seattle Committee Meetings

AIA Seattle’s Housing Task Force continues to meet monthly on the second Thursday of each month at noon via Zoom.
AIA Seattle’s Transportation Task Force meets on the second Tuesday of each month from 5:30-6:30 pm via Zoom.

For info on how to access either meeting, contact Kirsten.

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

Posted in Advocacy

Celebrating Black History Month

We are also committed to a process of transparency in what measurable actions we are taking in pursuit of racial justice. We have established an evolving list for the sake of mutual accountability in our member-led organization. Read the full evolving list of Racial Justice commitments here.

Organization Updates:

As a corollary to our 2019 Intercultural Leadership Program, AIA Seattle is partnering with NOMA NW and Planning in Color to develop a firm leadership cohort for 2021, focused on architecture (and allied) firm culture change. Through peer-based learning, this group will develop and share with one another best practices to meet the objectives laid out in the NOMA NW Call-to-Action. Stay tuned for details – this program is scheduled for May.
Last November, the AIA Seattle Board approved the formation of a JE:DI task force. The intent of this group is to facilitate actionable change in making the profession of architecture within our local community more equitable, just, anti-racist and truly inclusive.Task Force Members include: Rob Misel AIA of Miller Hull and Whitney Lewis Assoc. AIA of GGLO (current co-chairs), Amarpreet Sethi, Michele Hill AIA, Michelle Yates Assoc. AIA, Osama Quotah AIA, and Susan Frieson AIA.

Diversity Roundtable Committee Updates:

The “Diversity by Design” exhibition is being updated for 2021, and will be displayed on screens at King Street Station in August. Submissions are still being accepted here.
While “Architects in Schools” program is currently on pause, DRT is working with the Wild Students in collaboration with Sawhorse Revolution, virtually mentoring high school students about the design and build process. In the Spring, they will transform the design of the Garden Shed for Danny Woo Gardens into a set of construction documents that the students can build.
Follow Diversity Roundtable’s Architecture Spotlights campaign this month on Instagram. @drt_aiaseattle

NOMA Updates:

NOMA National, with the help of spatial activist and founder of Kulima Design, Prescott Reavis, is curating a month of Black history in architecture spotlights on Instagram .
NOMA is saddened to report that last founding member of NOMA, Jeh Johnson AIA passed away recently. More info here.
NOMA partners with Black Spectacles to ease licensure process for minority architects.
In Portland? @NOMAPDX will have their first meeting on February 16, 4:30-6:00 pm

Events and resources throughout the month of February and beyond:

Black History Month Virtual Festival exploring this year’s theme theme of The Black Family, Representation, Identity and Diversity. February 1 – 28.
Be in the know about upcoming NOMA Seattle events on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, or their website.
The AIA Guides for Equitable Practice are a resource to help ensure organizations meets professional and cultural awareness expectations of employees and clients.
#28BlackArchitectsIn28Days is an annual series highlighting the accomplishments of African American architects during Black History Month.
Fireclay Tile has partnered with the Architecture Foundation to sponsor a Diversity Advancement Scholarship to support Black Women in Architecture. More information here on ways to donate!
And of course, join Diversity Roundtable! The Diversity Roundtable attracts, retains and empowers individuals of underrepresented backgrounds in the profession of architecture through scholarship, community service and activism. DRT meets (virtually until further notice) the first Tuesday of every month at 5pm.

Have another event or resource we should share? Tell us about it here.

Posted in For the Profession, For the Public, Missions, Visions, Values

Register Now for our Upcoming Decoded Seminars

Join us for five upcoming sessions to learn from Code experts.

Session 1 | Decoded | Tall Wood: A New Path Forward – Code Provisions and Design Steps
February 24, 2021 | ONLINE | 12:00PM – 2:00PM // Class Credit: 2 LU/HSW

Session 2 | Decoded | 2018 IBC Update Redux
April 28-29, 2021 | ONLINE | 12:00PM – 2:00PM // Class Credit: 4 LU/HSW

Session 3 | Decoded | Practical Guide to the Residential Energy Code
July 30, 2021 | ONLINE | 12:00PM – 2:00PM // Class Credit: 2 LU/HSW

Session 4 | Decoded | Multifamily Accessibility
September 21-22, 2021 | ONLINE | 12:00PM – 2:00PM //Class Credit: 4 LU/HSW

Session 5 | Decoded | Seattle Land Use Roundup
November 30 – December 1, 2021 | ONLINE | 12:00PM – 2:00PM //Class Credit: 4 LU/HSW

All session dates and times subject to change.

Special Thanks to our 2021 Code Series Sponsors

Code Unlimited | Hensel Phelps | Puget Sound Energy

Code Committee

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

Registration or Credit Questions?
Contact Andrea Aguilera, Programs 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

Posted in Uncategorized

Advocacy Update – January 2021

STATE NEWS

State Code Returned to Feb. 1 Implementation Date
On Jan. 12, Governor Inslee reversed a Jan. 8 decision by the State Building Code Council which delayed the implementation date of the 2018 building codes from Feb. 1 to July 1, 2021. The governor’s decision returns the implementation date to February 1. AIA does not anticipate further changes to this much-amended date. You may read Gov. Inslee’s letter on his decision here.

The 2018 Seattle codes will maintain an effective date of March 15, 2021, pending Council approval of the Seattle codes in February. Starting February 1, SDCI will accept permit applications using either the 2015 or 2018 codes. After March 15, SDCI will only accept permit applications that use the 2018 codes.

State Legislative Session Kicks Off
A state legislative session like no other – nearly entirely conducted online – began on January 11 and will run for 105 calendar days. AIA Washington Council will be reporting on the session regularly. You can also follow along at AIA|WA’s Legislative Center. Key issues for AIA include:

Practice: alternative project delivery reauthorization for state contracting; efforts to reduce the threshold for predesign work on state contracts.
Climate: building electrification; embodied carbon requirements for state contracts; reducing emissions from HFCs; water quality standards for gray water systems; environmental justice.
School construction: amending Washington’s constitution to lower the threshold for voters to pass school bonds.
Tax: capital gains tax; eliminating state tax on COVID-related financial support.
Growth management: adding climate, equity, and more robust housing elements to planning requirements under the Growth Management Act.
Housing: housing benefit districts; facilitating ADUs; fully funding the state’s Housing Trust Fund; eviction prevention; affordable housing funding mechanisms for local governments.

For more information, contact Kirsten.

LOCAL NEWS

Seattle Seeks Green Building Incentives Feedback
The City of Seattle is updating its green building incentives, which encourage energy savings and reduced greenhouse gas emissions beyond the code to support Seattle’s clean energy future. These incentives include the Green Building Standard, which allows projects in certain zones to achieve extra floor area, and Priority Green, which allows expedited permitting. OPCD and SDCI are seeking comments on its initial proposal, available here. Please direct your comments by Jan. 29 to:

Brennon Staley
Strategic Advisor | OPCD
brennon.staley@seattle.gov | 206.684.4625

Permanent Supportive Housing New Land Use Code
On January 27, the Seattle City Council’s Select Committee on Homelessness Strategies will consider legislation by Councilmember Andrew Lewis to create a new land use code that will exempt permanent supportive housing from Design Review and eliminate some space requirements like onsite bike parking. The proposal also exempts floor area used for on-site supportive services from calculations for FAR limits and allows for certain SDCI waivers to be made as an administrative decision. AIA Seattle sent a letter to councilmembers expressing support for the overall legislation while expressing mixed opinions about the provisions related to bike parking. If you would like to comment on the legislation, contact your councilmembers.

Rico Quirindongo AIA joins Seattle OPCD
AIA member Rico Quirindongo has joined Seattle OPCD as the agency’s deputy director. In this role he will manage OPCD’s Community Planning, Long Range Planning, and Land Use Policy Divisions; help to align City planning functions and prioritize the City’s capital investments; expand cohesive community outreach strategies to reach traditionally underrepresented populations; and develop the department’s annual work program. Congratulations Rico!

EVENTS

AIA Seattle’s Housing Task Force continues to meet monthly on the second Thursday of each month at noon via Zoom.
AIA Seattle’s Transportation Task Force meets on the second Tuesday of each month from 5:30-6:30 pm via Zoom.

For info on how to access either meeting, contact Kirsten.

CODE SESSIONS

Lighting Design Lab’s Cost Effective Code Compliance Classes
These classes are free and cover the Washington and Seattle energy codes.

Jan. 26: Building Envelope
Feb. 2: Lighting
Feb. 9: Water Heating

AIA Washington Council Webinar of the State Commercial Energy Code
Feb. 10, 3:00-4:30pm
This session will cover the significant changes to the 2018 Washington State Energy Code for Commercial Buildings. We will explore the new code in the context of Washington State Energy Code goals, alignment with the new state energy strategy, and the state’s implementation timeline. More info here.

AIA Washington Council Q&A with State Rep. Davina Duerr
State Representative Davina Duerr (D-Bothell) will be speaking to AIA members as part of AIA|WA’s Capital Connections event. Rep. Duerr is the only current architect in the State Legislature and this will be her first opportunity to speak with AIA members as a group. All members are invited. Rep. Duerr will speak to what it’s like to bring architect thinking to the Legislature; her experiences from her first year and a half in Olympia; and her priorities for 2021. She’ll also answer your questions. Register here.

UDF: Equitable TOD w/ King County Council Chair Claudia Balducci
Claudia Balducci, King County Regional Council Chair and former Bellevue Mayor, will join UDF to discuss King County’s approach to transit oriented development (TOD), specifically related to the expanding light rail and bus rapid transit in the ST2 and ST3 packages, through the lens of the King County Equity and Social Justice Strategic Plan. More info.

King County Stakeholder Meeting: C-PACER
Jan 27, 2-3:30pm, Register
Join King County for an online workshop about the development of the County’s Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy + Resilience (C-PACER) program. Staff will provide a brief overview and context of the C-PACER program, highlight resources and King County’s process, and hold a facilitated discussion to get input from stakeholders.

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

Posted in Advocacy

Benefits of Resilient Design in New Construction

A new generation of buildings featuring resilient design will perform better in earthquakes with less damage, faster recovery, and reduced repair and business interruption costs.

Champion: California Manufacturers & Technology Association

More Panelist to be Announced

Dave Mar, SE, Owner, Mar Structural Design
Lance Hastings, President + CEO, California Manufacturers & Technology Association
Maryann Phipps, SE, President, E Structure
Craig Stockbridge, AIA, LEED AP, Principal, GBD Architects

Regisiter Here

Posted in Uncategorized

2020 Advocacy Actions

Local

We endorsed the Seattle Planning Commission’s Growth Strategy White Paper, Evolving Seattle’s Growth Strategy.
We provided feedback to SDCI on the Seattle Services Portal.
We organized architect focus groups for Seattle Public Utilities’ update on solid waste planning and solid waste storage, access, and collection design issues.
We supported Mayor Durkan’s Green New Deal Executive Order requiring new city buildings to operate fossil fuel free.
We supported legislation to make emergency changes to Seattle’s Design Review requirements during COVID-19.
We monitored City of Seattle discussions to make refinements to the city’s Mandatory Housing Affordability program.
We worked with Councilmember Mosqueda to adjust last year’s ADU rules as part of the SDCI Omnibus bill.
We supported Seattle’s Safe Healthy Streets program by sending a letter to Mayor Durkan, SDOT Director Sam Zimbabwe, and City Council Sustainability & Transportation Committee Chair Alex Pedersen. We also endorsed Seattle Neighborhood Greenways’ proposal calling on the city to convert 130 miles of streets to Stay Healthy Streets and make other improvements to allow people to safely walk, roll, and use micromobility devices during COVID and beyond.
We monitored the Seattle budget process for impacts to AIA Seattle’s core issue areas.
We supported a resolution to require Seattle City Council staff to evaluate the carbon impacts of city projects starting in January 2021.
We developed an online ADU Showcase in place of the in-person ADU Tour.
We supported the Seattle Energy Code update with technical and advocacy support and sent a letter in support of SDCI’s determination of non-significance under SEPA. Our members advocated for the new code as part of AIA’s first ever Climate Advocacy Week.

State

We monitored Governor’s Inslee’s proclamations on construction and professional service work during COVID-19 and provided resources to members.
We held a Climate Comprehensive webinar to recap AIA’s work on climate issues across many policy levels – including AIA National’s Big Move on climate.
We participated in rulemaking for Washington’s Clean Buildings Act (HB 1257, 2019), which required the Department of Commerce to develop a state energy performance standard for commercial buildings greater than 50,000 square feet. We provided a webinar session for members to learn about the program.
We commented on the draft 2021 State Energy Strategy to support the state’s goals related to climate.
We passed and supported the rollout of Washington’s C-PACER program, which will provide a private financing mechanism for building owners to complete deep green retrofits and resiliency improvements.
We protected architect licensure from legislative attempts to weaken licensing requirements.
We supported housing legislation to facilitate more ADUs, help increase housing affordability, and stem the tide of homelessness.
We successfully opposed legislation to weaken predesign requirements in state contracting.
We continued to advocate against the B&O tax structure for professional services with large subcontractor payments as part of the state’s overall taxation system reform.
We supported efforts to address embodied carbon in building materials for state-funded projects.
We defended the state energy code and the State Building Code Council’s mission and structure.

National

We opposed a Trump Administration proposal to designate “classical” architecture as the preferred style for federal buildings.
We supported the YIMBY Act (HR 4307), which passed the U.S. House of Representatives. The bill would address the country’s affordable housing crisis by streamlining affordable housing production and zoning for high-density single-family and multifamily housing.
We sent a letter to AIA National’s Board of Directors in support of a proposal by AIA’s Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct prohibiting members from knowingly designing spaces intended for execution and torture, including indefinite or prolonged solitary confinement.

Posted in Advocacy, Public Policy Board

Advocacy Update – December 2020

NATIONAL NEWS

AIA National Approves Rule on Justice Facility Spaces
In December, AIA National’s Board of Directors approved new rules to the AIA’s Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct prohibiting members from knowingly designing spaces intended for execution and torture, including indefinite or prolonged solitary confinement of prisoners for 22 hours or more per day without meaningful human contact, for more than 15 consecutive days. The Board expressed its opinion that the design of such spaces is inconsistent with the profession’s fundamental responsibility to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public and uphold human rights. AIA Seattle sent a letter in support of this change to the Board.

STATE NEWS

A Legislative Session Like No Other
The state legislative session begins on January 11 and will be conducted largely virtually this year. As always, you can follow along on TVW and by reading AIA Washington Council’s legislative updates during the session. If you are interested in more information about how to follow a particular issue or bill, or if you have questions, let Kirsten know. For more detailed information about how to impact state policy during the session, consider attending AIA|WA’s Navigating the State Legislative Session webinar, described under Events below.

For more information about AIA’s agenda for the session, see AIA|WA’s legislative preview here. Key agenda items from AIA Seattle’s perspective include:

Climate

Measures to decarbonize buildings by supporting building electrification
Embodied carbon requirements for state-funded buildings
Clean energy retrofits for public buildings
State Building Code Council – energy code and fending off attacks on its structure or mission
Growth Management Act – adding a climate element to planning requirements

Housing

Permanent funding source for the State Housing Trust Fund
Growth Management Act – amend the GMA’s existing housing element by requiring counties to:
- Plan for housing based on targets, income, and type
- Plan for duplexes, triplexes, and townhomes
- Plan for homeless housing
- Work to limit displacement from market forces in high-risk areas
- Further fair housing principles
Incentivize and remove barriers to missing middle housing, including ADUs
Housing Benefit Districts – planning and land acquisition around high capacity transit stations for complete communities, with a focus on low-income housing

Racial & Social Justice

In addition to understanding and incorporating BIPOC and low-income community concerns in its focus areas, AIA|WA will be tracking policy issues related to race and social justice during the 2021 legislative session. While we may not be able to actively support the wide array of proposals in this category, we intend to make members aware of them and provide information on how individuals and firms can weigh in as they wish. For firms that have signed on to the NOMA Call-to-Action Pledge, this information may be used to help comply with Ongoing Commitment #5:

Become engaged at the state and local levels in public, housing, and education policy. Advocate for policies that promote integrated neighborhoods; legislation that benefits the growth, resources, infrastructure and, therefore, prosperity of all communities and demographics.

Currently, our list includes these areas:

Assistance for individuals and families hit hardest by COVID.
Criminal justice system reform
Police reform
Homeownership opportunities
Investments and revenue
- Provide new investments in BIPOC communities and maintain existing social safety net programs.
- Identify more progressive sources of revenue to invest in long-term commitments
Broadband access

If you are interested in helping AIA|WA navigate these issues by providing feedback and helping to weigh policy proposals, please let Kirsten know.

Governor Announces Climate Priorities
Gov. Inslee announced his climate priorities for the state legislative session, including a Healthy Homes, Clean Buildings Act that provides a statewide approach to systematically decarbonize buildings. Although the details are not yet finalized, here are the main components:

Requires any new buildings to be zero-carbon by 2030 and puts the state on a path to eliminate fossil fuels from existing buildings by 2050
Strengthens state building codes to incentivize electric appliances over gas
Creates a heat pump and electrification program to support clean electricity for space and water heating
Authorizes public utilities to provide incentives for high-efficiency electric equipment, paving the way for utilities’ existing energy efficiency funds to be spent on climate-friendly appliances rather than gas
Requires transition planning by utilities:
- Requires utilities to produce plans for transitioning their gas workers to new jobs
- Requires utilities to align long-term plans for their gas systems with the state’s climate goals, and requires planning for an equitable transition away from gas in buildings

The Governor’s budget also includes proposed capital budget investments of $141 million for programs and projects to support the transition to cleaner buildings. This includes:

Healthier homes for low-income families: $55 million to weatherize and support energy efficiency investments for 7,000 low-income residences.
Clean energy retrofits for public buildings: $66 million to retrofit more than 200 public buildings.
Next-generation “smart buildings”: $20 million to shift from fossil fuels to high-efficiency electric heat pumps and other electric equipment.

LOCAL NEWS

AIA Seattle Climate Advocacy Week – thank you!
Thank you to our members who participated in AIA Seattle’s first Climate Advocacy Week. Your meetings with Seattle City Councilmembers on the city’s commercial energy code showed strong support for the code and for green building in general. The questions you received helped us to understand what councilmembers are concerned about and to share that information with our coalition partners who will be conducting similar meetings. The code will come before the Council’s Land Use and Neighborhoods Committee on January 13 and the full council later in January. We will keep you updated on its progress and additional opportunities to weigh in with your support.

Permanent Supportive Housing New Land Use Code
Seattle City Councilmember Andrew Lewis is working on legislation to create a new land use code for permanent supportive housing with the intent of reducing cost and ensuring time savings. The legislation will exempt permanent supportive housing from Design Review and eliminate some space requirements like onsite bike parking. It also exempts floor area used for on-site supportive services from calculations for FAR limits and allows for certain SDCI waivers to be made as an administrative decision. This legislation will be considered in January. Read more details about the proposal here. AIA Seattle’s Public Policy Board has expressed support for this legislation but has mixed opinions about eliminating bike parking in any type of multi-family housing. If you have comments on this proposal for AIA to consider, please let Kirsten know.

Affordable Housing on Religious Organization Property
This month Mayor Durkan announced the development of land use policies to provide religious organizations with more flexibility to develop their land with long-term, income-restricted affordable housing. The state Legislature passed a bill in 2019 requiring cities to allow additional density for affordable housing on property owned or controlled by a religious organization. The affordable housing must be reserved for low-income households with incomes under 80 percent of area median income for at least 50 years. Faith-based organizations own more than 300 acres of land in Seattle. The policy will likely allow taller buildings in multi-family zones and denser development in single family zones. OPCD is working on the details and Durkan is expected to send legislation to the City Council early in 2021.

OPPORTUNITIES

Seattle Design Review Board Vacancies
Seattle is looking for candidates to fill 15 upcoming openings on the city’s Design Review Boards. Board members evaluate the design of new buildings based on citywide and neighborhood-specific design guidelines. The boards review large mixed-use developments, multifamily housing, and commercial projects. These volunteer positions will start on April 4, 2021, when retiring board members’ terms expire. Design profession representatives are specifically sought for the Northwest Board and the West Board, but other positions (development, landscape design, local residential/community) are also available. Applications are due Dec. 31. More info here.

EVENTS

AIA Seattle’s Housing Task Force continues to meet monthly on the second Thursday of each month at noon via Zoom.
AIA Seattle’s Transportation Task Force meets on the second Tuesday of each month from 5:30-6:30 pm via Zoom.

For info on how to access either meeting, contact Kirsten.

Navigating the State Legislative Session Jan. 8, 2021
AIA|WA is hosting this webinar immediately before the legislative session begins to review how the legislative process works and help you learn to navigate the state’s legislative website with ease. These skills will allow you to follow the bills and issues you are interested in and better understand how you can maximize contacts to your legislators and best impact the process. More info here.

AIA Washington Council’s Capitol Connections Jan. 24-29, 2001
Sign up for AIA|WA’s Capitol Connections, architects’ annual lobby day in Olympia, where members get to discuss issues important to the profession directly with their legislators. The event will be entirely virtual this year, with a kick-off webinar briefing, an opportunity to hear from key legislators on our issues, and online meetings with legislators throughout the week. We’ll be talking to legislators specifically about building electrification and housing. Be part of the political process from your home office or dining room! More info here.

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

Posted in Advocacy

Advocacy Update – November 2020

STATE NEWS

State Energy Strategy Draft Released
Washington’s draft State Energy Strategy has been released for public comment. Section D focuses on energy consumption and emissions from the built environment and can be found on pages 63-90. The State Energy Strategy is a roadmap for the state to consider when evaluating how we meet decarbonization goals across buildings, transportation, industry, and electricity sectors. The draft strategy is open for written public comment through Dec. 7, followed by public hearings. It is dense and ambitious, and it could benefit from language that prioritizes the many action items included. More info on the State Energy Strategy is available here. Comments on any part of the strategy may be emailed to energystrategy@commerce.wa.gov. If you would like your comments to be considered as part of AIA’s response, please contact Kirsten.

State Election Results
Look for AIA|WA’s more detailed report on the state legislative elections at the end of this month, but in short: the state legislature appears to have emerged from the general election with the same party make-up it had before the elections in both the House and the Senate. There is a slight question mark in the 5^th District (Issaquah/eastern King County), where incumbent Senator Mark Mullet (D) is leading his more liberal Democratic challenger by 73 votes. But with the results staying as they are, one Democrat and one Republican lost their seats in both the House and the Senate. This does not make a big difference the House, and it only makes a small one in the Senate, where the Democrat-Republican split is narrower. In the Senate, the defeated Democratic incumbent, Dean Takko from the 19^th District in the southwest corner of Washington, was much more conservative than the Democratic challenger who defeated the Republican incumbent in the 28^th District (Tacoma/southern Pierce County), T’wina Nobles, potentially moving the Senate a fraction to the left. Overall, Democrats expected to gain more seats in both houses, and this result may scuttle some of the most progressive legislation on their agenda.

LOCAL NEWS

AIA Seattle Climate Advocacy Week | Nov. 30-Dec. 4
The City of Seattle is updating its commercial energy code as part of its 2018 Construction Code update. These code changes will be considered by the City Council in early December, after the city’s budget process is complete. Once approved, the new codes will go into effect in February or March 2021, depending on Council timing.

AIA Seattle strongly supports the city’s commercial energy code revisions because these changes will help Seattle dramatically reduce fossil fuels in buildings over the next decade. We’re hosting Climate Advocacy Week to support the effort, asking members to help us make sure our city councilmembers know how important buildings are to combating climate change. Climate Advocacy Week includes a kick-off briefing, a climate-focused happy hour, and an opportunity for Seattle architects to join their colleagues in online meetings with your city councilmembers. To learn more or to RSVP, click here. Your advocacy will make a big difference!

OPPORTUNITIES

AIA Washington Council’s Capitol Connections | Jan. 24-29, 2001
Sign up for AIA|WA’s Capitol Connections, architects’ annual lobby day in Olympia, where members get to discuss issues important to the profession directly with their state legislators. The event will be entirely virtual this year, with a kick-off webinar briefing, an opportunity to hear from key legislators on our issues, and online meetings with legislators throughout the week. Be part of the political process from your home office or dining room! More info here.

EVENTS

AIA Seattle Committee Meetings
The Center for Architecture and Design is closed until the governor’s Stay Home Stay Healthy order is lifted. Most meetings and events have moved online. Check AIA’s events page for more details on specific events.

AIA Seattle’s Housing Task Force continues to meet monthly on the second Thursday of each month at noon via Zoom.
AIA Seattle’s Transportation Task Force meets on the second Tuesday of each month from 5:30-6:30 pm via Zoom.

For info on how to access either meeting, contact Kirsten.

Clean Buildings Act Overview for Architects | Dec. 11
This AIA|WA webinar will provide an overview of Washington’s new energy performance standard for large commercial buildings. The state Department of Commerce, which runs the program, will provide an overview, followed by a Q&A session. This webinar is designed to help architects understand the new standards (voluntary until 2026) and start thinking through the types of conversations they will need to have with commercial clients about it. More info here.

Navigating the State Legislative Session | Jan. 8, 2021
AIA|WA is hosting this webinar immediately before the legislative session begins to review how the legislative process works and help you learn to navigate the state’s legislative website with ease. These skills will allow you to follow the bills and issues you are interested in and better understand how you can maximize contacts to your legislators and best impact the process. More info here.

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

Posted in Advocacy

2020 Honor Awards Winners

SEATTLE, November 16, 2020—The American Institute of Architects (AIA) Seattle chapter hosted the 70th annual Honor Awards for Washington Architecture on November 16 to celebrate excellence in design.

The distinguished jury included Marsha Maytum, FAIA, LEED AP (LMSA), Pascale Sablan, AIA, NOMA, LEED AP (Beyond the Built Environment + S9ARCHITECTURE), and Tatiana Bilbao (Tatiana Bilbao ESTUDIO). Co-Chairs for the 2020 AIA Seattle Honor Awards were Kevin Snook AIA (ZGF Architects) and Ming-Lee Yuan (Olson Kundig).

From 103 submittals, the jury chose 20 award winners from three categories – built, conceptual, and research & innovation. This was the third year of the Research & Innovation category, recognizing strides in research and innovation coming out of our region, elevating our communities’ awareness of advancement in architectural practice. This was the fifth year of the Energy in Design Award to commend projects that have made quantifiably significant strides in energy reduction while also maintaining the highest qualitative design caliber.

In addition to the awards, it was the third year of the Young Voices Selection (YVS), a program with the aim to engage and elevate the voices of young designers through direct participation and representation in AIA Seattle’s Honor Awards for Washington Architecture. The three YVS panelists were Molly Evans (Olson Kundig), Marquesa Figueroa (SRG Partnership), and Higinio Turrubiates (Integrus Architecture).

Across the spectrum of project types, the jury acknowledged the strong design culture represented in our region and were so impressed with the “beautiful and inspired projects that are committed to sustainability and tackling social issues, engaging with the projects communities while also solving site relationships elegantly and simply.”

Congratulations to all the winners and thank you to our esteemed jury and Honor Awards Committee!

Missed the live show? You can catch the replay over on our YouTube channel!

AWARD OF HONOR

The Burke Museum of Natural History & Culture by Olson Kundig is Washington’s oldest museum – turned inside-out. The jury admired the building’s personification of architecture and spatial justice and applauded the designers, the design team, and all the community leaders and members who participated in the designing and execution of this incredible project.

Cottonwood Canyon Experience Center by Signal Architecture + Research is an Experience Center marking time in a rural canyon landscape. The jury appreciated that this project embeds all the values that architecture should promote in a very simple, beautiful, orchestrated way. They also noted that it’s a place for social interaction with the possibility of understanding the history, the very core root of this place, while making exactly the space for connection with others and with nature at large.

Hugo House by NBBJ was founded as an urban writer’s retreat. The jury appreciated the way in which this project maintains the important, somewhat eccentric, community spaces that are in our cities and finding new places for them to thrive. The project was beautifully executed, taking simple, durable, cost-effective materials and elevating those materials to a thing of beauty with great creativity and unexpected moments in the design.

The Wagner Education Center at the Center for Wooden Boats by Olson Kundig is a new front door for a beloved Seattle organization that celebrates the area’s maritime heritage. The jury appreciated how the project’s description is stated, as a building, as a functional armature. The word “armature” evoked a space that holds things together. This space holds the connection of the community and the physical connection between the city, the downtown, and the lake, and most of all, the heritage, cultures, and traditions of boat making in the area.

ENERGY IN DESIGN AWARD

The Kendeda Building for Innovative Sustainable Design by The Miller Hull Partnership, LLP is a Living Building Challenge project at Georgia Tech designed to foster environmental education, research, and a public forum for community outreach. The jury appreciated that the project’s mantra – More wood, less carbon – was exposed, expressed, and celebrated through incredible design and observed that a project that performs and gives back to the earth can also be a beacon of beauty and design excellence.

AWARD OF MERIT

Blakely Elementary School by Mithun

Byrd Barr Place by SHKS Architects (Conceptual)

Lincoln High School by Bassetti Architects

Louisiana Children’s Museum by Mithun

Past Present Future: a tense balance by Novaby (Research & Innovation)

Staying Power by Framework Cultural Placemaking and City of Seattle Office of Arts & Culture (Research & Innovation)

The Kendeda Building for Innovative Sustainable Design by The Miller Hull Partnership, LLP

HONORABLE MENTION

Ainsworth & Dunn (A&D)/10 Clay by Weinstein A+U

Goldendale State Park Observatory by Patano Studio Architecture

Little House/Big Shed by David M. Van Galen, AIA

Olympic High School by Sundberg Kennedy Ly Au Young Architects

Rainier Beach Urban Farm and Wetlands Classroom Building by CAST architecture

Seattle Asian Art Museum by LMN Architects

Seattle City Light Denny Substation by NBBJ

The Kenmore Hangar by Graham Baba Architects

YOUNG VOICES SELECTION

Seattle City Light Denny Substation by NBBJ

To view all of the 2020 submissions, visit the:

CATALOGUE

The 2020 Honor Awards for Washington Architecture left us with a lot to celebrate! We had a blast on the red carpet for our first-ever virtual live event celebrating 20 award winners and our greater design community.

Now, we are thrilled to share the first-ever AIA Seattle Honor Awards Catalogue!

In this publication, you will find…

– A letter from fashionable co-hosts and Honor Awards Committee Co-chairs Kevin Snook and Ming-Lee Yuan;

– The full list of submitted projects and firm names for this year’s awards;

– A closer look at the Energy in Design Award and the 17 qualifying projects;

– Hallmark spreads for each awarded project, including juror quotes for the winners of Award of Honor, Energy in Design, and Award of Merit;

– Features from our 2020 Honor Awards sponsors highlighting their relationship to the Honor Awards and more!

Special thanks to our 2020 Honor Awards Sponsors:

Posted in For the Profession, For the Public, Honor Awards

Recipient Announced for 2020 Northwest Washington Section Scholarship

The Northwest Washington Section Scholarship Fund has awarded one scholarships totaling $4000 to a local student pursuing Architectural education.

2020-21 Recipient:
My name is Matthew Robinson, I was born and raised in Bellingham Washington and I am 22 years old. Growing up I spent my time running around in the forests of Chuckanut Mountain and playing wiffle-ball with my neighbors during the beautiful Northwest summers. I still enjoy being outside, taking advantage of the vast assortment of trails and parks in both Washington and Oregon whenever I can. I attended Sehome High School where I played both basketball and baseball before making the decision to go to college at the University of Oregon in Eugene. I am currently entering the fifth year of my Bachelors of Architecture education, with a Minor in Landscape Architecture. I enjoy traveling, listening to music, hiking, spending time with family and friends, and cheering on my favorite sports teams.

About the Northwest Washington Section Scholarship Fund
The goal of the AIA Northwest Washington Section Scholarship is to encourage and assist local residents of Whatcom, Skagit, Island and San Juan Counties who are pursuing a degree in architecture in an accredited School of Architecture. Entering its 9^th year, the scholarship fund primarily funded by funds raised at the annual Scholarship Golf Tournament. Despite the cancellation of the 2020 tournament, the Section remains committed to funding the program throughout the COVID-19 pandemic to help students in the region.

About the Northwest Washington Section of American Institute of Architects Seattle Chapter
AIA Northwest Washington is section of AIA Seattle that provides events and programs for AIA members in Skagit, Whatcom, Island and San Juan counties.

About the Seattle Chapter of the American Institute of Architects
Founded in 1894, AIA Seattle is a not-for-profit professional association of architects, allied professionals, and laypeople. AIA Seattle provides the architecture community with resources and relationships to make a difference through design.

Posted in For the Public, Students

2020 NWW Design Awards Winners Announced

Collage image of six award winners, described in text below

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 worked with AIA Northwest Washington members Dave Christensen AIA (Christensen Design Management) and Julie Blazek AIA (HKP Architects), who guided the Design Awards process.

From 17 submissions, the jury chose six projects for recognition with Merit, across commercial and residential design. The jury remarked that the submissions highlighted the scope and quality of architectural design accomplished by the architects of our Northwest Washington region, and while each of the projects had elements deserving commendation, they agreed that six of the submissions are worthy of the Merit Award.

Congratulations to all the winners and thank you to our esteemed jury and Design Awards committee!

Click here to view the full Design Awards catalogue.
Click here to view the full recording of the awards ceremony and keynote lecture.

Bloom Residence by Pelletier + Schaar was awarded for its accessible design that takes advantage of sweeping views on Camano Island, Washington. The jurors commented the project is a strong example of how a modest residential project can be elevated through the use of light, materials and a clear plan diagram. It is notable in what it accomplishes on a small scale.

David Pelletier, Pelletier + Schaar, Architect of Record
Pearl Schaar, Pelletier + Schaar, Lead Designer/Project Manager
Tracy Tiffany, Tiffany Construction, Contractor
Gabriela Siia, ZVELT Engineering Design PLLC, Structural Engineer
Photo credit: Tim Sherrill

Lake Cavanaugh Addition by HKP Architects was awarded for its addition of a guest cabin and activity space to the two existing cabins in Mt. Vernon, Washington. The solution was to add the third cabin connected to the others with a covered walkway. The jury was impressed by the way the three cabins blend with the landscape and form an iconic Northwest scene, plus the consideration the walkways provide for aging-in-place.

Design Team:
Brian Poppe, HKP Architects, Partner-in-Charge
Austin Miles, HKP Architects, Project Manager
Omar Velasco, HKP Architects, Project Support

Collaborators:
Jordan Janicki, DCG Engineers, Structural Engineering
Danny Ochoa, DCG Engineers, Civil Engineering
Misty Philbin, The Philbin Group, Landscape Architect
Patricia Lenssen, ASLA, SITES AP, Pacific Landscape Architecture, Project Manager
Kenny Chriest, Cavanaugh Custom Homes, General Contractor
Simply Yards, Landscape Contractor
Photo credit: Mike Penney, Mike Penney Photography

Mazama Meadow Guest House by Designs Northwest Architects was awarded for its “appealing” overall design of this vacation retreat in North Central Washington. The jury responded to the feeling of being part of the nature outside but in the comfort of your home. The challenges of the location were addressed by cooling design strategies to keep the home comfortable throughout the year, and the use of low maintenance materials for sustainability.

Dan Nelson, Designs Northwest Architects, Principal Architect
Matt Radach, Designs Northwest Architects, Project Designer
Impel Construction, General Contractor
Alpine Welding, Metalwork
Photo credit: S. Brousseau Photography

Orcas Island Public Library Expansion by HKP Architects was awarded for its “graceful” and “organic” expansion of the library in Eastsound, Washington. Challenges included the form of the existing building, and the steep slope on the west side of the property. The jury was struck by the successful siting of the addition to create a main entry and drive court, as well as interior spaces that provide a range of loud to quiet environments, and use of natural daylight.

Juile Blazek, Christine Baldwin, HKP Architects, Architect
MIG/SvR, Civil and Landscape
Lund Opsahl LLC, Structural Engineers
Harris Group, Inc., Mechanical Engineers
K Engineers, Electrical Engineers
The Greenbusch Group, Acoustical and AV
Materials Testing & Consulting, Geotechnical
Adams Consulting & Estimating, Hardware Consultant
Applied Building Information, Specifications
Photo credit: Mike Penney Photography

Plaza Mixed Use by Designs Northwest Architects in association with TCA Architecture was awarded for its “notable” complex of micro and studio apartments, plus retail space, in Kirkland, Washington. The jury remarked it meets high standards for sustainability, while providing needed affordable housing. They were impressed with the spaces to encourage community, and the high level of finishing.

Dan Nelson, Designs Northwest Architects, Principal Architect
William Lippens, Designs Northwest Architects, Project Architect
Brian Harris, TCA Architecture, Principal Architect
Jason Warner, TCA Architecture, Senior Project Manager
Kirkland Sustainable Investments LLC, Contractor
Swenson Say Faget, Structural Engineer
Vanessa Pantley, Interior Design
Kathleen Bradley Reader, Bradley Design Group, Landscape Architect
Photo credit: Swift Studio and John McKinney

Swinomish Indian Tribal Community Dental Clinic Expansion by HKP Architects was awarded for its dental clinic expansion with a “tasteful aesthetic look” in La Conner, Washington. The jury focused on the appealing colors, the sustainable strategies incorporated, and consideration of accessibility while maintaining the cultural design of the existing building. The design also responded to the challenges of the steeply sloped site and an archeologically sensitive boundary.

Juile Blazek, Austin Miles, HKP Architects, Architect
DGC, Inc., Civil and Structural Engineers
Berona Engineers, Mechanical Engineers
TFWB, Electrical Engineers
Henry Schein/A-dec, Dental Equipment
Roen Associates, Cost Estimating
Photo credit: Mike Penney Photography

Special thanks to our 2020 Design Awards sponsors!

Posted in For the Public

Advocacy Update – October 2020

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 in person at your county elections office. Ballots must be postmarked or placed in a drop box by Nov. 3. Statewide drop box locations are here; King County’s drop box locations are here. Voters’ guides: King County’s is here; check your county’s elections office webpage for other counties. Finally, remember that you can verify that your ballot was received and accepted. King County’s verification page is here; check your county’s elections office webpage for other counties. Ballots will be mailed starting on Oct. 14.

STATE NEWS

State Energy Strategy Draft Due Oct. 30
Washington is developing a 2021 State Energy Strategy to support the state’s goals related to climate. The call for an updated state energy strategy was part of 2019 legislation establishing a new clean electricity standard for Washington, the Clean Energy Transformation Act (SB 5116). The State Energy Strategy is a roadmap for the state to consider when evaluating how we meet our decarbonization goals across buildings, transportation, industry, and electricity sectors. The process is led by the Department of Commerce, advised by an external Advisory Group, and shaped by technical analysis and support from the Clean Energy Transition Institute. More info here. The draft strategy documents will be released on Oct. 30, followed by public hearings. AIA offered comments during the strategy development process and will offer additional comments on the draft once it is released. If you’d like to be part of AIA’s review, please contact Kirsten.

LOCAL NEWS

City of Seattle Budget Process
Seattle kicked off its 2021 budget process in late September with the release of Mayor Durkan’s proposed budget and department presentations to councilmembers. Council hearings and public meetings will be held through the deadline for passing the budget, Nov. 23. The city’s budget calendar is here. You can participate by signing up to provide public comment at a meeting, emailing your councilmembers, or checking their websites for district-specific open meetings and other opportunities for feedback. You can also sign up to receive email newsletters from any of the councilmembers on their websites – these newsletters often have the latest information on district events and councilmember positions.

Seattle City Council Passes Climate Notes Resolution
On Sept. 21, the Seattle City Council unanimously passed a resolution by Councilmember Alex Pedersen that would require Council staff to evaluate the carbon impacts of city projects starting in January 2021. This information will be part of the briefing information distributed to councilmembers on each legislative proposal. Specifically, the resolution asks staff to include information on how each project would impact carbon emissions and whether the project would help or hinder the city’s resiliency to climate change.

AIA Seattle Climate Advocacy Week: Seattle Energy Code
The City of Seattle is updating its commercial energy code as part of its 2018 Construction Code update. You may review the detailed code revisions on the city’s website and read a summary of the changes from AIA Seattle’s Shift Zero coalition partner, the Northwest Energy Coalition, here. These code changes will be considered by the City Council in early December, after the city’s budget process is complete. Once approved, the new codes will go into effect on Feb. 1, along with the statewide code updates.

AIA Seattle strongly supports these code revisions because we believe these changes will help Seattle dramatically reduce fossil fuels in buildings over the next decade. We’re kicking off plans for AIA Seattle’s Climate Advocacy Week, Nov. 30-Dec. 1, when we’ll be asking our members to help us make sure our city councilmembers know how important buildings are to combating climate change and how the energy code changes will put us on a path to reaching the city’s climate goals. Moreover, we’ll be engaging in the same outreach to our King County Councilmembers, who will also be considering the Seattle Energy Code updates during this timeframe. Join us in a week of advocacy – we’ll have learning events, a climate happy hour, and an opportunity for you to join your fellow architects in online meetings with your local representatives. To learn more or to RSVP, click here. Your advocacy will make a big difference!

Seattle Stormwater Code Update
The Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections continues to work on its 2021 Stormwater Code and Manual update, which is scheduled to be effective in July 2021. Revised documents will be posted in November and in January-February 2021. More info is available here.

King County Increases Sales Tax to Provide More Homeless Housing
The King County Council voted on Oct 13 to approve a 0.1 percent sales tax increase to provide additional homeless housing. The tax is expected to raise $70 million a year and will take effect Jan. 1. The County is taking advantage of an opportunity granted by the state legislature earlier this year, which gave local governments the option to adopt a one-tenth of one percent sales tax increase if the money raised is allocated to address affordable housing. King County is opting to use the additional revenue to purchase hotels, motels, or nursing homes that can then be converted into immediate housing for the homeless. The total amount raised will be less than originally planned, however, as the city councils of eight of the county’s 38 cities voted to reserve the right to increase the sales tax in their cities but to use the money for their own projects. Those cities include Bellevue, Issaquah, North Bend, Maple Valley, Snoqualmie, Renton, Covington, and Kent. AIA supported King County’s action as part of a board coalition led by the Housing Development Consortium.

OPPORTUNITIES

AIA Washington Council’s Advocacy in Action
AIA Washington Council is looking for the next generation of architect advocates! AIA|WA is offering a free, 3-part webinar series on how architects can effectively advocate for the issues that are important to you – whatever you care most about, there’s a way to make a difference. Advocacy in Action will focus on demystifying advocacy, illustrating how to get involved and make an impact on issues such as climate change and housing. The series is designed for emerging professionals and students, but everyone is welcome. Read more about this series and register here. You will receive one learning unit for each seminar, and the series is open to all architects and designers in Washington (you do not have to be an AIA member).

Home Electrification Google Group
Interested in residential electrification personally or professionally? Join this Western Washington Home Electrification Google Group to share tips with architects and others who are working through the ins and outs of home electrification.

Fire Code Technical Advisory Group
The State Building Code Council (SBCC) is seeking an architect to serve on the Council’s International Fire Code Technical Advisory Group (TAG) the for the 2021 code adoption cycle (Oct. 2020 – June 2021). Technical Advisory Groups review new editions of the model codes to identify significant changes and review existing and proposed state amendments. Applications to serve on a TAG consist of a letter of interest and a resume, plus an endorsement from AIA Washington Council. For more information, contact Kirsten. You may also contact the SBCC at sbcc@des.wa.gov.

EVENTS

AIA Seattle Committee Meetings

The Center for Architecture and Design is closed until the governor’s Stay Home Stay Healthy order is lifted. All meetings and events are either canceled or moved to an online or conference call format. Check AIA’s events page for more details on specific events.

AIA Seattle’s Housing Task Force continues to meet monthly on the second Thursday of each month at noon via Zoom. For info on how to access the meeting, contact Kirsten.
AIA Seattle’s Transportation Task Force meets on the second Tuesday of each month from 5:30-6:30 pm via Zoom. The October meeting will be held on Oct. 20, however. To be added to the Task Force’s email list, contact Kirsten.

AIA Seattle Community Engagement Forum – Oct. 19-21
Establishing Meaningful Relationships with Communities You Serve will help you build the knowledge, resources, and skill-sets to form more authentic relationships and coalitions with community and create not only beautiful, functional and successful buildings and spaces, but also transform our profession from one that works for community to one that works with. More info.

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

Posted in Advocacy, Uncategorized

Design After Quarantine Series

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 were strategizing about our profession’s move to working from home and a return the office while navigating the COVID pandemic.
Event page (event videos are available here)

FUTURE OF DESIGN
November 2020 – February 2021

Our Future of Design panels will explore how the COVID experience is changing the way we think about and design buildings and spaces. As we try to understand the role of architecture post-pandemic, we’ll look at how design is already changing to accommodate market demands and societal shifts as we adjust to living, working, and staying healthy in our built environment. Our panelists will discuss what they are hearing from clients as well as new ideas, innovations, and best-practices that designers can use to make our built environment healthier, more equitable, and resilient.

Residential
The Future of Residential Design | November 5
We’ll explore the ways in which the look and function of single- and multi-family residences are being altered by the pandemic today and what changes are on the horizon for tomorrow.
Video available via the above link.

Healthcare
The Architecture for Health Committee presents: Looking Back to Look Forward | Nov. 4-6
With a global pandemic, racial injustice, and climate change at the constant forefront of our minds, by now it is clear that we are all living through a major turning point in history. Join us in conversation on what we have learned in the past year and the opportunities to move health care forward together.

Workplace
The Future of the Workplace Design | January 15, 2:00-3:00 pm
Join our panel for a discussion of how the workplace has changed as a result of COVID and what that means for design. More than ever before, architects are being asked to design for occupant health with extended concepts of sustainability. We’ll look at how these strategies are affecting cost of construction, owners’ pro forma analysis, and space utilization and growth projections. We’ll also look at how workplaces themselves are changing, with less focus on a central workspace and a greater emphasis on flexible spaces and working remotely.

Education
The Committee on Architecture for Education presents: The State of Higher Education – A Look at Today and Tomorrow | Jan. 20, 12-1 pm
Join our panel for a discussion on the current realities and what’s next for higher education as institutions and industry experts navigate the evolution of campus together. While the pandemic shone a spotlight on the vulnerabilities that have plagued higher education institutions for years, it also represents an opportunity to improve the system holistically. Our panel will discuss how their campuses are addressing their respective moving targets and share lessons learned and success stories. What didn’t work? What worked? What to try next?

K-12 Design After the Pandemic | February tbd

FUTURE OF CITIES
2021

Posted in Uncategorized

2020 Committee & Volunteer Awards

image collage of the AIA Seattle Volunteer Award winners. Names in description

This year we recognize Matt Hutchins AIA; the Seattle Design Festival Core Team; and the Committee on the Environment, co-chairs: Shannon Bunsen and Gaurav Mehta.

AIA Seattle Volunteer Award: Matt Hutchins AIA

Matt Hutchins is a founder and principal of CAST architecture. In that role, Matt has spent more than twenty years working to increase the vitality of the city and the environment. With AIA Seattle, he has been a steadfast advocate and public educator on topics such as abundant urban housing options, backyard cottages, Residential Small Lot Zoning, sustainable building and zoning reform are a large component of his mission. He co-chairs AIA Seattle’s Housing Task Force and serves on the Public Policy Board, and served in the past on the Housing Design Forum Committee, and co-facilitated the chapter’s ADU tour and City Leader Breakfast.

Design in Public Volunteer Award: Seattle Design Festival Core Team

The Seattle Design Festival is produced by a passionate group of volunteers who shape the Festival each year, and who help hold us accountable to our goals, mission, and vision. Comprised of both design professionals and enthusiasts this group works together for eight months to develop the call for proposals, identify partners, review submissions, and on occasion completely pivot the Festival to virtual platforms. Pictured here are our core 2020 Committee members (clockwise, starting upper left) Elana Darnell, Julia Edwards, Adam Ury, Trevor Dykstra, Lisa Sato, Matt McWilliams, Yasir Altemeemi, George Zatloka, and Uris Giron (not pictured Michelle Gagnon-Creeley).

Committee Award: Committee on the Environment | Co-chairs: Gaurav Mehta and Shannon Bunsen

Formed as an offshoot of the national AIA Committee on the Environment, Seattle’s COTE chapter has worked for well over a decade to promote sustainability, and enhance the environmental performance of the built environment. In the past year, our COTE chapter has collaborated with numerous groups and organizations including Urban Design Forum and Seattle University, and is in-progress on programs with Design & Wellbeing and ASHRAE. Following the arrival of COVID-19, the group has maintained and even grown its network, moving seamlessly into online formats for events like their annual Earth Day Slam, and seminars on equity and renewables, and integrated design. Their leadership has stood at the forefront of AIA Seattle’s committee adaptations during an uncertain time, showing how to effectively transition to the new normal.

Thank you all for your incredible work and high level of leadership and involvement with AIA Seattle!

Join us October 2, 2020 to celebrate the Award Winners at the 2020 President’s Dinner.

Posted in Design In Public, For the Profession, For the Public, Housing, Public Policy Board

AIA Seattle Announces 2020 Honorees

Honorees are nominated by their peers and selected by the Fellows & Honors committee each spring. AIA Seattle is delighted to recognize these recipients for their exceptional contributions to the profession and our community.

Please join us in congratulating the 2020 Honorees! This year, amidst our many local and global crises, we are committed to celebrating the best of our profession. Our virtual awards program will take place on Friday, October 2, and we look forward to honoring this year’s awardees in-person at the earliest opportunity to do so safely. Click below for details on the program.

Click here to view the recorded awards ceremony and acceptance speeches.

2020 HONOREES

Gold Medal

Walter Schacht FAIA

Walter Schacht, FAIA has practiced architecture for over thirty years with a central focus on the public realm. He thinks strategically about the relationships between people, place and process. His clearly planned, carefully detailed civic buildings reflect a search for meaning inspired by their community, context and culture. Walter’s partnership with architect Cima Malek-Aslani is the foundation of his practice.

Walter works with his colleagues and clients to promote public policies that advance the profession and the community. He served as AIA Seattle President, on AIA Seattle’s Public Policy Board, AIA Washington Council and chaired Washington State’s Capital Projects Advisory Board. In 2013, Walter was inducted into the AIA College of Fellows for his distinguished body of work and activism. In 2015, he received AIA Seattle’s Community Service Award and AIA Washington Council’s Jennie Sue Brown Award for service to the profession.

Young Architect Award

Sarah Haase AIA

Sarah is an architect interested in designing and advocating for a socially and culturally conscious built environment. A generalist and a strategist, Sarah believes the best designs come from deeply engaging with the users and context of the projects’ communities and environment. Her current work with Schemata Workshop falls under the umbrella of community-based design, with clients such as non-profit affordable housing developers, social service providers, and public transit agencies.

Originally from Germany, she moved to Seattle after graduating with her B. Arch and Minor in Leadership and Social Change from Virginia Tech. Sarah has been advocating for a broader understanding and application of the positive impact of design through organizing the annual Seattle Design Festival, serving on the board of Design in Public, speaking on panels about equitable housing, assisting with Youth Workshops with the Seattle Architecture Foundation, and participating in the Housing Development Consortium’s Affordable Housing Leadership Cohort.

Garrett Reynolds AIA

Garrett Reynolds, AIA LEED AP BD+C is an architect at Bohlin Cywinski Jackson. His work strives for elegant, clear design solutions that thoughtfully respond to the unique circumstances of place. He takes pride in being a generalist architect with strong interests in building tectonics, conceptual design, and research – all with a focus on craft and detail. His interest in housing of all scales and types has resulted in a highly varied portfolio of work at BCJ and Mithun including a large mixed-use project in Portland’s Pearl District, a significant private residence in Big Sur, and a family retreat in Iowa.

Garrett is highly involved in the Seattle design community. He co-chaired the 2016 Urban Housing Forum and chaired the 2020 Virtual Housing Design Week. He continually strives to incite conversation around Seattle’s livability and positive urban growth strategies. He led BCJ’s submission to the City of Seattle’s DADU Competition and has written numerous articles on the topics of housing, transportation, and urban livability that have been published in ARCADE, Seattle Magazine, and the Daily Journal of Commerce. Garrett received the AIA Seattle Emerging Professionals Travel Scholarship in 2015 and the Donald and Joanna Sunshine Architecture Fellow Alumni Award in 2020.

Honorary AIA Seattle Membership

Casey Schuchart

Casey is a fifth-generation construction professional whose career has been honed through time spent working in the field, estimating, project engineering, project management, and division management roles. He was instrumental in the delivery of the Bullitt Center; a six-story office building deemed the ‘greenest’ commercial building in the world. As the President of Schuchart, Casey leads the team through the execution of business initiatives and strategies. Casey earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of San Diego and an MBA from Seattle University. Casey currently serves as the immediate Past President for the Seattle Architecture Foundation, while also serving as a board member for the Seattle Aquarium and the Lakeside Alumni Board.

Ellen Sollod

Ellen Sollod is a civic artist and activist who has worked to integrate art into the public realm for over four decades–as an artist, policy maker, art planner and administrator.

Her public art can be found throughout the Pacific Northwest in light rail stations, streetscapes, bridges, parks, plazas, educational facilities and even a waste water treatment plant. Her permanent works are deeply rooted in the site, often referencing its hidden history.

As an art planner, Ellen has laid the groundwork for many other artists to bring their artistic vision to life.

As a policy maker, she served on the Seattle Design Commission, Seattle Public Art Advisory Committee and as the Executive Director of the Seattle Arts Commission.

Ellen was a NAIUSI fellow and has received awards from Allied Arts and 4 Culture.

She has maintained throughout her practice a deep and abiding commitment to the public realm and to collaboration with design teams and the community.

Marshall Foster

Marshall Foster is the Director of Seattle’s Office of the Waterfront and Civic Projects (OWCP). OWCP leads the “Waterfront Seattle” program, which is creating 20 acres of new parks and public spaces on Seattle’s Central Waterfront, and is supporting the Pike Place Market and Seattle Aquarium in completing major expansions. The Office is also leading efforts around the redevelopment of Key Arena and Memorial Stadium at Seattle Center.

Prior to that Marshall served as the Seattle’s Planning Director from 2009 through 2014, where he oversaw plans for South Lake Union’s expansion, along with community plans for the Rainier Valley, Capitol Hill, the University District and Northgate. He holds a Master’s Degree in City and Regional Planning from the University of California, Berkeley, and lives with his wife and two children in West Seattle.

Greg Briggs

Greg Briggs grew up the son of a civil engineer and was exposed to engineering as an early teen working at his dad’s firm. Fascinated with the design of buildings led him to get his master’s degree in Structures from North Carolina State after receiving his BSCE from Oklahoma State. As a structural engineering consultant for over 30 years primarily in Seattle, he has had the opportunity to work on many significant projects and with several great architects in Seattle and across the globe. His project types have varied from museums, performing arts, institutional and historic renovations as well as many others. He recently served as the principal engineer-of-record on the landmark Climate Pledge Arena renovation project.

The Islandwood project on Bainbridge Island was pivotal early in his career in understanding sustainable design and the role of the structural engineer. This inspired him to become a founding member of the Structural Engineering Institute’s Sustainability Committee and authoring articles and co-authoring a book, as well as lecturing on the topic.

Community Service Award

Richard Browning AIA

Rick Browning is a fourth generation Floridian who ran far away from home and then spent his career as an architect and activist trying to protect the Pacific NW from the environmental degradation he had witnessed in the Sunshine State.

With his own Portland based firm he worked on projects such as the retrofit of all seven non-freeway Willamette River bridges for better bike, pedestrian and disabled user access. He chaired the committee which oversaw Portland’s first Bicycle Masterplan and served on myriad other committees and task forces.

In Seattle, Rick chaired the Chapter’s Urban Design Forum and more recently the Chapter’s Transportation Task Force. He also served on both the Chapter’s governing Board and Public Policy Board. Pro bono work has included spearheading a task force to create an Urban Design Element for the City’s Comp Plan and many individual battles to equitably repurpose public right-of-way.

Allied Organization Award

Housing Development Consortium

Founded in 1988 by 10 Seattle-area nonprofit housing providers, HDC’s membership has grown over the last 32 years to encompass all the major affordable housing developers, financial institutions, architects, general contractors, attorneys, accountants, service providers, public housing authorities, and government agencies, working in the affordable housing space in King County, Washington. United around our shared vision – “That all people live with dignity in safe, healthy, and affordable homes within communities of opportunity” – our membership-based network collaborates effectively to provide a wide range of stable and affordable housing opportunities for our region’s low income and most vulnerable residents. Each night, more than 125,000 individuals go home to more than 45,000 affordable homes created or preserved by HDC members. By bringing together organizations, government agencies, and businesses around shared values, we are better positioned to support the sector’s ability to make a positive, community-wide impact. Guided by our members and volunteer Board of Directors, we weave a powerful network of strategic alliances across sectors and industries to respond to diverse community needs and provide capacity-building, networking, and advocacy opportunities all geared toward creating a sector that is more equitable, productive, efficient, and effective as good stewards of public resources.

Emerging Professionals Travel Scholarship

Queena Yi Assoc. AIA

Queena Yi, Assoc. AIA, LEED AP BD+C, is an architectural designer with over six years of experience and is anticipating licensure this year. Her previous work experience at Katerra and Perkins + Will, where she managed senior housing projects and a WeWork | WeLive project, provided the foundation for this Travel Scholarship proposal. Previous to pursuing a career in architecture, Queena worked for over a decade at various startup tech companies in San Francisco and Seattle. She received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology from the University of California at San Diego and an M.Arch from the University of Washington. During her studies at the UW, Queena received a Scan Design Fellowship to study at the Royal Danish Academy in Copenhagen for one year. Her time in Copenhagen provided the groundwork for her thesis project, Memento Mori | A Non-Sectarian Memorial Site in Seattle, which was later selected for the AIA 2015 Emerging Professionals Exhibit. Queena has been active in the design community by participating in the UW PAC, Design in Public, and Seattle Architecture Foundation at various capacities.

View the 2020 Travel Scholarship announcement for more information about Queena’s proposal.

REGIONAL & NATIONAL HONORS

2019 Regional Emerging Firm Award

Best Practice

Best Practice is a design-intensive firm located in Seattle, WA. Despite our size (we are 8) and relatively young age as an office (founded in 2011), we relish tackling a diverse range of work, from small boutiques or residences to large scale offices & cultural projects. We believe that meaningful design is a balance between inspiration and the real-life needs of each project. From there, intuitive and experiential design often emerges. Our strength lies in our ability to creatively collaborate – with each other, with our fabricators, with our clients, all to provide innovative solutions that explore the precarious balance between function, content and beauty.

We are very fortunate to have a close working relationship with many local designers, artists, scientists and engineers… seeking like-minded people to partner with on project components is one of the best parts of working in a city like Seattle. These talented individuals lend their craft and insight to our projects, helping us realize a vision that provides a measure of unique, locally crafted feeling in all of our works. While we like to dream big with our work, we are no strangers to the realities of budget & time, and affirm that organization, planning and proper procedures help produce successful projects.

2019 Regional Firm Awards

Weinstein A+U

Weinstein A+U is a 25-person generalist architectural firm located in Seattle Washington. Founded by Ed Weinstein in 1977, the firm provides comprehensive design services on a broad array of building types including education, social service, institutional, public sector, public safety, commercial, mixed-use, multi-family residential, single family residential, adaptive re-use, and urban design. By integrating an urban design perspective, the firm is especially effective in the design of complex urban projects.

Our work is rational, intelligible, and straightforward. We combine rigorous site and program analysis with a disciplined design process. We endeavor to design buildings that fit their circumstances, earn broad community support, are constructed efficiently and cost effectively, and serve as exemplars for design excellence.

We are especially proud that the recognition for design excellence that we have received for such diverse projects testifies to the significance of our fundamental mission: to design thoughtful buildings that reflect the values of the communities we serve.

2020 Young Architect Award

JoAnn Hindmarsh Wilcox AIA

2020 Honorary AIA

Lisa Richmond Hon. AIA

2020 Associates Award

Stacey Crumbaker Assoc. AIA

View the 2020 National Awards announcement for more information.

2020 AIA College of Fellows

Chris Eseman FAIA
Dave Goldberg FAIA
Christopher Meek FAIA IES

View the 2020 Fellows announcement for more information.

THANK YOU TO OUR 2020 PRESIDENT’S DINNER SPONSOR

Posted in For the Profession

Advocacy Update – August 2020

FEDERAL NEWS

AIA National Policy Platform
AIA National has released a federal policy platform in advance of this year’s presidential elections. General categories include:

A future economy
Climate action
Healthy and equitable communities

STATE NEWS

Clean Energy Transformation Act
The Washington Department of Commerce has released its second set of draft rules for the state’s Clean Energy Transformation Act (CETA) (SB 5116, 2019), which commits Washington to an electricity supply free of greenhouse gas emissions by 2045. Written comments from the public are due by Sept. 14. More info about CETA and the draft is available here. AIA Washington Council supported this legislation in 2019 but has not taken an active role in the rulemaking as it does not directly relate to AIA’s built environment-related climate priorities.

Clean Building Performance Standards
Washington’s Clean Buildings Act (HB 1257, 2019) requires the Department of Commerce to develop a state energy performance standard for commercial buildings greater than 50,000 square feet. After a year of stakeholder input, the proposed rules are expected to be published on Sept. 2. Additional input will be solicited as part of a public hearing process, with the final rules established by Nov. 1. AIA|WA will hold a webinar to explain the new rules in November. More info on the state’s Clean Buildings program here.

LOCAL NEWS

Bike Parking Changes in SDCI Omnibus Bill
The Seattle City Council’s Land Use & Neighborhoods Committee approved omnibus legislation related to SDCI that included changes to bike parking requirements for affordable housing. These changes reflect significant lobbying by Seattle’s bike lobby and affordable housing advocates. Subject to approval by full Council, the changes would:

Restore short-term bike parking requirements for affordable housing.
Limit the exemption from bike parking requirements for affordable housing to only projects serving 30 percent AMI and below (permanent supportive housing).
Remove the proposed bike parking exemption for 30-60 percent AMI affordable housing projects.
Allow the SDCI Director to waive bike parking requirements for 30-60 percent AMI affordable housing projects if:
- The waiver would allow more affordable units to be produced.
- Reasonable alternatives for bike storage are provided; authorizes SDCI and SDOT to promulgate a joint Director’s Rule to define reasonable alternatives.
Clarify that the SDCI Director can waive bike parking for non-profit senior housing or housing for persons with disabilities, regardless of whether it is in a congregate residence.
Limit the number of stair steps to access bicycle parking, whether interior or exterior, to five.

SDCI Rolls Out Virtual Design Review Board Meetings
SDCI has begun a gradual rollout of virtual Design Review Board meetings for Early Design Guidance meetings only and plans to reassess the process for all projects in September. More info is available here.

SDCI Virtual Inspections Survey
SDCI is seeking users of its virtual inspection process to complete a brief survey on their experience. SDCI is also seeking users to participate as stakeholders on its Virtual Inspections Project team. More info here.

2018 Code Updates
REMINDER: the 2018 Seattle Construction Code adoption is delayed until Feb. 1, 2021 to match the state’s adoption schedule. Seattle is holding public meetings to discuss the Seattle Energy Code amendments, providing local stakeholders with an opportunity to further improve the amended language. Contact Kirsten if you would like to attend any of the following sessions:

Thursday, August 27, 9:30 AM – 12:00: General, Envelope, Lighting & Electrical
Thursday, September 10, 9:30 AM – 12:00: C406 Efficiency Credits & C407 Modeling
Thursday, September 17, 9:30 AM – 12:00: Mechanical & water heating
Thursday, September 24, 9:30 AM – 12:00: As required for unresolved issues

Written comments may also be sent to Duane Jonlin FAIA.

Bellevue Reduces Parking Rules for Affordable Housing Near Transit
The Bellevue City Council approved of Ordinance 6513, imposing reduced parking standards for affordable housing developments near transit. AIA Seattle has supported removing or eliminating parking requirements in areas served by frequent transit to boost affordable and other housing in areas where residents are less likely to own cars.

Portland’s Residential Infill Project Passes
Portland passed comprehensive zoning reform on Aug. 11, allowing four homes to be built on any residential lot in the city and up to six homes per lot if at least half the homes are affordable to low-income residents. The reforms, called the Residential Infill Project, also remove parking mandates from 75 percent of the city’s residential land and increase allowable lot coverage for buildings over one unit – duplexes will be allowed to three-fifths the square footage of their lot and triplexes and fourplexes up to 0.7.

AIA Seattle’s Housing Task Force and its Public Policy Board are working to strengthen AIA’s efforts to promote flexibility in single family zones. The Housing Task Force has established a Slack channel to engage AIA members in conversation around re-imaging single family zoning. Contact Kirsten if you are interested in participating in the Housing Task Force or the Slack channel.

OPPORTUNITIES

ADU Showcase
AIA’s ADU Showcase, the online version of our cancelled ADU Tour, is accepting applications. Projects must be built, designed by an AIA member, and located in one of AIA Seattle’s operating counties. Firms/sole practitioners are limited to one entry each. More info is available here.

EVENTS

Seattle Design Festival: It’s About Time We House Everyone
Join AIA’s Housing Task Force for an interactive exploration of missing middle housing (and more) in Seattle or your city. Check out our examples and add your own housing finds. Join the conversation as we strive for a more equitable, livable, and sustainable city for all. Website here. Check out all Seattle Design Festival events here.

AIA Seattle’s Housing Task Force continues to meet monthly on the second Tuesday at noon via Zoom. For info on how to access the meeting, contact Kirsten.
AIA Seattle’s Transportation Task Force is meeting on an ad hoc basis via Zoom. To be added to the Task Force’s email list, contact Kirsten.

Embodied Carbon 101 (Boston Society of Architects): Process + firm culture
Monday, August 24 from 12-1 pm PDT. With moderator Barbra Batshalom (Sustainable Performance Institute) and speakers Colin Booth (Placetailor), Steven Burke (Consigli), Amy Hattan (Thornton Tomasetti), Andrea Love (Payette), and Kimberly Seigel (Perkins+Will). Register here. See the BSA’s embodied carbon series recorded events here.

GoGreen Virtual Conference Seattle
Sept. 8-9. More info.

Zero Carbon Conference: Scaling our Decarbonized Future – International Living Future Institute
Online Oct. 7-8 More info.

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

Posted in Advocacy, Public Policy Board

2020 Honor Awards

AIA Seattle Honor Awards for Washington Architecture 3x2

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 the design community to share and celebrate its achievements, both among practitioners and with the community-at-large. Award winners were revealed for the first time at the live event. This year was AIA Seattle’s 70th Annual Honor Awards, with the first-ever virtual program and accompanying publication.

CATALOGUE

The 2020 Honor Awards for Washington Architecture left us with a lot to celebrate! We had a blast on the red carpet for our first-ever virtual live event celebrating 20 award winners and our greater design community.

Now, we are thrilled to share the first-ever AIA Seattle Honor Awards Catalogue!

In this publication, you will find…

– A letter from fashionable co-hosts and Honor Awards Committee Co-chairs Kevin Snook and Ming-Lee Yuan;

– The full list of submitted projects and firm names for this year’s awards;

– A closer look at the Energy in Design Award and the 17 qualifying projects;

– Hallmark spreads for each awarded project, including juror quotes for the winners of Award of Honor, Energy in Design, and Award of Merit;

– Features from our 2020 Honor Awards sponsors highlighting their relationship to the Honor Awards and more!

View the full list of submitted projects here:

JURY CONSIDERATIONS

Every year, jurors praise submissions that reveal the story behind the marketing images. What concepts and considerations drove the design? What were the challenges and opportunities along the way? How did the design team arrive at the solution? Submitters are encouraged to use the project narrative, captions, and inclusion of process work as opportunities to tell a design story.

In addition to the jury’s own criteria, the AIA Seattle community has identified four considerations for the submission review process:

Inspiration | How does the project manifest its stated intent–in form and function–revealing innovation in both thought and practice?
Problem-solving | How does the project creatively address challenges inherent in its site, budget, program, materials, collaboration, and context? What are the organizing principles informing design?
Environmental Sensitivity | How does the project exhibit serious intent to minimize negative environmental impact and enhance its relationship to the environment?
Social Impact | How does the project enhance the community in which it is situated? How does it help promote a vibrant and equitable community?

Additionally, the newly introduced Common App offers BUILT project submitters Ten Measures for Design Excellence to consider in telling the project story.

MEET THE JURY

Marsha Maytum, FAIA, LEED AP | Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects | San Francisco

Marsha Maytum FAIA, LEED AP, is a founding Principal at Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects (LMS) in San Francisco, winner of the 2017 National AIA Architecture Firm Award. Marsha has focused her career on community, cultural, and socially-responsible projects that promote sustainable design, including the creation of new buildings, rehabilitation of historic buildings, and adaptive reuse of existing structures. LMS has received over 175 regional, national and international design awards, including ten AIA COTE Top Ten projects. Marsha is a frequently invited juror and critic and has lectured nationally on the topics of sustainable design and adaptive reuse. She is a member of the National AIA Committee on the Environment Advisory Group, and served as its 2019 Chair. Marsha has been a Visiting Professor at the University of Oregon, the University of California, Berkeley and California College of the Arts.

Pascale Sablan, AIA, NOMA, LEED AP | S9ARCHITECTURE | Beyond the Built Environment, LLC | New York

With over 13 years of experience, Pascale Sablan has been on the team for a variety of mixed-use, commercial, cultural & residential projects in the U.S. and globally. Currently a Senior Associate at S9ARCHITECTURE in New York. Pascale is the 315th living African-American female registered architect in the U.S. She is an activist architect who works to advance architecture for the betterment of society, bring visibility and voice to the issues concerning women and diverse designers. She founded the Beyond the Built Environment organization positioned to uniquely address the inequitable disparities in architecture. She was awarded the 2018 Pratt Alumni Achievement Award, BD+C 40 Under 40; featured on the cover of the 09/2017 issue. Pascale is a 2018 AIA National Young Architects Award Recipient. Pascale has given lectures at Colleges and Universities nationally; cultural institutions such as the United Nations and the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Tatiana Bilbao | Tatiana Bilbao ESTUDIO | Mexico City

Tatiana Bilbao began her eponymous studio in 2004 with the aim of integrating social values, collaboration and sensitive design approaches to architectural work. Prior to founding her firm, Bilbao was an Advisor in the Ministry of Development and Housing of the Government of the Federal District of Mexico City, during this period she was part of the General Development Directorate of the Advisory Council for Urban Development in the City. The work of the office intersects with research allowing to design for diverse circumstances and in reconstruction or crisis scenarios. Bilbao holds a recurring teaching position at Yale University School of Architecture and has taught at Harvard University GSD, AA Association in London, Columbia University GSAPP, Rice University, University of Andrés Bello in Chile, and Peter Behrens School of Arts at HS Dusseldorf in Germany. Her work has been published in The New York Times, A + U, Domus, among others. Bilbao has been recognized with the Kunstpreis Berlin in 2012, was named in 2010 as an Emerging Voice by the Architecture League of New York, the Global Award for Sustainable Architecture Prize by the LOCUS Foundation in 2014, as well as the Impact Award 2017 Honorees for ArchitzierA + Awards, Tau Sigma Delta Gold Medal of 2020 and the Marcus Prize Award 2019.

YOUNG VOICES SELECTION

Initiated in 2018, the Young Voices Selection (YVS) program aims to elevate and engage the voices of young designers through direct participation and representation in AIA Seattle’s Honor Awards for Washington Architecture. Three young designers, nominated by firm leaders within AIA Seattle’s Firm Network and selected by the Honor Awards Committee, will be given the opportunity to review, deliberate, and select ONE Built project submission. This chosen project, the “Young Voices Selection,” will be recognized at the (virtual) live event and selected by this year’s Young Voices…

Higinio Turrubiates | Integrus Architecture
Marquesa Figueroa | SRG Partnership
Molly Evans | Olson Kundig

QUESTIONS?

Questions about the (Virtual) Live Event? Contact AIA Seattle Program & Event Coordinator, Zoe Guckenheimer.

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

SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR 2020 HONOR AWARDS SPONSORS

Posted in For the Profession, Honor Awards, Uncategorized

2020 Northwest Washington Design Awards

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: Who has the Power to be Inclusive? by Karen Braitmayer FAIA, founder of Studio Pacifica, and world-renowned accessibility expert and 2019 Whitney M Young, Jr. Award winner.

Join us for this timely and essential conversation about equity in design! It is a rare opportunity to hear Karen’s perspective on the issues we deal with every day.

Karen will be sharing with us her view on who has the power to be inclusive in Architecture. Is it the press, who can influence the vision of what is beautiful design? Is it the architecture schools, who help create that pipeline to the profession? Is it the profession as an agent of change or the architect themselves as the ultimate control of who is included in the design process, the team, and the creator of the design? Please join us as we explore these topics as well as Karen’s insight on accessibility within the profession.

Don’t miss it!

HOW TO SUBMIT

Call for Submissions opens: August 3, 2020
Submission Deadline: DEADLINE EXTENDED to September 8, 2020 at 5pm PDT

We invite you to submit to AIA Northwest Washington’s 2020 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 8 at 5:00pm PDT. Finalize and complete payment before this deadline.

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.)

SUBMISSIONS CLOSED

**At the discretion of the AIA NWW Design Awards Committee, late submissions may be accepted after 5:00pm PDT on September 3, and a late submission fee will be applied. No fees will be refunded for submissions that are disqualified or incomplete.

VIRTUAL EVENT ON OCTOBER 15

QUESTIONS?

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

Questions about attending the Virtual Event? Contact AIA Seattle Member Engagement Manager, Connor Descheemaker.

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

SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR 2020 HONOR AWARDS SPONSORS

Posted in Uncategorized

AIA Seattle Racial Justice Commitments

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 — so you may see what we are doing, and tell us where we should be moving in the future.

In 2021 and 2022, in collaboration with NOMA NW and Planning in Color, AIA Seattle delivered Culture Change in Practice: A Leadership Cohort, a four-part, peer-based learning program 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. This program was an outgrowth of the Racial Justice Working Group, formed in the wake of the June 2020 town hall, organized horizontally to equip our firm owners and decision-makers with the tools to build a more equitable profession. The program will continue in 2023.

In October 2020, AIA Seattle established the JE:DI Council, a steering committee focused on matters of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion with emphasis on identities including, but not limited to, race, ethnicity, disability status, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, and class. JE:DI Council supports the Board of Directors, staff, task forces, steering committees, and member committees as they align professional knowledge with AIA Seattle’s AIA Seattle’s Mission + Vision + Values and the industry’s evolving needs. They’ve identified licensure and labor exploitation as their priorities for 2023!

In September 2020, AIA Seattle endorsed the NOMA NW Call-to-Action, and became a Platinum-level sponsor of the chapter. NOMA NW is the local chapter of the National Organization of Minority Architects, and “is an organization that advocates for greater cultural diversity and equity within the design industry.” AIA Seattle seeks to expand the reach of their mission and reach through our partnership, while working internally to meet the commitments laid out in the two-year Call-to-Action document and push our members to do the same.

In support of our stated equity, diversity, and inclusion goals, AIA Seattle now has a policy that women, non-binary people, or trans people and people of color will be represented in all continuing education programs (including all panel discussions when more than two speakers are invited). This month, the Board of Directors approved a policy that AIA Seattle will no longer host or promote CE programs where the speakers are all cis-men or all white.

In June 2020, AIA Seattle began a partnership with UW College of the Built Environment, Planning in Color, and NOMA Northwest, to create action-oriented group conversations toward racial justice. The first session, held June 30, 2020, focused on establishing the current state of the architecture profession around racial equity, and included a series of lightning talks and group discussions to establish topics for future bimonthly group discussions in the year ahead. Building off of that, this group designed a 4-part peer-based learning program, Culture Change in Practice, designed to 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.

In June 2020, AIA Seattle compiled a collective list of Racial Justice Resources centered on direct action, education, engagement, and uplifting Black-led organizations and efforts with the through-line of design, architecture, and space. This list has continued to get updated and we invite our members and community to contribute to the collective dialogue, learning, and action.

Our Chapter Joins American Institute of Architects in Condemning Anti-Asian Violence and Hate. The AIA issued this statement on March 17, 2021. These violent attacks and hateful mindsets are not new, but the current surge is disturbing. We encourage our members to reach out to colleagues and contacts who may be hurting. Be there to listen and find ways to support them. We’ve added a place to report incidents of violence, harassment, discrimination as well as a site for additional reading, resources, statistics, and ways to support the Asian community to our Racial Justice Resources list.

We acknowledge that we operate on unceded lands of various nations of Coast Salish peoples, most locally the federally-unacknowledged Duwamish, who still live and produce on this land. As an organization focused on creating and sustaining a better built environment, and a culture of design that fosters equitable, resilient, and thriving communities, we recognize that we are guests on this land, and are seeking to become better stewards. Through partnerships and programs, we honor our ongoing connection to these communities, past, present, and future.

In 2019, AIA Seattle piloted the Intercultural Leadership Program (ILP) to support equity, diversity, and inclusion goals, with the specific vision that the AEC professions will have a culture of attracting, retaining, and promoting women, non-binary people, and people of color. As a part of the intensive ILP trainings, our staff, the board, and a cohort of 30 members completed the Intercultural Development Index (IDI) assessment which illuminated our organizational tendency to minimize cultural differences. In dominant culture groups, minimization is primarily motivated by comfort, and the desire to focus on common ground. While well-intentioned, we know the impact of this can be harmful. ‘This is how we do things here’ rather than getting curious and excited about different ways of doing. Since the ILP program, AIA Seattle has been focused on cultural self-awareness, noticing and naming differences that make a difference, and understanding power dynamics. As we work to move toward the mindsets of acceptance and adaptation, we are growing our capacity to support a more just, equitable, diverse, and inclusive profession.

In 2019, AIA Seattle offered the monthly Conversations Towards a More Equitable Practice series for small-group discussions of cultural competency. These sessions were led by our Women in Design and Diversity Roundtable committees, based on the Guides to Equitable Practice created by the University of Minnesota and AIA.

AIA Seattle facilitates the Diversity Roundtable committee, begun in 1986. This group hosts year-round a variety of racial justice-centric programming, including the Architects in Schools program and the annual Solstice event, focused on celebrating diversity in the profession.

AIA Seattle’s Public Policy Board is critically reevaluating the policy issues AIA works on with an intentional racial justice and social justice lens. We are adding a race and social justice section to all of our policy position statements to ensure we are answering important questions related to who is telling the story, who makes the decisions, who benefits and how, and how will this build or shift power.

As we establish new protocols, goals, and activities, we will add them to the top of this list. Have suggestions? Please contact us at info@aiaseattle.temp312.kinsta.cloud or raise a resolution for our Public Policy Board or Board of Directors to consider via one of our member committees.

Posted in Uncategorized