Blogs

Letter from the Chair - Jason Larrison, October Newsletter

By Alison Karfeld posted 8 days ago
By Jason Larrison My daughter’s high school recently held a “college spirit week” where they had a theme each day. One day, students were asked to wear an outfit themed to the school they want to attend; she wore a shirt from my alma mater Ball State University (chirp chirp). Another day, students were asked to dress for a profession they might want to join. She asked me what an architect’s outfit looks like; I gave her a common stereotype… black shirt, black pants, black shoes, trendy glasses, a notebook in hand, and a fine tipped pen. I gave her a scale for good measure (dad joke intended). I’ve know for a while that she wants to be an architect. ...

2030 By the Numbers: Reporting Year 2023

By Jesse Walton AIA posted 9 days ago
Dear 2030 community, On behalf of the 2030 Working Group , we want to send a much-appreciated thanks for your firm’s continued participation in the program. This year, our Working Group and staff have been hard at work on two exciting projects that we’re excited to share updates on below: This year’s 2030 By the Numbers report has signs of hope within it, including the number of firms reporting data, the number of projects reporting Embodied Carbon Intensity (ECI), all electric buildings, and renewable energy. But the data also shows there is clearly more to do as predicted Energy use Intensity ( pEUI ) and ...

U.S. Climate Heritage Policy in the International Context

By Teresa VanEpps posted 21 days ago
U.S. Climate Heritage Policy in the International Context Join the ACHP on October 4, 2024, for an in-person and virtual one-day conference, U.S. Climate Heritage in the International Context. Co-convened by ACHP Chair Sara C. Bronin and Georgetown Law Professor J. Peter Byrne, the event is generously co-sponsored by Georgetown University Law Center, Georgetown Climate Center, Cornell Law School, Cornell Center for Social Sciences, and the American Institute of Architects, and will feature leaders who will address domestic and international climate heritage. ( 6 LU/HSW) Speakers will highlight other nations’ efforts to: Re-use existing ...

Letter from the Chair - Jason Larrison, September Newsletter

By Alison Karfeld posted 08-27-2024
By Jason Larrison Like millions of people around the world, I was glued to my television during the Olympics. I look forward to it every two years. I love the feats of human strength and endurance, the sportsmanship shown between competitors, and the collective celebration between nations. I also love the pageantry. The host city brings out their best and rolls out the welcome mat for those attending in person and virtually. Frequently large investments are made in buildings and infrastructure. Sometimes architecture steals the show (I’m still amazed by Beijing’s “Next” and “Water Cube”). But this year, Paris was not focused on highlighting ...

Do you receive COTE News To Your E-mails?

By Alison Karfeld posted 08-25-2024
Both AIA members and non-members can join the Committee on the Environment Knowledge Community to receive COTE news via e-mail. Members should log in to their existing accounts via the AIA national website ; non-members can set theirs up here . Then from the AIA Community Hub Dashboard , click Join a KC or Member Group , and select COTE and any other Knowledge Community or member group. We ask that members not create a duplicate record to complete this process. Our Member Support team can help resolve any login challenges. Please e-mail them at membersupport@aia.org directly for assistance, or call 1-800-242-3837 opt. 2, Monday-Friday, ...

AIA COTE Top Ten for Student Competition 2024 Winners and 2025 Evolution

By Robin Leigh Ziegenbalg Puttock AIA posted 08-23-2024
Exciting times for the AIA/ACSA COTE Top Ten for Students Competition! First, we are thrilled to announce the 2024 winners ! Please join me in congratulating the following students and faculty teams on their successful entries. · Ahupua’a: Ecosystem Intervention + Building Design Students: Andrew Fulmer & Coly Tabberson Faculty: David Franco, Andreea Mihalache & Brandon Pass Institution: Clemson University · Arko Park: Reclaiming the Grounds Student: Israel Zamorano Faculty: Pedro Veloso Institution: University of Arkansas · Alamihi Village Students: Jared Cook & Matthew Ngango ...

AIA Corporate Sponsors COTE News Article: GAF September/October 2024

By Alison Karfeld posted 08-23-2024
The Stanley Center for Peace and Security, Muscatine, Iowa, designed by Neumann Monson Architects. This adaptive reuse project is pursuing Living Certification through the Living Building Challenge. (Image courtesy of GAF) Life Cycle Thinking, Analysis and Product Specific EPDs: Helping Architects and Manufacturers Improve the Built Environment By Alyson Perez, Senior Product Sustainability Specialist, GAF Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) are critical to improving green building solutions. These standardized and third-party-verified documents outline the environmental impacts associated with a building ...

CCA Fee Considerations

By Tyler D. Schaffer AIA posted 08-22-2024
CCA Fee Considerations by Tyler Schaffer, AIA The CCA phase can be labor intensive, especially on large, complex projects. To successfully deliver a project, a significant amount of time and effort may be necessary by the architect to administer the contract for construction. For lump sum contracts, unforeseen issues that arise during the CCA phase can affect the overall profitability of a project. Unfortunately, it may be difficult to secure additional fees from the client being that the CCA phase is at the end of the project and the client’s budget is diminished. To avoid impacts to project profitability, an accurate fee proposal needs to be estimated. ...

Top Potential Construction Contract Administration Disruptors

By Shannon R. Christensen FAIA posted 08-22-2024
dis·rupt·or , /disˈrəptər/ noun: a person or thing that interrupts an event, activity, or process by causing a disturbance. Keep in mind this disturbance can have a positive or negative impact on the architectural design and construction process. Often construction phase services are lamented as stagnant and without large refinements in approach. Recent technology developments and external market influences are shifting how construction is implemented and all parties, including Architects, need to learn how to interact with updated construction processes. Knowing the market is rapidly shifting, the Construction Contract Administration Knowledge ...

September Climate Action Events

By Lisa M. Ferretto AIA posted 08-22-2024
SEPTEMBER Climate Action + Equity Events! A listing of events, webinars, deadlines, etc. that may be of interest to those working for Climate Action and Equity! To return to full monthly list, click here . See also new Calendar format ! __________________________________________ Sep 4, Submission Deadline: Submission deadline - ACSA/AIA Intersections Research Conference Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA) and American Institute of Architects (AIA) - collaborative conference focusing on the convergence of education, research, and practice. The 2025 Conference (Jan 9-11, 2025 Austin Texas) ...

Culture is the Key

By Margaret Ellen Mitchell AIA posted 08-13-2024
The term “culture eats strategy for breakfast,” coined by management consultant Peter Drucker, hits upon an important yet often overlooked aspect of why the AEC industry struggles to implement sustainable and high-performance design at scale. Put simply, Drucker’s theory was that no matter how comprehensive and well thought out a company’s strategy is, it will fail without the support of a corporate culture where people are bought in, feel valued, and are motivated. Corporate culture has less to do with free perks such as snack bars and ping-pong tables and more to do with employees feeling a sense of purpose in their work and seeing leadership living their stated ...

Letter from the Chair -- September/October 2024

By Michelle Amt FAIA posted 08-12-2024
As I write this letter, the 2024 Paris Olympic games are winding down. Never would I have guessed that the world would debate the daily E. Coli levels of the Seine and whether the Olympic cauldron is really a cauldron . Still, it is hard not to be inspired by how Paris has hosted the Olympics —from taking full advantage of pre-existing and temporary facilities, rather than building new; to tackling those tricky Scope 3 emissions by mapping the Games material footprint and developing strategies to reduce, reuse, and return; to taking advantage of hosting the Olympics to improve both the quality of the Seine and the resilience of the city. We ...

Sensory Space: Teaching materials available (from Grail Brager, based on Experiential Design Schemas)

By Kira L. Gould Hon. AIA posted 08-11-2024
Sensory Space: Teaching materials available You might recall that COTE reviewed the book, Experiential Design Schemas (ORO Editions, 2023) by Gail Brager and Mark DeKay; we also hosted a COTE book talk about it. Now, Brager is sharing teaching materials for others (those teaching in schools of architecture or in other venues) to use as they see fit. In Gail’s words: These materials are from a course I developed at UC Berkeley called Sensory Space based that is based primarily, but not exclusively, Experiential Design Schemas, co-authored with Mark DeKay. This course is about how to create rich multisensory experiences in buildings ...

Learning from Ganesh Nayak | In Memorium

By Kira L. Gould Hon. AIA posted 08-11-2024
Learning from Ganesh Nayak By Kira Gould In late July, COTE lost a leader and a friend. At 57, Ganesh Nayak, AIA, suffered a heart attack at home and died. This loss, felt most deeply and acutely by his wife, Sitara, and son, Ishan, as well as other family and close friends, is also felt in many communities that Ganesh touched though his personal and professional lives. I met Ganesh in 2017, through the COTE Network, while he was an active leader of AIA Atlanta’s COTE group, and have have been learning from him every since that time. Professionally, what stood out to me about Ganesh is that he saw the big picture about holistic design – ...

COTE Network Update

By Bunny Tucker AIA posted 08-09-2024
COTE Network Update By Bunny Tucker, AIA, CPHD The COTE Network hosted its third quarterly call of the year on Tuesday August 6, 2024 at 2:00 pm ET. The discussion, titled “Hot Topics” focused on climate-driven work taking place in various Chapters. AIA Monterey Bay COTE co-chairs Libby Barnes and Celina Brown shared their approach to integrating the AIA’s Materials Pledge locally, AIA Philadelphia COTE co-chair Katherine Urbaniak presented her subcommittee’s development of a Zero Waste Event’s Guide and subsequent zero waste events that it informed, and AIA LA COTE members Raschelle Habchi and Hafsa Burt described their role in the development ...

Sneak Peak: AIA Community Hub's New Public Home Page

By Jessica Price AIA posted 08-06-2024
AIA Community Hub will launch on August 14th! Let's take a look at our new public facing home page for both current and future members explore the benefits of AIA Community Hub. Create Connections to Explore your Professional Network Explore Ways to Connect and Engage with the Community Check out Volunteer, Career, and Membership Opportunities at AIA Click to learn more!

Sneak Peak: AIA Community Hub's Modernized Community Experience

By Jessica Price AIA posted 08-06-2024
AIA Community Hub will go live on August 14th! The modernized user interface is designed to increase engagement, knowledge sharing, and interaction between members. Let's take a look at one of our community home pages! Click to learn more!

Sneak Peak: AIA Community Hub's Personalized Member Landing Page

By Jessica Price AIA posted 08-06-2024
AIA Community Hub will go live on August 14th! Let's take a look at our new personalized member landing page for a one-stop summary of all activity that matters to you! Customize the communities and content you want to see in your news feed. Click to learn more!

AIA Community Hub FAQ

By Jessica Price AIA posted 08-06-2024
Why KnowledgeNet is being updated to AIA Community Hub? AIA wants to provide the best community experience to both members, staff, and in some circumstances, public visitors from the built environment. While KnowledgeNet continues to provide a valuable platform for members to communicate, share information, and dive into those areas that matter to them, this updated platform will provide a more personalized user interface. When is AIA transitioning to AIA Community Hub? August 14th. Users may experience periodic maintenance messages on the 14th until the upgrade is complete. Is AIA Community Hub powered by a different vendor than ...

August Climate Action Events

By Lisa M. Ferretto AIA posted 07-26-2024
AUGUST Climate Action + Equity Events! A listing of events, webinars, deadlines, etc. that may be of interest to those working for Climate Action and Equity! To return to the full monthly list, click here . ______ Aug 1, Earth Overshoot Day 2024 Earth Overshoot Day is computed by dividing the planet’s biocapacity (the amount of ecological resources Earth is able to generate that year), by humanity’s Ecological Footprint (humanity’s demand for that year), and multiplying by 365, the number of days in a year. Explore Solutions to #MoveTheDate. Thriving lives within the means of our planet are not out of reach. Plenty of solutions ...