Small Project Design

I would like to hear from our group on Robert Ivy. I was very disappointed when he was chosen as Executive Director. We need a grass roots level discussion to see if he is the right person to lead the AIA.

It is my feeling that he has no clue as to what architects are going through in these tuff economic times, Robert ran architectural record into the ground, helped kill progressive architecture magazine, and is not in touch with the average architect's daily lives. Thoughts?

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Frank B. Scherr, AIA
Mobile AL
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The Executive Director should be either a successful practitioner with positive management experience and a resume beyond reproach or a professional administrator.  It should not be someone from acadamia, a writer or a business manager that has failed in any previous job.  With the number of quality people out there looking for work why would you settle for anything less.

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John Feick AIA
Feick Design Group, Inc.
Sandusky OH
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You would be hard pressed to find anyone on the AIA staff that understands what a working architect is all about. I recently got into a discussion with a staff member about NCARB and why the AIA was letting them have their way. The staffer told me that she thought the AIA and NCARB were doing a fine job. My guess is they all think they are doing a fine job. Too bad they never listen to the membership. ------------------------------------------- Clifton Strickland III AIA Architect Strickland Architects and Associates PC Virginia Beach VA -------------------------------------------
Original Message: Sent: 11-01-2012 09:47 From: Frank Scherr Subject: Robert Ivy I would like to hear from our group on Robert Ivy. I was very disappointed when he was chosen as Executive Director. We need a grass roots level discussion to see if he is the right person to lead the AIA. It is my feeling that he has no clue as to what architects are going through in these tuff economic times, Robert ran architectural record into the ground, helped kill progressive architecture magazine, and is not in touch with the average architect's daily lives. Thoughts? ------------------------------------------- Frank B. Scherr, AIA Mobile AL -------------------------------------------

I STRONGLY DISAGREE.

As a small firm practitioner (two employees) I also sometimes feel that AIA is disconnected from the world in which I practice. But I see Robert Ivy's leadership as a step in the right direction.

Earlier this year, as a board member of AIA Chicago, I attended an intimate lunch sponsored by our Large Firm Round Table, at which Robert Ivy spoke.   He talked about meeting a young practitioner with a small progressive alternative practice and commented that we all might learn something from her.  A large firm principal said something to the effect of 'we don't pay the AIA so that you can tell us we need to change how we practice', apparently feeling that Ivy's comments weren't relevant to his (LARGE) practice.

Unaware that any small firm practitioners were in the room, Ivy replied: 'you need to understand that you are the exception; AIA is a group of small practices, with a few large firms.  The typical AIA firm is in Cedar Rapids and has three architects.'

Trust me, Robert Ivy gets it.

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Scott Rappe AIA, LEED AP
Kuklinski + Rappe Architects
Chicago IL
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R J Reynolds AIA
The Reynolds Group
Haddonfield NJ
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Agreed!

Frank
I hope you find some opportunity to get to know the real Robert Ivy, as I know him to be acutely aware of the challenges faced by architects and our profession.  

I was among those who felt a great sense of relief that our profession was able to recruit Robert Ivy to lead the Institute as I have long admired the clarity, insight and courage expressed in his editorial writings.  Since taking the helm at the AIA national component, he has taken it upon himself to travel widely around the country, meeting and talking with hundreds of individual AIA members, as well as AIA components, allied organizations, and other stakeholders at all levels.  

As but one example of how Mr. Ivy has hit the ground running, he has put his full support behind what may well be the most comprehensive assessment and action plan in the history of the AIA: the Repositioning Initiative. To date, with over 30,000 interviews and survey responses, there is for the first time deep clarity about the common ground among architects - in what we believe about ourselves, what our clients beliefs are, and even the perspective of the general public about architects and architecture.  

As this effort moves into the action planning stage,  it has the promise to lead us to a repositioning of not just the institute, but of architects and architecture itself.  For me, closer alignment with the economic and social realities that many have termed 'the new normal' is at the core of hope for a brighter future for our profession.      
Frankly, I can think of no individual better suited to the role of AIA Executive Director at this time of incredible challenge.

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Michael Malinowski AIA
AIA Director - California Region
Applied Architecture, Inc.
Sacramento CA
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