This message has been cross posted to the following Discussion Forums: Small Project Practitioners and Residential Knowledge Community .
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I would like to wish all a very happy and prosperous 2011!
As a way to get the ball rolling on making a positive contribution to the AIA that will benefit many of its members, I would like to propose that we develop (as a "group project" on this KnowledgeNet) a brochure (for print or pdf format) to distribute to the lay public on the benefits of hiring an architect to design single-family residential projects (new and renovation/addition projects).
I remember a brochure along these lines from around 2004, but I don't see this document anywhere on the AIA web at this point. I have found some individual contributions that would provide a great start to this discussion, including a document posted this month by
Bernard Perkosky in the Residential Knowledge Community resources area. I would like to suggest more members add their thoughts along these lines so that we can somehow put together a finished, polished brochure that addresses the issues within our current economic, societal, technological, and professional context.
If anyone has some existing documents to share, I encourage you to post these along with Bernard's, and invite all to comment, keeping in mind the idea of positive contributions rather than getting too caught up in the all too easy lamentations that we all share about the lack of public understanding, the lack of AIA focus, and the lack of governmental/legislative/economic support that our profession receives.
Thank you all in advance.
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Haden D. Smith AIA
Architect, BIM Consultant and Educator
Haden D. Smith AIA, Architect, LLC
St. Louis, MO
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