Committee on the Environment

Greetings
I am curious if any one has information on why the AIA has dropped the requirement that AIA members need to complete Sustainable Design (SD) continuing education courses in order to retain membership.  I'm not sure how long the SD requirement has been in place (5+ years?), but it has had a pretty big impact on both what's being taught and what's being learned in the realm of architectural continuing education.  Since it was only one of two "topic area" requirements from the Institute (the other being Health, Safety, Welfare - HSW), it was also a pretty important and bold step that the AIA took when it implemented the requirement in the first place - one that received a lot of attention and publicity.  Un-taking the step and removing the requirement seems to have been far more muted...unless I missed something. 

I would think that an action this consequential would have generated a good deal more debate and discussion, before - and now after - it took place.  Again, I may be missing something, but I haven't seen much of any discussion or debate.  Was there a major announcement to the membership that this was going to take place?  That it had taken place?  Were reasons give as to why the Board took this step?   

Many thanks for any input that can be provided.

Deane Evans

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Deane Evans FAIA
Execuitve Director
Center for Building Knowledge, New Jersey Institute of Technology
Newark NJ
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Deane

I was on the National AIA Board when the SD requirement was presented and we voted to implement it as a way to reinforce the fact that a member of the AIA has the on-going knowledge and credentials to do sustainable design. Unfortunately, the motion and vote were not a permanent requirement in that it was intended to last only five years as I recall. I believe the National Board did extend it for an additional year or two but that period came to an end in December of 2012. We would need a current Board member to weigh in on the discussion that did or did not take place regarding further extension or simply allowing the requirement to sunset.

Like you, I think the SD requirement was a very good thing. It helped members who were actively engaged in sustainable and green building design the chance to readily find a lot of good and current information. And it helped nudge those who were slow to come to the table to get up to speed on at least the basics of an important part of any architects practice. And it gave a strong message of the continued importance of the topic not only to architects but to all of the people who prepare and present continuing education courses and knew that SD courses were sought after.

For anyone reading this, there certainly is the mechanism to have the SD requirement re-instated if there is the will. We are all represented by Regional Directors and officers on the AIA National Board. If you don't know who yours is, then find out from your local or state chapter. Then talk, email, phone, or otherwise have a conversation with them about sponsoring a motion to bring it back. Working through COTE would also be an effective means to address the entire Board. If there is no will to pursue this on the National Board, then a resolution can be introduced (it would have to be written and done soon) at the AIA National Convention in Denver in June. COTE working along with other committees could certainly sponsor it.

All of the mechanisms and requirements are still well known, the AIA staff are still quite familiar with the process and procedures, and course providers are still quite interested in providing SD learning units. If we would like this to be restored, then the time to act is now.

Peter

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Peter Arsenault FAIA, LEED-AP
Peter J. Arsenault, Architect
Greensboro NC
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Peter - Thanks for your response to this and thanks to Deane for bringing it up.  I personally wasn't aware of the SD sunset until I read Deane's post.  I, too, am dissappointed by the termination of the SD CEU and would like to see it reinstated.

I chair AIA Charlotte COTE and have been part of the AIA+2030 educational series development committee for our AIAC members over the past two years which has been successful.  The SD CEU is a part of this draw and, in the end, Sustainability benefits from it.

The construction market has turned to SD CEU opportunities to engage our profession at more meaningful levels and without that draw, hook, interest (whatever you call it), we will lose a portion of the green design momentum that we've gained over the years.  AIA entered into the SD world with CEU requirements much later than I had expected and have now exited much, much too early.  The success of the AIA+2030 series is proof of that as it is now reaching across the country and, at least, needs the administrative support of AIA.

The other reason that SD CEU needs to be maintained is that SD is progressing through market tiers and folks like Bank of America, Duke University, etc were some of the first tier markets to engage in it.  The next market tiers, like housing authorities, new independent developers, small retail chains, metro-adjacent city/county facilitiy departments, are now engaging in the SD momentum.  They are the body of the iceberg, not the tip.

With this secondary/tertiary tier market interest in SD there will be greater opportunity for our "body of the iceberg" architectural profession, not just the bigs.  AIA needs to support this as it has even greater SD beneifit potential than the initial first wave.

I'm going to push for reinstatement from my end so maybe if we meet in the middle it will happen.  Email me directly at jim.kirby@greenthinc.com and let's keep the discussion moving forward.

Be green.
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Jim Kirby AIA
Charlotte NC
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Original Message:
Sent: 02-21-2013 09:40
From: Peter Arsenault
Subject: SD Education Credit

Deane

I was on the National AIA Board when the SD requirement was presented and we voted to implement it as a way to reinforce the fact that a member of the AIA has the on-going knowledge and credentials to do sustainable design. Unfortunately, the motion and vote were not a permanent requirement in that it was intended to last only five years as I recall. I believe the National Board did extend it for an additional year or two but that period came to an end in December of 2012. We would need a current Board member to weigh in on the discussion that did or did not take place regarding further extension or simply allowing the requirement to sunset.

Like you, I think the SD requirement was a very good thing. It helped members who were actively engaged in sustainable and green building design the chance to readily find a lot of good and current information. And it helped nudge those who were slow to come to the table to get up to speed on at least the basics of an important part of any architects practice. And it gave a strong message of the continued importance of the topic not only to architects but to all of the people who prepare and present continuing education courses and knew that SD courses were sought after.

For anyone reading this, there certainly is the mechanism to have the SD requirement re-instated if there is the will. We are all represented by Regional Directors and officers on the AIA National Board. If you don't know who yours is, then find out from your local or state chapter. Then talk, email, phone, or otherwise have a conversation with them about sponsoring a motion to bring it back. Working through COTE would also be an effective means to address the entire Board. If there is no will to pursue this on the National Board, then a resolution can be introduced (it would have to be written and done soon) at the AIA National Convention in Denver in June. COTE working along with other committees could certainly sponsor it.

All of the mechanisms and requirements are still well known, the AIA staff are still quite familiar with the process and procedures, and course providers are still quite interested in providing SD learning units. If we would like this to be restored, then the time to act is now.

Peter

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Peter Arsenault FAIA, LEED-AP
Peter J. Arsenault, Architect
Greensboro NC
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Deane,

Here's the announcement that we made last year in numerous publications. 

 

*AIA Board Decision Mainstreams Sustainable Design Education*

At December's Annual Meeting of the AIA Board of Directors, the Sustainable
Design (SD) Continuing Education Credit Requirement was terminated.
Recognizing that sustainable design practices have become a mainstream
design intention in the architectural community, the Board of Directors
voted to allow the sustainable design education requirement to sunset at
the end of calendar year 2012.

AIA members will no longer need to complete the sustainable design
requirement to fulfill their AIA continuing education*. For 2013, AIA
members are required to satisfy a minimum of 18 LUs per year. Of this
total, 12 must meet the Health, Safety, and Welfare (HSW) criteria.*

Sustainable Design courses will now fall under the LU/HSW credit
designation.* *

AIA architect members need to be well informed about and have access to
up-to-date sustainable design techniques and business practices so they can
best serve their clients and remain on the forefront of the global market
transformation.

From advocacy to the latest practice resources, there has never been a
better time for AIA members to engage in AIA sustainability programs.

There was also an article in the January 25 issue of AIArchitect about SD.

I can be reached at 202-626-7459 if you'd like to discuss this further.

Alla


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Alla Orlova
Director, Continuing Education
The American Institute of Architects
Washington DC
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As a registered architect for more than 30 years I find it offensive that we are required to amass points in any specific area.  Depending on your practice, your education base, your interests and the requirements of your client base, one should be allowed to pursue continuing education in areas that reflect and strengthen one's path.

I get no credit for all the time I spend learning about new medical technologies and I get an hour HSW for sitting through a thinly veiled ceiling vendor's sales pitch at lunch.  Only one of the two helps me serve my clients better.

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William Heun AIA
Matthei & Colin Associates
Chicago IL
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I've had that question myself.  The AIA statement includes that "Recognizing that sustainable design practices have become a mainstream design intention in the architectural community, the Board of Directors has voted to allow the sustainable design education requirement to sunset at the end of calendar year 2012."

One could argue that HSW practices are "mainstream" as well and unnecessary to be singled out.  Personally, I feel that the SD requirement sends a message in itself - not only to architects required to take the CEUs, but also to the providers that such CEUs are valuable to include in their curriculum.  That the AIA required those hours increased the offerings out there and helped those that also required CEUs to maintain their LEED credentials.
.  
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Thomas Bank AIA
Owner/Architect
Simply Stated Architecture, P.C.
Lemoyne PA
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As sustainable construction becomes more mainstream, CES presentations have been striving to be "Green". Claims to provide an SD program had become like the greenwashing of a few years back, often all flash and no substance.  If the SD designation had been limited to substantive sustainability presentations, not just "we are green" inferences, it would have been worth retaining.  Unfortunately the SD program designation is similar to CSI's CDR Quality Review designation.  Great ideas that, for lack of effective QC, deliver little value.   

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Dave Ringer AIA CCS
Lambertville NJ
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I agree and I am also very curious why the step backwords.  I am the SW Iowa Section AIA President and a sustainabililty coordinator with the US Army Corps of Engineers and the emphasis and mandate on all Federal projects is sustainability and energy reduction.  This is a huge part of the building industry.  I feel it is very important that architects and their engineers be engaged in continuing education that covers sustainability in order to be qualified to do the work.  This requirement has also help promote sustainablity related education that has been provided by vendors.  The industry is rapidly changing in this area and I do not  think the AIA should relinquish all interest in this area to the USGBC.  This change was done with very little notice or discussion.  I really would like to see the requirement reinstated.
BAN    


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Brian Nohr AIA
District Sustainability Coordinator
US Army Corps of Engineers
Omaha NE
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The best information i have found and that might answer your question would be at this link:

 http://www.aia.org/education/ces/AIAB089084

In essence it talks about how sustainable design has become an integrated element to architecture practice. "Recognizing that sustainable design practices have become a mainstream design intention in the architectural community"

I did not hear a major announcement but found out through a continuing education email with this title "Sustainable Design Is Dead : AIA Changes The Game" which did a really good job of catching my attention and then investigated further with our state AIA members.


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Roland Mueller AIA
Project Architect
RossTarrant Architects, Inc.
Lexington KY
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I am not certain about this - and I am definitely not in a position to speak for the AIA, but I may be able to shed a little light on this issue.  The AIA has worked very closely with NCARB in the last couple of years in their efforts to standardize the CE requirements across the country.

Anyone who holds multiple licences can attest to the fact that it requires a pretty robust tracking system to ensure that all licenses are up to date, and that the requirements for each jurisdiction are satisfied.  To that end, NCARB undertook a major effort to standardize the requirements among the 54 jurisdictions and make it less cumbersome for registrants to stay current and in good standing with all of their registrations.  The result was the passage of resolution at the 2011 NCARB annual meeting for an annual CE requirement of 12 Continuing Education Hours, all of which must be in the category of Health, Safety and Welfare.  Those credits must be obtained within the calendar year - regardless of the renewal period for the registration.

It takes time for the 54 jurisdictions to adopt model law, once it has been voted on at an Annual Meeting.  Over the course of the last year, several jurisdictions have altered their requirements to conform to the new model law.  Several more have changes in the works. Legislative requirements may prohibit some jurisdictions from being in total alignment with NCARB model law.  As this change was in process with NCARB, the AIA was involved in some of the discussions.  AIA leadership expressed a desire to do what they could to facilitate the change.  I believe that may have factored into the change in the AIA requirements.

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Susan Schaefer Kliman AIA
Principal
Klimatic Architecture
McLean VA/Tucson, AZ
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While standardized CEU requirements constitutes a laudable goal, it is a bad idea to lose the specific term of Sustainable Design in this early period of acceptance by the architectural profession of climate change, and of our obligation to learn how to mitigate rather than aggravate climate change. This is especially true of the older generation of architects like myself!

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Peter Papesch AIA
Co-chair, BSA Sustainability Education Committee
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Original Message:
Sent: 02-22-2013 13:48
From: Susan Schaefer Kliman
Subject: SD Education Credit

I am not certain about this - and I am definitely not in a position to speak for the AIA, but I may be able to shed a little light on this issue.  The AIA has worked very closely with NCARB in the last couple of years in their efforts to standardize the CE requirements across the country.

Anyone who holds multiple licences can attest to the fact that it requires a pretty robust tracking system to ensure that all licenses are up to date, and that the requirements for each jurisdiction are satisfied.  To that end, NCARB undertook a major effort to standardize the requirements among the 54 jurisdictions and make it less cumbersome for registrants to stay current and in good standing with all of their registrations.  The result was the passage of resolution at the 2011 NCARB annual meeting for an annual CE requirement of 12 Continuing Education Hours, all of which must be in the category of Health, Safety and Welfare.  Those credits must be obtained within the calendar year - regardless of the renewal period for the registration.

It takes time for the 54 jurisdictions to adopt model law, once it has been voted on at an Annual Meeting.  Over the course of the last year, several jurisdictions have altered their requirements to conform to the new model law.  Several more have changes in the works. Legislative requirements may prohibit some jurisdictions from being in total alignment with NCARB model law.  As this change was in process with NCARB, the AIA was involved in some of the discussions.  AIA leadership expressed a desire to do what they could to facilitate the change.  I believe that may have factored into the change in the AIA requirements.

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Susan Schaefer Kliman AIA
Principal
Klimatic Architecture
McLean VA/Tucson, AZ
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Susan

That's good news about the NCARB "streamlining" of CE requirements. Technically, the SD designation would not alter anything NCARB has outlined since one of the requirements for the SD is that it is also HSW. Hence 12 HSW credits, SD or otherwise, could still be earned and recognized all around.

Peter
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Peter Arsenault FAIA
Peter J. Arsenault, Architect
Greensboro NC
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Original Message:
Sent: 02-22-2013 13:48
From: Susan Schaefer Kliman
Subject: SD Education Credit

I am not certain about this - and I am definitely not in a position to speak for the AIA, but I may be able to shed a little light on this issue.  The AIA has worked very closely with NCARB in the last couple of years in their efforts to standardize the CE requirements across the country.

Anyone who holds multiple licences can attest to the fact that it requires a pretty robust tracking system to ensure that all licenses are up to date, and that the requirements for each jurisdiction are satisfied.  To that end, NCARB undertook a major effort to standardize the requirements among the 54 jurisdictions and make it less cumbersome for registrants to stay current and in good standing with all of their registrations.  The result was the passage of resolution at the 2011 NCARB annual meeting for an annual CE requirement of 12 Continuing Education Hours, all of which must be in the category of Health, Safety and Welfare.  Those credits must be obtained within the calendar year - regardless of the renewal period for the registration.

It takes time for the 54 jurisdictions to adopt model law, once it has been voted on at an Annual Meeting.  Over the course of the last year, several jurisdictions have altered their requirements to conform to the new model law.  Several more have changes in the works. Legislative requirements may prohibit some jurisdictions from being in total alignment with NCARB model law.  As this change was in process with NCARB, the AIA was involved in some of the discussions.  AIA leadership expressed a desire to do what they could to facilitate the change.  I believe that may have factored into the change in the AIA requirements.

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Susan Schaefer Kliman AIA
Principal
Klimatic Architecture
McLean VA/Tucson, AZ
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Deane:

The Board of Directors did in fact sunset the Sustainable CE requirement, which had an expiration date of December 2012 when it was enacted. In the period during the requirement:

The Board created and later passed a sustainable design provision within the AIA Code of Ethics.

We saw the creation of new AIA Contract Documents and revisions of existing ones to include provisions for sustainable design in the text of the 'industry standard' for contract documents. 

We worked with NAAB to include sustainable design in the accreditation review process.

We worked with and being a catalyst for NCARB to include sustainable design in the ARE.

Embraced and supported Ed Mazria's 2030 Challenge with a complimentary program for 2030 Commitment from firms.

Partnered for the creation and publication of the International Green Construction Code. This partnership continues to update the Code and advocate for its adoption.

With the volunteer support of sustainability and building performance professions among our membership and peer professions, AIA national and the entire component network have focused substantial resources on the creation and archival of sustainable design and building performance content for both face to face and on-line continuing education.



I believe the AIA National Component Boards have a demonstrated a robust commitment to sustainable thinking, evolving from prescription towards ethos. As is mentioned briefly earlier in this thread, we have struggled with the varied interest areas within our broad profession (certification) seeking what amounts to a buffet of compartmentalized continuing education, which is untenable; the immediate challenge before all of us is the quality of our continuing education experience. Additionally, our colleagues at NCARB seek to simplify the varied jurisdictional requirements and move towards a more uniform standard of records-keeping and reciprocity - and we worked very hard to support a more efficient environment for practitioners.

I believe the AIA has broadened its impact in the field, taking a smart and durable stance from an admittedly laggard posture of years past. 

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Jeff Potter FAIA, Hon RAIA 
2012 AIA President
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