Committee on Design

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There seems to be a thread of discussion about what the "appropriate" role for the AIA is in our professional lives.  There also seems to be little agreement.  I propose that this is due to ambiguous leadership of the organization.  Here are some ideas to fuel the discussion.

Appreciation for the thoughtful insightfulness and prompting for discussion.  The Architect's stature in American society remains low, by example, most construction has no Architect's participation.  In some countries, Architects enjoy the status, and incomes, of physicians, attorneys, academicians, scientists, engineers....  As of now, our profession appears prone to dissension rather than collaboration---because every ten years or so, economic recession disintegrates the fraternity.  Collective self-interest requires long-term legislative strategies that institutionalize Architecture in American construction and planning.  Simultaneously, our profession must bolster architectural education and a unique architectural technology, which can withstand economic cycles and ever-changing competition.  Easier said than done---but if only we started thirty years ago....  
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Howard Wong AIA
City & County of San Francisco
San Francisco CA
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Alan Rudy AIA
Alan Michael Rudy & Associates
Oakland CA
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Speaking from a varied practice spanning nearly 50 years I can say with some credibility that the AIA is not the AMA. Or the California Bar for that matter.  It remains representative of small firms with wildly varied interests and concerns. It provides a grudging home base for education, both within and without the profession. It remains politically weak and inept at lobbying. It has generally abdicated any role in defining for the profession and the public just what it is that we do. 

Regarding the public's perception of the importance of architects and architecture, I have always found it interesting that architecture is very high in the public consciousness in Chicago.  Although I don't live there (visit often), friends who do live there remark that people - average, ordinary people - on the street, on buses or the El, in restaurants, can be overheard discussing buildings.  They take pride in the architectural heritage of their city and are fiercely protective of its legacy.  They debate the merits of building proposals as if it matters to them.  Architecture tours on buses, boats and on foot are very popular.  The Art Institute has a permanent gallery dedicated to Architecture.  People in Chicago look up and see.

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Bruce Houghton AIA
Ranon & Partners, Inc. Architects
Tampa FL
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Picking up on the comment on the perception of Architects in Chicago, we were discussing this issue the other day and noted that Chicago appears to be one of the few cities or communities to seem to have a shared, living and evolving vision of itself.  The vision appears (I do not live in Chicago) to incorporate such diverse important components as uban transportation, the lakefront. skyscrapers, parks, etc.  This is in contrast to many Florida communities with a "the developer takes all" attitude.  The Architect will be regarded more positively in a community where he or she is seen as working for the vision rather than one in which design is simply a clamor for attention.  Bottom line, Architects, politicians and business leaders have the tools and the responsibilty to create and bring that vision to their community.


Original Message:
Sent: 03-23-2011 08:37
From: James VanderMolen
Subject: Rethinking the role of the AIA in our professional lives

Regarding the public's perception of the importance of architects and architecture, I have always found it interesting that architecture is very high in the public consciousness in Chicago.  Although I don't live there (visit often), friends who do live there remark that people - average, ordinary people - on the street, on buses or the El, in restaurants, can be overheard discussing buildings.  They take pride in the architectural heritage of their city and are fiercely protective of its legacy.  They debate the merits of building proposals as if it matters to them.  Architecture tours on buses, boats and on foot are very popular.  The Art Institute has a permanent gallery dedicated to Architecture.  People in Chicago look up and see.

My question is: Why?  Why is architecture accorded appropriate recognition and appreciation in Chicago by ordinary citizens? What can other communities learn from Chicago?

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James VanderMolen AIA
President
Elevate Studio
Grand Rapids MI
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Original Message:
Sent: 03-22-2011 14:06
From: Alan Rudy
Subject: Rethinking the role of the AIA in our professional lives



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Alan Rudy AIA
Alan Michael Rudy & Associates
Oakland CA
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Speaking from a varied practice spanning nearly 50 years I can say with some credibility that the AIA is not the AMA. Or the California Bar for that matter.  It remains representative of small firms with wildly varied interests and concerns. It provides a grudging home base for education, both within and without the profession. It remains politically weak and inept at lobbying. It has generally abdicated any role in defining for the profession and the public just what it is that we do. 

For me, the core issue is the importance and relevance of design in the built environment. Today, however, the celebration of a building for its beauty alone is, in our value driven culture, a dead issue.

 

To use a businessman's terminology, aesthetics is the value-added benefit an architect brings to the table. The technical training, the tools, the skill sets, all should lead to a product that embodies this core value. As the only functioning representative of our profession, the AIA is and always has been positioned to promote this core value. It has failed. 

So much for ranting.

If there is good news it shows up in beautiful and functional projects that are being built around the world by creative young architects. The issue that the AIA might consider is the disconnect between public architecture and what I would call everyday architecture. Examples include tract housing, strip shopping centers, luxury gated communities. 

But what can the AIA do?  Out front aggressive celebration of good architecture and criticism of bad architecture would be a start....but out in the real world not in the elite pages of PA or Architect. The deal is that we need to convince the rest of the world that a)wanting a great looking functional building is a good thing and b) architects are really good at providing it. 

Looking over this screed I realize that this should not be news to anyone over 12 years old...maybe, finally, we can get our act together and explain to the rest of the world how great we are.....

Alan Rudy

What I have read in the RIBA report is more complete and analytical than other articles on the subject and I recommend reading it.  Ultimately it says that Architects have shed so many services to others and now design coordination and project leader is next.  What are they there for then? We already acknowledge how poor architects are at business and management (very few MBA's in offices, if any) at marketing and promotion, at financing, at lobbying. We need to catch up in these areas super fast, that is the gist of the article. 
As a true Chicago native, born and bred in the hood, I can vouch that architecture is very important there from the taxi driver onward.  A drive to build and build better and well came out of the ashes of the fire of 1871, the rise of industry and the building talent of the immigrants coming in. Having said that, there is plenty of bad construction in Chicago in the neighborhoods that occurs without the input of an architect just as most construction in the US is done without one.  Tourists typically don't see these areas. The profession has been less focused on building for the masses and so this is where we are.
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Gisela Schmidt AIA, NCARB, LEED AP
Atlanta GA
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Original Message:
Sent: 03-23-2011 08:37
From: James VanderMolen
Subject: Rethinking the role of the AIA in our professional lives

Regarding the public's perception of the importance of architects and architecture, I have always found it interesting that architecture is very high in the public consciousness in Chicago.  Although I don't live there (visit often), friends who do live there remark that people - average, ordinary people - on the street, on buses or the El, in restaurants, can be overheard discussing buildings.  They take pride in the architectural heritage of their city and are fiercely protective of its legacy.  They debate the merits of building proposals as if it matters to them.  Architecture tours on buses, boats and on foot are very popular.  The Art Institute has a permanent gallery dedicated to Architecture.  People in Chicago look up and see.

My question is: Why?  Why is architecture accorded appropriate recognition and appreciation in Chicago by ordinary citizens? What can other communities learn from Chicago?

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James VanderMolen AIA
President
Elevate Studio
Grand Rapids MI
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Original Message:
Sent: 03-22-2011 14:06
From: Alan Rudy
Subject: Rethinking the role of the AIA in our professional lives



-------------------------------------------
Alan Rudy AIA
Alan Michael Rudy & Associates
Oakland CA
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Speaking from a varied practice spanning nearly 50 years I can say with some credibility that the AIA is not the AMA. Or the California Bar for that matter.  It remains representative of small firms with wildly varied interests and concerns. It provides a grudging home base for education, both within and without the profession. It remains politically weak and inept at lobbying. It has generally abdicated any role in defining for the profession and the public just what it is that we do. 

For me, the core issue is the importance and relevance of design in the built environment. Today, however, the celebration of a building for its beauty alone is, in our value driven culture, a dead issue.

 

To use a businessman's terminology, aesthetics is the value-added benefit an architect brings to the table. The technical training, the tools, the skill sets, all should lead to a product that embodies this core value. As the only functioning representative of our profession, the AIA is and always has been positioned to promote this core value. It has failed. 

So much for ranting.

If there is good news it shows up in beautiful and functional projects that are being built around the world by creative young architects. The issue that the AIA might consider is the disconnect between public architecture and what I would call everyday architecture. Examples include tract housing, strip shopping centers, luxury gated communities. 

But what can the AIA do?  Out front aggressive celebration of good architecture and criticism of bad architecture would be a start....but out in the real world not in the elite pages of PA or Architect. The deal is that we need to convince the rest of the world that a)wanting a great looking functional building is a good thing and b) architects are really good at providing it. 

Looking over this screed I realize that this should not be news to anyone over 12 years old...maybe, finally, we can get our act together and explain to the rest of the world how great we are.....

Alan Rudy

Criticism of bad architecture... what a concept!  Good luck getting the AIA to "out" one of its members. Or is bad architecture only performed by non-AIA members?!

Bad buildings should be discussed but how to air our collective dirty linen in a constructive way is a tricky thing.  And for a lot of people it is just unthinkable. 
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Eugene Ely AIA
HMC Architects
San Jose CA
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Original Message:
Sent: 03-22-2011 14:06
From: Alan Rudy
Subject: Rethinking the role of the AIA in our professional lives



-------------------------------------------
Alan Rudy AIA
Alan Michael Rudy & Associates
Oakland CA
-------------------------------------------
Speaking from a varied practice spanning nearly 50 years I can say with some credibility that the AIA is not the AMA. Or the California Bar for that matter.  It remains representative of small firms with wildly varied interests and concerns. It provides a grudging home base for education, both within and without the profession. It remains politically weak and inept at lobbying. It has generally abdicated any role in defining for the profession and the public just what it is that we do. 

For me, the core issue is the importance and relevance of design in the built environment. Today, however, the celebration of a building for its beauty alone is, in our value driven culture, a dead issue.

 

To use a businessman's terminology, aesthetics is the value-added benefit an architect brings to the table. The technical training, the tools, the skill sets, all should lead to a product that embodies this core value. As the only functioning representative of our profession, the AIA is and always has been positioned to promote this core value. It has failed. 

So much for ranting.

If there is good news it shows up in beautiful and functional projects that are being built around the world by creative young architects. The issue that the AIA might consider is the disconnect between public architecture and what I would call everyday architecture. Examples include tract housing, strip shopping centers, luxury gated communities. 

But what can the AIA do?  Out front aggressive celebration of good architecture and criticism of bad architecture would be a start....but out in the real world not in the elite pages of PA or Architect. The deal is that we need to convince the rest of the world that a)wanting a great looking functional building is a good thing and b) architects are really good at providing it. 

Looking over this screed I realize that this should not be news to anyone over 12 years old...maybe, finally, we can get our act together and explain to the rest of the world how great we are.....

Alan Rudy

Some of the concerns here are real to me, also. Whenever I tell people that I am an architect, some responses are sneers, with remarks that include a slur about just puttting frilly stuff on buildings. To that, I  have no defense, especially after seeing the sort of stuff that is published in architectural magazines and projects to which awards are given.

The AIA would do better to leave off the fluff of its political and PC agenda to focus on the architectural community. For example, why were software programmers allowed to hijack the title, "Architect?"  Where was the AIA? The AIA was giving awards to and press coverage to non-American architects and projects on non-American soil.

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Charles A. Graham. Jr., AIA
Architect
O'Neal, Inc.
Greenville SC
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Original Message:
Sent: 03-21-2011 03:30
From: Howard Wong
Subject: Rethinking the role of the AIA in our professional lives

Appreciation for the thoughtful insightfulness and prompting for discussion.  The Architect's stature in American society remains low, by example, most construction has no Architect's participation.  In some countries, Architects enjoy the status, and incomes, of physicians, attorneys, academicians, scientists, engineers....  As of now, our profession appears prone to dissension rather than collaboration---because every ten years or so, economic recession disintegrates the fraternity.  Collective self-interest requires long-term legislative strategies that institutionalize Architecture in American construction and planning.  Simultaneously, our profession must bolster architectural education and a unique architectural technology, which can withstand economic cycles and ever-changing competition.  Easier said than done---but if only we started thirty years ago....  
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Howard Wong AIA
City & County of San Francisco
San Francisco CA
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David has discovered what I believe are two critical points, confusion in name branding and the architect fee as an investment in a project.  The first less important than the second. Even close friends of mine refer to the organization as "A1A" with no association to the meaning of the alphanumeric, or simply do not have any idea why I add this to my name - it seems so many groups now have a collection of letters following their names. I know AIA has done a big name recognition program some years ago yet from personal experience it seems not to have been a great success.
  Now David's last point is one of great interest and clearly represents new thinking that could address many other issues in the profession. If we could focus on following the money, the name recognition wil be much less of an issue. In fact, I see this as the key to advancing the profession and AIA. In New Jersey our beloved (not really) governor has suggested that we can eliminate the architect form school projects and save lots of taxpayer dollars. He has the 'design it once and be done with the architect, just re-use it in every situation' attitude. This reflects a greater feeling that the architect is an unnecessary part of the building process.  My dear friend Algis used to enjoy a quote from a newpaper article on a disaster "the building was safe, only some of the architecture blew off!"
  I propose that we focus our efforts on the very non artistic and business like function of correcting the investment community viewpoint that architect fees are a critical and essential part of the lending for building construction. If that became the real focus of our "name recognition" dollars, If the financial world demanded to see the architectural fees in the project, if the architectural services were tightly connected to each part of the lending and building proposal process, we would be well served.
  As a response to folks who would posit that we already are, I offer this closing remark. I took some real estate development classes at NYU that were offered as electives in my undergrad days, In every class session on the primary ways to move a project along someone mentioned 'stiffing the architect for their fees', or leveraging the prospect of the 'next big job' to keep the architect working for free.
   Think about it.

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Dr. Roger Keller AIA
Roger W. Keller, Architect
Upper Black Eddy PA
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I agree entirely, and have nothing more to add other than I think this is a crucial issue.

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James VanderMolen AIA
President
Elevate Studio
Grand Rapids MI
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Mr. Ludwig bring frustrations to the table, as well as concerns.
First Mr. Ludwig, thank you for this concern. Second, thanks for this forum by the AIA, a successful organization due to its embracing even the most humble of the Architectural Profession.  I have been an employee all of my professional career, unless unemployed or retired as now with AIA Emeritus Status. I submit the following in regards to our common goals and that of the AIA:
1. Membership is a privilege, and a sign of respect for our profession to encourage national, global environmental concerns. 
2. With the onset of Continuing Education, common ground fostering mutual respect at all levels with in our Profession was perhaps created, intentionally or not a GREAT Commitment.
3. Local grassroots, like my local AIA Chapter, TAIA, Triangle AIA, sets the level of local understanding, along with the State NCAIA, Raleigh, NC. Thus, the awareness standard is shared locally, as well as Nationally.
4. National AIA provided me services including book lending privileges in the 1970's, when printed media was the near only media. 
5. Architecture, past, present and future, is only as good as the standards and expectations of the individual members. Not all of us are FAIA Members or Fellows, not all of us agree on Political Agenda, not all have the same access and skill set for the varying roles in our Profession. Many roles are just not on the national radar, especially those encouraging of quality and training in a local realm. I would submit our National AIA is highly respected globally, and in the relevant areas of involvement in the Construction Industry, locally, nationally and globally.
6. Such discussion among members of the AIA can only strengthen our Profession. As an Organization, the AIA sets the Standards of our Profession, Ethically. AIA sets the bar,  exceeding the standards set forth in State Registration for 'Health, Safety and Public Welfare,' yet has a distinct and separate from NCARB. 
7. Were such questions as you, Mr. Ludwig, bring, not afforded this forum, the AIA would be less a service organization, and more a defacto peer organization. I submit, while not ideal, the AIA serves well the public, its members, and the Professionals of all the Construction Industry by its unique role of the Architect. The Architectural Profession leads the Industry by Ethics, Equality, Mutual Respect, and most importantly the respect and appreciation of the members of our Construction and Design industry, at all levels.
8. Last, and most importantly perhaps to many of us who have been in the daily grind, early in the building and planning roles, to as the post warranty service to the client at large, humility and respect to all, sales representative to shovel laborer is a major role  fostered by the AIA Values and Standards of Ethics. Yes, my fellow Architect and hopefully by now a friend, when you have lost the respect of the first on the site with the most physical task, you may have lost the quality control needed for a successfully completed Project...a project unlike work done in other Professions, will provide Service and Durability beyond all our life spans,... save those in the Clergy. 

I submit respectfully, these goals exceed the tasks you question, and rightly so in the appropriate priority.

Respectfully,
Archie P. Gupton, AIA Emeritus
Raleigh, NC
Member TAIA, NCAIA, AIA  
.
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Archie Gupton AIA
Raleigh NC
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Agreed. On the one hand, people who regularly work with architects seem to know that "AIA" has a standard of ethics and professionalism, and seem to associate it with higher value. On the other hand, people who do not regularly work with architects either have no idea what it means or see it as a "snoot factor" for architects--in other words, no value or even negative value.

A new survey on the perceived effectiveness of the AIA among members could shed some light on a new agenda for service to its members. But do we leave the survey question writing up to the AIA and risk getting questions like, "why does design matter?" Shouldn't a survey be prepared and administered by an independent surveyor?

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David Clarke AIA, Senior Architect
Williams Design Group, Inc.
President-Elect, AIA New Mexico Southern Chapter
Las Cruces NM

In reference to our relevance to the common architectural consumer I wonder whether the change in the AIA default journal may offer the opportunity to address architecture for the common consumer in publication, and within the AIA in the awards program. Perhaps residential awards projects should be less photogenic, but more affordable and sustainable, with cost publication mandatory for consideration. The public can only perceive what we publicize about ourselves --and what others publicize about us, which is only indirectly influenced by how we portray ourselves.

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Volker Mueller Assoc. AIA
Research Director
Bentley Systems, Incorporated
Chapel Hill NC
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Original Message:
Sent: 03-21-2011 12:13
From: David Clarke
Subject: Rethinking the role of the AIA in our professional lives

Agreed. On the one hand, people who regularly work with architects seem to know that "AIA" has a standard of ethics and professionalism, and seem to associate it with higher value. On the other hand, people who do not regularly work with architects either have no idea what it means or see it as a "snoot factor" for architects--in other words, no value or even negative value.

A new survey on the perceived effectiveness of the AIA among members could shed some light on a new agenda for service to its members. But do we leave the survey question writing up to the AIA and risk getting questions like, "why does design matter?" Shouldn't a survey be prepared and administered by an independent surveyor?

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David Clarke AIA, Senior Architect
Williams Design Group, Inc.
President-Elect, AIA New Mexico Southern Chapter
Las Cruces NM