Tackling this subject is long overdue. The downturn in the U.S. economy that resulted from the mortgage and banking crisis and the effect that has had on the practice of architecture has cast an even brighter, more intense light on this subject. I meet associates, licensed architects, who refuse to become members of AIA, referring to AIA as an elitist organization, out of touch with their particular professional goals and aspirations. I usually try to counter their arguments by telling them that AIA is what its membership makes it and that AIA does what its membership wants (or does not want), but if (on the other hand) a select few in leadership set an agenda that is "out of tough" with the needs of rest of the AIA membership, the results are predictable. That has happened more often than we wish to talk about, I'm certain.
AIA was deeply affected, in my opinion, by the consent decree resulting from the Anti Trust Court Case in the 70's that changed the AIA Code of Ethics, the way architects used to do business, and the relationship AIA had with its membership. AIA has since focused very heavily on publishing contract documents, promoting knowledge communities, and continuing education while missing out on opportunities to deal with real and ever present perception problems of 1) the relevance of the architectural profession in solving everyday problems in the built environment, 2) dispelling perception that architecture is only for the wealthy and those of substantial means, 3) AIA is a clique of privileged architects (mainly White guys), who are out of touch with the mainstream of typical everyday architectural practice, and 4) counteract the public perception that an architect and his or her design products "cost too much."
Lastly, I agree that it is high time that lenders consider architectural design as legitimate investment in a project.
When one considers how much building work occurs in the United States without the involvement of an architect or design professional, AIA has interesting challenges ahead.
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Walter Wilson FAIA
Milwaukee County DTPW
Milwaukee WI
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