The Committee on Climate Action and Design Excellence’s 2022 Priorities
By Vincent Martinez, Hon. AIA
At the end of 2020 the AIA Board established the Committee on Climate Action and Design Excellence (whose acronym, CCADE, is being pronounced like cicada, as in the insect superfamily).
Now beginning our second official year and with an influx of new voices, CCADE is poised to expand on its foundational work from 2021 - under the leadership of 2021 CCADE Chair Liz York, FAIA.
CCADE is one of only seven Board Committees. These groups report directly to the Board and President about key issues in support of AIA’s Climate Action Plan through the Framework for Design Excellence.
The official committee charge is to:
- advise the Board on issues to support transformation of the day-to-day practice of architects to achieve a zero-carbon, equitable, resilient and healthy built environment as defined in the Framework of Design Excellence;
- coordinate activities between related committees and advise on program prioritization; and
- provide expertise and influence to align and utilize external messaging to leverage support of peers, clients, policy makers, and the public.
AIA 2022 President Dan Hart, FAIA, appointed new CCADE members based on recommendations from staff and member leadership. The 2022 CCADE cohort continues to bring diverse expertise and experience to the Institute. Board and Strategic Council representatives also continue to provide added accountability and insight to CCADE’s work.
CCADE includes:
- Allison Anderson, FAIA, principal with unabridged Architecture (returning member);
- Ralph Bicknese, AIA, Principal, Hellmuth-Bicknese Architects (returning member);
- Carlton Hart, Urban Planner, National Capital Planning Commission (returning member);
- Melanie Islam, AIA, Principal & Sustainability Director, MASON (new member);
- Nathan Kipnis, FAIA, Kipnis Architecture + Planning (returning member);
- Gail Kubik, Assoc. AIA, Director of Resilient Design & Research, Fused Studios (new member – Board representative);
- Mary Ann Lazarus, FAIA, Architect/Consultant, Cameron MacAllister Group (returning member – Strategic Council representative);
- Laura Lesniewski, FAIA, Principal, BNIM Architects (new member – Board Representative);
- Vincent Martinez, Hon. AIA, President & COO, Architecture 2030 (returning member – 2022 Chair);
- Marc Mondor, AIA, Managing Principal, evolveEA (returning member);
- Winona Satcher, CEO/Founder, Makhers Studio (returning member);
- Jason Shelley, Hon. AIA, Executive Director, AIA Indiana (new member)
This group is working with key AIA staff members including Melissa Morancy, Assoc. AIA; Terri Stewart, Hon. AIA; Melissa Wackerle, and Kathleen Lane, AIA (AIA’s new Managing Director of Sustainability & Resilience).
CCADE’s Planned Efforts in 2022
The AIA Climate Action Plan (CAP) and its appendix provide important guidance for the Institute. CCADE plans to build on our 2021 memo to the Board and committee chairs on Climate Action Plan Appendix Prioritization in order to support a CAP Roadmap with specific actions and milestones for the network of activities by staff, internal AIA collaborators and external partners that will be required to support its outcomes. With our top priority topics in bold, our “Big 8” topics are:
- Advocacy
- Awards
- AIA Policies and Operational Implementation
- Academic Education
- Professional Education – Content
- Professional Education – Delivery
- Public Outreach
- Research
CCADE looks forward to hearing directly from staff and internal AIA collaborators on their efforts to support the AIA Climate Action Plan and the Framework for Design Excellence, and supporting their efforts though the promotion, coordination and collaboration of those efforts via our advice and guidance to the Board.
CCADE is also excited to now have oversight of the ongoing efforts to leverage the Framework for Design Excellence. We expect to develop a process for engagement with the membership on the Frameworks' continual review and development, as well as its ongoing integration into AIA's programs and education. More on this important initiative will be described in the next COTE newsletter.
Vincent Martinez, Hon. AIA, is the President and COO of Architecture 2030 and is acting as the 2022 Chair of the Committee on Climate Action and Design Excellence (CCADE)