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Page 26 - April 5-18, 2017 Colorado Real Estate Journal
In March, volunteer and
staff leaders from AIA
Colorado joined over 200
AIA chapters from across
the country at the annual
AIA Grassroots Leadership
Conference.
Highlighted at this year’s
conference were two recent
initiatives tackled by the
United Nations. The first was
adoption of the New Urban
Agenda, and preparing for the
world’s population to double
through sustainable urban
development. The second
was the Paris Agreement,
a bold commitment among
134 countries to mitigate
the effects of climate change
and the built environment’s
carbon footprint. Though both
largely global in nature, AIA is
focused on how it can impact
efforts in local communities
by arming members with the
tools and resources necessary
to lead the charge.
Five thought leaders
presented their perspectives
on the work architects, along
with community leaders
and other stakeholders, can
do to create sustainable
communities. Peter Calthorpe,
a founder of the Congress for
New Urbanism, spoke about
the inherent problems sprawl
creates and the opportunities
created by masterfully planned
communities with urban cores.
Jeff Speck, a city planner,
urban designer and author,
advocated for
the economic,
health and
environmental
benefits of
creating
walkable
communities.
Jean Carroon,
FAIA,
spoke to the
wastefulness
of abandoning
and tearing
down existing
buildings,
and the
opportunities and increasing
demand for adaptive reuse.
Michael Berkowitz, president of
Resilient Cities and managing
director at the Rockefeller
Foundation, spoke of the 100
Resilient Cities program’s
efforts to prepare cities to
sustain a variety of disasters.
One theme prevailed –
the opportunity to ensure
healthy, vibrant and resilient
communities of all sizes will
be addressed through sound
design and planning. This effort
will require collaboration by
architects, planners, developers,
community leaders and
stakeholders in all sectors.
AIA Colorado equips
members to tackle these
issues collectively through
the AIA community as well
as in their own practices. The
association provides education
and forums on current trends,
building design and technology
solutions, the latest codes and
research to help inform design
decisions that will positively
impact each building’s
occupants and the surrounding
community. AIA also advocates
for public policies supporting
architects’ and their businesses’
abilities to lead positive change
in the built environment
For Brad Tomecek AIA,
principal at the Denver-
based Tomecek Studio, AIA
membership helps him to
stay informed about the
professional issues he cares
most about. Tomecek attended
this year’s AIA Grassroots
Conference as AIA Denver
President. He notes that many
local, regional and national
issues go unnoticed or without
the time and attention they
deserve. AIA helps put a
spotlight on these issues,
and creates opportunities
for members to forge ahead
on causes they care about.
Additionally, AIA creates
opportunities for small firms
to better connect to the larger
architectural community and
provides chances to serve as a
thought leader in a competitive
space.
“At AIA, the connectivity
with other members who
share similar interests
and understand related
professional issues is
invaluable. This extended peer
group has become a resource
that I call on frequently as a
small-firm practitioner,” said
Tomecek.
Tomecek, along with other
AIA leaders at Grassroots last
week, visited congressional
offices to advocate for public
policies encouraging support
of smart design and growth in
the built environment.
For other firms, AIA
membership is often viewed
as both an opportunity for
growth and a commitment to
advancing the architectural
profession as a whole.
According to Joe Levi, AIA
member and architect at
OZ Architecture, his firm
and others benefit through
everything from event hosting
to participating in government
affairs initiatives.
“This involvement has
given OZ Architecture a voice
in shaping the future of our
industry, including advocating
for licensure requirements,
minimum wages, and
accessory dwelling unit
requirements,” Levi noted.
“The value of cultivating
an ongoing professional
community is simple
connectivity. We recognize
that as architects, we are
better when we put our
heads together. Just as we
collaborate with clients, key
stakeholders, building users
and neighborhoods, and
the general public, so must
we work to engage with
each other. There’s a great
deal to be learned from our
fellow practitioners, and AIA
presents the platform for that
learning.
“Architectural firms large
and small benefit from
their involvement with AIA
through a strong network of
professionals supporting the
future of the industry, and
through opportunities for the
staff to develop into strong
and effective architects who
develop innovative and well-
designed buildings,” said Levi.
“We see this as an opportunity
as well as a commitment that
firms of our size contribute to
and support our profession.”
Tomecek summed up the
benefit of being part of an
association of architects: “AIA
Colorado invites input and
advocates on behalf of all those
in the profession.”
AIA Colorado will continue
to engage members and other
professionals as we explore
the intersection of current
issues and the association’s
longstanding view of architects
as shapers and stewards of the
built environment.
Learn about AIA values
and what we stand for by
is equipping members in
Cathy Rosset
Executive vice
president/CEO,
American Institute
of Architects,
Colorado Chapter