Jim Clark, FAIA Champions “Blueprint for Better” Initiative
In 2017, AIA|DC, AIA Virginia and AIA Maryland called on AIA National to form an advisory group to discuss design and planning issues related to the National Mall. A small group was assembled by AIA National at the end of the year which has led to the formation of the AIA Forum for the National Mall. The preliminary conclusion is that the AIA Forum can fulfill a need as a counselor, advocate, and “think-tank” to support the various design and planning developments that are ongoing on the National Mall in an era of accelerations with a focus on the future and resiliency. This role is one of partnership with existing National Mall stakeholders. Today, the National Mall must take into consideration expansion, preservation, spatial allocation, interpretation, sustainability, transportation, tourism, utilization, security and all modern-day and future issues in a holistic way.
The American Institute of Architects has had a longstanding relationship with the National Mall, starting with the 1900 AIA National Convention in Washington, D.C. that led to the formation of the Senate Park Commission and the development of the McMillan Plan. The McMillan Plan, which created the Mall as we know it today, was inspired and supported by Glenn Brown, prominent architect and a founder of the AIA|DC Chapter. The U.S. Commission of Fine Arts was created out of the work of that commission.
Under the Institute’s “Blueprint for Better Communities” initiative, this Forum wishes to use local AIA components as a resource for the Mall’s next century. An initial meeting will be held with a select group of architects and planners who have expertise in the National Mall and who represent a sampling of National Mall stakeholders. This meeting will be held on October 26 at the District Architecture Center and be led by Jim Clark, FAIA of MTFA Architecture.
The following individuals have been invited to participate:
Marcel Acosta, AICP – Executive Director at National Capital Planning Commission
Ralph Belton, AIA – Associate Professor Urban Architecture and Community Planning at University of the District of Columbia
Hazel Edwards, FAICP – Chair of the Department of Architecture at Howard University
Carl Elefante, FAIA – 2018 President of the American Institute of Architects
Brian Kelly, AIA – Professor and Director of Architecture at University of Maryland
Thomas Luebke, FAIA – Secretary, U.S. Commission of Fine Arts
Peter May, AIA – Associate Regional Director for Lands and Planning at National Park Service
Mary Oehrlein, FAIA – Historic Preservation Officer at Architect of the Capitol
Randall Ott, AIA – Dean at The Catholic University of America
Susan Piedmont-Palladino – Director of the Washington Alexandria Architecture Center at Virginia Tech
Brenda Sanchez, FAIA – Senior Architect|Design Manager at Smithsonian Institution
Dr. Lisa Benton-Short – Author and Professor at George Washington University
Thomas Vonier, FAIA – 2017 President of the American Institute of Architects