Thank You

Posted on by cguske

Please help us give a big “Thank You” to Michael Hammon, AIA.
Michael has been our State NCARB Licensing Advisor for the past 4 years.

In the 4 years since his appointment by the AIA Virginia Board of Directors, Michael has answered MANY member questions about licensure, IDP/AXP supervision, and shared advice with those on the path to licensure.

The Architect Licensing Advisors Community is a group of volunteers committed to assisting licensure candidates and architects as they navigate the path to licensure and reciprocity. Architect licensing advisors provide guidance throughout the licensure process by facilitating the flow of information to
architecture students, licensure candidates, and architects.

Thank you for your service, Michael!

A’23 Recap and What’s Ahead

Posted on by cguske

It is hard to believe that June has arrived so quickly. The last five months of “spring” have passed in a blur.

I am sitting here in the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, reflecting on the past few days at A’23, (AIA National Convention). A’23 felt like Architecture Exchange East (ArchEx) on steroids. It was exciting to see old friends and make new ones; to share a laugh and a memory with colleagues. I feel melancholy knowing that it is time for me to leave this “escape”, friends, colleagues, and experiences.  As I reflect, on the last few days, here are just a few quick observations.

  • After participating in the business meetings and elections, there is no doubt that the Institute is in a position to continue leading.
  • Issues of climate change, advocacy, social equity & diversity, and generational transitions are at the forefront of the Institute’s mission.
  • It was a great honor to see Robert L. Easter, FAIA (2022 AIA Virginia President) receive the Whitney M. Young Jr. and to witness Robert V. Reis, FAIA (2019 AIA Virginia President) invested into the College of Fellows. The opportunity was especially exciting since I have had the opportunity to serve with both and know that each is very deserving!
  • The leadership training and education opportunities were robust and stimulating.
  • The keynote speakers were engaging and inspiring.

At the end of it all there is no doubt that Institute is moving forward with, promoting the fact that architects are well-positioned to address those issues which confront both the profession and the world in which we live.

As I look forward I am reminded that June is a busy month for AIA Virginia.

  • AIA Virginia Honor Nominations are due June 16th, 2023.
  • AIA Virginia Design Awards Submissions are due June 28th, 2023.
  • The 2023 Art of Practice will take place on Friday, June 23rd, 2023 at Common House Charlottesville. This is an event that deals directly with the practice of architecture. We’ve kept registration open through Friday, so register today>>

Right around the corner is ArchEx, which is scheduled for November 1-3, 2023, in Richmond. And a special note – we’ll celebrate our Design Award winners and AIA Virginia Honorees at Visions for Architecture on THURSDAY night, November 2nd this year.

As I close this note, I hope everybody has an opportunity to take some time off and enjoy life over the next couple of months. I look forward to seeing everybody at the Art of Practice at the end of June.

Mitch Rowland, AIA
2023 President
AIA Virginia

Newly Licensed

Posted on by cguske

We understand the dedication and effort required to study for and pass the ARE. Congratulations to the following members for passing their exams and gaining licensure. This is great news that thrills all of us and we are so proud to call you architects!

Anne S. Hall, AIA (Blue Ridge)
Alex Cejka, AIA (Hampton Roads)

Have you recently passed the ARE? Upgrade your membership to Architect using this AIA form. or send an email to your Member Services Director, Cathy Guske, cguske@aiava.org

Are you ready to get licensed? AIA Virginia has 60-day Amber Book subscriptions for $50 here>>

Have questions about licensure? Contact AIA Virginia’s State Licensing Advisor, Michael Hammon, AIA at mhammon@glaveandholmes.com

New Members

Posted on by cguske

We are always excited to welcome new members to Virginia. The following members recently joined the ranks of AIA Virginia.

New Architect Members

Andrew J. Montgomery, AIA (Central Virginia)
Eric Ross, AIA (Central Virginia)
Masie Ryba, AIA (Northern Virginia)

New Associate Members

Tom Becherer, Assoc. AIA (Northern Virginia)
Antonio Bermudez, Assoc. AIA (Richmond)
Keaton Fisher, Assoc. AIA (Richmond)
Charmi P. Gajjar, Assoc. AIA (Blue Ridge)
Patrick Gordon, Assoc. AIA (Richmond)
Josephine Gutowski, Assoc. AIA (Richmond)
Krissada Harnsongkram, Assoc. AIA (Blue Ridge)
Beyza Kastan, Assoc. AIA (Northern Virginia)
Harsh Patel, Assoc. AIA (Hampton Roads)
Philana Quan, Assoc. AIA (Northern Virginia)
Caroline Richards, Assoc. AIA (Northern Virginia)
Brittany Richardson, Assoc. AIA (Hampton Roads)
Ayesha Shaikh, Assoc. AIA (Blue Ridge)
Julia West, Assoc. AIA (Hampton Roads)
Victor Zimbardi, Assoc. AIA (Blue Ridge)
Alex Zuniga Vega, Assoc. AIA (Northern Virginia)

Transferred In

Charley A. Danner, AIA (Richmond) from AIA Illinois
Parisa Najimi, Int’l. Assoc. AIA (Richmond) from AIA California
Robert S. Phinney, AIA (Northern Virginia) from AIA New York State
Benjamin L. Robbins, AIA (Central Virginia) from AIA Kentucky

New/Renewed Allied Members

Kelly Batchelder, Architectural Rep, Nello Wall Systems
Patrick Dyer, Vice President, Gulf Seaboard General Contractors Inc.
Rick Berrey, Kjellstrom+Lee Construction

View all of the AIA Virginia Allied members

Update from the Small Firm Exchange (SFx)

Posted on by cguske

I am thrilled to share my recent involvement with the Small Firm Exchange (SFx) in this edition of our member newsletter. The SFx’s primary mission is to foster connections among local, state, and national members, creating a stronger network of support and collaboration. As part of this initiative, we actively engage in monthly calls with state representatives, discussing pressing issues and sharing insights. Additionally, we organize bi-monthly “all calls,” where we delve deep into specific topics that I would like to highlight. The first brought together the Small Firm Exchange (SFx) and the Young Architects Forum (YAF), reinforcing our commitment to inclusivity and intergenerational collaboration. The second “all call” revolved around sustainability, with a particular focus on the AIA’s 2030 challenge and how small firms like ours can play a pivotal role in driving this vital initiative forward.

It has been fantastic connecting with fellow architects through the SFx, amplifying our collective voice and expanding our professional horizons. The monthly calls with state representatives have provided an invaluable platform to address pertinent issues, exchange best practices, and advocate for positive change within our industry. Our bi-monthly “all calls” have proven equally enriching, offering us an opportunity to explore key subjects in greater depth. The first “all call” was with leaders of the Young Architects Forum (YAF), fostering meaningful relationships and nurturing collaboration between emerging and seasoned professionals. The work of the YAF is inspiring, and during our discussion, we laid the groundwork for future joint initiatives.

In our second “all call,” sustainability took center stage. Recognizing the urgent need to address climate change, we focused on the AIA’s 2030 challenge and explored how small firms can actively participate in and champion this transformative initiative. With a shared commitment to reducing carbon emissions and promoting sustainable design, we engaged in thought-provoking discussions, shared success stories, and identified practical steps that our firms can take to make a positive impact. By harnessing the power of our collective knowledge and experience, we aim to be at the forefront of driving change and creating a sustainable future for our profession.

I am grateful for the opportunity to represent Virginia on the Small Firm Exchange. It has provided me a way to connect, learn, and contribute. I am committed to representing you and your issues at the national level and encourage any member or chapter to reach out to me directly with issues or concerns. Together, we can make a difference and create a stronger, more resilient community of architects.

Daniel Zimmerman, Registered Architect, AIA
dan@alloyworkshop.com

Read the recent SFx Newsletter>>

There is still time on the Clock for the AIA 2030 Commitment

Posted on by cguske

The latest climate data tells us that merely reducing carbon emissions is not enough. To make the biggest impact, we must all commit to net zero emissions by 2030. And since the built environment creates a staggering 40% of the world’s emissions, architects, engineers, and owners play a key role. The AIA 2030 Commitment is an actionable climate strategy that gives us a set of standards and goals for reaching net zero emissions in the built environment.

To date, more than 1,200 firms have committed. Participants report the performance of their firm portfolios over each calendar year. The data, collected via the 2030 Design Data Exchange (DDx), includes building type, area, baseline energy performance, and predicted energy performance.

As of this writing, six years, and seven and a half months (about 2,420 days) remain on the “game clock”. More importantly, there is time on the clock. The game is not yet over. And there has been some good progress.

In 2021, 417 firms reported 20,653 projects with an average pEUI reduction of 50.3% for whole building projects and 32.5% pLPD reduction for interior only.  See their progress in the latest annual report.

The Virginia firms that are committed to meeting the challenge are listed below. We celebrate and we cheer for them. May their example encourage others to join the fight. All of us need to help grow the roster and contribute.

Learn more about the 2030 Commitment>>

Antu Design Group
Arnold Design Studio
Bala Consulting Engineers
Clark Nexsen
CMTA, Inc.
Cooper Carry, Inc.
Dewberry Architects Inc.
Emcee Design
GHT Limited
Greenspur
Grimm and Parker
Hanbury Evans Wright Vlattas + Company
HDR
HGA Architects and Engineers
HKS
Hughes Group Architects
IBI Group
Jacobs
Kahler Slater
Ki Design Workshop PLLC
KTGY Group, Inc.
Little Diversified Architectural Consulting
Lord Aeck Sargent
Maginniss + del Ninno Architects, PC
Moseley Architects
Olshesky Design Group LLC
PARABOLA
POPULOUS
Powers Brown Architecture
Tektura Studio
Vanderweil Engineers
VIA Design Architects, P.C.
VMDO Architects
William McDonough and Partners

Newly Licensed

Posted on by cguske

We understand the dedication and effort required to study for and pass the ARE. Congratulations to the following members for passing their exams and gaining licensure. This is great news that thrills all of us and we are so proud to call you architects!

Davey Wright, AIA (Richmond)
Saanika S. Lokre, AIA (Northern Virginia)

Have you recently passed the ARE? Upgrade your membership to Architect using this AIA form. or send an email to your Member Services Director, Cathy Guske, cguske@aiava.org

Are you ready to get licensed? AIA Virginia has 60-day Amber Book subscriptions for $50 here>>

Have questions about licensure? Contact AIA Virginia’s State Licensing Advisor, Michael Hammon, AIA at mhammon@glaveandholmes.com

New Members

Posted on by cguske

We are always excited to welcome new members to Virginia. The following members recently joined the ranks of AIA Virginia.

New Associate Members

Jonnathan Calle, Assoc. AIA, (Central Virginia)
Timothy Craft, Assoc. AIA, (Northern Virginia)
Rachid Darradji, Assoc. AIA, (Northern Virginia)
Quan Tran, Assoc. AIA, (Northern Virginia)
Quyngina Zhang, Assoc. AIA, (Blue Ridge)

Transferred In

Antonio Alonso, AIA, (Northern Virginia) from AIA|DC

New/Renewed Allied Members

Michael Newberger, Chief Financial Officer, Outsourced FinOps
Stephen (Hobie) Andrews, O’Hagan Meyer PLLC
Paxton Whitmore, Territory Manager, The Garland Company

View all of the AIA Virginia Allied members

Fellows Fete 2023

Posted on by cguske

On Saturday, March 18, 2023 the fellows from Virginia celebrated again in person at The Grand Salon & DuPont Gallery of the Visitors Center at James Madison’s Montpelier. New Fellows, Rob Reis, FAIA and Ken Martin, FAIA were welcomed into the group. Their formal investiture will happen in June at A’23 in San Francisco. Thanks to the chair of the Virginia Fellows is Jane Rathbone, FAIA, for pulling together this great event!

photos courtesy of Jane Rathbone and Paul Battaglia.

New Members

Posted on by cguske

We are always excited to welcome new members to Virginia. The following members recently joined the ranks of AIA Virginia.

New Associate Members

Alaa Aswad, Intl. Assoc. AIA (Northern Virginia)
Mohammad Babaei, Assoc. AIA (Northern Virginia)
Sreeya Brahma, Assoc. AIA (Northern Virginia)
Nathanael Diemer, Assoc. AIA (Richmond)
James Ford, Assoc. AIA (Richmond)
Seung Jin Han, Assoc. AIA (Northern Virginia)
Shukrullo Mirvaydullaev, Assoc. AIA (Northern Virginia)
Gianluca Sanzone, Assoc. AIA (Northern Virginia)
James Wylde, Assoc. AIA (Northern Virginia)

Transferred In

Kenneth Aunchman, AIA (Northern Virginia) from AIA Oklahoma
Claire Barrows, AIA (Richmond) from AIA DC
Valerie Boudreaux, AIA (Northern Virginia) from AIA DC
Tiffany Mayhew, Assoc. AIA (Northern Virginia) from AIA Maryland

New/Renewed Allied Members

Hessam Nabavi, Promotions Director, Virginia Ready Mixed Concrete Association

View all of the AIA Virginia Allied members