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!
Anna Krüger, AIA (Richmond) Adam Hines, AIA (Blue Ridge) Arnold Lee, 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
Spring is upon us… (I hope). I for one am happy that spring has arrived as it brings about change all around us.
New growth in the trees.
Plants breaking free of the earthly bonds, seeking warmth and growing.
The sounds of brightly colored birds
New and different kinds of weeds are growing in my yard (not really happy about the weeds, but that is a different conversation.)
But most importantly, it is still daylight when I leave the Office.
It is also a busy time at AIA Virginia and the components around the state. Everyone has been busy putting together great events and other opportunities for growth and participation.
In celebration of Resilience Week in Virginia, AIA Hampton Roads is presenting a series of seminars on resiliency. These seminars are scheduled for the week of April 17th. Register today>>
The AEC Conference is scheduled for April 25th and 26th in Richmond. This event is the result of the joint efforts by AGC, ACEC, and AIA Virginia. The conference brings together the architectural, engineering, and construction community in one location.Register today>>
The Art of Practice is scheduled for June 23rd in Charlottesville. This year’s focus is on preparing for economic stress and maintaining resilience. Only 50 tickets will be sold so Register today>>
AIA Virginia has issued the Call for Entries for the 2023 Design Awards Program. More here>>
The Call for Nominations for AIA Virginia Honors is now open too. More here>>
Planning is well underway for ArchEx ’23 scheduled for November 1st thru 3rd, in Richmond. Save these dates for our annual family reunion!
The events take the time and energy of a dedicated few to plan and execute. I encourage each of us to take a few minutes and visit the website of each of our local components and AIA Virginia. Find out how we can make a connection, serve in our communities, and participate. There are several components looking for committee members and board members. Each one of us is an important part of AIA.
Look forward to seeing you all at the AEC Conference.
At the Feb. 14, 2023 meeting, the AIA Virginia Board of Directors affirmed the following appointments to the 2023 Honors Committee:
David Keith, FAIA (Chair) Bill Brown, AIA Scott Campbell, AIA Tim Colley, AIA Emily Hogan, AIA Randy Holmes, FAIA Jeanne LeFever, AIA Rob Reis, FAIA Warees Smith, AIA Kevin Sneed, FAIA Michael Spory, Assoc. AIA Karen Van Lengen, FAIA Kenneth Wiseman, FAIA
The honors program recognizes the best efforts of Virginians who, by profession or avocation, have made creating, preserving, and enhancing Virginia’s communities an important life commitment.
Karen Van Lengen, FAIA, is an architect, the Kenan Professor of Architecture, and former Dean (1999-2009) of the School of Architecture at the University of Virginia. To her deanship, she brought a decade-long conversation on the relation of ethics and aesthetics to the School and successfully introduced several faculty-designed additions and renovations to the Architecture School that gave the University a new vision of campus architecture. Her current research focuses on the exploration of sound and communication as an integral part of the architectural design process. With artist Jim Welty, they have created interpretive visual animations of the soundscapes of iconic buildings and landscapes. Their work is included in the permanent collections of several international museums. Van Lengen has authored several books and articles related to themes of sonic spaces, and landscapes. Van Lengen began her professional career as an Associate of I.M. Pei & Partners before founding her own award-winning firm in New York City, Karen Van Lengen Architects.
Where did you go to architecture school?
Columbia University School of Architecture Planning and Preservation, MArch.
What do you think it takes to be an architect?
A strong dedicated belief in the future. That what we design, make, alter, and restore can positively influence the world around us and one another.
Is there an architect that particularly inspires you?
There are many: Hans Scharoun, Sauerbruch and Hutton, Thom Pfeiffer, Deborah Berke, Lacaton & Vassal, Jeanne Gang, Toshiko Mori and others.
What’s the best meal you’ve ever had?
Hard to pin that down to one meal, but off the top of my head, a delicious memory comes from a tiny informal restaurant in Portoria, Umbria, Italy where I had the most exquisite Linguine Porcini, never to have been matched since. At home, I would say Red Snapper Soup made by my husband Jim Welty.
Why do you volunteer with AIA?
The organization is an essential part of our professional community. It allows a diversity of people, from practitioners to academics to work together for the common good of our very important designed and natural environments.
The Architect Licensing Advisors Community is a group of individuals 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.
The program is led by NCARB and jointly supported by the American Institute of Architects. AIA Virginia members are fortunate to have been guided by Michael Hammon, AIA the last 4 years (2 terms). As Michael finished his term this summer, we are looking for a new State Licensing Advisor. Are you interested in helping young professionals through the licensure process? Do you like to help your colleagues with issues of reciprocity and licensure? If you are interested in being considered for this appointment, please email pbattaglia@aiava.org.
If you are on the path to licensure and have any questions, you can still reach out to Michael at mhammon@glaveandholmes.com before the end of June or Cathy Guske at cguske@aiava.org.
Inclusivity is the theme of the brightest highlights from our most recent Board of Directors Meeting.
We have changed our Awards to afford a greater opportunity to celebrate the contributions of more of our members. The newly-created Virginia Associate Award celebrates the contributions of Associate AIA members regardless of whether they are pursuing licensure or not. Revisions to the language and eligibility criteria of the Virginia Emerging Professional Award expand the opportunity to recognize and celebrate the contributions of both Associate members and AIA Virginia members who are in good standing and have been licensed to practice architecture for fewer than ten years; more closely aligning this AIA Virginia award with AIA National’s Emerging Architect Award.
The Board of Directors also conditionally accepted the Inclusivity Into the Profession Task Force Report (the IIPTF Report). “Conditionally” only because we need to fully explore the specifics, and timetables, of each of the substantial recommendations proposed in the report. Importantly, the Board of Directors has, by this action, committed the organization to the ambitions and aspirations of the report. It now remains for us to address each and all of the individual recommendations and to develop a course of action, with consideration to both our own resources and how we might collaborate with strategic partners/allies to accomplish these transformational goals.
During his address to the 1968 AIA National Convention, civil rights leader Whitney M. Young, Jr. challenged the architectural profession to pursue more progressive values.
“One need only take a casual look at this audience to see that we have a long way to go in this field.”
“You are not a profession that has distinguished itself by your social and civic contributions to the cause of civil rights . . . You are most distinguished by your thunderous silence.”
In 1972, the AIA established a national award in his memory. That award distinguishes an architect or organization that embodies social responsibility and actively addresses a relevant issue, such as affordable housing, inclusiveness, or universal access.
The 2023 Whitney M. Young, Jr. Award was bestowed upon Robert L. Easter, FAIA – a member and Past-President of AIAVA – in recognition of his enduring commitment to advancing those individuals who have traditionally been underrepresented in the profession of architecture.
On the 17th of February, during Black History Month, Virginia State Senator Ghazala Hashmi sponsored Senate Joint Resolution 373 in which the General Assembly commends Robert L. Easter, FAIA for having received that award. Read the resolution here: SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 373
I am convinced that Whitney M. Young, Jr.’s challenge still echoes. I am convinced that Robert L. Easter’s advocacy and activism was spawned, to some degree, in response to the echoes of Young’s challenge. I am convinced that there is an echo to be heard as a result of Easter’s actions. I am convinced that there are echoes emanating in response to those actions. I am convinced that we should not ignore those echoes. I am convinced that we can no longer feign deafness to those echoes.
Let us resolve to take the time – and the action – to encounter the great symphony of those echoes. To do what we can not only to amplify those who need to be afforded a voice, those whose voice demands attention, and those whose voice cries out for justice, but also to amplify those whose voice suggests a way to acknowledge injustice, to rectify wrongs, to prevent injustice, and to progress towards a more just and inclusive profession.
Let us be bold enough to listen to the echoes. And let us add our voices to that choir.
Paul Battaglia, AIA Executive Vice President AIA Virginia
It’s hard to believe that it has already been a year into my two-year term as your Young Architect Representative. I’ll start now with if you are interested in serving in this role, please reach out and let’s discuss. Calls for applications will go out later this year.
Future Forward Grant is open for applications
AIA National is offering a $10,000 grant opportunity! Applications are open now!
Access to funding activates innovation and makes significant research possible. That’s why the Young Architects Forum—in collaboration with the Large Firm Roundtable—funds the AIA Future Forward Grant. The $10,000 grant supports and enables early-career architects to explore ideas that redefine the practice of architecture and move our profession forward. All AIA Associate members, young architects and AIAS students are encouraged to apply. Applications are due April 2, 2023.
Grant proposals are encouraged to explore one more the following topics:
Fostering leadership and organizational development,
Redefining firm management strategies
Innovating firm culture
Streaming workflows and establishing new project delivery methods
Developing new prototypes or technologies that advance the practice of architecture
As a member of the YAF’s Strategic Vision Focus Group I have been involved in the organization of this grant, but I will not be on the jury. We recently hosted a Q&A zoom session, but as of writing this, the notes are not yet posted online. If you have any questions about applying, please reach out.
NCARB has retired the 5-year rolling clock!
As part of NCARB’s drive to be more equitable and inclusive, they are retiring the 5-year rolling clock.
Have you taken a break from testing? Log in and reach out to NCARB to see how you were affected.
Quarterly YAF Publication “Connection”. Links from Knowledge Net, are also available HERE.
Feel free to connect with me, too. What are some ways your firm is working with emerging professionals and young architects? Send me an email or a message on LinkedIn! As always, I’m here for you.
Carrie Parker, AIA, LEED AP BD+C Associate Vice President at CannonDesign Young Architect Representative for Virginia to the Young Architect’s Forum, 2022-2024 AIA Virginia Young Architect Award, 2020
Javier Ansoleaga, Assoc. AIA (Northern Virginia) from AIA Florida Michael N. Archer, AIA (Richmond) from AIA New York State Barrett C. Burdick, AIA (Central Virginia) from AIA Arizona Jonathan A. Hoffschneider, AIA (Northern Virginia) from AIA Washington DC Anthony J. Lucarelli, AIA (Northern Virginia) from AIA Pennsylvania Erica I. Nelles, AIA (Northern Virginia) from AIA California Wayne G. Sieloff, AIA (Northern Virginia) from AIA Michigan Anthony Strakhov, AIA (Richmond) from AIA New York State
New/Renewed Allied Members
Anna Lee Bamforth, President, Bamforth Engineers + Surveyors
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!
John H. Grigg, AIA (Richmond) John A. Sturniolo, AIA (Richmond) Ravine Kiese Kassam, AIA (Northern Virginia) Emma T. Schrantz, AIA (Hampton Roads) Fletcher C. Bruegger, 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
