“Spring is the time of plans and projects” – Leo Tolstoy
So true. Still. Even with our industry seemingly impervious to the seasons, the promise of spring still teases us with the optimism of all things new and the assurance of returning perennials. In tandem with spring emerging in Virginia, fresh initiatives and familiar conventions are ushering in the season side-by-side.
The AIA Virginia Strategic Plan
Strategic planning for AIA Virginia occurs in three-year cycles, with the current plan due for a refresh this year. The planning process – informed by the member survey conducted last year – began with an Executive Committee retreat in Winchester, VA in January, and will be carried out in six stages throughout the year with time reserved at each AIA Virginia Board meeting to advance strategic topics, with completion targeted for this December.
The Art of Practice
With speakers Caitlin Reagan, AIA Public Affairs Senior Manager for AIA and Michele Russo, AIA Managing Director of Research and Practice headlining, the second biennial Art of Practice will take place at the Bull Run Winery in Centerville, VA this Friday, March 22nd. Retreat-like, this event will be an excellent opportunity for seasoned and emerging leaders to learn from experts and from each other, “share best practices, advance their business skills, and form a lasting network of peers.” Please join us. Register here through Thursday noon>>
Inclusion and Diversity
In my previous letter, I speculated about all to gained by embracing our emerging leaders and more generally embracing diversity. More rapidly than I could have hoped to implement anything the Virginia Young Architects Forum – YAF – has raced to the forefront across the state at AIA events, chapter meetings, and engaging membership. YAF is growing a welcome presence in Virginia, and as Robert Ivey, AIA EVP/CEO recently shared with our Executive Committee – “younger members are in leadership positions at unprecedented levels.” We see the evidence of this in Virginia.
New AIA Virginia Offices
As of this week, AIA Virginia has moved into their new office space in the Bookbindery Building on Broad Street in Richmond. Meanwhile, AIA Virginia Board meetings will continue at the Branch House, as we remain steadfast in our strategic alignment with and support of the Branch in pursuit of their mission. Visit the Branch Museum of Architecture and Design!
Grassroots ‘19
Having just attended a seminar and panel discussion at Grassroots ’19 in Washington, DC, that unpacked the challenges of embarking on the AIA 2030 Challenge, several key factors important to Virginia architects surfaced. First, it’s tough – both a challenge and challenging – and each firm signing on needs to establish expectations that are real and sustainable over time. Second, tracking implementation outcomes from the past eight years, the professional fees associated with design analysis and documentation have been recovered by our clients on average in the first 2 to 3 months of building operations! And finally, rewards – including market-place value and recognition – are emerging. Embrace AIA 2030!
Leadership
Reflecting more on Grassroots ‘19 where roughly 650 AIA member architects and staff from across the country converged on Capitol Hill to discuss two important issues with House and Senate members – school safety and sustainability. Armed with thorough briefs and concise talking points, we shared our personal stories related to these issues. Following our Hill visits, we were uniformly buoyed by the positive feedback and broad support from our elected officials.
Many other issues were explored at Grassroots ’19 – the future of architectural education, social justice, and design, architects partnering to mitigate in disasters, cultural differences in the workplace, guidelines for an ethical practice – with Keynote Doris Kearns Goodwin, Ph.D., closing the conference with Leadership in Turbulent Times, the same title as her most recent book. Ms. Goodwin, as presidential historian, drew from her unapparelled understanding of presidents Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Lyndon B. Johnson. She captivated us with a mesmerizing pace and spellbinding stories, while most importantly, reminding us of authentic leadership.
“Some strengths are inborn, but far more important are ordinary talents developed to an extraordinary degree” – Doris Kearns Goodwin, Ph.D.
I witness remarkably talented people and see the remarkable contributions made by architects every day. Consider your remarkable opportunities to contribute, to lead, to make a difference with your ordinary talent developed to an extraordinary degree.
Rob V. Reis, AIA, LEED AP
2019 President
AIA Virginia