We’re seeking a limited number of individuals to serve as volunteers at Architecture Exchange East 2018. In gratitude for their service, volunteers are invited to attend ArchEx for free on the day(s) you help out.
We are looking for volunteers who are capable of completing a number of different tasks throughout the conference. Volunteers are expected to commit to a minimum of one full day in order to receive the complimentary conference registration. Volunteer positions are open to all AIA Virginia members or students at Virginia’s accredited schools of architecture.
While we try to accommodate all requests, volunteers are assigned to positions where we have the need. (Volunteers must fulfill their entire commitment to receive complimentary conference registration.)
If you are interested, please complete the Volunteer Interest Form. We’ll be in touch later to confirm the details of your participation.
We’re excited to announce that the theme for this year’s Architecture Exchange East is Tension. Over the course of the conference, we will take a closer look at balance and compromise in architecture. Tension exists both within and without our work. From the physical tension that empowers buildings to stand to the tension between creative vision and practical restrictions, we are thrilled to explore this theme.
Further announcements about the registration dates and pricing, keynote speaker, the panel discussion topic and speakers, tours, and networking events will be coming soon.
We look forward to seeing you in Richmond this November 7-9.
The deadline to submit your presentation proposal for Architecture Exchange East has been extended until April 30, 2018.
This year’s conference will be held Nov. 7–9, 2018, in Richmond, Virginia, and will bring together an audience of more than 1,000 architects and allied professionals over the course of the three-day event.
Our goal is to bring together the brightest minds and most engaging speakers to present talks that are future-focused on a wide range of subjects — and to provoke important conversations between design professionals.
Your talk could range from a one-hour session to a full-day workshop. We don’t want to box you into a particular format. We’re encouraging creative approaches to content delivery, including panel discussions, tours, and guided collaborative conversations.
To propose a seminar, workshop, or tour, complete the Presentation Proposal Form by April 30, 2018. Your proposal will be reviewed and you will be contacted by July 2018.
Help curate the very best programming, tours, and courses for Architecture Exchange East.
AIA Virginia is looking for a diverse group of members from a range of professional backgrounds to help shape the educational content for Architecture Exchange East (ArchEx).
Members of the Program Advisory Group help identify potential speakers, provide suggestions for content, and evaluate speaker proposals.
Volunteers can expect to:
Brainstorm potential speakers, topics, and tours for ArchEx (about 30 minutes)
Participate in an organizational meeting (by conference call or online) and share suggestions (about 1 hour)
Evaluate a selection of proposed seminars and provide feedback (about 1-2 hours)
Enjoy discounted admission to ArchEx
If you’re interested in helping to create a cutting-edge educational program by joining the Program Advisory Group, simply email Rhea George at rgeorge@aiava.org by March 1.
The ArchEx Call for Proposals is now open. We are seeking experts both from within the profession and outside it to showcase cutting-edge case studies and the latest technologies, practices, and research at Architecture Exchange East.
Our goal is to bring together the brightest minds and most engaging speakers to present talks that are future-focused on a wide range of subjects ― and to provoke important conversations among design professionals.
Though Architecture Exchange East has a 30-year history, we are looking forward to building on the energy of last year’s conference with a renewed and vigorous focus on curating exceptional, inspirational content. We hope you will consider being an integral part of this gathering of creative professionals.
Your talk could range from a one-hour session to a full-day workshop. We don’t want to box you into a particular format. We’re encouraging creative approaches to content delivery, including panel discussions, tours, and guided collaborative conversations. We welcome all proposals.
To propose an offering, complete and submit the Presentation Proposal Formby April 9. Your proposal will be reviewed and you will be contacted by July 2016. Incomplete forms will not be accepted.
Process Outline
Phase I (Potential Speakers)
Review the proposal requirements and resources
Save Nov. 7–9, 2018 on your calendar
Develop your content
Submit (DEADLINE: April 9)
Phase II (Program Advisory Group)
Peer review
Proposals selected
Presenters notified (Late May)
Phase III (Speakers)
Return speaker agreement (DEADLINE: June 15)
Provide/update contact information for all co-speakers and panelists
Register for ArchEx — speakers attend free on the day they present
Submit presentation and supporting materials (DEADLINE: Oct. 18)
Suggestions and Questions
Suggestions for potential speakers or questions about the conference can be directed to Rhea George at rgeorge@aiava.org or (804) 237-1768.
Wow! Architecture Exchange East 2017 was amazing! Here’s a quick look at the fun we had. Save the date for ArchEx 2018! Nov. 7-9, at the Greater Richmond Convention Center.
This will be my first Architecture Exchange East as your Executive Vice President and Servant-In-Chief. As a practitioner and firm leader, I attended this conference roughly a dozen times.
As I write this article, I ask myself, “Why did I attend?”
Was it the continuing education? The keynote speaker? The networking and fellowship?
Corey Clayborne, AIA
For me, the conference served as an architectural family reunion. I was provided the opportunity to see my closest friends and colleagues from around the Commonwealth and our universities at this designated time of year. I’ve sat at Penny Lane howling in laughter until my eyes welled up with tears. We joked about local AIA events that we had planned before where attendance woefully missed our expectations. It wasn’t funny when it happened but it sure is comical now. Anyone who has served in the AIA has likely experienced this phenomenon. Or we imitated, in good fun, those unique personalities that may have crossed our paths in the profession. Including clients. Heck, we even used ourselves as ammunition for jokes. And then someone would inquire, “You all want one more round?!” Knowing you signed up for a 7:00 seminar early the next morning, you should probably take your hind-parts to bed, but you would stay out a little longer and succumb to the peer pressure.
I get it. Your answer may be different than mine. But we all have our reasons for attending. The goal of the AIA Virginia Board of Directors and staff is to continue to strive for greater excellence each year with this production.
So, let me take a moment to share what we are doing special this year.
First, we have invested significantly into our future generation and emerging professionals this year. For the first time ever, AIA Virginia has partnered with AIAS National to produce a one-day continuing education track specifically crafted for students. A number of AIA Virginia highly-regarded firm principals and leaders will volunteer their expertise to share today’s best practices on portfolio preparation, getting hired, successfully integrating into a firm upon graduation, and so forth in an effort to better prepare the candidates you will be hiring. Also for the first time, AIA Virginia has offered registration promotions to members that include complimentary registrations for Associate members. And let’s not forget the prosecco toast planned for our newly licensed architects.
Secondly, we have diversified the continuing education experience to capture unique opportunities not available online or at lunch and learns. Historically, AIA Virginia only had a Large-Firm Roundtable (LFRT) that facilitated dialogue amongst firm leaders on issues faced in practice such as equity and diversity, leadership development, and firm culture. These roundtable discussions have now been extended to include Small-Firms (SFRT) and Mid-Size Firms (MFRT) and will be held at The Branch Museum of Architecture and Design. Our tours this year will include Stone Brewing and VCU’s Institute for Contemporary Art designed by Steven Holl Architects. We have nearly 70 vendors that are ready to show you the latest products in the market. The keynote speaker and CEO of Architizer, Marc Kushner, AIA is one of the highest rated TED speakers in the world and his talk is going to blow you away.
Lastly, we will continue to provide opportunities to let your hair down and enjoy your time in fellowship with your peers. This year at CONNECTIONS, we will be joined by our conference partners, American Society of Landscape Architects. Representatives from Preservation Virginia and Associated General Contractors (AGC) are also expected to be in attendance. This will afford you the chance to build relationships with non-architect partners that have a role in shaping the built environment. Virginia Tech will host its annual alumni party which is always a joyous time and groups like the Emerging Leaders in Architecture and Women in Design continue to host their annual dinners.
The conference is capped with our Visions for Architecture gala that celebrates our Honors and Awards winners at the Hotel John Marshall. We will get cleaned up, maybe shave, eat great food, and dance like no one is watching as the DJ spins classic jams that take us to “back-in-the-day” memories. We will be joined at the gala by our 2017 AIA National President, Thomas Vonier, FAIA. A tremendous honor indeed.
So, in closing, the question is “Why do you attend Architecture Exchange East?” Email me at cclayborne@aiava.org and let me know. If you were not planning to attend, I am hopeful you will consider giving it a try. At least for one day. You’ve worked hard all year. Invest in yourself for the sake of personal and career growth while escaping the four walls of your office for just a moment. Believe me, your clients want that too.
“A Collaboration is a purposeful relationship in which all parties strategically choose to cooperate in order to achieve shared or overlapping objectives.” — Wikipedia.
Collaboration is part of your daily life as an architect and is the theme for the upcoming 30th annual Architecture Exchange East this November in Richmond. At the keynote address Marc Kushner, AIA, will talk about the lessons he learned in his transition from trained architect, and firm principal, to CEO of Architizer, a venture-funded architecture start-up. These lessons from the tech world will change how you think about architecture, help identify opportunities for innovation in architecture, package new ideas as opportunities for collaboration.
Marc Kushner, AIA. Photo: Jason Lindberg.
Kushner is partner of the New York City-based architecture firm Hollwich Kushner (HWKN) and the co-founding CEO of the website Architizer — both of which operate with the stated intention of making architecture an accessible part of a public dialogue. “[Marc’s aim] is to push his insular profession toward the mainstream and inspire more people, not just Fortune 500 executives, to seek out its services.” — New York Times, November 4, 2010.
He is a notable speaker, having presented at TED, PSFK, and GRID on topics surrounding architecture’s intersection with digital media. He has taught at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation, lectures on the topic of social media and architecture across the country and sits on the boards of Storefront for Art and Architecture and Goods for Good. His 2015 book The Future of Architecture in 100 Buildings has been listed at #1 in Architecture on Amazon. Marc’s TED talk titled “Why the buildings of the future will be shaped by … you” has more than 2.5 million views — the 4th highest in the Architecture category — and is listed in Dezeen’s Top 10 TED Talks about architecture.
Anyone interested in changing architecture for the better should attend. Students, young architects, mid-career architects eager to transform the industry, older firm principals with success and time behind them who want to give back.
The architecture profession is becoming more collaborative every year. In response to this, we at AIA Virginia are excited about embracing this evolution of the profession and are making it the theme for this, our 30th Architecture Exchange East (ArchEx).
Collaboration occurs at all levels of the profession. Collaborating with similar professions projects, working with the public and clients to make sure everyone is on the same page, collaborating within a firm to create the best work possible, and many other places. We are looking at supporting these collaborative efforts at this year’s ArchEx through new partnerships, programs, and opportunities to network. This year will see the continuation of the Branch Museum Tour series as well as educational sessions that focus on collaboration. We will also have some large news to announce regarding collaboration in the coming weeks, so please do keep an eye out for that. Further announcements about the registration dates and pricing, keynote speaker, the panel discussion topic and speakers, tours, and networking events will be coming soon.
We look forward to seeing you in Richmond this November 1-3.
AIA Virginia’s annual conference, Architecture Exchange East (ArchEx), takes place Nov. 1-3, 2017, at the Greater Richmond Convention Center. This year we are moving the exhibit hall to the grand ballroom where it will be the focal point of the conference. For your convenience, the keynote, general session, and other events will be held in the connecting ballroom space.
Other events not to miss in the exhibit hall:
Morning coffee receptions Thursday and Friday
Buffet lunch both Thursday and Friday
CONNECTIONS Cocktail Party Thursday from 5-6:30- p.m.
Don’t miss the chance to network and see all of the new products and services from these 2017 ArchEx Exhibitors>>
