by: Jessica Sheridan Assoc. AIA LEED AP
With the many discussions centered on how the architecture profession can change with the times, this year’s convention was inspiring for me. Many firms garnering awards are changing the profession through their practice. They spoke of treating their employees with esteem, respecting their needs for more flexible hours, supporting involvement in their local AIA chapters as well as in their communities, and mentoring emerging architects by giving them responsibility and allowing them ownership of design. It was most disappointing for me, then, to discover the results of the annual business meeting, in which three AIA National Bylaws Amendments were voted down: changing the term International Associate to AIA International; allowing Associate members to serve as Regional Directors; and creating a Public Membership category in the AIA. Although AIANY voted in favor of all of these motions, ultimately, they were defeated.
By turning away Associate members from regional directorship, the AIA is turning its back on the enormous number of professionals practicing in the field of architecture. Although they may not (yet) be architects, the field of architecture is dependent on them and they deserve a right to hold a voting position on the Board. In a time when the AIA is trying to grow its membership, devaluing the associates will hurt the cause. Also, as architecture increases in public consciousness, it is important that the AIA acknowledge individuals who contribute to the profession in many ways outside of just being licensed. Many individuals are helping promote architects in the public realm and do the profession a service by participating.
In addition, I think it is outrageous that someone who has practiced architecture successfully for many years in other countries cannot claim that they are architects in the U.S. They should not have to register in the U.S. to use AIA after their names.
Seminar after seminar, panelists spoke of diversifying practice, collaborating with experts in other fields, and broadening firms to include specialists who are not architects (See “Convention 2009, The Power of Diversity: It Begins At the Workplace,” in this issue). It may be that the voting is reactive to the economic downturn, and architects are scared of losing their jobs and their control over the profession. But as was evidenced by the award winners who are younger and run practices that are collaborative and comprised of nontraditional unions, the future of the AIA depends on expanding its umbrella. The AIA needs to find new ways to accept more people if it is to truly represent the architecture profession.