Message from the AIAO President-Elect

Kaley Fought, AIA
AIAO President-Elect

This week is a pivotal one. We are stepping into a new chapter; one which offers an opportunity to take a sure and confident step forward. When I think of the role of the Architect, it is one of possibility - excitement and innovation, creativity and boldness. The willingness, I think, to not please everybody, but to challenge the status quo. 

As a unified state chapter, we span a variety of demographics through urban and rural communities, and as Architects, we continually share the company of a multitude of circles - our colleagues, clients, families, and communities - and within this network we have a responsibility to push for design that is representative, and inclusive, of this diverse society. I do not mean to limit our role as a part of the community to that of the designer; rather consider the reality that we can make a substantial impact in addressing the crises that exist today.

While we are far from assuaging the damage that has been done to our planet, globally, as an industry, Architects were some of the first to step forward and push for changes which make for healthier, more sustainable buildings. This has had an incredible effect on our communities and has completely altered the way people think about buildings - from health and wellbeing to the financial impact of conserving energy. This collective, unified approach towards making a positive change in the way we design can, and should, be applied towards building more equitable, inclusive, and healthy communities. 

During the past year, AIAO Board members participated in an equity and diversity workshop hosted by Future Work Design. The work we pursued was challenging and reflective, and at times deeply saddened me, but mostly I found it inspiring. While every individual is walking their own path, with their own challenges and goals, their own perspective and past, some individuals are pushing through systemic layers of obstruction that others never have to consider. What I found most inspiring about the workshop was the collective willingness and commitment of our board members to building a stronger, more representative community of Architects. Stronger in our representation, our voice as an advocate for the betterment of our communities, and in supporting the vision for inclusive, safe, and healthy places. One who doesn’t simply make a commitment to being more inclusive because we should, but an organization whose representation is integral to our mission and our members. 

 We can challenge the way things are, in pursuit of the way they could be.

Message from the AIAO Executive Director

Curt Wilson, AIA
AIAO Executive Director

Capitols – Access to Democracy

Leaders of the Oregon legislature confirmed recently that the 2021 session will be in person for legislators and key staff, but the building will be closed to the public.  While I support the measures enacted in 2020 and 2021 to limit the spread of COVID 19, I’m concerned about this legislative session.  Politics and advocacy is a relationship-based endeavor, and relationships are best formed and nourished in person.  Remote engagement is something we’ve all become accustomed to the past few months, so we are learning to do it better, but the in-session legislative process happens in a building, or collection of buildings, and it is difficult to replicate virtually. 

Based on information I received today from Stateside, a government relations firm that supports AIA at the state level, Oregon is one of about seven states that will proceed with an in-person session while the building closed to the public.

I had the great fortune about a decade ago to lead the design team on the complete restoration of the Oregon Capitol Office Wings.  Our team met with a bi-partisan group of house and senate members during the session regularly as the design process evolved.  A commonly used phrase of “the People’s Building” was mentioned at every meeting and drove the decision-making process.  The Capitol is regularly open during the day and anyone can enter and wander down the halls and to the reception area of each member’s office suite.  The halls in the office wings are narrow, so chances of walking past an elected official and brushing shoulders is likely to happen.  Most of the activity in the Capitol during the session is south of the original building rotunda in the lobbying and hearing rooms area.  The hearing rooms are positioned with both the public entrance and member entrance along the same wide corridor, so it is easy to find a member and have a conversation as they come and go during the committee meetings.  Prior to taking over as the AIA Oregon EVP/CEO, I chaired in the Legislative Affairs Committee and most of my advocacy time in the Capitol was spent outside the hearing rooms talking with other architects, our lobbyist Cindy Robert, and the people on both sides of the issues we were involved in.  “Both sides of the issues” are the operative words here.  This is where different perspective come together and find common ground.  My experience of over two decades in the building as an architect and policy advocate for the profession is that the building cultivates civility, and the legislative process is better when people dialogue, compromise and are accountable to each other.

A colleague commented last week that civility is the first line of security for public spaces.  We are living in a moment unlike any time of my life, where civility has been marginalized.  I never thought I would see a time where a US Capitol was breached by rioters trying to stop the legal transfer of power, but that happened on the sixth day of the new year, the year we hoped would be better than the one before!  In Oregon, a similar event occurred with politically motivated individuals attempting to shut down the legislature and resorting to violence.  The People’s Buildings are under attack by some of the people unwilling to accept a sacred process that has occurred seamlessly every 4 years since George Washington was first sworn in on April 30, 1789.  And, unfortunately, the FBI is predicting an escalation of events the week of the inauguration throughout the country. In Salem, meetings were cancelled for next Tuesday and Wednesday and this morning Capitol maintenance staff started putting plywood on all first-floor windows. Safety is now the priority over civility and democracy.

As architects, we need to be the voice of our capitol buildings.  The People’s Building is a real thing, and it is worth preserving.  Safety protocols during a pandemic are essential and take priority, but this pandemic (we hope) is an isolated event.  While I’m sad about the impact of the COVID-19 on the legislative process, our legislative leaders have made a reasonable decision for this session.  However, we don’t have a vaccine to address the loss of civility and threats of violence against the buildings that are the symbols of democracy in our society, so I fear short-sighted stop-gap measures will be enacted as a response.  This probably will include limited access to the public, and more haphazardly placed barricades.  You may recall that a common response after the attacks of 911 was the placement of concrete “Jersey” barriers throughout DC and other capitol cities.  Similar to the design of schools to enhance safety and encourage positive learning, we can do better with capitol buildings and architects need to lead the way.

Message from the AIAO President

Amy Vohs, AIA
AIAO President

Happy New Year everyone!  I am looking forward to quite a few things this year as we close the book on 2020, a year of more crises and threats to our safety as a community than most of us would ever like to see again. We have two new executive committee members joining Misty Nelmes and myself.  Kaley Fought, AIA of the Salem section is our new President-Elect. She has extensive experience as former Salem chapter president and is also the chair of the Oregon Design Conference.  Stephanie Morales, Associate AIA has been elected as the new treasurer.  She has been heavily involved in the CoEDI committee and is currently on our Executive Director search task force.  We look forward to their leadership over the next few years.  This will be my last year as president and I have high hopes for this year. Please view our website announcement  “Meet your 2021 AIA Oregon Board” for more information on the new executive committee.

We also welcome several new Section Directors this month.  Samuel Uccello, AIA moves up to the Southern Section Director and Sara Bergby, AIA is the new Bend Section Director. Both have been extremely involved over the last year in program development and leadership as Directors-elect. Lastly we welcome Kathy Austin, AIA of Bend as the Director-at-Large.  She has an extensive housing background and has been extremely involved in shaping the Bend Section. We look forward to her insight as we work to create a new Housing Committee this coming year.

As a chapter, we will continue to move AIA Oregon to a better normal with on-line education programming, expanding the People’s Choice Awards to all sections and getting to improved hybrid events when we are able to meet in person. There are several different technological advancements we have learned of from the successes of other chapters with digital programming we hope to adopt. 

We are also looking forward to expanding upon the Social Justice Action Plan. Last year the board voted to spend time on Bias and Equity training to better understand where we are as a board to assist in moving forward the Action Plan to move our industry to a better, more inclusive and diverse profession. The AIA SJAP Framework further defines our goals as a chapter to expand our network, influence and education.  This will be a heavy focus for several of our committee members and we welcome any and all interested in getting further engaged. This is a long and expansive process to work towards changing the Architecture community with avenues for all to explore. 

I write this on the same day that we have protestors storming the Capitol building and I pray we all get a little peace for 2021. I look forward to seeing you all again in person as the state rolls out vaccinations and maybe we will only have one or two major crises to work through this year.  We will also say goodbye to Curt Wilson later this spring but will move forward with a solid foundation for the new Executive Director. One thing is for sure, being resilient has never been more important for AIA Oregon.

I wish you all a healthy and prosperous New Year!

 Amy E. Vohs, AIA