Message from the First VP/2024 President-elect of AIA

Kimberly Dowdell, AIA
AIA First VP/2024 President-elect

As a new day begins, I awaken with sincere gratitude to all of the AIA delegates who chose my name on the ballot for 2024 President-Elect. I know it wasn’t an easy decision. Having two very well qualified and dedicated women of color in the running is a first for AIA. I am proud of the campaign that we both ran, and I know that we will continue to serve this profession in so many different ways over the horizon of our careers. While my presidency will officially commence at the end of 2023, I am the 100th representative of the Institute’s highest elective office right now. I am beyond grateful.

This is monumental, no matter my race, gender, or age. The fact that I happen to be a Black woman under 40 makes this extraordinary. Together, we have made history in the field of architecture. My selection is a win for all of us. I entered this race for AIA President with strong encouragement from people of various backgrounds who I respect and admire. This win is for them. I entered this race to be a representative to those who have historically felt under-represented. This win is for them. I entered this race to help build a better profession for future generations of architects representing the full spectrum of humanity. This win is for them. I entered this race in an effort to help build a better and more sustainable world for all of us. This win is for you.

I deeply appreciate the tremendous support that I have received from so many. Special thanks to my family and inner circle of friends, who have been my foundation during this time. Further, I could not do this without the generous support of my firm. Many thanks to HOK’s leadership for their continued support of my service to the industry. Finally, none of this would be remotely possible without God. My faith has been my anchor from the very beginning, and it will continue to propel me forward to serve the AIA with everything I have to offer.

Yes, we’ve made history. Now it’s time to go build a better future! #KND4AIA

Message from the AIA Oregon EVP/CEO

Heather Wilson
AIAO EVP/CEO

In the spirit of Whitney Young

There are no words for the tragedy that occurred in Texas, just as there were no words in Sandy Hook or in any of the other 27 shootings that have occurred at American schools in 2022. I am fighting the conflicting emotions involved with talking this over with my children, while secretly admiring their ability to still get up and go to class knowing what they know about their full safety: it isn’t guaranteed.

I shouldn’t be, but I have been caught off guard when faced with the emotional responses from people like Coach Steve Kerr, whose disappointment and anger reflected (I hope) the hearts of many. There is a weariness here, and, at least on my part, a strong desire to figure out what we can do – both “we” as an organization and “we” as individuals working in our homes and communities.

I would like to propose that, to the extent you can find your personal intersection between your practice as an architect, the protection of the health, safety and welfare of the public and how you feel about designing buildings for enhanced safety, you at least educate your clients. And while every solution we see in legislation isn’t the right one (code-mandated automatic door locks have been floated, for example, but present real obstacles to accessibility design) perhaps we can work proactively to create design solutions to the realities we ask teachers and students to face as we open our increasingly state-of-the-art institutions.

ODC 22 will be a place to reconnect with your colleagues from around the state, and not only see each other for the first time in a couple of years, but engage these conversations with intention, fulfilling the request made of AIA in 1968 by Whitney Young, in Portland Oregon, where we were admonished to replace our “thunderous silence” on the issues of that time with action.

I suggest we consider educating ourselves and clients to a way of seeing resilience as three-layered, considering physical, social, and psychological impacts when considering design elements, and incorporating all the best practices we know how. Seizing this moment to gather and discuss these issues as they are happening (and even perhaps come up with some solutions together) would go a long way toward honoring Mr. Young, those who have already been victims and those we hope to protect from ever seeing that fate. I believe that if we gather with that intention, we will have at least made a move in the right direction, and that’s better than thoughts and prayers alone.

If you have already signed up, thank you. If you cannot attend, but would like to get the recordings digitally, please consider registering for the digital package. We have much to accomplish together, and it won’t be the same without you – so I hope to meet you there.

Message from the AIAO President

Kaley Fought, AIA
AIAO President

The Missing LINK 

Have you registered for the AIA Oregon Conference June 1-3? ODC 22: LINK is ready to go, with a full schedule, health and safety protocols in place, and speakers that are equipped to elevate your practice. The 2022 ODC Planning Committee – a group of dedicated AIAO volunteers from our sections, committees, and firms of all sizes, has worked very hard for the last six months to bring you a full range of presentations covering equity, design, innovation, resilience, and more. 

Registration has been open for a few weeks now, and the early bird discounts expire tomorrow. If you haven’t signed up, I ask you to do so today. Alongside our Sponsors and Allied members and AIA Oregon staff, I have created an affordable conference with all of the credits you might need to both meet your licensure and AIA membership requirements, AND also your 5-hour ADA / Accessibility credits for California licensure. 

With all of those benefits, many of you still haven’t signed up – and I want you to know the experience won’t be the same without you.  

I hope you’ll consider how YOU might be the missing link we’ll need to make this conference great.  

We are purposefully holding our conference in Portland, both to reduce cost for many and to make the location more accessible and available to carbon-free transportation options. Hosting at the Sentinel Hotel was an easy decision – their COVID protocols for staff, cleaning procedures, and overall flexibility and understanding have us convinced that we are in careful hands. They will help us practice proper distancing, provide us with checked and cleared service staff, and help us encourage indoor masking in appropriate areas. We are committed to following all county and state regulations as we monitor our progression into the endemic phase of this most interesting time. I also hope you’ll do the same, obtaining a booster if needed, or taking your own steps of masking and distancing to keep yourself comfortable on site.  

If you register and attend, you will have the opportunity to catch up with your colleagues from around the state for the first time in 3 years, while also having the chance to talk with our featured speakers at the receptions hosted all three evenings of the conference. If you register and view digitally, you will have access to featured speakers via live broadcast and the opportunity to chat with your colleagues in between. As a firm leader, I hope you all take advantage of this great opportunity to introduce new staff members to the design community. 

Speaking of which, this will also be the first time many will have to meet our new EVP / CEO, Heather Wilson, in person. It’s been a little over a year since her arrival, and I expect she is also very eager to meet and greet with members from around the state. Let’s please make this the welcome I couldn’t offer last year! 

Lastly, I hope all of our firm principals will extend to their their staff – especially the youngest and most talented – the opportunity to educate and expand their ideas around practice by hearing from our carefully selected featured speakers. If you have not yet, please see our lineup of speakers, all examples of excellence in the industry who are certain to give your firm’s talent powerful insights and new tools for the office.  

Unfortunately, because of how we have to balance the affordability of broadcasting live and recording breakout sessions, there will be NO ON-SITE REGISTRATION and you won’t be able to access livestreams the day of the conference without registration. Conference offerings will not be available for free for another several months, but your registration will ensure access to it all, even after the event. THAT is a deal. 

The committee and staff have worked hard, the sponsors have all stepped up and the Sentinel Hotel is ready to welcome us. We’re on the edge of creating something great together, if we connect the links - I know it. I am excited for ODC 22, and excited to have had the opportunity to work with these amazing professionals from around the state to bring it to you. Please register today!