Message from the AIA Oregon EVP/CEO

Heather Wilson
AIA Oregon EVP/CEO

Looking Toward More in 2024

To the Esteemed Members of AIA Oregon,

As we stand on the precipice of 2024, I am filled with immense gratitude for the unwavering support and dedication you have demonstrated towards AIA Oregon throughout 2023. This year has been a busy one, marked by notable achievements, unforeseen challenges, and bountiful opportunities for growth. As the incoming AIA President Kim Dowdell, AIA has already noted, “we’re looking toward more in ’24!” and I am so happy to being doing that here, and with this membership.

Together, we have embarked on a transformative conversation about our priorities for membership and advocacy, fueling further conversation about the architects’ role in the designing, rebuilding, and rethinking of our urban landscape. We have championed policies that foster sustainable design practices, championed affordable housing initiatives, and advocated for resilient communities that can weather any storm. We have nurtured the next generation of architects, imparting our knowledge and expertise through comprehensive education and mentorship programming. And we have cultivated a thriving community of professionals united by a shared passion for crafting a better built environment.

I am particularly indebted to our generous sponsors, whose invaluable contributions have played a pivotal role in our success. Their financial underwriting has enabled us to host thought-provoking events, provide scholarships to aspiring architects, and amplify our advocacy efforts, ensuring that the voices of our members are heard and heeded.

Thank you to our 2023 Cornerstone Sponsor, HUB / Niedermeyer - your unwavering support of our mission and our members continues to help us provide quality programming and events like the Oregon Architecture Awards.

To our 2023 Platinum Sponsor – InteriorTech, we are deeply grateful for your ongoing commitment. Our DDS programs are especially supported by your contribution, helping to provide our award-winning projects a platform for educating our architects about future-forward solutions. Thank you.

We’d also like to acknowledge our 2023 Gold Sponsors – BetterBricks, EnergyTrust of Oregon, Hoffman, IMIAGINiT, Innotech Windows and Doors, Marvin, Jensen Hughes, and Opsis. Our in-person committee and CE events are made better by your backing, and we’re happy you’re such great partners!

Please click here to view our full page of sponsors, including Silver and Bronze level contributors. If you have a chance to thank them personally at any of our upcoming section holiday meetings or events in your offices, please share our gratitude for their support.

As we embark on the uncharted territory of 2024, I am brimming with excitement for the transformative journey that lies ahead. We will continue to champion policies that shape the future of our cities, towns, and neighborhoods, leaving an indelible mark on the communities we serve. We will invest in the professional development of our members, empowering them with the skills and knowledge necessary to thrive in an ever-evolving industry. And we will fortify our community, fostering a space where architects can connect, collaborate, and inspire one another, igniting a collective spark of innovation.

I am unwavering in my belief that with our collective vision and dedication, AIA Oregon will continue to drive positive change, shaping the architectural landscape of Oregon for generations to come. Thank you for being an integral part of our exceptional community.

With heartfelt appreciation,

Heather Wilson, AIA Oregon CEO / EVP

Message from the AIA Oregon President

Kaley Fought, AIA
AIA Oregon President

A Night of Celebration

I am looking forward to next Thursday, November 9, as AIA Oregon celebrates Architectural and Professional achievements with our night of honors and awards at the Portland Art Museum. This year, we hope members from all over the state will be able to join us again to network, see the exemplary work of our colleagues, and have more than a little fun.

The Awards presentation has changed over the years, and I think one of the most exciting additions is the access to Portland Art Museum Galleries ahead of the evening’s presentation. If you purchase a ticket or table to the evening, you’ll have the chance to view the Black Artists of Oregon, the first of its kind to consider the work of Black artists collectively in Oregon; as well as Throughlines: Connections in the Collection which embraces wonder and curiosity, bringing together artworks from across the Museum’s collections to explore the range of artistic innovation. Members will have access to these galleries from 5-7pm, so I hope you can arrive early after work and explore before the festivities.

We’ll have drinks and food, of course, and an opportunity to cut loose with a dance floor and a DJ! A bubbly toast goes with dessert, and everyone leaves with a little swag, whether you win an award or not. Our jurors will also be around to mingle and get to know our members. You won’t want to miss this night!

Thank you to all who entered. It is not an easy process to put together your work for presentation, and we appreciate your continued support of the program, as well as your inspiring work. The jurors had 68 entries to deliberate this year and the decisions were not easy. In general, they thanked our chapter for having such a robust set of projects to select from and encouraged more entrants to consider entering the 2030 calculator information. There is a clear indication that projects, moving forward, must be beautiful as well as highly functional and resilient; as architects, we have the responsibility to lead these conversations with our ideas and built work.

I can’t wait to hear all of the other thoughtful words and view the award-winning projects for 2023. We’ll also be honoring our two Professional Achievement Award winners – the President’s Award and the Young Architect Award. Jay Raskin, FAIA, and Nicole Becker, AIA, will be honored for the two awards, respectively, and I have the pleasure of handing them their accolades.

It’s been a humbling and personally gratifying facet of my Presidency to gather the jurors and participate in the presentation of awards and will be looking forward to sharing next Thursday with all of you! As I come to the end of my term as President of the Chapter, I am so grateful for the opportunity I’ve had to serve. I will enjoy the chance to express my gratitude in person on November 9th – I hope to see you there!

Let’s Celebrate!
Kaley Fought, AIA

Message from the CoEDI Chair

Mohamed Fakhry, Associate AIA
Chair, Committee on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
Co-Chair, Emerging Professionals Committee

NOMA Conference Recap

A few weeks ago, I attended the Annual NOMA Conference in Portland - Towards Just and Joyful Futures (October 11-15), along close to 1,200 others NOMA members and non-members from all across the country and the world!

I am grateful to my firm ZGF for offering me the opportunity to join the conference and join all the beautiful souls that came to Portland, to celebrate BIPOC and POC contribution to architecture through the lenses of advancing and advocating for more Diversity, Equity, and inclusion in the profession of Architecture.

Some of my most inspiring moments at the conference happened when I meet a few of the NOMA founders and pioneers, and I listened, as they shared countless memories of their journey, advices, and words of encouragements. Indeed, pushing and advocating for more sustainable and equitable bridges in the profession of architecture is hard work and challenging work, and it it requires a lot of efforts, commitment, and dedication, not just from a few of us, but from all of us. The NOMA founders and pioneers along the many emerging professionals who attended the conference in Portland, they all reminded me of one thing, it is not about perfection, it is about keeping up and carrying on.

As a Deaf designer, I am most thankful to NOMAPDX for making this conference one to remember and of the most accessible ones I have attended since my early journey in architecture. There are still doors standing very tall and heavy all across the world when it comes to accessibility, but NOMAPDX broke some of those doors open and uplifted me and thousands others by providing closed captions and sign language accommodations for all, and that is beautiful and impactful progress. I hope that will set as a precedent for future conferences on architecture nationwide and worldwide to push for accessibility and breaking the barriers towards people with disabilities.

« Building Bridges towards Just and Joyful Futures » is indeed a slogan that is palpable and we can get there if we dare to believe in change. Again, we all need to ask ourselves, isn’t now the time to come together and build those bridges? I believe it is!

« And through architecture, I find sanctuaries and bridges in the world!
And through humans, I find laughter and joy!
And through Peace and freedom, I find 
A life worth of love and dreams! »

Mohamed Fakhry