Message from the AIA Oregon HQ Task Force Co-Chairs

Elisa Ahn, AIA
Alan Scott, FAIA
Co-Chairs, AIA Oregon HQ Task Force

AIA Oregon HQ Task Force: Pivoting Beyond Bricks and Mortar

Throughout 2023, the HQ Task Force embarked on a mission to not just find a new address, but to reimagine our presence in Oregon. We started with questions: What do members want from the chapter? How can we meet your needs, recognizing the ways in which we live, work, and interact are changing? What financial realities do we face?

As we delved into the hearts and minds of our diverse membership, a nuanced picture emerged – one that caused the Task Force to question our initial assumption that the answer to our challenges lay in a new HQ space or spaces. We realized that, in addition to being financially restrictive, a traditional brick-and-mortar investment was not what most members wanted. Instead, you told us that investing in physical spaces could mean getting stuck: with big recurring costs, in locations that would leave some people out, and in spaces that may quickly become architecturally dated.

This brought us to a paradigm shift. After deeply listening, we moved away from our limited exploration of physical space and toward a broad reconsideration of AIA Oregon’s relationship with people and places.

The result is a set of recommendations adopted by the Board of Directors last week. Our top recommendation was that the chapter should not pursue ownership or long-term leases of spaces, for now. From there, we pivoted into what the chapter should do, introducing specific actions and initiatives to strengthen and serve Oregon’s architecture community.

Our recommendations include:

• Hiring additional AIA Oregon staff to support sections and grow member engagement

• Investing in new, statewide programs – and providing clarity and resources for anyone involved in planning events

• Reimagining the structure of section steering committees to provide more support to volunteers, nurture leaders, and encourage broader participation

• Boosting advocacy and civic involvement at the board level and beyond

• Developing a mini grant program to support architectural initiatives in Oregon communities

• Reimagining our Allied Professional membership, with an eye toward building stronger bonds throughout the A/E/C community

As co-chairs of the AIA Oregon HQ Task Force, we believe this bold step away from the traditional HQ model represents a defining moment in our history. It's a decision guided by unwavering member focus, financial prudence, and a vision for a future where every architect across Oregon feels connected, supported, and empowered to thrive.

We are deeply grateful to the Task Force members who volunteered their time and effort to create this new vision, and to everyone who showed up to help us define our new opportunities together. We look forward to seeing these ideas come to life – and to experiencing the impact of a strengthened foundation and a community-led vision for our chapter.

Elisa Ahn and Alan Scott
Co-chairs, AIA Oregon HQ Task Force

You can go to our Creating a New HQ webpage to learn more.

Message from the AIA Oregon President-Elect

John Flynn, AIA
AIA Oregon President-Elect

Looking Forward

Hello, Colleagues –

I’m writing to you from the President-Elect’s desk for the last time.  The New Year is just around the corner and I’m honored to step into a new role as AIA Oregon’s President.  Thank you, Kaley Fought, for your leadership over the past two years!  And for your continued expertise next year in your role as Immediate Past President.

For me, I’m excited and looking forward to 2024.  We’ve been growing as a single-state chapter.  Think of it.  In 2018 we, as an organization, voted to consolidate our four Chapters into a single entity with five Sections.  As 2024 begins, we are starting our sixth year as the Oregon Chapter of AIA.  We have established our core values around stewardship in terms of climate change, resiliency, and universal design as well as our increased commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion at every level of engagement in our profession.  It’s time for us to solidify how we take our statewide strengths to the section level.  This is where we can build volunteer capacity and provide meaningful services for our members. I’m thinking of more programs and engagement opportunities for all our Sections!

Let me tell you what else I’m looking forward to in the coming year:

• Increased programming and member services:  Our budget outlook is healthy, and we will be using our resources to increase programs and services.  This may even take the form of adding to our AIAO staff so that we can fully serve all sections.

  We are currently “unburdened” from paying for leased spaces (see my next bullet point) and that provides us with opportunities to channel our resources to areas that will have a direct impact on all our members.

• A new idea for how we interconnect – the not HQ:  As you may have read in our previous “Message From…” posts, the results of our HQ Task Force survey and outreach/engagement with membership over the past months has yielded an understanding that, for now, we don’t necessarily need a physical headquarters space.  This idea comes from our sensibility that, as a statewide organization, we can connect, exchange, and collaborate without the financial challenges of leasing and/or building-out a permanent physical space.

  When we need to connect in person, we’ll find places/facilities that meet the needs of the moment, thereby keeping our operations lean and statewide-focused.  The Task Force that’s been working hard for almost a year-and-a-half will be presenting recommendations to the AIAO Board of Directors in January for how we can elevate our game with a new perspective on AIA Oregon’s “home.”

• The Oregon Design Conference:  The Conference will take place in Bend, May 8 – 10, 2024.  ODC 24 will offer the state’s 1500+ AIA members educational programming and networking opportunities.  We are planning an in-person conference with opportunities for members to access recordings of the presentations after the event.

  The conference theme of ODC 2024 “Beyond Shelter: Confronting Our Housing Crisis, Together” will address the housing crisis, sustainability, and resilience through the lens of what actions architects can take to have a positive impact.  Architects have a responsibility to consider their role and the possibilities that exist for their collaborative impact.  More information will be coming soon on the state’s only conference on the practice of architecture!

• Increased advocacy and civic engagement:  AIA Oregon will continue to address issues, both statewide and locally, that affect us as design professionals and community leaders.  We have an active Legislative Affairs Committee and, although 2024 is a short session for our state legislators, we expect our voice to be heard in matters of business interests, the built environment, and climate action.  Public policy advocacy is such an important aspect of our organization.

Finally, I’m looking forward to connections with members and partners.  I’m committed to engaging with Section activities across the state – in person as often as I can. And that gets us back to where I started with today’s message.  Let’s make the most of our statewide strengths.  I’m excited for a productive 2024 with all of you!

Thanks and Happy Holidays to everyone!

Message from the Outgoing AIA Oregon Board President

Kaley Fought, AIA
AIA Oregon President

Reflecting on the Year and Embracing the Future: A Message from AIA Oregon President Kaley Fought

Dear Valued AIA Oregon Members,

As the year draws to a close, I find myself reflecting on the extraordinary journey we've shared as a chapter. It's been an honor to serve as your President, and I'm incredibly proud of the collective achievements we've made under the guiding principles of advocacy, education, and professional development.

Together, we've championed the voices of architects across Oregon, amplifying our role in shaping a more sustainable, equitable, and resilient built environment. We've advocated for legislation that promotes sustainable design practices, championed affordable housing initiatives, and continue to engage in meaningful conversations about the future of our cities and towns through our committees and volunteer efforts at the section level.

I’m very proud of our members and the transitions we’ve had to make going into and coming out of pandemic. It has meant a great deal to me to see members and sponsors in person at our events again, supporting our digital offerings while also coming back out to key networking and social events. I have been happy to reconnect in meaningful and inspiring ways and look forward to more in 2024.

Our board and committee leaders, section leaders and staff have all been dedicated to finding our way as we transition from a physical central office to a new solution that will broaden our ability to serve members across the state. I’m excited for what comes next as we finalize the recommendations and create a new statewide solution for member service.

Education has been at the heart of our efforts, fostering a community of learning and growth among our members. We've expanded our educational offerings, providing architects with the latest advancements in design technology, sustainable practices, and leadership skills. Through workshops, seminars, and conferences, we've facilitated the exchange of ideas and fostered a culture of continuous learning.

Professional development has been another cornerstone of our work, empowering our members to reach their full potential. We've provided mentorship opportunities, facilitated networking events, supported the pathway to Fellowship, and celebrated the achievements of our future architects with the Chris White Memorial Scholarship. By supporting our members’ professional growth, I know we've strengthened the foundation of our profession in Oregon.

As we look to the future, I'm filled with optimism for the continued growth and impact of AIA Oregon. We stand on a solid foundation, built upon the dedication and passion of our members. Together, we'll continue to shape the built environment, advocating for innovative designs, sustainable practices, and equitable communities.

In closing, I express my deepest gratitude to each of you for your support and contributions during my term. It's been a privilege to serve alongside such a talented and committed group of architects, and I hope to see many of you that I’ve met these past couple of years take the opportunity to lead this organization as well. We all have something to contribute, and you’ll be supported by colleagues and friends during your tenure. It will go by faster than you think and you’ll learn more than you thought you could!

Education and advocacy will be as critical as ever this next year, and we will continue to foster an inclusive and progressive path forward, striving for equitable environments, carbon neutrality, and a voice at the table in policy development. In my role as Immediate Past President next year, I hope to encourage you all to support and contribute to our new Diversity in Architecture Scholarship, which will launch formally in 2024. I’m excited to see the next generation of designers step into meaningful roles and continue to elevate the influence of architects. The last two years have gone quite quickly, but please be assured that I remain committed to the legacy of success we’ve built in AIA Oregon. I am looking forward to the leadership of the next chapter President, John Flynn, AIA, and I hope you will help me in celebrating the passing of the torch.

With appreciation,

Kaley Fought, AIA President, AIA Oregon