Common Questions and Answers about Our New HQ
Q: Truthfully, you already have some idea of what and where it’s going to be, right?
A: No, we are really at the very beginning of this process. No sites have been reviewed or selected. No hires have been made other than communications and community engagement consultants to support our process. We are looking to the HQ Task Force to guide the design process, including how we engage members along the way.
Q: Who can be on the HQ Task Force?
A: If you’re an AIA Oregon member, you can participate in the HQ Task Force. We are looking for people who:
Want to get involved in this process
Represent the diversity of our organization
Have experience and interest in a variety of areas, from community engagement to cost estimating, project management to design.
If that sounds like you, please fill out our interest survey by September 2!
Q: How will the Task Force and AIAO Board work together?
A: The HQ Task Force members are responsible for the day to day work of moving the HQ co-creation process forward. The board president will be a part of the HQ Task Force and the board will vote to approve recommendations from the Task Force at key points throughout the process.
Q: Will our new HQ be a new build or a conversion of an existing space?
A: We don’t have the answers to this yet and will look to our HQ Task Force to create the parameters for this decision and provide opportunities for members to contribute. While there are advantages to both new builds and conversions, the best option for our new HQ will be determined by our budget and the programming parameters of the space. We also are open to not having a traditional built space at all! Mobile, virtual, physical, shared space… it’s all on the table right now.
Q: How will AIA Oregon select agents, designers, architects and subcontractors as the work progresses?
A: We currently do not have any agents, architects or other professionals in mind for this project. When we get to that point, we plan to have an open RFP process to ensure a transparent, diverse and inclusive hiring process. The HQ Task Force and AIA Oregon Board will work together to review applicants and hire qualified professionals who will work in alignment with our values.
Q: Will there be a design competition?
A: We’re not sure yet! We have facilitated design competitions before and they certainly can be a fun way to generate solutions. They also take quite a bit of time. The HQ Task Force will help determine what kind of design process is a best fit for our new, co-created HQ.
Q: What is the budget for the new HQ?
A: We’ll work with the HQ Task Force and the AIA Oregon Board to determine a budget and funding sources for the new HQ, such as partnerships, sponsorships, grants, capital campaigns and the AIA Oregon budget. With any solution that gets developed, it will be important to remain fiscally conscious, balancing what we want right now with the future health of our chapter.
Q: How long until the new HQ is realized?
A: We are still VERY early in the process and our timeline will depend on the solution that is developed. Our hope is to be using our new space as early as the third quarter of 2024.\
Q: How can I stay updated and share ideas along the way?
A: We’re committed to a transparent process, and we believe the best solution will be co-created with our community. We’ll share updates frequently on our website, in the Thursdays @ Three weekly newsletter, and on social media (Instagram, LinkedIn and Facebook). In addition to news, keep an eye out for opportunities to share your ideas through surveys, in-person events, chapter-wide milestone meetings, design charrettes, and more. If you have an idea to share, you can send us an email anytime at OurNewHQ@aiaoregon.org.