Earth Day 2020 Message

[April 21st was] the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. It is not surprising if this important milestone in the climate action movement is not top-of-mind given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. What may surprise you is the ancient Greek origin of the word pandemic, pandēmos, which literally translates to all (pan) people (dēmos.)

In our view, these two issues are fundamentally connected because they both affect all people and all people must be part of the solution.

Meeting the COVID-19 public health crisis will require all of us to act to protect the collective whole, i.e., society. Whether it is the countless individual decisions to self-isolate and drastically limit interaction, up to the immeasurable and inspiring acts of bravery, compassion, care, and expertise of the professionals on the frontlines of the crisis, including medical clinicians, their support staff and everyone who risks their health to ensure that the necessities of modern life continue as close to normal as possible.

News from National

COVID-19 project database form

Many healthcare providers and other organizations are looking for solutions to the surge in COVID-19 cases and the needs of their communities. AIA has created a new COVID-19 project database to increase information sharing and to support the development of best practices for responding to the pandemic.

Architects, designers, engineers and facility owners are asked to contribute COVID-19 project information to the survey below to increase information sharing and to support the development of best practices for responding to pandemics. LEARN MORE

Business Continuity Planning for Architects

This on-demand offering from AIAU of their exclusive live course explores the business impacts of common and timely hazard events and reviews the essentials of business continuity planning. It will also introduce AIA's newest free member resource, the Architect's Guide to Business Continuity, which, when implemented, will leave firms with the confidence to weather any storm. Free for AIA Members. LEARN MORE

Annual CES Requirements for members

We understand the challenges in meeting requirements in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, members must still meet the annual AIA continuing education requirements. Therefore, members may request waivers from the Institute Secretary during our membership audit next Spring. Because states have not changed their requirements, we encourage utilizing free online courses through AIAU and from our AIA Continuing Education Providers.

How to talk to clients about your fees

Using the right language in a fee proposal and identifying ways to reduce fees informs the client and positions an architectural firm for effective fee negotiation. And the factors that influence fees do not have to remain a company secret. Michael Strogoff, FAIA, offers sample language a firm may use to communicate the intricacies of its service fees to clients. LEARN MORE

Upcoming Webinars

Webinar: Managing AIA Contracts Remotely
Apr 27, 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM (PT) 

With an increase in stay-at-home orders due to COVID-19, going to the office to print, scan and sign your contracts may not be an option. Join AIA Contract Documents technical staff for a free webinar discussing the features and workflows in the online service that can help you organize, distribute and sign your contracts without leaving your home.

Webinar: AIA Contract Documents Basics: Understanding What's Available
Apr 29, 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM (PT)

Join us for a free webinar as we present an overview of the AIA Contract Document families to help you understand what’s available, define what you need, and find a contract that fits. We’ll explain the ways AIA Contract Documents are organized, the types of documents that are offered, what aspects of your project you should define before choosing a document, and where to go for more resources if you need help.