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AIA: State and Local Policy Agenda

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AIA: State and Local Policy Agenda

| aia | August 09, 2023

Architects must have a seat at the table when important civic decisions are made and must play a vital role in crafting public policy solutions that address the most prominent issues facing states and cities. By advocating solutions within the built environment to address issues like school safety, climate change, and affordable housing, architects are at the forefront of solving these critical challenges. The more architects work with state and local elected officials, the greater the positive impact on these and other important issues facing the profession, the business, and our communities.

Building codes & permitting

Up-to-date codes help save lives, improve building performance, and prevent damage from disasters. We work with our industry partners to develop model codes and assist in their adoption.

In 2007, we helped establish the federal 2030 net zero energy goals. Today, we continue to push for ways to achieve meaningful energy conservation.  On the state and local levels, we are working with state governments and local communities to reduce energy use in new and existing buildings.

The permit review process can often cause unneeded and costly delays to projects. We provide models that can help reduce delays and advocate for legislation that streamlines the permitting processes.

Professional licensing

Architects are ethically and professionally responsible for protecting the health, safety, and welfare of the public in the built environment. We oppose efforts to weaken rigorous standards for architectural licensing and work to ensure that architectural services are only provided by individuals who have demonstrated competency through examinations, experience, and education.

Architects face encroachment from many individuals looking to carve out a piece of the design business for themselves. We provide resources to defend the value of our profession.

Qualifications-based selection

Would you choose your surgeon based on price alone? Of course not. Unlike procuring discrete products, selecting a skilled professional like an architect requires looking beyond just the price. We support a Qualifications-Based Selection process, which keeps the focus on quality and limits design competitions that force architects to provide services and expertise for free.

Strong, resilient communities

We champion livable communities. Places where it is easy to walk or bike to schools and grocery stores and where there is room for wildlife, culture, and sports. We support transportation and housing policies that repair crumbling infrastructure, revive historic neighborhoods, and create healthier places to live.

We work with communities and elected officials to protect what is unique, and we assist in resiliency planning and disaster recovery to ensure they can rise up again if the worst happens.

Taxes on architectural services

We work to create a business environment that helps firms focus on design. Over the years we’ve defeated tax hikes that hurt architects, pushed for reforms that treat small design firms fairly and worked to create an economic environment that allows members’ firms to grow.

Reprinted from AIA.org Website

AIA Legislation Link

About the author

Drawing upon original ideas and extensive personal and professional experience in the field, David McFadden crafted this article to explore the latest trends in the fields of architecture and building design. After working at various design practices—both full-time and freelance—and launching his design firm, David identified a significant gap in the industry. In 1984, he founded Consulting For Architects Inc. Careers, an expansive hub designed to align architects with hiring firms for mutual benefit. This platform enables architects to find impactful design work and frees hiring firms from the time-consuming cycles of recruitment and layoffs. David’s innovative approach to employer-employee relations has brought much-needed flexibility and adaptation to the industry. As the Founder and CEO, David has successfully guided his clients and staff through the challenges of four recessions—the early ’80s, early ’90s, early 2000s, the Great Recession, the pandemic, and the current slowdown due to inflation and high-interest rates.

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