Volunteer to Help Others in Need

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Do you enjoy helping others? Would you like to use your architectural knowledge when doing so? If yes, you may want to volunteer for the Virginia VDEM/AIA Virginia Disaster Assistance Partnership. The VDEM/AIA Partnership provides you an opportunity following disasters to help local communities access whether structures are safe to enter following the disaster. This helps allows families and businesses to get back into their homes and offices if
possible.

This program is open to persons with building/structures experience (architects, engineers, etc*). The Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) provides the training for how to assess the buildings and the process to report your findings by offering several one-day courses each year. After you have taken the course you are enrolled in a “call list” with VDEM and AIA Virginia.

When a disaster occurs others provide immediate assistance following the disaster with emergency transport, food, blankets, and temporary lodging. The VDEM/AIA program comes after that initial assistance – usually the week after, but the time period can vary. VDEM will contact the people on the call list to see if they are available to assist. VDEM where they have opportunities and the anticipated length of the volunteer opportunity (typically one week).

If you volunteer, you provide transportation to the site. Typically the local government provides housing and food at the site. (The housing may be as simple as tents). The local government also assigns the structures to be accessed. The assessment is conducted in teams of two. Your assessment is noted on the structure as well as provided to the local government. Similar to doctors who help people by the side of the road, your service is covered by the
Virginia Good Samaritan Law.

If this opportunity interests you, please send your name, email, and telephone contact information to Paula Loomis, FAIA, FSAME (ploomisva@cox.net, 757-630-4773), Bob Magoon, AIA (rmagoon@cox.net) or Corey Clayborne, AIA (cclayborne@aiava.org) We will provide your name to VDEM and let you know when and where training will be offered. If you have questions please contact Paula. A huge thanks in advance to those that volunteer. You will be helping those in need.

* If you come without an architecture or engineering background, we would be pleased to ask VDEM if you can volunteer for the program.

Call for Reviewers: Program Advisory Group

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Help curate the very best programming, tours, and courses for Architecture Exchange East.

AIA Virginia is looking for a diverse group of members from a range of professional backgrounds to help shape the educational content for Architecture Exchange East (ArchEx).

Members of the Program Advisory Group help identify potential speakers, provide suggestions for content, and evaluate speaker proposals.

Volunteers can expect to:

  • Brainstorm potential speakers, topics, and tours for ArchEx (about 30 minutes)
  • Participate in an organizational meeting (by conference call or online) and share suggestions (about 1 hour)
  • Evaluate a selection of proposed seminars and provide feedback (about 1-2 hours)
  • Enjoy discounted admission to ArchEx

If you’re interested in helping to create a cutting-edge educational program by joining the Program Advisory Group, simply email Rhea George at rgeorge@aiava.org by March 1.

General Assembly Brief

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The Joint Legislative Committee had to vet approximately 3,000 total bills to extract the relevant ones to our profession.  Tuesday, February 13 marked the date of “Bill crossover” in the General Assembly.  This is the day when bills must pass one house or the other or die for the session.  As such, the “ACTIVE” list has been significantly reduced and many of those bills are “DEAD” for the session.

KEY VICTORIES

  • SB 188 – Provides that for competitive negotiation of professional services, a public body may conduct negotiations simultaneously with the top two ranked offerors.

 We successfully got architectural and engineering services removed from the bill.

ACTIVE

  • HB 97 – Virginia Public Procurement Act; methods of procurement, single or term contracts

This bill allows for single or term contracts for professional services without requiring competitive negotiation, provided the aggregate or the sum of all phases is not expected to exceed $80,000.  This change increased the limit in current law by $20,000.

MONITOR

  • SB 318 – Small Business and Supplier Diversity, Department of; implementation of certification programs

This bill would change the definition of small business, beginning July 1, 2019, to meet the small business size established by the regulations of the U.S. Small Business Administration.

There were a number of bills that were proposed that attempted to codify Governor Terry McAuliffe’s Executive Order 20 (EO-20).  EO-20 sets a 42% goal for participation by Small, Women and Minority Businesses (SWaM) in public contracts.  With the potential change coming regarding the definition of “small” in Virginia, public entities may face increasing challenges in attempting to meet this goal for the procurement of architecture and engineering services.  In meeting these goals, it is of paramount importance that the most qualified firms are selected.  These two goals are not mutually exclusive.  As such, we have requested a meeting with the Governor to discuss how we can work collaboratively to further those opportunities.

For a more detailed analysis of bills we are actively engaged with, bills we are monitoring, or to see bills that we were interested in but have died in session, click here.

Will You Answer the Call?

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The ArchEx Call for Proposals is now open. We are seeking experts both from within the profession and outside it to showcase cutting-edge case studies and the latest technologies, practices, and research at Architecture Exchange East.

Our goal is to bring together the brightest minds and most engaging speakers to present talks that are future-focused on a wide range of subjects ― and to provoke important conversations among design professionals.

Though Architecture Exchange East has a 30-year history, we are looking forward to building on the energy of last year’s conference with a renewed and vigorous focus on curating exceptional, inspirational content. We hope you will consider being an integral part of this gathering of creative professionals.

Your talk could range from a one-hour session to a full-day workshop. We don’t want to box you into a particular format. We’re encouraging creative approaches to content delivery, including panel discussions, tours, and guided collaborative conversations. We welcome all proposals.

To propose an offering, complete and submit the Presentation Proposal Form by April 9. Your proposal will be reviewed and you will be contacted by July 2016.  Incomplete forms will not be accepted.

Process Outline

Phase I (Potential Speakers)

  • Review the proposal requirements and resources
  • Save Nov. 7–9, 2018 on your calendar
  • Develop your content
  • Submit (DEADLINE: April 9)

Phase II (Program Advisory Group)

  • Peer review
  • Proposals selected
  • Presenters notified (Late May)

Phase III (Speakers)

  • Return speaker agreement (DEADLINE: June 15)
  • Provide/update contact information for all co-speakers and panelists
  • Register for ArchEx — speakers attend free on the day they present
  • Submit presentation and supporting materials (DEADLINE: Oct. 18)

Suggestions and Questions

Suggestions for potential speakers or questions about the conference can be directed to Rhea George at rgeorge@aiava.org or (804) 237-1768.

New Architects

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We understand the dedication and effort required to study for and pass the ARE. Congratulations to the following members for passing their exams and gaining licensure. This is great news that thrills all of us and we are so proud to call you architects!

Mr. Sam R. Bowling, AIA (VAHR)
Ms. Sarah C. Colacino, AIA (VANO)
Mrs. Amber N. Hall, AIA (VACN)
Ms. Sally C. Lee, AIA (VANO)
Ms. Jennifer Stringer, AIA (VAHR)

Have you recently passed the ARE? Please send an email to your Member Services Director, Cathy Guske, cguske@aiava.org to upgrade your membership and be featured in the next newsletter.

New Members

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We are always excited to welcome new members to Virginia. The following members recently joined the ranks of AIA Virginia.

New Architect Members

Mr. Ramon I. Santos, AIA (VANO)
Mr. Ian Vaughan, AIA (VAHR)

New Associate Members

Mr. Kitisak Ashley, Assoc. AIA (VAJR)
Miss Kelly A. Foley, Assoc. AIA (VANO)
Mrs. Gaznag S. Othman, Assoc. AIA (VANO)
Mr. Rodolfo Rosas, Assoc. AIA (VAJR)
Mr. Stephen V. Scott, Assoc. AIA (VAJR)

Transferred In

James H. O’Brien, AIA (VANO) from AIA DC
John L. Motloch, AIA (VANO) from AIA Indiana
Mr. Douglas R. Rosen, AIA (VANO) from AIA Connecticut
Mr. William L. Croteau, AIA (VANO) from AIA Massachusetts
Ms. Selena Bagnara Milan, Intl. Assoc. AIA (VANO) from AIA Maryland

New/Renewed Allied Members

Abigail Bishop, Principal, Katheryn Robertson, Ltd.
Steven Culver, Director of Architectural Marketing, ISAarchitectural
Benjamin Linkous, Ascent Engineering Group, Inc.

View all of the AIA Virginia Allied members

Where’s Corey

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Executive Vice President, Corey Clayborne, has pledged to get around the state and visit firms, components, partner organizations, and universities.

Here’s what’s on his travel schedule:

AIA Local and Regional Engagement

Virginia Tech CAUS Reception
January 24
Richmond, VA

AIA Northern Virginia Open House
February 13
Alexandria, VA

Firm Visit
February 14
Charlottesville, VA

Hampton University
Leadership Presentation
March 16
Hampton, VA

AIA Awards Gala
April 7
Charleston, WV

Ambassador Engagement

AIA Grassroots 2018 Leadership Conference (Presenter)
March 12-14
San Diego, CA

AIA Wisconsin Convention (Presenter)
May 9-10
Madison, WI

Off and Running

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2018 promises to be a great year for you as a member of AIA Virginia! We came out of the gate in a full sprint, with a focus on continuously improving the value of your membership. Currently, we are working toward finalizing a Memorandum of Understanding with the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Department of Emergency Management that will position architects as the go-to source for building assessments after a natural disaster under the protection of the state’s Good Samaritan Law. In the near future, we will be looking to form Disaster Assistance Teams in each local AIA Chapter that are willing to be trained and ready for deployment should Virginia develop that need. As we are vital contributors to the built environment, the community needs to be able to count on architects in those difficult times.

R. Corey Clayborne, AIA

Since January, the Joint Legislative Committee has been working tirelessly during the General Assembly to protect the value of what architects do and the services they provide. With the assistance of our lobbyists, Williams Mullen, we quickly redirected the course of a proposed bill that would have put a gash in Qualifications Based Selection for architectural services. During my firm visits, it is consistently indicated that government advocacy is one of the largest benefits of membership.

In other areas, AIA Virginia is making the term collaboration more than a buzz word. It’s becoming part of our culture. As such, the AIA Virginia Board of Directors has decided to extend its outreach and collaboration efforts. Effective this year, the Board will meet at two of our four architectural schools to host a board meeting in order to continue strengthening the bond between academia and practice. On these visits, the Board will have the opportunity to tour the university’s architecture school, meet AIAS members, and engage in dialogue with architecture school faculty and leadership. In 2018, the Board will meet at Virginia Tech (Blacksburg) in April to coincide with Design Forum XIII and at the University of Virginia in October to engage with this year’s Emerging Leaders in Architecture class. In 2019, the Board will meet at Hampton University and Virginia Tech (WAAC).

It is also our goal to continue collaborating with other members of the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction industry to enhance our approaches on shaping the built environment. I am proud to say that AIA Virginia, Associated General Contractors of Virginia (AGC VA), and the American Council of Engineering Companies of Virginia (ACEC VA) have joined together to host a series of quarterly roundtables with the purpose of educating and promoting best practices of the industry to our members, owners/clients, developers and the general public. Our first of these roundtables will occur on February 20 in Richmond with the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Department of General Services key leaders. Members want to know how the AIA can help them get work and develop business. This is the first step – putting you in a position to meet the decision-makers.

In conclusion, I leave you with one thought. Consider engaging with the AIA in some capacity this year at any level. Like all things in life, you will never get its true value by sitting on the sidelines.

Thank you for giving me the honor and privilege to serve as your Executive Vice President. As I continue to meet more and more of you, I am constantly inspired by your stories, paths, and your goals. Together, I firmly believe we can accomplish anything.

R. Corey Clayborne, AIA