It is important to rejoice that things are as they are, when they are, for as long as they are.
After more than fifteen years of dedicated service to AIA Virginia – no less than five thousand six hundred fifty-one days to be precise – Rhea George is moving on.
Towards the end of this month, Rhea will join AIA national as Senior Director, Member Education.
Join us in expressing deep gratitude to Rhea for all she has done and accomplished and achieved and contributed during her magnificent tenure with AIA Virginia. And in wishing Rhea nothing but the very best.
We celebrate Rhea’s time with us and await all that is yet to come.
Thank you, Rhea. You will be missed. But your legacy and your impact will remain.
As we enter 2023, we look to continue the program’s steady growth, with signatory firms now numbering almost 1,200, and further our reporting numbers to achieve a carbon-neutral built environment. Read more >
Reporting season is here! Check out these resources to get your firm to the finish line:
Attend Open Office Hours: Bulk Import, February 14 at 2:30pm ET Register now > How to Submit Your Portfolio, March 9 at 3pm ET Register now > Last Minute Questions, March 21 at 1pm ET Register now >
Drop into our “Ask Us Anything” Office Hours: February 21 at 3pm ET Register > March 2 at 2pm ET Register > March 7 at 12pm ET Register > March 14 at 3pm ET Register > March 28 at 4pm ET Register >
Watch past sessions of 2030 Open Office Hours on our YouTube Channel. View the channel >
Check out a past DDx Workshop Hackathon. Hosted by AIA East Bay, tune in to learn the ins and outs of the platform. Watch here >
Don’t forget our DDx Help Pages! Filter through topics and search pages through keywords to find the DDx help you need.
While AIA Virginia did not propose any legislation in the Virginia General Assembly this year, we have been vigilant in monitoring the bills that were proposed by others. When proposed legislation does, or might, affect us, we have developed an appropriate response: supporting or opposing those bills – or, in some cases, working to see that they are amended to our satisfaction.
Having just passed the midway point of Virginia’s legislative session – after which the bills “crossover” to the other chamber – we will remain attentive to the progress of the surviving legislation. We will monitor how each bill advances; whether it is passed, or amended, by the other chamber; how, if amended, it is resolved by a Committee of Conference; whether it is accepted, vetoed, or amended, by the Governor; and how, if amended or vetoed, it is received by the General Assembly.
In the meantime, we have a sizeable delegation headed to DC for AIA Leadership Summit 2023. Next week’s program includes sessions on Leadership, Advocacy, Engagement, and the role of the Citizen Architect. There will be opportunities to network with AIA members from across the country. And Hill Day will afford the opportunity to connect with our elected officials at the national level to discuss issues of interest to AIA nationally – as well as some items of local interest that could be affected by federal legislation.
There is certainly plenty of good work being done. I applaud those who are active in advocacy.
This work requires consistent action. It is never finished. It requires constant engagement, and education, at the local, state, and federal levels.
Soon after the current legislative sessions end, we will turn our attention to considering how we can better coordinate and organize our various advocacy programs and increase the impact of our legislative and regulatory activities. Stay tuned for additional information about that.
And please invest in the PAC. The PAC is a powerful tool in our advocacy toolbox. We will need your help to keep this, and all our tools, sharp.
Strategic partners are highly valued. For architects, these include, most especially, Professional Engineers and General Contractors. This year’s AEC Conference provides an excellent opportunity to connect with these allies. The event will be held 25 and 26 April at the Hilton Downtown Richmond.
Speakers, presentations, and roundtables will address important issues such as leadership, business development, legislative advocacy, risk management, recruitment and retention, and the economic forecast for the industry. Presenters from the architectural delegation include Kermit Baker, Ph.D., Hon. AIA, Caitlin Morgan, Assoc. AIA, Hana Nguyenky, AIA, and Eric Keplinger, AIA. Learning Units will be reported. I am already registered and look forward to seeing you there.
Additional information on the conference and the hotel, as well as the registration form can be accessed here.
A new year has begun! Downtown Richmond, the central business district, has come alive with people traveling back and forth to Capitol Square, and the adjacent legislative offices. People waiting in line quietly at the legislative office buildings while others are marching with throngs of people, not so quietly!! All hoping to make their opinions known to Virginia’s legislators.
Working in downtown Richmond for a number of years, this is the scene I have witnessed for many years. It marks the beginning of a New Year and a new Virginia legislative session. Frankly, I have really never given much thought as to its purpose and its importance; the fact is that I saw it more as a nuisance.
Over the past year, its importance and purpose have become very evident as I (we) have benefited from the hard work that the Joint Legislative Committee does. (Current members are: Ed Gillikin, AIA, Stephen Weisensale, AIA, Lauren Sughrue, Associate AIA, and Rebecca Edmunds, AIA.) The Committee, working along with our lobbyist, has spent numerous hours reviewing, vetting, and discussing legislation related to the profession, climate change, resiliency, and other issues of importance. These efforts have benefited both citizens of the Commonwealth as well as the profession. This herculean endeavor by a small team of dedicated individuals is amazing.
However, it made me wonder how much different things could/would be if:
We were all advocates for the power of good design and its impact on the built environment.
We were all advocates for the value that an Architect brings to a project and the built environment as a whole.
We were all advocates for the influences of what a good design has on the human experience.
If indeed “knowledge is our currency” then it’s time to start sharing that “knowledge” with others and those who are making important decisions that impact our lives, the ecology environment, the built environment, the human experience, and the very profession which we practice. It’s time to take action.
Change occurs when motivated individuals take action to improve conditions, solve problems, make social changes, improve environmental conditions, make changes to our lives, and change the status quo. As I have discovered, we should not be afraid to have reasonable debates and conversations as to the impact of any particular issue. These collaborative discussions and discourse along with differing opinions and experiences can enrich the world in which we live and our individual lives.
I hope in the coming months we each find how we can become a part of these conversations ….. in our communities, our local AIA components, and AIA Virginia. These conversations have the ability to change the world in which we live and practice in. So let’s start talking!
Decks provide homeowners with valuable outdoor living spaces. However, their design and construction must adhere to relevant codes and regulations to ensure their stability and safety.
The 2018 Virginia Residential Code establishes the standards for deck design and construction in Virginia and addresses these key areas:
1. Load-bearing capacity: Decks must have the necessary load-bearing capacity to support the weight of people, furniture, and other objects. Approved materials and proper construction techniques are required.
2. Connections: Deck connections play a significant role in ensuring stability and safety. Minimum requirements for deck connections include
Deck post to deck footing connection. R507.4.1 states that posts bearing on concrete footings (R403 and Figure R507) shall provide lateral restraint by using manufactured connectors or a minimum post embedment of 12 inches in surrounding soils or concrete piers.
Deck beam connection to supports. R507.5.2 states that deck beams shall be attached to supports in a manner capable of transferring vertical loads and resisting horizontal displacement. Deck posts and deck beam connections must be designed and installed to resist loads and force.
Deck vertical and lateral supports. R507.8: where supported by an attachment to an exterior wall, decks shall be positively anchored to the primary structure and designed for both vertical and lateral loads. Vertical loads shall be transferred to ledgers and band joists in accordance with R507.9.1.1 and R507.9.1.2.
3. Guardrails and handrails: R311 and R312 outline the requirements for the height, spacing, and construction of guardrails and handrails to ensure their effectiveness in preventing falls.
4. Stairways: Stairways leading to and from a deck must be per R311. Approved materials and proper construction techniques ensure stability and safety.
5. Lighting: Stairways shall be illuminated (Section R311.7.9). R303.8 requires an artificial light source located at the top landing of the stairway and the bottom of the stairway if the stairways provide access to a basement from the outdoor grade level.
Improper design, poor construction practices, lack of maintenance, and aging can result in deck failure. The most common causes of deck failures include:
Overloading: Overloading can result from excessive numbers of people, furniture, or the weight of heavy objects such as hot tubs, grills, or fire pits.
Decay: This occurs when the materials used to construct the deck are exposed to moisture, sun, wind, and other environmental factors, causing them to deteriorate over time.
Insect Damage: This occurs when insects such as termites or carpenter ants attack the wood components of the deck, causing structural damage.
The 2018 Virginia Residential Code addresses these common causes of deck failure by requiring adequate design, approved deck connections, appropriate materials, and construction techniques. Also included are proper handrails, guardrails, stairways, lighting, and maintenance to ensure decks are safe, durable, and able to withstand the loads and forces subjected to them during their lifetime.
For additional information or if you have questions, please contact the State Building Codes Office by calling 804-371-7150, or via email at SBCO@dhcd.virginia.gov. You can also visit our website at www.dhcd.virginia.gov
Have you recently passed the ARE? Upgrade your membership to Architect using this AIA form. or send an email to your Member Services Director, Cathy Guske, cguske@aiava.org
Are you ready to get licensed? AIA Virginia has 60-day Amber Book subscriptions for $50 here>>
Have questions about licensure? Contact AIA Virginia’s State Licensing Advisor, Michael Hammon, AIA at mhammon@glaveandholmes.com
Caitlin Caum, Assoc. AIA (Central Virginia) from AIA Maryland Lincoln Lewis, Intl. Assoc. AIA (Central Virginia) from AIA Washington DC James Lugaila, AIA (Northern Virginia) from AIA New York State Emily Margulies, AIA (Northern Virginia) from AIA International Margaret Reed, AIA (Richmond) from AIA Pennsylvania Elizabeth Sincerbeaux, AIA (Central Virginia) from AIA New York State Robert Vance, AIA (Central Virginia) from AIA Texas Society of Architects
New/Renewed Allied Members
Dan Longenderfer, Director of Marketing, York Building Products
Architecture Exchange East is bringing together the brightest minds and most engaging speakers for AIA Virginia’s annual reunion of the profession. And, we think you should have a seat at the table (or lectern, as the case may be). We’re seeking polished presenters as well as fresh voices to share their research and expertise at ArchEx ‘23 in person in Richmond on Nov. 1–3, 2023.
We really value sessions that encourage conversation, connections, and collaborative learning. Think workshops, roundtables, tours, and interactive panels. Many of our session slots will be 60 minutes, but we’ll also reserve longer time slots for more in-depth explorations. All confirmed speakers will receive a 50% discount on conference registration.
Help us design the best ArchEx experience yet — submit a proposal.
The 2023 AIA Virginia Prize competition kicks off the spring semester by offering students the opportunity to win a $2,000 prize. Three additional $300 “Best of School” prizes will also be awarded. The competition is a design charrette that engages students enrolled in accredited architecture programs in Virginia over the weekend of Feb. 10-13, 2023.
