Ongoing collaborations with ACEC

A Call to Join the Vertical Committee

We are fortunate to enjoy strong professional and creative relationships with our allies in the consulting engineering disciplines. These collaborations continue at an organizational level through our strategic partnership with ACEC: the American Council of Engineering Companies of Virginia.

You may be aware that this alliance is what puts the “J” in the JLC. The Joint Legislative Committee is so-called because it unites members of both organizations. I write here to offer yet another opportunity – the Vertical Committee.

The Vertical Committee convenes virtually once a month to engage non-civil engineering disciplines (i.e. Mechanical, Plumbing, Electrical, Structural, Fire Protection), other industry organizations (such as AGC), and architects in discussion on issues of common interest: content related to vertical facilities and issues concerning “Client” agencies which execute Vertical projects (such as DGS).

Last year the Committee was chaired by an AIAVA member Donald Booth, AIA – who is in fact a member of both AIA Virginia and ACEC-VA. Thank you Donald!

We’re always looking for those willing to give voice to the interests of the architect. Please contact me if you’d like to engage; and/or encourage promising candidates to do the same.

Paul Battaglia, AIA
EVP, AIA Virginia

Political Outlook in VA

The 2024 Virginia General Assembly gavels into session Wednesday 10 January and the Joint Legislative Committee (JLC) is prepped and ready to go. We have already begun to review the bills and will soon be developing our response. Reports will be issued weekly – using an improved nomenclature that will make it easier to follow the progress (and the fate) of the legislation we are tracking. Please read the summaries and contact Paul Battaglia, pbattaglia@aiava.org with your observations about how the proposed legislation might affect you or your practice. Recommendations for how to improve/amend a bill are always welcome.

In addition to our efforts in Virginia, we will be headed north to advocate at the federal level. Hill Day is scheduled for Wednesday 28 February during the AIA Leadership Summit in DC (TU 27 FEB to FRI 1 MAR).