Why don’t more Architects join the AIA?
Is the AIA too expensive?
The AIA costs about $400-700 a year for a fulltime member. This is on a par (or even higher) than what doctors spend to join the American Medical Association and Lawyers spend to join the Bar Association. A large firm can cover the cost for its members; for a small practitioner, the expense is harder to justify. You get the initials after your name, continuing education, networking with peers, a subscription to Architect Magazine and the opportunity to enter your work in the design awards.
How could we add more value?
Can we make continuing education more accessible?
We have more than 200 chapters which generate an interesting and provocative collection of programs every day. They are promoted in an ad hoc way by each component. It is completely impossible for anyone to attend more than a fraction. With the advent of zoom, some of our programs have had 500 attendees, a number could never be reached in a physical space. There is an audience. We need to streamline the process, post everything on an online calendar, and create an AIAEdX where it is accessible both livestream and via a video.
How can we provide more publications?
AIA membership should include access to as many digital publications as possible. As a member, you should be able to check a box and get a subscription to the architecture magazines such as Architect, Architectural Record, and The Architects Newspaper, Dwell, Interiors, as well as local magazines like New York, Chicago and Texas Monthly. Our members might also enjoy discounted subscriptions to other publications such as The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times and The Washington Post.
Museum Memberships
Membership to the AIA (at least in New York) has in the past included either museum memberships or the opportunity to receive a special Architects rate at partnering institutions. At times we have enjoyed access to the Museum of the City of NY, the Guggenheim, and the Cooper Hewitt . It was extremely popular. There are several national organizations like the American Association of Museums and Americans for the Arts that we might be able to provide discounted memberships.
Practice Management
Many of our members are sole practitioners or in small firms. But for firms that do not have human resource managers, the AIA can provide information on health plans, Insurance, accounting, and other services that our members need to run their businesses.
How do we ease Young Architect’s entry into the profession?
Transitions
The first transition we all face is the beginning of a career. Architecture school is the big picture. You change the world. In life it is more fine grain. How do we navigate the transition from school to life: where to work, where to live, and how to practice, navigating a first project and then how to get licensed and find architects to mentor you. New York started three programs : ARE Boot Camp and Torch Mentorship pairing Fellows with ENYA (Emerging New York Architects) members which are scalable.
What can we do during a downturn?
Expand beyond traditional practices
Archtecture is cyclical. As soon as we hit a ‘correction’ in the economy, projects are stopped and firms retrench and downsize. We are forced to market ourselves into either parallel fields: facilities, real estate, construction, project management or leave the profession altogether. Because we are so highly educated and well trained this is a waste of our resources. It results in a ‘lost generation’. There are fewer mid career architects now because those people left the profession during the last downturn in 2008. Now we have the ‘Covid Class’ who are entering the field at a unique time.
Abby Suckle was the Secretary of AIANY from 2008-2010. These are three of her initiatives.
ARE Boot Camp
Abby Suckle started ARE Bootcamp program in New York in 2006 as the AIANY Secretary. It runs twice a year and has been sold out every time in New York. Fees are nominal ($5 / session ) for AIA members. Except for Structures and Professional Practice, the sessions are taught by recently licensed architects. There have been spin offs, special workshops, and other chapters have begun to adopt the program. In 2021 the BSA has joined the program.
Museum Memberships
Membership to the AIA (at least in New York) has in the past included either museum memberships or the opportunity to receive a special Architects rate at partnering institutions. At times we have enjoyed belonging to the Museum of the City of NY, the Guggenheim, Cooper Hewitt, Museum of Modern Art etc. It was extremely popular.
