January 2006

It’s now time for another changing of the guard. These articles may be written by a new President, but many of the issues facing our profession are still the same. Whether you are a principal in a firm, a staff architect or an intern, the issues affect all of us. It seems we’re always dealing with issues, such as:

• Getting the projects.

• Completing the projects.

• Maintaining an acceptable quality of work in terms of design, detailing and construction.

• Dealing with increasing costs in construction, such as steel last year and gypsum board.

• Dealing with increasing costs in our offices, such as healthcare insurance.

• Finding available staff.

• Staying educated on evolving technology and materials.

• Following changes in codes.

But there are also the newer issues that we find ourselves dealing with, including:

• Obtaining continuing education credits for licensure in some states and for AIA membership.

• Competing with alternate project deliveries, such as design/build.

• Incorporating sustainable design principles into our projects.

• Incorporating new and more complex technologies into our buildings, such as wireless networks, alarm and monitoring systems and access controls, and dealing with the blending of these systems.

• Complying with new code requirements for building design and for special inspections.

For us old-timers (sort of) we have the perspective of how the profession has evolved, and the role that architects fulfill. The complexity is increasing in all aspects, from design through construction. Yet it remains our ability as architects to synthesize and coordinate all these competing and ongoing issues into a successful project that hopefully functions well, that looks great, and that inspires. That is the value that we bring to our clients.

Over the years, AIANH has developed many different ways for dealing with these issues, and demonstrating the value of architects. Consider the Learning by Design program in the elementary schools and Design Day which both help expose and involve the public to the process and value of design. Or our monthly programs which help educate our own profession with topics of interest and tours of facilities, a direct value to our members and indirectly to the public by creating better architects. Or development of our Speakers Bureau that pairs architects able to speak on a topic with public groups looking to understand architecture. Or the Forum newsletter that informs our members on the goings-on in the industry. Or our legislative activism at the national level via “Grassroots” that helped include architects in the tax breaks given to industry last year and at the local level with our financial backing for defending the state’s Statute of Repose. Or with the annual Awards Program that recognizes the quality of designs created by our members and then displays the projects for the public throughout the year. Or...

There are so many more ways that the activism and involvement of NH AIA architects creates value to us individually, but more importantly, demonstrates our value to the public. The challenge I pose for the coming year is to think about what we are doing as architects that creates value for society, and how can we enhance the public’s appreciation of that value.