Highlights from the 2024 AIA Leadership Summit:

Event Overview: The AIA Leadership Summit, held from February 27 to March 1 in Washington DC, brought together over 600 attendees, including Executive Directors, Presidents, and Board Members from AIA chapters across the United States and internationally.

Purpose: The summit served as the premier advocacy and leadership training event for AIA chapter leaders, aiming to help them maximize their leadership potential in their chapters, communities, and the architecture profession.

Advocacy Day: On March 28, AIA California Desert, along with AIA Long Beach/South Bay and AIA Inland California, participated in Advocacy Day. We visited the congressional offices of Rep. Young Kim and Rep. Ken Calvert to discuss three important issues, including the Democracy in Design Act, which addresses the mandate on classical and traditional architecture for federal buildings.

Networking Opportunities: AIA California Desert had the chance to network with peers facing similar opportunities and challenges. The experience was described as impressive, inspiring, powerful, informative, and educational, bringing back valuable leadership and skills to their chapter.

Summit Sessions: The summit sessions covered various topics, including managing member expectations, engaging the new generation of architects, and navigating challenges. Artificial Intelligence (AI). The "AI/AIA: Surviving or Thriving" session emphasized the transformative potential of AI in the architectural profession.

Chief Architect Inclusion: AIA is advocating for the inclusion of the Chief Architect figure in city halls across communities. The Chief Architect would serve as a key advisor to mayors and city managers, providing architectural expertise where it is currently lacking. This initiative aims to revive a role that was once common in many U.S. cities.

Proposed Member Categories: AIA is revising and introducing changes to the member category schedule, including the addition of the "Senior Associate AIA" category. This change is expected to bring more value to members, with a modernized category schedule that enhances member engagement.



Overall, the 2024 AIA Leadership Summit was a significant and enriching experience, providing a platform for collaboration, learning, and advocacy within the architecture profession.

Greetings AIA CD members,

The official opening of the "season" in February was an exciting whirlwind indeed!

With over 120,000 architectural enthusiasts flooding into the Coachella Valley to attend over 350 Modernism Week events, you can't help but embrace the mid-century architecture vibes and be proud of where we live in this unparalleled mid-century jewel box. There's no place like it. (And it's my personal favorite time to bring out my vintage clothing...okay, if you know me, you know I do that all year!) 

Three personal favorite Modernism Week moments to share with you:

• Attending a lecture by Michael Schwarting and Frances Campani about the reconstruction of the Aluminaire House right here in Palm Springs. These two professors from NYIT have spent their careers preserving and ultimately finding a permanent home for the 1930 designed Frey prototype house. Some fun facts...The Aluminaire House was designed by Albert Frey in 7 days, built in 10 days. It was toured by 130,000 people in one week at the 1931 Architectural League Show in NY. The admission price was 75 cents.
• I was incredibly proud to have so many of our AIA California Desert members actively leading Modernism Week events. From Students at COD showcasing their "Tiny House Design", to restorations of mid-century gems, to neighborhood tours of homes just to name a few. The highlight for me was attending Mark Daniels' (MWDA) lecture. The lecture hall was packed, so many great residential projects...and he's funny too! I learned that Mark is from an army family and moved all over the country when he was growing up. When asked where he is "from", his response is "I am from America." I love that!
• And last, but not least, a Modernism Week social with AIA Inland California. A quick trip to the Palm Springs Architecture and Design Center for the Frey Exhibit: Inventive Modernist, followed by a cocktail meetup at the Drift Hotel (designed by our AIA CD member and past president - Lance O'Donnell o2 Architects). Looking forward to more combined events with our AIA neighbors from Inland CA!

That's a good segway to remind everyone to submit your projects for the 2024 Design Awards. Portal to submit is open and closes May 31st. Let's get a good showing for the July 10th Gala Awards!

Thanks,

Kathy