AIA Grassroots Advocacy: Why Architects Need to Get Involved
Architects need to get involved in the
political process for three good reasons
1. Architects have a lot to give.
Architects impact the lives of every man, woman and child.
Our profession employs more than 281,000 Americans. Architects
drive the design/construction sector of our nation’s gross
domestic product, which represents over 8 percent of the
economy.
We can – and must – apply our skills and knowledge to the
political and government policy process.
Architects need a strong voice on a wide range of issues from
community design to transportation planning, energy and water
consumption to education and historic preservation, housing and
building codes to green building standards and construction
permitting, public procurement and project delivery to professional
licensing and continuing education.
The only way we’ll be heard on these issues is to speak with
one voice – with the grassroots strength to back it up. We
need to be active participants in the policy-making process. That
can be done both as citizens and through our professional
association, the American Institute of Architects.
That’s why the AIA is making a major new effort to give its
83,000 members more opportunities to participate. That’s good
for architects. That’s good for America.
2. Architects have a lot to
lose.
It’s easy to take for granted what you already have. But
architects cannot rest on past battles won.
We must be vigilant to defend vital public policies every time
Congress is in session, every time a state legislature meets, every
time a city council is called to order. It’s a fact that other
groups pour massive amounts of money and manpower into their
political and lobbying operations.
And when they come up against architects, guess who’s going to
win if we’re not in the game? Case in point: The federal
government now uses qualifications-based selection (QBS) to hire
architects and engineers. So do 47 states. But every day, somebody
somewhere wants to change that. They want to chip away at QBS and
bring back old low-bid rules.
Architects have to be ready for those fights.
Professional licensing standards are another major issue that
architects need to defend.
Do you want more people practicing architecture who aren’t
licensed architects? Of course not. But some interest groups and
politicians do. And they’re looking for every chance to erode
professional health and safety standards.
The list goes on: Rational project delivery methods. Fair
civil-liability laws. Discouraging use of stock-school plans.
Sales-tax exemptions. Consistent codes and standards.
They all matter. And they’re all under constant attack.
That’s why the AIA, both at home and in Washington, D.C.,
needs a strong government advocacy program.
That’s where you come in.
3. The AIA has a bold, new governmental agenda that’s strong
on values as well as practice.
Gone are the days when architects quietly sat back, allowing others
to take the lead.
Architects have a vision for America – and the AIA has a bold,
aggressive new issue agenda that reflects our values as well as our
practice needs:
- Sustainable, healthy, livable communities
- New incentives for affordable housing, green buildings, historic preservation, and brownfield renewal
- Energy and water conservation
- Better, safer schools and civic spaces
- Affordable health insurance for small businesses
- Liability laws that minimize lawsuit abuse.
- Reduced permitting delays
- Clear buildings codes and accessibility guidelines
- Sound licensing regulations
It’s time to act. After all, if we don’t – who
will?
Unfortunately, the values we – as architects – hold dear
are often ignored in the political arena. Louder, better financed
groups frequently control the agenda. But that has to stop. And we
have the power to stop it.
To be taken seriously in government, we need to show we
care.
That requires a new level of participation.
The AIA is now offering easy, quick new ways to help you do just
that.
Click here to learn how to get
involved.