AIA Leadership Summit 2023

Typically, my business trips to the USA are short and to the point for a few site visits and client meetings.  So, spending three days in the nation’s capital participating in learning and network events with fellow AIA members seemed luxurious.  It was an exciting prospect and a great way to kick off my year as AIA UK’s 2023 Vice President.

From Regan Airport, I took the Metro into Washington DC and decided to get off the train a few stops early simply to walk as I hadn’t been there for such a long time. Arriving at the hotel Tuesday night, I was able to register and attend the initial reception. It was exciting to engage with leadership of chapters from around the USA and globe. While I often spent some time explaining why I didn’t have an English accent, the conversations quickly gravitated towards the struggles and success of chapters and simply getting to know the fellow attendees. 

Wednesday’s primary focus was for those who desired to go to Capitol Hill to engage with their congressional representation and advocate for the needs of their chapter. I joined the planning breakfast and spoke to several delegations before they left but without a congressperson to meet I elected to attend the workshops that were organized throughout the afternoon. 

Given that the primary responsibility of the UK Chapter’s Vice President is the design awards, it seemed obvious that I would attend the workshop focused on ‘Integrating the Framework for Design Excellence in your Chapter & Firm’. The discussion and material was an excellent turbocharge to initiate my planning for the 2023 AIA UK design awards. 

Wednesday evening there was another reception, and the evening was again spent engaging with chapter leader from across the states. We had some really great conversations with insights on management and struggles from very small chapters all the way up to the largest.

Thursday’s schedule was jammed with panel discussions including topics on AIA leadership, topical conversations, chapter operation & management and other workshops. It was a long day spent taking in as much information as possible. I found the session on member engagement, recruitment and retention especially educational. Looking back, my notes reflect both the excellent material being presented but also drift into personal thoughts for the development of  AIA UK.

Friday morning’s networking breakfast spilled directly into sessions on chapter leadership with an especially interesting session on Increasing Component Partnership with the AIA. The conference then closed with a keynote address by Sheila C. Johnson, who spoke about her career and business trajectory from entertainment to hospitality. Hearing her speak certainly allowed the conference to end on a high note!

After the all the sessions closed out and the hotel room was packed up, I made my way back to Dulles for the long overnight back to London. The flight leaving on time for once, meant I was back home in London by early Saturday morning. While the trip certainly had been longer than my usual blasts across the pond, I returned with optimism and excitement for 2023 and how I can best serve the UK chapter. 

Written by Taylor Rogers, AIA

AIA UK / RIBA Keynote Lecture 2023

The 2023 Keynote Lecture in partnership with the RIBA will feature Thom Mayne of Morphosis. The lecture will be on Tuesday, January 30th, 2024 at 6:30pm at the RIBA Jarvis Hall in London.

Founded in 1972, Morphosis is an interdisciplinary practice involved in rigorous design and research that yields innovative, iconic buildings and urban environments. With founder Thom Mayne serving as design director, the firm today consists of a group of more than 60 professionals, who remain committed to the practice of architecture as a collaborative enterprise. With projects worldwide, the firm’s work ranges in scale from residential, institutional, and civic buildings to large urban planning projects. Named after the Greek term for 'to form or be in formation', Morphosis is a dynamic and evolving practice that responds to the shifting and advancing social, cultural, political and technological conditions of modern life.

Tickets available HERE

Bloomberg Center at Cornell Tech. Image credit: Matthew Carbone

Kolon One & Only Tower Orange County Museum of Art
Image credit: Jamine Park © Morphosis Image credit: Mike Kelley

Emerson College Los Angeles Perot Museum of Nature and Science
Image credit: Jasmine Park (c) Morphosis Image credit: Jasmine Park (c) Morphosis

Written by Lester Korzilius, FAIA, RIBA

Excellence in Design Awards 2023

The American Institute of Architects UK Chapter hosted the 2023 Excellence in Design Awards Ceremony at the Barbican on 18 May 2023. This year marked a special milestone. For over thirty years the AIA UK has organised the Excellence in Design Awards to celebrate architecture and design in not only the United Kingdom, but around the world.

Professional entries are sought from architects, industrial designers, urban planners, landscape architects and interior designers based in the UK for projects built anywhere in the world, and from practitioners based around the world for projects built in the UK.  Entrants are not required to be members of the AIA as long as the criteria are achieved.

Throughout the evening attendees could see a newly published, rolling slideshow of not only the many entrants received this year but also of submissions and winners from the past three decades. The collection of images from our archives will be made available for future reference.

The 2023 London jury was an assemblage of accomplished architects and engineers consisting of: 

• Patty Hopkins, Founder, Hopkins Architects

• Stefan Behnisch, Founding Partner, Behnisch Architekten

• Becci Taylor, Director, ARUP

• Sergio De Gaetano, Senior Principal, Thornton Tomasetti

• Alex Miller, Senior Associate Principal, KPF

• Margherita Giannoni, Iris Ceramica Group UK

True to the rich history of the awards, there were many exceptional submissions - making the task of the jury particularly difficult and challenging. The submissions ranged from private residences to corporate headquarters and even a selection of bridges. Beyond the base program, the submissions demonstrated a great diversity in scale, function and location. 

The following projects were selected by the Jury as winners:

Professional - Large Projects

Pears Building, Institute of Immunity & Transplantation, Hopkins Architects

Photography by Janie Airey

Photography by Janie Airey

Professional - Medium Projects

Eton College Sports and Aquatics Center, Hopkins Architects

Photography by Janie Airey

Photography by Janie Airey

Professional - Small Projects

The Saltmarsh House, Niall McLaughlin Architects

Photography by Nick Kane

Photography by Nik Eagland

Emerging Practice

The Cork House, Polysmiths

Photography by Polysmiths

Photography by Lorenzo Zandri

Exemplary Performance in Sustainability

Ombú, Foster + Partners

Photography by Nigel Young/Foster + Partners

Photography by Nigel Young/Foster + Partners

Iris Ceramica, a long time AIA UK sponsor, provided support for the design awards.

The Slideshow pictures below of Design Award attendees, etc., were taken by our event photographer.

Written by Taylor Rogers, AIA

AIA CONTINENTAL EUROPE SPRING 2023 CONFERENCE / Sicily Crossroads of Culture

Villa Romana del Casale in Piazza Armerina. Photo Credit: L D King

When the Daily Telegraph announced in its 14 Apr 23 issue that Sicily was “The greatest island in the Med* (*according to science)”, attendance at AIA Continental’s 2023 Spring Conference in Catania, Italy, was a foregone conclusion, and NO ONE who signed up in advance was going to be put off by one badly behaved, erupting volcano…  In the event, Mount Etna’s temper tantrum – although it temporarily closed the airport just days before the conference opened on 25 May 2023 – merely left Catania with a coating of fine, gritty volcanic dust, easily swept away by its long-inured populace.  

Even so, it could be said that AIA CE’s conference week started off with a bang…

Catania has been defined by its seismic location.  In 1693, southeastern Sicily was struck by a catastrophic earthquake.  With remarkable fortitude, the island’s inhabitants rebuilt their cities in high baroque style that peppers their skylines with an array of domes, cupolas, campaniles and broken pediments.  The word baroque means imperfect pearl, but there was nothing imperfect about the overall effect.

Baroque Cathedral of Siracusa.  Photo Credits: L Korzilius / L D King

Although the classical cityscapes of Catania, Noto and Syracuse offered unlimited delight, the conference – true to its title – also presented the diversity of Sicily in a series of remarkable tours to multiple UNESCO world heritage sites.  The island clearly benefited from its location as the literal crossroads of Mediterranean cultures.  

First, Syracuse – Siracusa and the island of Ortigia – with its Greek temples and Spanish fort exemplifies the mixing of cultural artefacts.  The early church – one of the first Christian churches and the only one in continuous use from the classical period to the present day - grew around the ancient Greek temple to Athena, eventually encompassing it in an eerie blend of the ancient and less ancient. 

The Cathedral of Siracusa in Ortigia over the centuries has been a Greek temple, a church and a mosque before becoming a church again.  Photo Credits: L D King 

Second, a tour of Catania’s Monastero Dei Benedettini – now an educational facility - also highlighted a diversity of styles in one large complex, with its crypt hiding Greek and Roman fragments and modern structural engineering to complement the main baroque staircase. 

Monastero Dei Benedettini in Catania.  Photo Credits: L D King

Although the church’s treatment of column capitals – a Sicilian obsession  - left something to be desired, the monastery’s dome and courtyard captured the essence of tranquillity.  

Monastero Dei Benedettini in Catania.  Photo Credits: L D King AIA / L Korzilius FAIA

Third, the highlight of the conference was the tour of the Villa Romana del Casale outside Piazza Armerina.  The villa, located in the interior of Sicily in what was once a wealthy Roman province, was destroyed centuries ago, but subsequent landslides and floods preserved the remains of 3,500 m2 of one of the largest and most varied arrays of Roman mosaics in the world.  

 An assortment of Roman mosaics.  Photo Credits: L D King and RD Reber

Villa Romana was a hard act to follow, but Sergio Danese (a conference organiser along with fellow AIA CE member Barbara Di Gregorio) surprised the group with a special treat in the nearby hill town of Piazza Armerina.  What started out as a mundane pit stop at a mid-19th century theatre, turned first into a fun-filled cooking demonstration and then into a dazzling operatic performance, all in celebration of ‘pasta alla Norma’ – the Sicilian (and conference) staple consisting of pasta with aubergines in a tomato and basil sauce. 

Cuisine and opera; a Sicilian experience.  Photo Credits: A Miller (top) / L D King

Lest there is an impression that the Catania conference was essentially one big  holiday tour, rest assured a full program of distinguished speakers, lectures, panel discussions and building tours filled a 3-day weekend agenda with continuing education courses.  Those who attended the conference plus the Monday extension to Mirabella and Caltagirone earned 24 continuing education units. 

Lakisha Ann Woods, AIA CEO having her thoughts on emerging professionals translated into Italian. Video Credit: Alex Miller

As well as ancient monuments, modern architecture – complete with exquisite Italian interior design, sustainability features and Italian craftsmanship – also kept the attendees on their toes.

Clay and lava fused with glaze and hand painted at the NineFifty tile workshop / Frantoi Berretta olive oil producing site and luncheon venue.  Photo Credit: RD Reber / L D King

And – of course – plenty of time was left for social networking, culminating in the traditional Saturday gala dinner, held in the surrounding Sicilian countryside. 

The Gala Dinner, complete with Willie Nelson background music. Video Credit: Alex Miller

The Slideshow pictures below were taken by attendees Lorraine King, Lester Korzilius, Alex Miller and R D Reber.  They offer a mere tantalising glimpse of conference sites, city views and – most importantly – the ATTENDEES.

Just for fun, a few examples only give a hint of Sicilian column capital treatments…

If you are not aware of AIA CE’s conferences but are looking for a user-friendly way to earn significant continuing education units while indulging in a European city break, look them up on AIA CE’s website HERE. These international conferences are a bargain, and AIA UK members are always welcomed.  The Fall Conference will be held in central France.

Written by L D King, AIA

AIA UK/Beale & Co Sustainability Lecture - Net Zero: The Legal & Contractual Background

On Monday 17th April 2023 the AIA-UK continued its ongoing series of events exploring the nature, implications, and challenges of 'sustainability' in architecture, with a talk and discussion from the international construction law specialists Beale & Co. Partner Andrew Croft and Senior Associate Tim Kittow talked through the legal and contractual background to 'net zero', highlighting how these complex issues affect every stage of the architectural process, and how they will only become more significant as we seek to rigorously respond to the climate emergency. The event concluded with a wide-ranging Q+A.  We were delighted to have a variety of international members attending, which reflected the global interest in these vital contemporary issues. The event was recorded to allow more members to both benefit from these learnings, and to earn CE credits.

AIA UK Emerging Professionals Speed Networking: Inspiring Connections and Knowledge Exchange

Attendees and Guest Mentors at the Herman Miller London Showroom for the AIA UK Emerging Professionals Speed Networking 

On March 30th, the AIA UK Emerging Professionals (EP) hosted an exceptional event that left attendees buzzing with inspiration and new connections. The AIA UK EP Speed Networking event, held at the Herman Miller London Showroom, brought together a diverse group of about 40 participants, ranging from university students to early-career and experienced professionals, all driven by their passion for the architecture and built environment industry.

The event was designed to foster meaningful connections, provide valuable mentorship, and create a knowledge-sharing platform. Drawing from the expertise of esteemed guest mentors, the event aimed to inspire and guide participants on their professional journeys. These guest mentors, who themselves were part of the diverse range of participants, brought a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table.

The evening commenced with warm welcomes, accompanied by light refreshments courtesy of Herman Miller, our generous sponsor. This created a relaxed atmosphere that encouraged networking and laid the foundation for fruitful interactions throughout the event.

The highlight of the evening was the speed networking activity, where participants were divided into small groups. Each group had the opportunity to spend approximately 10 minutes conversing with and learning from the guest mentors. This format allowed for focused discussions, enabling attendees to gain insights, advice, and inspiration from professionals with diverse backgrounds and experiences.

The conversations were dynamic and invigorating. Adrienne Lau (Senior Associate and Project Leader at Heatherwick Studio)'s discussions on masterplanning and urbanism sparked ideas about creating impactful projects that shape cities and communities. Carlos Luis Gomez Gonzales (Partner at Foster+Partners) captivated participants with his knowledge and expertise in architectural visualizations and story making, emphasizing the importance of creating compelling narratives through design. Cristina Sanchez Jimenez (BIM Manager at Lendlease) shed light on the world of building information modeling (BIM), showcasing its role in streamlining construction processes and enhancing collaboration. 

Golnaz Ighany (Architect-Sustainability Director at BDP) shared her expertise on sustainable design strategies, inspiring attendees to prioritize environmentally responsible practices in their work. Jennifer Durand (Designer at Zaha Hadid Architects) opened doors to the realm of digital tools and parametric design, showcasing the power of computational design in pushing the boundaries of architectural innovation. Stephen Drew (Founder of Architecture Social)'s guidance on career development and early career recruitment advice resonated with participants, empowering them to take charge of their professional journeys. The guest mentors' collective knowledge and expertise created an environment of learning, growth, and inspiration.

Feedback from both participants and mentors was overwhelmingly positive. The event succeeded in creating an atmosphere of camaraderie and learning. Participants exchanged ideas, sought guidance, and found common ground with professionals from different corners of the industry. This nurturing environment laid the foundation for future collaborations and mentorship opportunities.

The AIA UK EP Speed Networking event wasn't just about making connections; it emphasized the importance of building bridges and supporting one another in our journeys as emerging professionals. By bringing together mentors and participants, we fostered an environment that encouraged growth and innovation.

The AIA UK EP firmly believe that events like these are crucial for shaping the future of our industry. We are committed to providing platforms where aspiring professionals can connect, learn, and thrive. Stay tuned for more exciting opportunities to come, as we continue to inspire and support the next generation of architects and built environment professionals.

Written by Paolo Mendoza, Assoc. AIA