Please assist the Building Enclosure Council in selecting a new Director to serve on their board!
VOTE FOR THE BEC BOARD OF DIRECTORS OPEN POSITION HERE!
Voting must be completed by 5pm on November 5th, 2020.
GET TO KNOW THIS YEAR’S CANDIDATES… (more…)
Originally sent out by the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs on October 9th:
Dear Licensees of the Architect Profession:
The Bureau of Professional Licensing (BPL) within the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) would like to share the below message for informational purposes only.
We are aware of a scam targeting architect licensees. Therefore, our office would like to provide the following tips to avoid falling for one of these scams
Should you have specific questions regarding this email communication or would like to report a possible scam regarding licensees, please contact our office at BPLHelp@michigan.gov or 517-241-0199.
Sincerely,
Licensing Division
Bureau of Professional Licensing (BPL)
Reminder to Architects in the State of Michigan; As of February 20 the Board of Architects Revised Administrative Rules. The Majority of the changes are clarifying the Continuing Education requirements.
View the Revised Administrative Rules Here
Visit the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs here.
The Building Enclosure Council of Greater Detroit (BEC-GD) is accepting nominations for one (1) Board of Directors position for a two-year term starting in January 2021. Self-nominations are permitted. Candidates are asked to submit a statement of interest, headshot, and professional resume to becgd.events@gmail.com.
Nominations will close at 6PM EST on September 25, 2020.
MISSION
The Building Enclosure Council of Greater Detroit is part of a national network founded jointly by the American Institute of Architects and the National Institute of Building Sciences to foster effective performance of building exteriors.
By providing a forum for all construction professionals, each Council serves to share objective building enclosure information of interest to the local design/construction community. The Greater Detroit Council is a non-profit with no dues or membership requirements, and is affiliated with the Detroit Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA Detroit).
Black Lives Matter.
AIA Detroit stands in solidarity with the protests that justly call for an immediate end to police brutality against Black people. We condemn the systemic racism that plagues our society and accounts for the senseless killings of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Aiyana Stanley-Jones and countless other Black victims who came before them.
For many of us, we became architects to make the world a better place. We cannot expect to be catalysts for more equitable communities without first acknowledging the need for accountability and the need to listen and learn from individuals who have first-hand experience with racial injustices.
In her May 31st statement, NOMA National President, Kimberly Dowdell urged us “to consider what’s happening right now as an American problem that we must all face together” and to leverage our positions of privilege to help marginalized communities.
It is an honor to work in Metro-Detroit, a region with rich architectural history and incredible diversity in people and cultures. It is also a region with a legacy of racial tension and activism. As such, AIA Detroit believes it is our responsibility to take action to better serve the community we call home and to empower our communities to harness design as protest and progress.
GOING FORWARD, AIA DETROIT IS COMMITTED TO:
• Advocating for local policy changes that dismantle design tactics that criminalize engagement in the public realm, and that improve and better-protect the health, safety and welfare of the public, especially Black people.
• Amplifying the voices of Black people, providing a public platform for honest discussions about racial injustice in order to educate our members and inspire more empathetic design.
• Devoting more resources in our organization’s professional development and youth mentorship efforts that specifically benefit Black people and other people of color.
• Partnering more closely with local organizations who focus on empowering Black people and other people of color in the design community and making lasting change for our profession
YOU CAN GET INVOLVED TODAY.
If you are looking for a way to get involved and make an impact, consider the following:
• Volunteer with or become a member of a local organization that is committed to the elevation and recognition of Black people and their inclusion in the design profession: NOMA Detroit, Noir Design Parti, 400 Forward, DESIGNCONNECT, NAWIC Detroit, and Design Core.
• Donate to those working to progress racial equality through the justice system: Detroit Justice Center, Black Visions Collective, NAACP Legal Defense Fund, and the ACLU.
• Vote in every American election. All Michigan voters have the right to vote by mail, so be sure to exercise your First Amendment right at every opportunity.
We recognize that these are just the first steps towards an equitable practice and profession. We are confident in the passion of our design community, and the dedication to become active voices in the fight for change, with the ultimate goal of creating stronger, inclusive and equitable communities.
From the AIA Detroit Board of Directors
More than half of states in the US are reopening their economies in some capacity. This week’s email has content to help you prepare plus resources for the class of 2020, tips for adapting workspaces, several webinars including the April ABI, free software, and more.
We’re taking next week off due to the Memorial Day holiday, and we’ll be in your inbox June 2. Until then, please share your updates and content suggestions at feedback@aia.org.
In Ten Thoughts on the Future of Practice, Phil Bernstein—associate dean at the Yale School of Architecture—discusses how the architecture profession may be impacted and transformed due to COVID-19. AIAU’s newest live course on May 27 tackles the unprecedented challenges working parents face: Balancing family responsibilities and remote working full-time (free for members, registration required). McKinsey launched its latest briefing note on COVID-19 implications for business. Speaking of school, graduation is here, and it’s a great time to commemorate the tremendous achievements of the class of 2020. Join AIA in celebrating architecture graduates with a congratulatory video or message via social media. Tag @AIANational on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter and include the hashtag #ArchGrad20. You can see Robert Ivy’s message here.
On Wednesday, May 20, AIA Chief Economist Kermit Baker will share results from April’s Architecture Billings Index (ABI) in a 30-minute AIAU webinar (registration required). The full April ABI will be available Thursday, May 21. Here’s the March ABI report in case you missed it.
More on this topic >
On Friday, the House passed the Heath and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act, a sweeping $3 trillion legislation. The White House and Senate are opposed to the bill, so we do not expect it to become law. AIA is working with all policymakers to secure AIA’s priorities in the final bill, including expanding eligibility for the Paycheck Protection Program to 501(c)(6) organizations. As states reopen their economies, two essential trackers will keep you current. AIA’s State COVID-19 Executive Order Exemptions and Plans for Reopening, updated daily, lists exemptions by state so you can see what architecture activities may be exempt. This COVID-19 Local Action Tracker by Bloomberg Philanthropies and The National League of Cities shares actions taken by local leaders. To date, more than 1,700 policies in nearly 500 cities have been tracked.
More on this topic >
AIA’s COVID-19 Business Task Force launched a new content series that includes talking points and resources you can use when speaking with clients. Topics include why architects matter in a post-pandemic world, business strategies you can put to work now, and construction and shovel-ready projects. Firms are facing unprecedented challenges as they determine when and how to return to the office. Helix Architecture + Design shares their tips and tools to help firms prepare their workspaces. AIA Contract Documents can help minimize your risk during COVID-19, and a suite of resources shows you how. Among the most popular, this video on negotiating contracts. There are also videos on managing contracts remotely, requesting financial info from project owners, and delays, extensions of time, and force majeure clauses.
More on this topic >
Autocase is offering free access to their cloud-based software for the month of June, along with two free webinars on business case development and new product features. In the spirit of graduation season, let’s rally together to help those entering the job force in a difficult environment. Please share: AIA is offering free membership, for up to 18 months, upon graduation. And, AIAU’s Emerge series offers free courses that earn AXP experience hours to Associate AIA members.
Know of others? Email us at feedback@aia.org >
The Design for Aging Knowledge Community is hosting a virtual conference in collaboration with Environments for Aging. Don’t miss the free keynote, The Aftermath of COVID-19: New Approaches to Senior Living Design. Day passes and full passes are available on their website. On June 1, there’s a free live course on the Living Building Challenge and Multifamily Affordable Housing. And on June 9, there’s another free course on net-zero hospitals. Are you writing about the impact of COVID on healthcare design? AAH is accepting submissions through May 29 for the 2020 Academy Journal. Knowledge Communities provide a variety of ways to learn and connect with your peers—join one of the 21 KCs today!
Graduation season is upon us, and many schools are postponing commencement or are hosting virtual events. This week’s email has resources for new architecture grads, along with a number of others on reopening businesses, webinars, insurance, and more.
We love hearing from you! Please share your updates and content suggestions at feedback@aia.org. We’ll be in your inbox again next Tuesday. (more…)
In a pandemic environment, what’s normal seems to change daily. As states begin to reopen, our new normal is shifting again. This week’s email has nearly 20 resources to help you adapt.
We love hearing from you! Please share your updates and content suggestions at feedback@aia.org. We’ll be in your inbox again next Tuesday. (more…)
To get through the COVID-19 crisis, we must continue social distancing. This week’s email profiles the new “6 Feet Office” concept and more than a dozen other resources to support you and your work.
Please email us at feedback@aia.org with your updates and content suggestions. We’ll be in your inbox again next Tuesday. (more…)
As the response to the pandemic continues, we’re still spending our days away from others. And it’s unclear for how long. This week’s roundup includes a link to help get your creativity flowing, along with a few dozen resources and updates to support your work.
We love hearing your updates and content suggestions. Please keep them coming at feedback@aia.org. We’ll be in your inbox again next Tuesday. (more…)