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!

Visit the AIA National COVID-19 response page >

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…)

This article is written by Andrea Perez Balderrama of the Detroit Free Press. You can view the original article here.

John Calvin Haro, the architect and designer of the National Bank of Detroit headquarters, the historic building downtown Detroit where Quicken Loans is now located, died on April 9 in Phoenix, Arizona, at age 91. (more…)

Many of you have been in touch with content suggestions, feedback, and updates on how you’re doing and coping in this new normal. Thank you, and please keep sharing at feedback@aia.org. It helps us bring the most timely and relevant resources to you.

Here’s another week’s worth of our best new content and links to support your work. We’ll be in your inbox again next week with new resources and information. (more…)

It’s been another unprecedented week, and everything is in a state of flux. There’s a constant in all this, and that’s our support for each other. This issue curates some of our best new resources, content, and links to help keep your projects moving and protect your business.

Please stay in touch. Let us know how you’re doing and share your feedback and ideas at feedback@aia.org. We’ll be in your inbox again next week with new resources and information. (more…)

This is the first in a new weekly series dedicated to AIA’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. We’re curating the content you’re asking for—working remotely, business continuity, economic updates, relief for our industry, and more—to help you adapt your practice, minimize disruptions, keep projects moving, and protect your business.

All this info will live on the AIA National COVID-19 response page, which has even more resources. We’re updating it regularly, so bookmark it and visit frequently.

Please stay in touch. Let us know how you’re doing and share your feedback and ideas at feedback@aia.org. We’ll be in your inbox again next week with new resources and information. (more…)

This article originally appeared on AIA National’s website.  You can view the original article here.

Dear AIA community,

We are living in a challenging time. As we awaken each new day of this unfolding public health emergency, our perspective changes, sometimes radically. Despite all of our professional knowledge and technical mastery, the COVID-19 crisis demands that we remember the fragility of the human condition.  As architects, we know that there is no higher responsibility – personally or professionally – than protecting the health, safety and welfare of each other and the communities we serve. The reality we are confronting highlights the vulnerabilities of our modern and extremely interconnected global society.

While the future appears uncertain, we still have agency. COVID-19 requires all of us to make difficult decisions and to reevaluate our priorities. Like you I may be worried or uncertain at times, but having been through other large-scale societal challenges, including the September 11 attacks, floods, hurricanes, and deep economic swings, I am also optimistic and confident.  The architectural community has consistently come together to do what we do best: protecting society’s well-being while planning for a better future.

As we make our own plans, AIA is making decisions that we’d like to share with you: (more…)