General Info

AIA Rochester - About Awareness is a crucial, driving force in the craft of architecture. Awareness of physical space, environment, community, and programmatic needs is a prerequisite for developing responsive, creative design solutions. That need and desire for awareness must also extend to the profession of architecture. To encourage continued success and expand the impact of our profession, AIA Rochester must build awareness on two fronts: its membership and the community at-large. Members of AIA should know one another, be familiar with the resources available throughout the community and understand the opportunities for professional growth and development. Building awareness among our membership will enhance individual and collective creativity and make architects positive impact on our built environment more noticeable. The value of architecture must be promoted to the community at-large. Appreciation for our industry s incorporation of art and science and respect for the professionals who bring people s ideas to life will only occur through ongoing community outreach and promotion. Making the general public aware of our knowledge, our experience and our value will help us build relationships and earn credibility with the people who need our services. To enhance awareness, our organization will need to focus on the following key objectives over the next year: Increase Member Involvement - Recent efforts to encourage participation and interaction among members must be maintained and expanded. For example, four socials have been scheduled above and beyond the standard continuing education breakfasts/lunches. These kinds of events allow members to build relationships and make personal connections that go beyond professional networking. Encourage Stewardship The leaders in our field principals and owners and the AIA Rochester Board have a significant opportunity to influence our membership and the community at-large. Their active involvement demonstrates the importance of belonging to our organization, expands professional development and mentoring, and communicates through action that AIA Rochester is an important community asset. Promote Successes Local project success stories are often told from the perspective of the community, the business or the individual responsible for initiation or oversight. As an organization, AIA Rochester must actively promote projects from the perspective of the architect and design professionals that helped make them happen. Knowledge is power. We have heard the expression used many times, in many circumstances. Rochester s architecture community has the obligation and opportunity to adopt a variation of that expression in 2006: Awareness builds success! Architects save money. An architect's services are a wise investment because a well-conceived and designed project can be built more efficiently and economically. As ideas evolve, changes can be made on a computer screen or paper much less expensively than when construction is under way. Other ways architect-designed projects save money include: Architects solve problems. The architect is the one professional who has the education, training, experience, and vision to guide the design and construction process. This broad knowledge helps architects focus individual home owners' needs to maximize their investment in livable square footage on time and within budget. Architects stay abreast of advances in roofing, brickwork, floor tile, paint finishes, and other building materials to ensure a smooth and cost-effective building process. Architects see the big picture. Few people realize how complicated it is to build until they find themselves lost in a maze of design options, building codes, zoning laws, and contractors. Architects don't just design four walls and a roof; they create total environments, interiors and exteriors that satisfy specific needs and functions. If a project requires engineering or other constructi