AIA Washington Council

We've moved!

2014-01-14T09:07:00.001-08:00

AIA Washington Council now hosts its blog on www.aiawa.org under "News."

Federal Government Shutdown: What You Need to Know

2013-10-01T11:07:00.003-07:00

by Andrew Goldberg
AIA National Managing Director, Government Relations & Outreach
(click here to view original article)

It’s been 17 years since the federal government last experienced a shutdown. As federal agencies begin the process of shutting their doors and furloughing non-essential personnel, there are lots of questions about how it will affect all Americans, especially those who work with (and for) the federal government. If your projects receive federal funding, will they have to stop? If you are a federal contractor, what should you be doing? Much remains unclear about what happens during shutdown, including the procedures that individuals and companies doing business with the government will face. In order to help AIA members through the confusion, the AIA has launched this page to provide up-to-date information about the shutdown and what you need to do.

Read more »

AIA National: August 2013 Architectural Billings Index

2013-09-30T11:39:00.001-07:00

With August Gains, Nearly a Year of Steady Non-Residential Billings Growth

Progress is tempered by disappointing housing starts and a broader economy that is still underperforming

By Kermit Baker, Hon. AIA
AIA Chief Economist

August showed further improvement in billings at U.S. architecture firms. The Architecture Billings Index (ABI) score of 53.8 for the month reflected the strongest growth in activity in six months, and marked the twelfth time in the past 13 months that design activity has increased nationally. The strength in recent readings in the ABI, coupled with the extended period that architecture firms have been reporting generally favorable conditions, points to an impending healthy upturn in nonresidential activity. This view is shared by the recently released results from the AIA’s Consensus Construction Forecast Survey, which points to nonresidential construction spending picking up in the coming quarter and accelerating through 2014.
Read more »

In Memoriam: Jon Pettit, AIA (DLR Group Managing Principal)

2013-09-03T09:40:00.000-07:00

Jon Pettit (1952-2013)

DLR Group Managing Principal

Jonathan (Jon) E. Pettit, AIA, died August 19, 2013 in Seattle following treatment for cancer. He was 61. Pettit was a DLR Group managing principal and practiced for his entire professional career with DLR Group. Read more »

AIA/WA Welcomes New Staff

2013-09-03T09:00:00.000-07:00

AIA/WA welcomes:

Josh Halpin (Marketing Manager)
Ashley Wilson (Event Manager)
Christina Rhoads (Administrative Assistant)

AIA National: July 2013 Architectural Billings Index

2013-08-28T16:39:00.002-07:00

Firm Billings Up Nationwide, But Construction Sector Still Lags

Financing still cited as major reason for construction weakness

By Kermit Baker, Hon. AIA, AIA Chief Economist

Billings at U.S. architecture firms moved up again in July, the third straight monthly increase, and the eleventh time over the past 12 months that firms have reported revenue gains. The July reading was 52.7, improving on the June score of 51.6. The index for new project inquiries also accelerated in July, with a score of 66.4, signifying the strongest growth in new inquiries since late 2005.
Firms in all regions of the country reported billings gains in July. Firms in the Northeast and South indicated particularly strong growth, with ABI scores above 54. In the Midwest and West, firms reported more modest gains. Major construction sectors served by architecture firms also all showed gains for the month. Institutional firms, while reporting only modest gains in recent months, have now recorded 12 straight months of billings growth.

Construction not stepping up
The construction sector was expected to be one of the key engines of economic growth this year, but results to date have been disappointing. Of the more than 1.3 million payroll positions added nationally so far in 2013, the construction industry has contributed only 82,000, or just over 6 percent. Construction spending for most nonresidential building categories has declined over the past year, with some building categories, such as education and religious facilities, seeing double-digit spending declines.

Financing continues to be a major reason for the weakness in the construction sector. The second quarter survey of bank lending officers by the Federal Reserve Board reported that banks were modestly easing their lending standards for construction and land development loans. However, this modest easing has not resolved financing concerns, as these same lenders acknowledge that demand for these loans has been much stronger over the past year.

The housing market, which had finally seen rapid growth in 2012, has slowed recently. After increasing almost 30 percent last year, housing starts in July were about where they were in the fourth quarter of 2012. Single-family construction activity has been particularly disappointing. The July single-family starts figure is at its lowest level of the year, once seasonal adjustments are applied.
The uneven growth in the construction sector and in the overall economy is reflected in the volatility of consumer sentiment scores, as well as in business confidence readings. Overall business confidence as reported by the Conference Board has been generally improving over the past year. Small businesses, however, are not nearly as optimistic. Optimism scores for these businesses have not improved over the past two years, according to the business optimism index released by the National Federation of Independent Business. As a result, small businesses are not planning on adding many positions over the next three to six months.

Managing design time
As design activity has begun to recover in recent years, many architecture firms have noted that this upturn has not necessarily lead to a shorter design phase for their projects. Concern over future economic conditions, client indecisiveness, project financing problems, and difficulties obtaining regulatory approvals have all been offered by architecture firms as reason for delays in project design timelines. Additionally, though, certain project characteristics are thought to affect design time. In this month’s Work-on-the-Boards question, respondents were asked to identify project characteristics that often affect the duration of the design phase of a project. Firms identified some factors that can reduce design time. A majority of respondents felt that design/build projects reduce design time, while a significant minority of respondents felt that integrated project delivery (IPD) projects often result in a shorter design time.

However, there are many other project characteristics that tend to increase the design time of a project. While respondents had mixed opinions as to the impact of using building information modeling (BIM) on design time, the impact of other project characteristics was quite unambiguous. About 70 percent of respondents felt that retrofits to or rehabilitations of existing facilities had longer design times, as did international projects. More than 75 percent of respondents felt that larger projects, proposed LEED-rated projects, and projects with a public client typically had higher design times.

Of all project factors that could affect design time, respondents were asked to select the single factor that has the greatest potential to lengthen design schedules. Having a public client topped the list, selected by 35 percent of respondents. Coming in second were larger projects, larger defined as three-to-five times larger than the typical project at the respondent’s firm. Building retrofits and rehabilitations were selected by almost 15 percent of respondents, while about 10 percent felt that attempting a LEED certification had the greatest potential to increase design time.
This month, Work-on-the-Boards participants are saying:

[We’re] beginning to show a slight increase in workload. [We’re] concerned about putting on additional staff and being able to maintain their employment. [We] do not like to hire and fire for workload.— 40-person firm in the South, institutional specialization
Immensely improving. [This is] mostly related to projects that started four years ago and could not get financed since that period.—4-person firm in the West, commercial/industrial specialization
Steady but measured improvement. Some government projects have been delayed due to budget concerns. If they get canceled, we will start to move backward again.—20-person firm in the Midwest, institutional specialization
Contractors seem to be a lot busier this summer than they have been in recent years. Bidding on projects has slowed due to workloads.—4-person firm in the Northeast, institutional specialization

Advocacy: Seattle Mayor's Race Article Roundup - July 30

2013-07-30T09:04:00.003-07:00

Seattle Mayor's Race Roundup

Former Seattle Councilman Peter Steinbrueck runs for mayor

Peter Steinbrueck is a native of Seattle, an architect who served on the city council for 10 years. He envisions the city he wants to create if elected mayor, "A city for all, a city that's just, a city that's compassionate. "
Source: KIRO-7 TV

Was McGinn’s first term too contentious for him to be re-elected?

Over the past four years, McGinn also has alienated city and state leaders who opposed his stance against the deep-bore Highway 99 tunnel and again during prolonged negotiations over police reform. He has alarmed neighborhood advocates who say he’s given away too much to developers, and he’s left environmentalists, arguably his strongest constituency, divided over his effectiveness.
Source: Seattle Times

AIA Washington Council endores Peter Steinbrueck, FAIA for Seattle Mayor

2013-06-28T10:35:00.002-07:00

Do you know that an architect is running for mayor of Seattle, one of the major cities in the United States?

This should be of significant pride and importance to everyone in our profession, everywhere. Peter Steinbrueck, FAIA, needs your support and he needs it now. As architects, we all know the need for consensus building to move projects forward. With the issues Seattle has faced in recent years: traffic gridlock, struggling schools, homelessness and public safety concerns, the need for a thoughtful, skilled, consensus builder, coupled with strong leadership in the mayor’s office is greater than ever.

Read more »

Advocacy: State Budge Compromise Released

2013-06-28T10:14:00.001-07:00

Advocacy Update regarding the State Budget
via Stan Bowman, AIA|WA Executive Director:

First, the compromise does NOT include an extension of the temporary 20% B&O tax surcharge that was enacted in 2010. That temporary tax hike will expire on July 1. The tax’s expiration is a welcome relief to architecture firms, large and small, still struggling to come out of the current recession.

Second, the AIA|WA was successful in stopping several policy measures that would have permanently redirected capital projects money to the operating budget. To be sure, the final budget still includes transfers from the Public Works Assistance Account and the model toxics accounts. But, these transfers affect only the upcoming biennium and provide hope the monies can be restored once the state budget recovers more fully.

The budget also does NOT transfer money out of key architecture programs such as school construction and public housing.

Next, we stopped further erosion of the state’s borrowing capacity for capital project investments.

The capital budget has not yet been released. But, there is an increase of between 11 and 16 million dollars for capital debt service in the upcoming biennium. Thus, we can assume that the capital budget will be fully utilized.

Overall, the AIA did very well in the final budget. We prevented extension of higher taxes and have blunted the effect of proposed fund transfers.

You can get more details at: http://leap.leg.wa.gov/leap/budget/detail/2013/ho1315p.asp.

Peter Steinbrueck, FAIA recognized at AIA National Convention 2013

2013-06-21T10:17:00.000-07:00

Stan Bowman from AIA National Convention 2013:

Today, Peter Steinbrueck, FAIA, was recognized at the AIA 2013 National Convention for his historic run for the Mayor of Seattle. More than 16,000 architects applauded him for his courageous career in public service.

Peter has been an active member of the AIA serving in leadership roles in the local and national levels. He was a founding supporter the AIA's Citizen Architect network. The network was created to support and encourage architects in public service roles through elected and appointed government positions.

AIA President Mickey Jacob, FAIA, thanked Peter for his service to the profession and encouraged architects from across the nation to support his run for office.

There is currently no major city in the nation that has an architect serving as its mayor. Yet, architects' innate skills of collaboration and project management are desperately needed to help solve today's urban social and environmental challenges.

Peter's experience as an architect and as a Seattle city council member (for 10 years) make him the most qualified candidate to lead Seattle during this time of change.

Architects from across the nation also came together this morning to support Peter financially at a breakfast fundraiser. These events demonstrate the broad national support for Peter's run for Seattle Mayor.

For more information about Peter Steinbrueck, FAIA, and his campaign, please visit his website at: www.peterforseattle.com.

Infographic - Civic Design Awards 2013

2013-06-04T14:41:00.002-07:00

For your consideration:

National: April 2013 - Architectural Billings Index Falters

2013-05-28T16:04:00.001-07:00

Design Activity Hits the Brakes in April

Another extended spring swoon seems unlikely, but architecture firms continue to report problems in keeping projects moving along

By Kermit Baker, Hon. AIA
AIA Chief Economist

Source: AIA National

After eight straight monthly gains in design activity, revenue at architecture firms fell in April. The ABI’s seasonally adjusted reading for the month was 48.6, falling from 51.9 in March and 54.9 in February. Housing starts nationally—particularly for multifamily units—also dropped sharply in April, suggesting that the construction sector remains choppy. Spring slowdowns have been common during this uneven recovery, but the momentum of the fourth quarter of last year and the first quarter of this year pointed toward growing design activity moving through the entire year. Inquiries for new projects continued to grow at a healthy pace in April, as did the volume of new design contracts, so the expectation is for a resumption of revenue growth in the coming months.
The recent slowdown seems to have hit firms in the Northeast and Midwest harder, as firms in both regions experienced setbacks. Firms in the Northeast had reported growth for seven straight months prior to the April downturn, while Midwest firms broke a string of six straight months of gains. Firms in the South continue to see healthy gains, while firms in the West reported only modest growth.

Interview: "Design Energy Simulation for Architects" w/ Kjell Anderson, AIA

2013-05-28T12:16:00.000-07:00

Background:

Kjell Anderson, AIA practices at LMN in Seattle, with a focus on sustainability. He previously worked at Callison, training employees internationally on energy simulation and modeling. His upcoming book, "Design Energy Simulation for Architects: Guide to 3D Graphics" explores energy use and modeling in architecture.

A five-question interview follows:

1) What was the impetus for starting the book?

After my Greenbuild 2011 presentation ("Making Better Decisions: Architect-Driven Early Design Energy Modeling") I was approached by a representative of Routledge, a UK-based publisher with an Architecture division. My initial thought was "There's no way I'd have time to write a book while working!" My wife supported the idea of taking time off to put it together, and so we began the adventure.

The wider impetus is that to meet the 2030 Challenge, Architects need to be more involved in the energy performance of their buildings
The wider impetus is that to meet the 2030 Challenge, Architects need to be more involved in the energy performance of their buildings, they need to take an interest in the energy performance of their buildings, and feel responsible for the energy outcome. There really are no guidebooks out there to help us. There is a yawning gap between highly specialized texts that focus on mechanical performance, academic texts that perhaps give good ideas but are difficult to apply to specific projects, and graphic case studies that provide pictures but only cursory text.

My book, the AIA Energy Modeling Guide, and other sources are helping fill this gap. Also, the emerging subculture of architects and architecture firms that engage in the energy performance of their buildings has not been exposed to the wider audience, except in magazine articles which are necessarily not in-depth. While pools of knowledge are out there, coalescing these into a single book provides architects answers to: What can be done? How is it done? How can it be interpreted and presented to inform the design process?

Over the last 50 years, architects have distanced themselves from the energy performance of their buildings, and our tools to study energy performance are very elementary. Mechanical designers have great tools, though they can take years to properly learn. Architectural energy-related tools are now widely available.

2) Which component of early design simulation is most in reach of today’s smaller firms and individual architects? Daylighting, air flow modeling, etc.?

Daylighting and Shading analysis are the easiest for most firms to begin to experiment with and use in their practice. Whole-building energy analysis often requires specialists, though software is bringing this within reach of architects that have a solid building science background.

Daylighting and Shading analysis are the easiest for most firms to begin to experiment with and use
Airflow analysis almost always requires a specialist. Daylighting and Shading require some training and understanding of theory - and this training is not generally available. Any type of simulation requires time and multiple iterations to get reasonably accurate results that can inform a building's design. When a firm begins using simulation to inform design, there will be mistakes, so allowing for extra time and flexibility is important.

3) What was the most surprising thing you learned from the case studies? Did any hypothesis change while reviewing data?

Architects and mechanical designers, even within the same firm, often don't communicate very well or often in early design phases. Architects seldom take the steps necessary to learn about energy performance, wanting quick, ballpark estimates to inform design - often in terms of hours. Mechanical designers and energy analysts generally don't want to generate early options, prefering to wait until a design is complete before they investigate, and then often require weeks to produce results. For this reasons, SOM-Chicago, HMC Architects, and many others have in-house groups that specialize in early-design simulation to bridge the gap.

.

The most surprising things about the case studies were the variety of firms engaging in the simulation of high-performance buildings [and the] inability of firms to share their modeling and data on their buildings due to NDAs.
The most surprising things about the case studies were the variety of firms engaging in the simulation of high-performance buildings, as well as the unfortunate inability of firms to share their modeling and data on their buildings due to NDAs.

I intended to write mostly about architects engaging in energy modeling of their buildings in early design, but ended up writing the Energy Modeling chapter as a guide for architects to understand the information that mechanical designers and energy analysts deal with in hopes that they will engage more meaningfully. This can serve as a foundation for us to engage more usefully with them, as well as for architects doing some early studies themselves.

4) Given your focus on sustainability, is the profession on track for meeting the 2030 goals?

2030 is an example of a Big Hairy Audacious Goal...we don't know exactly how to get there, but we think we can.
To answer the questions literally, the way the 2030 goals are set up, new tracks have to constantly be built to reach them. 2030 is an example of a Big Hairy Audacious Goal...we don't know exactly how to get there, but we think we can. The new tracks are being built, but not as fast as they need to be. I am hopeful that the continued grassroots creativity and passion will continue to evolve better methods for practice, codes, and rating systems. The first step - benchmarking and hitting the early targets - was fairly easy compared to reaching the next set of goals - 70% energy reductions and beyond. This will require much more diligence and research on the part of architecture firms. Most professions don't intentionally make themselves work harder for public benefit, but architects are leading the charge to create more rigorous energy codes and systems such as the 2030 Challenge, LEED and the Living Building Challenge that make our working lives more difficult, but also more fulfilling.

Another aspect is that a new generation of architects is coming into the profession that are comfortable with simulations. They are being taught to use them to inform their designs. Smart firms realize this and are hiring those individuals to help them transition to the new track, realizing that R&D is a relatively new thing to most firms.

5) Lastly, why do you choose to be an architect?

Architecture is grounded, creative, and spatial, a middle ground between engineering and art. It requires inspiration and thoughtfulness. While some days I wish I was a professional musician and didn't have to deal with building codes or budgets, the problem-solving opportunities inherent within each project can reward hard work with an elegant solution - when I can find a solution to a multifaceted problem it provides me with a great deal of satisfaction.

Final Notes

The book is written for architects to learn about energy use, and more specifically, energy modeling, in their projects. Early design simulation is now in the reach of most architectural firms, allowing the exploration of daylight, shading, airflow, and overall energy with in-house tools. The book includes 30 case studies from firms such as SOM-Chicago, Miller|Hull, LMN, Lake|Flato, and many others. It includes theory and examples of each item discussion. It begins with an introduction to simulation, then goes through metrics from comfort to climate, and then longer chapters, highlighted with case studies, are written about shading, daylighting, airflow analysis, and energy use studies. The final two chapters cover software in more detail, as well as how many firms set up and run in-house energy modeling programs. "Design Energy Simulation for Architects: Guide to 3D Graphics" will be published by Routledge on February 1, 2014: http://www.routledge.com/books/details/9780415840668/

Advocacy: Seattle Mayor Race Articles

2013-04-30T07:06:00.001-07:00

Last night saw the Seattle Mayor's race heat up with its first forum of the season. With one architect in the running, now's a great time to see which candidate can handle Seattle's expected growth while balancing sustainability goals.

For those interested:

Seattle Times Article, "Seattle mayoral contenders meet Monday in first big forum"

Like Murray, Steinbrueck enjoys great name recognition. He’s lagging the top candidates in fundraising, but as one campaign strategist for another candidate complained, “He has a park named after him!” Actually, the park is named for his father, Victor Steinbrueck, but the point is made. Steinbrueck, an architect and former City Council member, has also distinguished himself as the only candidate to oppose the Sodo location for the proposed basketball arena, earning him the support of maritime unions and manufacturing interests opposing the project. And he’s widely viewed as a champion of the neighborhoods at a time when McGinn’s Department of Planning and Development has allowed small-lot development in single-family areas and micro-apartment buildings that come with no design or environmental review.

Crosscut, "The Mayor Games: A guide to choosing Seattle's next CEO"

Advocacy - State Legislative Session Update

2013-04-25T08:18:00.005-07:00

Dear AIA Washington Council Members,

Overview

We are down to the closing days if the 105 day regular session. It is not likely, however, that the Washington Legislature will reach agreement on all of the outstanding issue by Midnight on Sunday, April 28.

AIA|WA issued an action alert to our members asking for them to urge contact lawmakers to oppose HB 2038, which extends the 20% B&O tax hike on the profession that was passed in 2010 and set to expire this year.

If you have not done so, please take a moment to contact your legislators through this link and urge them to not increase your taxes. More details are below.

AIA|WA is working with a broad coalition of business groups to advocate for a sustainable state budget that promotes economic recovery. You can find out more at the Recover Washington website: http://www.recoverwashington.com.

To stay up to date on the latest news, follow our blog at: aiawa.blogspot.com.

Special Session Likely

If the legislature does not finish its work by Sunday, then it will need to be called into a special session by the Governor. The Washington Constitution states that a special session may last no more than 30 calendar days. But, there is no limit on the number of special sessions which may be called.

It is likely that only the budget negotiators will remain in Olympia and that the official special session will be called only after an agreement is reached on the state budget. That would mean most legislators will return to their district and come back to Olympia for the few days needed to pass the bills necessary to implement the budget.

The Operating Budget

The House and the Senate are more than a billion dollars apart in their efforts to agree on an operating budget. Negotiators have met, but many basic parts of the budget have not passed either body.

Revenues for the 2013-15 biennium are projected to be $2 billion more than for the current biennium. It is expected that lawmakers add about $1 billion to K-12 education and higher education programs.

Taxes, Diversions & Transfers

The House budget assumes about $1.3 billion in new taxes. Many of the tax increases are included in Substitute House Bill 2038.

The House announced this week that they are removing several tax increases, but not the 20% tax hike on architects and other service professions. In 2010, lawmakers passed a temporary B&O tax increase on service professions, pledging to let it expire this year. But, House lawmakers are poised to break that promise with SHB 2038 enacting the higher tax rate permanently.

The House passed the tax increase yesterday on a vote of 50-47, with Democrats providing the 50 votes and 5 Democrats voting with Republicans against the bill.

The State Senate did not include any new taxes in its budget. However, the Senate relies upon roughly $600 million dollars in revenues to be permanently diverted from construction programs to the operating budget. They also would remove about $2 billion from the definition of general state revenues, which lowers the state’s borrowing capacity for capital projects. The House budget transfers about $100 million from construction programs.

Capital Budget

Neither body has passed their capital budget, yet. In the House there is bipartisan support for the capital budget, but it is being held up by Republicans as leverage in the operating budget negotiations.

The AIA|WA is working on some provisions in the capital budget regarding building performance requirements. A provision was added to two projects requiring additional value engineering, in an effort to curb costs. AIA|WA is concerned that value engineering has already been performed on the projects and another review late in the project would delay projects and not provide the expected cost savings.

Another project requires a design-build team to guarantee 5 years of energy performance. AIA|WA supports more efficient buildings, but is concerned that such a guarantee is unprecedented in our state and needs further evaluation to see if it would limit competition on the project.

The House and Senate are not far apart for the total amount of money budgeted for capital projects. However, there are some major differences in the specific projects as well as the funding sources being used for projects. It is likely that the Capital Budget will not pass either body until after an agreement is reached on the operating budget

Alternative Public Works

Substitute House Bill 1466 reauthorizes the states alternative public works laws (design-build, construction manager and job order contracting). The final bill includes a study of methods to improve building performance and lower life-cycle costs through alternative public works projects.

The AIA|WA also asked the legislature to address abuses of the job order contracting process which is intended for small construction projects. An amendment was included in one version of the bill, but was dropped before the bill passed the legislature. AIA|WA will continue to work to ensure that JOC is used only for construction purposes and not for design contracts.

Celebrate the Best of WA Public Architecture

On May 23, the AIA will celebrate the best of public architecture in Washington State. The AIA|WA Civic Design Awards brings together architects, public agency clients, consultants and the public. This is the only architecture award program in our state that focuses solely on projects with public funds. By promoting design excellence, the AIA|WA Civic Design Awards seeks to recognize public agencies that work with their architects to achieve a great project.

Thank you for your continued support of the AIA and our advocacy efforts in Washington State. If you have any questions about these or other issues, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Thank you,
Stan L. Bowman, Hon. AIA|WA
Executive Director
American Institute of Architects Washington Council
www.aiawa.org

Tacoma Architect, Peter Rasmussen, FAIA testifies on B&O Tax on Service Professions

2013-04-24T08:20:00.001-07:00

Tacoma architect Peter Rasmussen, FAIA testified on Friday, April 19 regarding the B&O tax on service professions, specifically citing the double-dipping of service taxes on primary service professionals and then their consultants. He was joined by AIA|WA Executive Director Stan Bowman, who also testified on the state of architectural design in Washington. Watch below:

AIA NW&P Region Newsletter - April 2013

2013-04-08T15:52:00.002-07:00

In this Issue:

AIA NW&P Region Launch Mentorship Program
2013 Region Conference – Oct 23-26 in Vancouver, BC
2014 Region Conference Planning with AIA Southwest Washington
2013 Elections for New Region Director and College of Fellows Rep
Region Bylaws and Governance Policy Rewriting
2013 Region Design Awards Program
New AIA Fellows

view at aianwpr.org

AIA National: Architecture Billings/Inquiries Strongest since 2008

2013-03-21T11:37:00.001-07:00

Billings and Inquiries Strongest Since Early 2008
Broad-based recovery in design activity appears to have survived federal budget uncertainties
By Kermit Baker, Hon. AIA
AIA Chief Economist

This year’s strong pace in design activity continued enthusiastically into February, pointing to an oncoming jump in nonresidential construction spending during the second half of this year. The AIA Architectural Billings Index (ABI) was 54.9 for February, signifying the strongest growth in billings at architecture firms since the downturn began in early 2008. The inquiries index was at 64.8 for the month, again the strongest reading since the design recession began.

Underscoring the growing strength across the profession are the regional billings scores from last month. Firms in each of the four major U.S. Census regions recorded scores in excess of 52 in February, with a high of 56.7 for the Northeast. For each of the past five months, scores in all regions have been above 50, indicating a broad-based recovery in design activity that appears to have survived the recent uncertainty surrounding the federal budget and debt negotiations.

Additionally, each of the major building sectors served by architecture firms saw growth in design activity in February. The reading for the residential index was 60.9, and this index has been above the critical 50 level for 10 straight months now. This residential upturn seems to be providing momentum to the nonresidential building sectors.

The commercial/industrial index reading was 53.3 in February, the third straight month that billings activity exceeded 52 for this sector. Even the institutional index was above 50 for the month, and has been above the 50 threshold for seven straight months. However, growth has been extremely weak, as readings for this sector have barely exceeded 50 over this period. Without more acceleration, institutional design activity in the days ahead may well see some monthly declines mixed in with growth.

Economy survives federal budget impasse
In spite of ongoing concerns over the “fiscal cliff,” the sequestration of federal spending, the threat of a federal government shutdown, and the prospect of federal borrowing bumping up against the debt ceiling, the broader economy continues to make slow but steady gains. Through the first two months of the year, there has been a net increase of 355,000 payroll positions, with 73,000 of those positions (more than 20 percent) added in the construction sector. Much of the construction growth has been in housing, as housing starts increased 28 percent nationally in 2012.

A significant share of the recent improvement in construction, however, is coming from the nonresidential sector. Through the first two months of the year, almost 32,000 positions have been added by residential contractors (general contractors as well as special trade contractors), while almost 28,000 have been added to nonresidential contracting firms, accounting for 38 percent of all positions added to the construction industry. Heavy and civil engineering contracting firms have added the remaining positions within the industry.
Prospects remain for continued steady growth in the wider economy, and in the construction industry for the remainder of this year. A rising stock market points to profitable U.S. businesses, which should encourage more capital spending as the year progresses. This improvement can already be seen in the payroll levels at U.S. architecture firms, which increased by about 2,000 positions last year. However, both the architecture profession and the construction industry still have a long way to go to get back to typical levels seen last decade.

Increasing stringency for building codes and regulations
In spite of a weak construction market in recent years, architects are reporting generally increased stringency in building codes and regulations. When asked if building codes and regulations in general had changed significantly in recent years, almost two-thirds of survey respondents indicated that they had become more stringent, while fewer than 2 percent indicated that they had relaxed. The remaining third felt that they hadn’t changed significantly.
The perceived increased stringency of building codes and regulations varied a lot by the type of code or regulation. For example, of the respondents that felt that codes and regulations had changed in recent years, 93 percent of firms reported that energy codes had changed substantially. Similarly, 76 percent of firms working with accessibility regulations pointed to a change. At the other extreme, few respondents pointed to significant changes in homeowners’ association standards or in historic preservation regulations. By building type, respondents felt the greatest changes were for commercial buildings and the least for industrial facilities.

Meanwhile, these perceived changes in building codes and regulations are altering project design and construction costs. Of the respondents who reported significant changes in building codes and regulations, 26 percent felt that they had increased design costs by a significant amount, and an additional 61 percent felt that they had increased design costs by a modest amount. For construction costs, 34 percent felt that changes in codes and standards had increased construction costs by a significant amount, and 58 percent felt construction costs increased by a modest amount.

This month, Work-on-the-Boards participants are saying:

2013 AIA College of Fellows Elevation: Congratulations!

2013-03-21T11:24:00.003-07:00

The following AIA Washington Council Architects were elevated to the College of Fellows:

George Shaw, FAIA (LMN Architects, AIA Seattle)
Amanda Sturgeon, FAIA (International Living Future Institute, AIA Seattle)
Lesley Bain, FAIA (Weinstein A|U, AIA Seattle)
Manuel Mario Campos, FAIA (Jones and Jones, AIA Seattle)
William McLeod Gaylor, FAIA (GGLO, AIA Seattle)
Raymond S. Johnston, FAIA (Johnston Architects PLLC, AIA Seattle)
Ric Peterson, FAIA (Suyama Peterson Deguchi, AIA Seattle)
Walter Schacht, FAIA (Schacht Aslani Architects, AIA Seattle)
Gregory Kessler, FAIA (Washington State University, AIA Spokane)

Congratulations!

From AIA National's Official Announcement:

The Fellowship program was developed to elevate those architects who have made a significant contribution to architecture and society and who have achieved a standard of excellence in the profession. Election to fellowship not only recognizes the achievements of architects as individuals, but also their significant contribution to architecture and society on a national level.

The 2013 Jury of Fellows from the American Institute of Architects (AIA) elevated 122 AIA members to its prestigious College of Fellows. Out of a total AIA membership of over 80,000 there are over 3,000 members distinguished with this honor.

The 2013 Fellows will be honored at an investiture ceremony at the 2013 National AIA Convention

View all 2013 AIA Awards Recipients.

Architects join together to protect Building Code Cycle (VIDEO)

2013-03-20T08:00:00.000-07:00

The Washington State building code is under attack.

Fortunately, Washington architects testified yesterday to protect the health, safety, and welfare--as well as promote sustainable design:

Mike Fowler, AIA, AIA|WA Codes & Planning Policy Committee Chair
Bill Sloane, AIA, MSGS Architects
Janet Knoblach, AIA, Morton Safford James III AIA Architects

They spoke before the House Local Government Committee against ESB 5378, which seeks to weaken the State's energy by switching from a gradual, standardized three-year cycle to a costlier six-year cycle. Such a change would also mean Washington design and construction professionals aren't as valuable on a national scale, since national building and energy codes follow a three-year cycle. Lastly, smaller, more frequent updates to code better prepare architects for the 2030 Challenge.

That's the power of architects working together for the greater good:

AIA|WA testifies on Building Code Council Representation (E5495)

2013-03-15T21:34:00.005-07:00

AIA Washington Council testified today on the Building Code Council and the financial and technical impacts of changing its current focus from design, construction, and safety:

Local Architects testify before House Capital Budget Committee on High-Performance Buildings

2013-03-15T20:59:00.000-07:00

"Process is as important as product," Rep. Hans Dunshee (44th District) said, introducing a panel of expert testimony from the following local design & construction professionals:

Allyn Stellmacher, ZGF Architects
Todd Stine, ZGF Architects
Patrick Gordon, ZGF Architects
Jack Avery, Sellen Construction

The purpose was two-fold: 1) demonstrate the benefits from high-performance design and 2) share why quality-based selection benefits both the private firms competing as well as the community served by their project.

Take a look:

ZGF and Sellen lent their expertise from designing and constructing the Federal Center South Building 1202 for the United States Army Corps of Engineers. Goals that ZGF aimed for: LEED Gold Certification, 200k ft of reused lumber from a decommissioned warehouse, eliminate 61% of water baseline demand, exceed 2007 ASHRAE 90.1 by 40%, and achieve overall EUI of 20.3 KBTU/SF/YR.

In Memoriam: Henry Klein, FAIA (1920-2013)

2013-03-12T12:38:00.000-07:00

AIA Washington Council is saddened to learn of the death of architect Henry Klein, FAIA of Mount Vernon, WA. He passed away March 5, 2013 at the age of 92.

Born September 6, 1920 in Cham, Germany, he moved with his family at age 15 to Switzerland where he continued his education before moving to the United States. He attended Hobart and Williams College in New York and graduated from Cornell University with a degree in Architecture.
The Second World War delayed the start of his career as he was stationed in India and the South Pacific with the Army Engineers. Following the war he returned to New York then moved to Portland, Oregon where he worked for Pietro Belluschi.

In 1952 Henry and his wife, Phyllis Harvey, packed up and moved to Mount Vernon where he opened his office becoming the first architect in Skagit County. He designed private residences for the early pioneer families in the area then began designing commercial and public buildings.

Henry Klein later founded Henry Klein and Associates which became The Henry Klein Partnership, and now is known as HKP Architects. Projects of note in Skagit County include the Skagit County Administration Building, Mount Vernon Public Library, The Museum of Northwest Art, Mount Vernon High School Gym and Field House, and the Swinomish Tribal Community Hall.

Other projects in neighboring counties and beyond include The Performing Arts Center and Mathes and Nash Residence Halls at Western Washington University, The Kent Public Library, senior centers in Redmond, Kent, Bellingham and Ferndale, the Orcas Island Public Library, the Marine Laboratory Commons building, dormitories for the University of Washington in Friday Harbor, a cloister for Our Lady of the Rock Monastery on Shaw Island, and many other buildings, schools and homes in Washington State.

In 1981 the firm was awarded the Louis Sullivan Award for Architecture, the first small firm to ever win the award as well as the only west coast firm awardee at that time. Henry’s very personal speech in response to the award is available online at: www.hkpa.com/publications/speech_sullivan.html.
Henry retired in 2004 after 52 years of practice.

According to HKP Architects, Henry was a quiet and humble family man who loved the arts, nature, and the diversity of people he came into contact with. His work was his chosen expression of his citizenship. Henry’s memory and legacy continue to motivate and inspire all who knew him.
No services will be held. The Skagit County Historical Museum will be presenting an exhibit of Henry’s career and work in April 2013.

Updated:
Letter from Norm Strong (PDF)
Press Release from HKP architects

Legislative News: Impact of Court Ruling on 2/3 Vote Requirement on Taxes

2013-03-05T08:44:00.000-08:00

by Stan Bowman, Hon. AIA|WA
(originally sent 3/1/2013)

Yesterday, the Washington State Supreme issued its decision on a challenge to the voter approved requirement that tax increases be passed by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the legislature and signed by the governor or by a simple majority of the legislature and a referendum passed by a majority of voters.

What did the court rule?

The court split its ruling regarding the two parts of the law. First, it ruled that the two-thirds requirement to be unconstitutional. Second, it declined to rule on the referendum requirement, saying it was not properly before the court (as no specific action had been taken on this option).

There are dozens of articles online about the ruling which will explain the details (search any newspaper in the state for more).

For our purposes, the pertinent question is what does the ruling mean for architects in the current legislative session?

The obvious impact is on the Business & Occupations (B&O) tax surcharge that was placed on service businesses, like architecture firms, in 2010 and which is set to expire on July 1, 2013. Prior to the court’s ruling it was widely held that extending the surcharge would require a 2/3 vote of both houses as it would be determined to be a tax increase under the initiative.

Now, a simple majority is all that is required to extend the tax surcharge. The court’s ruling makes it more likely that the temporary surcharge would be extended temporarily (again) or even permanently.

How will the majority House Democrats act?

House Democratic leadership (which holds the majority) is praising the court’s ruling but staying quiet on how they plan to proceed. The House Democrats have more than enough votes to extend the B&O tax surcharge, pass additional tax increases and/or pass new taxes.

It is likely that the House will vote to extend the B&O Tax surcharge for some number of years (the popular guess is between 2 and 4 years). The House may also pass some other tax proposals, such as a tax on capital gains or the elimination of tax exemptions.

How will the Senate Majority Coalition Caucus act?

The Senate Majority Coalition Caucus is decrying the ruling and is less tight-lipped about its plans. Senate Majority Leader Rodney Tom stated that the MCC will seek to amend the Senate Rules to require a 2/3 vote to pass tax increases. However, that would likely be challenged by the Senate Democrat leaders. It is unclear how Lt. Governor Brad Owen would rule on such a challenge.

On the one hand, Senate Rules may not be enforced which conflict with the state constitution. On the other hand, because of separation of powers, the courts may have little or no authority to overturn an operational rule of the Senate.

Members of the MCC have stated that they will push for a constitutional amendment to enact the 2/3 vote or referendum requirements. It is doubtful that they could get the 2/3 vote necessary in both the House and Senate to send such a constitutional amendment to a vote of the people. Should they garner the votes to refer it to the ballot, it would likely pass, as voters have passed the requirement 5 times as initiatives, dating back to 1994.

Regardless of the change in Senate rules or a constitutional amendment, the MCC has stated that it is unified against new taxes. They have stated a willingness to discuss tax exemptions, but do not support extending the B&O Tax surcharge or enacting sweeping new taxes, such as a capital gains tax.

While the MCC is adamant in its position right now, at some point the House and Senate will need to negotiate on a budget. The House is likely to insist on some tax increases in order to balance the state’s budget. The Senate will oppose such increases and seek to balance the budget within existing state revenues.

It is a situation of the unstoppable force meeting the immovable object. Which will win? That is yet to be determined.

The next question is what about Governor Jay Inslee?

During the campaign he pledged to not support tax increases. Since his election, he has stated that extending the expiring surcharge is not a tax increase. He stopped short of encouraging such an extension, but clearly indicated that he would not view it as a violation of his pledge. He also indicated that he does not view the elimination of exemptions as a tax increase.

It is further unclear what he would do regarding other tax increases. Governor Gregoire campaigned for office twice on no new taxes pledge. She promptly signed into law several tax increases in the first year of both her first and second terms. So, would Inslee follow Gregoire’s lead and abrogate his pledge if a tax bill lands on his desk or would he hold firm to his word and veto it, forcing lawmakers to go back to work on a budget without increased taxes? There is no clear prediction on this.

How can the AIA|WA affect the decisions to be made in the legislature?

We made a good start with the effective lobbying done at Capitol Connections by our members. I am continuing to meet with key lawmakers on the tax-writing and budget committees to educate them about the economic situation of architects and the impacts of past tax increases on the profession.

Next, we will need members contacting their lawmakers directly to discourage them from supporting an extension of the B&O tax surcharge. This is where the real impact must occur. Our members and their firms are best equipped to tell the economic story about the deleterious impacts of the tax surcharge on their firms and their employees.

If you have questions, please do not hesitate to ask.

AIA National: January ABI Positive in All Regions - Strongest Growth in 5 Years

2013-02-25T08:46:00.003-08:00

Architecture Firm Billings Continue Resurgence into New Year
More than one-third of firms report that time for project design phase has decreased
By Jennifer Riskus

Business conditions continued to strengthen at architecture firms in January, as the AIA’s Architecture Billings Index (ABI) climbed to 54.2, signifying the strongest growth in five and a half years. The index’s seasonal adjustment factors were revised in January, leading to some revisions in the historical data, but the overall trend of the last six months remained the same, with firm billings growing every month. Inquiries into new projects also remained strong in January, and firms reported a strong increase in the value of new design/design-build contracts.
Architecture firm billings continued to grow at firms in all regions of the country in January, with business conditions remaining strongest in the Midwest. Another impact of the revision of seasonal adjustment factors is that scores for firms located in the West were revised upwards for the last several months, and now show that billings growth there has been occurring consistently since last summer, following several years of severe weakness. And firms of all specializations reported an increase in firm billings in January, with growth remaining strongest at firms with a residential specialization.
Architecture services employment on the rise
Evidence of improving conditions can also be found in the general economy, as nonfarm payroll employment grew once again in January, with 157,000 positions added. A major contributor to this increase was construction hiring, as there have been steady gains in that sector for the last several months. Architecture services employment has also been on the rise recently, reaching 156,000 in December (the most recent data available), its highest level in two and a half years. Along with these payroll gains, the Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan Surveys of Consumer Sentiment reported an increase in consumer confidence in January, a rebound from concerns in late 2012 about the fiscal cliff. However, consumers remain slightly less optimistic than they were a year ago, and the only people currently reporting significant improvements to their personal finances and perceptions of the wider economy are ones with an annual household income above $75,000.
Time for design
This month’s special practice question asked survey panelists if they had seen any recent changes in the length of time required for project design activities. Just over one third (37 percent) indicated that the design phase for a typical project has decreased over the last two years, while just over one quarter (27 percent) reported that it had increased. The remainder said that it had stayed the about the same. A slightly higher share of firms with a residential specialization indicated that the design phase has increased (31 percent), while 40 percent of firms with an institutional specialization found that it had decreased in the last two years.
For firms that have experienced a decrease in project design time, the vast majority of architecture firms (75 percent) reported that greater urgency from the client to get the design completed was a very important factor. Firms considered increased project simplicity and the use of BIM to be less important factors in decreasing project design time. When asked about the importance of factors increasing project design time, 52 percent of respondents rated delays caused by client nervousness over the weak economy as very important, followed by 44 percent who rated delays due to client difficulties in obtaining project financing as very important.
This month, Work-On-The-Boards participants are saying:

AIA Washington Council

We've moved!

Federal Government Shutdown: What You Need to Know

AIA National: August 2013 Architectural Billings Index

With August Gains, Nearly a Year of Steady Non-Residential Billings Growth

Progress is tempered by disappointing housing starts and a broader economy that is still underperforming

In Memoriam: Jon Pettit, AIA (DLR Group Managing Principal)

Jon Pettit (1952-2013)

DLR Group Managing Principal

AIA/WA Welcomes New Staff

AIA National: July 2013 Architectural Billings Index

Firm Billings Up Nationwide, But Construction Sector Still Lags

Financing still cited as major reason for construction weakness

Advocacy: Seattle Mayor's Race Article Roundup - July 30

Seattle Mayor's Race Roundup

AIA Washington Council endores Peter Steinbrueck, FAIA for Seattle Mayor

Do you know that an architect is running for mayor of Seattle, one of the major cities in the United States?

Advocacy: State Budge Compromise Released

Peter Steinbrueck, FAIA recognized at AIA National Convention 2013

Infographic - Civic Design Awards 2013

For your consideration:

National: April 2013 - Architectural Billings Index Falters

Design Activity Hits the Brakes in April

Another extended spring swoon seems unlikely, but architecture firms continue to report problems in keeping projects moving along

By Kermit Baker, Hon. AIA AIA Chief Economist

Interview: "Design Energy Simulation for Architects" w/ Kjell Anderson, AIA

Advocacy: Seattle Mayor Race Articles

Seattle Times Article, "Seattle mayoral contenders meet Monday in first big forum"

Crosscut, "The Mayor Games: A guide to choosing Seattle's next CEO"

Advocacy - State Legislative Session Update

Overview

Special Session Likely

The Operating Budget

Taxes, Diversions & Transfers

Capital Budget

Alternative Public Works

Celebrate the Best of WA Public Architecture

Tacoma Architect, Peter Rasmussen, FAIA testifies on B&O Tax on Service Professions

AIA NW&P Region Newsletter - April 2013

In this Issue:

AIA National: Architecture Billings/Inquiries Strongest since 2008

2013 AIA College of Fellows Elevation: Congratulations!

Architects join together to protect Building Code Cycle (VIDEO)

AIA|WA testifies on Building Code Council Representation (E5495)

Local Architects testify before House Capital Budget Committee on High-Performance Buildings

In Memoriam: Henry Klein, FAIA (1920-2013)

Legislative News: Impact of Court Ruling on 2/3 Vote Requirement on Taxes

AIA National: January ABI Positive in All Regions - Strongest Growth in 5 Years

By Kermit Baker, Hon. AIA
AIA Chief Economist