Category: Design Industry

Hello AIA members!

I’d like to begin my term by acknowledging the suffering of those affected by the recent fires in Los Angeles—those who have lost their homes and communities, and the architects who will spend years helping their neighborhoods and clients rebuild and recover. Having been deeply involved in similar efforts here following the Marshall Fire, I understand how overwhelming and challenging the process will be. AIA National has offered its support, and we, as a state organization, do as well.

On a much brighter note, I’d like to express my gratitude to our Past-President, Julianne Scherer, our 2024 Board of Directors, and our incredible staff for their hard work and dedication. Thanks to their efforts, AIA Colorado had a fantastic year, and the organization is in a strong position as we move into 2025.

The theme of my presidency is simple: to make every member’s professional life 5% easier. While that might sound like a small, incremental change, achieving it would be neither easy nor insignificant.

I know each of you works tirelessly to make your life and work a little better—easier, more lucrative, more stable, more artistically rewarding—and a little less stressful. I believe we all share these goals.

In my office, my partner introduced me to the Japanese concept of Kaizen, or “continuous improvement.” At first, part of me thought, Ugh, that sounds exhausting. But my better, architect-self knows that Kaizen is actually the smartest and most sustainable way to get where we want to be. It’s also how AIA can better support you in achieving your professional goals.

Over the past few years, there’s been a lot of talk about Artificial Intelligence helping us solve problems. But here’s one challenge I think only we humans can tackle: AI doesn’t live our lives. It hasn’t pulled countless all-nighters in school, worked through weekends perfecting a client presentation, or worried about providing for a family on an emerging architect’s salary. It hasn’t had to be scrappy finding a first job or starting a firm. It hasn’t felt the joy of creating a design that fully reflects your talent or the satisfaction of solving a complex puzzle to meet a client’s needs. And it hasn’t wrestled with sleepless nights worrying about keeping staff after losing a big client or during an economic slowdown.

We understand those experiences. And that’s why neither I nor the AIA Colorado Board can solve this challenge alone—we need your help.

I’m asking each of you to contribute one good idea. It can be about any aspect of the profession, and it doesn’t matter how much experience you have. We’re going to crowdsource ideas from the most qualified group I know: you. 

Together, let’s answer the question, How do we make our profession—and your job—5% easier?

Here’s how it works: Look at your current practice and identify something that’s working especially well for you. It doesn’t need to revolutionize the industry. Even small improvements can make a big difference. 

Once we collect your ideas, AIA staff and the Board will organize them and share the best ones with everyone. You’ll be able to pick and choose the suggestions that resonate most with you and your work.

Let’s embrace the spirit of Kaizen and improve our profession collectively. I can’t wait to hear your ideas and share in the wisdom of this incredible community.

So to get your mental engines going, here are some real-life examples:

“We have a semi-annual all staff Visioning mini-retreat twice a year. We take the time to let all staff know what our goals and visions for the year are, and then we engage in a group dialogue to make sure that everyone is on board and understands what we’re trying to achieve and how we’re going to do it.”

“We allow well-behaved dogs in the office. Everyone seems to like having them, and for those staff who can’t easily leave their dogs at home, it makes it much easier and pleasant for them to come back to the office.”

“Every year, our firm identifies pain points for our staff and actively works to try and eliminate them: we have a downtown office; years ago we gave everyone an RTD EcoPass and bought an office bike. This year, we also added parking spaces for everyone who has to drive and comes in at least 3 days a week.”

“I (the Principal) go out to lunch with each of my Senior Associates one-on-one once a month. We talk about our families, our hobbies, our injuries, and sometimes our work, but it’s not a work lunch. It’s about getting to know each other and know what’s going on in each other’s lives. That way, when we have a disagreement or issue at work, we have a basis of trust, friendship and understanding that allows us to weather any kerfuffle or miscommunication. We actually do the same thing routinely with our clients. Sorry, that’s two good ideas…?”

“Our company includes families in at least half of all of our social events each year. It makes it easier to participate when I don’t have to choose between work and family, and has strengthened some of my friendships within the office because our families have bonded.”

‘My firm pays for our AIA membership and 50% of Design conference registration. It makes it financially possible for me (as a young designer) to participate.”

“We have a policy that face to face communication is the best (in-person is preferred, but Zoom is okay). Phone calls are second best. Emails are for sharing and tracking documents. Texts are only for perfunctory confirmations like, “I’ll be there in 5 minutes”. Never ever have project discussions via text. All tone and nuance is lost and that leads quickly to miscommunication.”

“We moved to using keynotes this year. It has really cleaned up and streamlined our Revit drawings.”

“Our firm gives every employee a $200/yr continuing Ed stipend to spend at their discretion.”

“I discuss budget and schedule with a prospective client within the first 30 minutes of their calling. This saves us both a lot wasted time if they don’t have realistic expectations.”

“Once a quarter we bring a chair massage therapist into the office and everyone can sign up for free.”

“We ask our clients to create Inspiration image folders using whatever format or program works for them. It helps us really hone in quickly on the style that they are looking for BEFORE we start designing.”

“We don’t put all of our projects on our website. We only include the ones that we want more of. ‘What you put out is what you get back’”.

“I wish the AIA would hold more events in the spring. I’d like to get my annual Continuing Ed requirements fulfilled earlier in the year so it’s not so stressful in December, and AIA events are the main way I do that. I also like staying connected to the architecture community, and sometimes waiting until the big fall events feels too long. I love coming to the design conference, but some years I’m slammed at work when it’s happening and can’t go. So having something in the spring would be helpful.”

“We just did a 4 month Fitness challenge” in our office. Everyone who wanted to participate got randomly put on a team of five and we self-reported our activity on a Google-drive spreadsheet. We have one staff person who’s running it and they let everyone know each week how the teams are doing. The office is offering a prize to the winning team and the top 3 particpants. It really upped everyone’s activity and health, but mostly it was just fun and team-building.”

“In our office remodel, we added a “pump room” (which also works as a Zoom room).  It has made it easier to return to work after having my first child. And I feel good about working someplace that actively supports it’s working moms, and doesn’t make us choose between family and work.”

“I write articles (for free) for our local newspaper about architecture and working with architects. I think it has not only given the public a better understanding of what we do as a profession, but it has directly led to a lot of client inquiries.”

“Our contract states that we have the right to photograph and publicize the project. This sets that expectation up front. It stinks to finish a project and then not get to put it on our website.”

“We have improved our Client Communication Protocols and it has been very beneficial: we send the meeting Agenda to our clients 24 hours ahead of time. They like knowing what’s going to be discussed. Then we email the presentation and a summary of the meeting notes and decisions to them immediately afterwards. This makes it easy for them to circulate it around to everyone who needs to see it, and helps them to remember what we told them. Our contract also says that if they don’t send us written disagreement with the meeting minutes within 48 hours of receiving them, that we are entitled to rely on that information moving forward. This has really helped reduce the ‘convenient forgetfulness’ that some of our clients have.”

“My firm actively encourages, organizes, celebrates and sometimes compensates us for our probono work. It breaks down normal project hierarchy, helps the community, and makes me feel good about my contribution every year.”

After we gather this treasure trove of good ideas we look forward to sharing them with all members, and that this effort will be useful in making your work life a little bit easier, richer, and more satisfying.

Here’s to an awesome 2025 together!

Scott Rodwin

President, AIA Colorado