21 ETCHEMENDY ENGINEERING INC. 10597 DOUBLE R BLVD., RENO, NV 89521 P: 775.853.1131 I F: 775.852.2352 BETCHEMENDY@EEI-NV.COM I WWW.EEI-NV.COM striving to make the profession a solid place to stand for the current and next generations of architects, especially for women and people of color. NCARB’s latest “By the Numbers” report illustrates the disappointing statistics that highlight the need for nationwide improvement. In Northern Nevada, TMCC provides diverse educational opportunities and has a large population of minority students. As such, we find ourselves in the spotlight with the opportunity to both help our local community and exist as a model for others to cite in the national conversation as well. AIA National is committed to better introducing the profession to K–12 students by issuing updated lesson guides and other tools for educators, parents, and pupils. Our popular “Build the Block” game for middle and high school students is now web-based and available for chapters’ use in their local K–12 initiatives. At the college level, AIA is beginning to shift the focus away from traditional professional educational models and challenging itself to be innovative in removing barriers to access. We’re focused on strengthening community college pathways and supporting talented students through national scholarship programs that are achieving record levels of support. Nationally, the Diversity Advancement Scholarship, awarded to 12 students entering architecture school, gives students $4,000 per year toward tuition for the next five years, totaling $20,000 each. In financial partnership with AIA National, our local Ric Licata Memorial Scholarship is helping fund two students’ education at TMCC, a model program specifically designed for community college or trade school (two-year) students. All of this energy surrounding architectural education can locally culminate with the Nevada System of Higher Education’s (NSHE) decision for TMCC to pilot and seek National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) accreditation for a Bachelor of Architecture, the first professional degree of architecture in Northern Nevada. Many hands have come together to achieve this goal, including TMCC faculty, administration, and local AIA and AIAS members. We still have a long way to go, but I’m encouraged that the steps we’re taking now and the resources we have from our national organizations will bear meaningful fruit for our local community in years to come. Finally, our profession exists as stewards of the built environment. Being an architect today requires a host of skills far beyond the technical proficiency of building science and the graphical clarity of construction documentation. Far beyond what’s commonly defined as “architecture,” society and the profession benefit from architects who engage in the civic realm. When the public, policymakers, legislators, and strategic partners understand the full value of what architects can offer to address the challenges of communities, we all thrive. Our active involvement in big issues matters a great deal! In early June 2022, AIA was the title sponsor of the U.S. Conference of Mayors’ (USCM) annual conference in Reno, NV. Our own mayor, Hillary Schieve, is the president-elect of the USCM and, as such, hosted 33 other mayors from cities around the country. Among the countless contacts and meetings with AIA National members/staff and their respective city leaders, AIA CEO Lakisha Woods took to the main stage with City of Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner. Together, they urged mayors to utilize architects and AIA as their partners for progress. AIA President Hart moderated a panel discussion on local efforts to improve building energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. When panelist Mayor Andrew Ginther of Columbus, Ohio (now president-elect of the USCM) pointed out how helpful AIA Columbus had been for him in navigating some of the city’s long-term challenges related to zoning and climate, AIA President Hart was quick to remind the audience of mayors that there is an AIA chapter conveniently located near each of them! Civic leaders are hungry for practical advice. These opportunities connect the local to the national. They enhance our stewardship and voice, helping us eliminate barriers and create a brighter, fairer, and more sustainable future. Most importantly, they build relevance to that of our profession as seen from the outside; from the youth, who are looking into their future and dreaming of architecture as a viable career path, or from our civic leaders working tirelessly to find solutions to ever-changing problems. While this is powerful, we can’t help unless we’re in the room, at the table, on the front lines, constantly expanding what we do outside our offices’ walls. This is the American Institute of Architects in 2022.
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