8 REFLEXION | 2021-22 | AIA Utah What is the benefit of being an AIA Utah member? We all grapple with this question at some point in our careers. Many professions have an organization supporting the people working in their industry; the American Institute of Architects is ours. The top items most professional organizations promote include professional development, networking, advocacy and education. AIA has all these benefits and more. How can AIA member resources enhance your career, and how can you apply benefits to your day-to-day work? This article jumps into the main categories of AIA Utah Member benefits: professional development, networking, education, advocacy, equity by design, sustainability and stewardship, and conferences. The value of each benefit may vary from person to person and over time, depending on where you are in your career. Good thing there are a variety of benefits for everyone at every stage! Professional Development Let’s start from the beginning. Are you thinking about, or do you have staff who would like to get licensed? AIA Utah provides PPI resources to be checked out. As a member, the AIA space is open for you to use for yourself or with a group for studying, coffee breaks, or simply another space to work. The AIA Utah space can be used as a pop-in space during business hours or can be reserved free of charge for AIA Utah Members. In addition to assisting with licensure, AIA Utah promotes the growth of individuals and firms through Honor Awards, professional recognition and accomplishments, and providing platforms for local and international design competitions. Networking AIA Utah provides community connection with other architects and supporting allies of the architecture community through awards, social hours and panels. AIA Utah works to connect with supporting groups of the AIA, such as the Utah Center for Architecture, the School of Architecture, and Urban Design Utah. The AIA also has 21 Knowledge Communities where members can connect across one or multiple shared interests. In addition to personal networking, AIA Utah provides free job postings for AIA Members and firms in Utah. This is a wonderful community resource as many postings require heavy fees. Education To keep your license current in Utah, you need a total of 12 HSW per calendar year. AIA Utah works to actively promote new continuing education credits through its committees, local lecture series, and conferences. If there are educational topics you would like to see, contact the committee closely associated. In addition to contacting your local committees, there are several highly rated on-demand courses for free or at a discounted rate through AIAU and AIA’s Course Catalog. The AIA Continuing Education System online tracks your continuing education record, making it a breeze to keep up licensure. Advocacy AIA Utah advocates for architects. One of the AIA’s key initiatives is to advocate for architects to the Utah State Legislature and regulatory agencies. This is done through the Government Affairs Committee by creating relationships and lobbying government officials. The Government Affairs Committee tracks bills and initiatives that impact the design industry, providing important professional perspectives to elected officials. Business Resources At a micro level, though equally important, the AIA provides individuals and firms with business practice resources such as contract documents, master specs, and salary calculators. Being an AIA member also lends to resources from the AIA Trust that provides risk management and insurance programs. Benefits of AIA Utah Membership BY KATJA PETERSON, ASSOCIATE AIA
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