AIA Kansas annual meeting and educational opportunity, annual report released
Looking ahead to 2021
AIA 2020 Awards Jury Chair, John Kane, FAIA, and Chris Fein, AIA, led a how-to presentation on creating compelling design award submissions. They discussed methods to tell the story of the project through the submission in a way that demonstrates both functionality and beauty.
At the meeting, AIA Kansas also released its annual report, sharing the organization's successes despite an unprecedented year. Click on image at the left read the full report!
AIA Kansas scholarship winners announced
Congratulations to our winners!
The AIA Kansas Architectural Foundation Scholarship was established to recognize outstanding full-time architectural students enrolled in a Kansas university. Samuel Carlson and Darius Mathis are this year's deserving winners.
Darius Mathis, AIAS, is in his 4th year of the University of Kansas Master of Architecture Program. He was selected as a scholarship recipient because of his outstanding academic record, his strength of character and his promise as a future leader in the profession.
Samuel Carlson is a third-year architecture student at Kansas State University in the College of Architecture, Planning and Design. Sam recently interned at Forward Design in Kansas City where he had opportunities to design real residential projects and gain valuable understanding of firm operations.
In addition to excelling in the classroom and studio as a dedicated and hardworking student, Darius is a student leader and is heavily involved in the KU chapter of NOMAS (National Organization of Minority Architecture Students). The faculty strongly believes that Darius will be a recognized and successful practitioner in the future.
He is deeply interested in architectural history, biophilic design and the utilization of stereotomic forms. Raymond Streeter, co-chair of the scholarship committee summed him up this way, "Every once in a while, a student passes through our program that you just know is someone to watch. Sam Carlson is one of those students. I believe he will grow into an outstanding architect and practitioner."
Post-election analysis: Kansas Republicans gain House seats, hold Senate majority
Republicans maintain supermajority in both houses
In the House, 79 candidates had a general election out of the total 125. Of those, 64 were incumbents and 59 of the incumbents won their races. There were three incumbent losses: Rep. Monica Murnan, Rep. Tim Hodge, and Rep. Stephanie Yeager. The Democrats had 27 wins of their general challenge races, and the Republicans had 52 wins. Overall, the Democrats will hold 39 seats, and the Republicans will hold 86. The Democrats saw a small loss in their representation in the House.
In the Senate, 29 candidates had general challenges out of the total 40. Twenty-five of the 29 were incumbents and one of those facing a loss: Sen. Anthony Hensley. Twelve Democratic Senators held onto seats that had primary challenges, which leaves them with 13 total seats in the Senate. Senator Marci Francisco was the only one not to face a challenger. The Republicans won 19 contested seats. There will be 29 Republican Senators in total. Overall, there was little change in the total representation for Republicans and Democrats.
It is noteworthy that, to override a veto by the Governor, a two-thirds vote from both chambers is necessary. In the previous Session, the Republicans held a veto-proof majority in both the House and the Senate. They will hold onto their supermajority in both chambers in the coming session.
AIA national election results
Look for details on the national website!
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Daniel Hart, FAIA, of AIA Austin/AIA Texas Society of Architects as the 2021 first vice president/2022 president-elect;
- William Turner Jr., AIA, LEED AP of AIA Colorado as the 2021–2022 secretary;
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Ryan Gann, Assoc. AIA, of AIA Chicago/AIA Illinois as the 2021-2023 at-large-director
Hart is the Executive Vice President of Architecture and serves on the board of Parkhill, a 450-person architectural/engineering firm, with offices in Texas and New Mexico. Turner is a principal at Path21 Architecture & Planning in Denver, and Gann is a designer a Ross Barney Architects in Chicago.
For more information, click here.
Future forward: AIA takes steps to advance racial justice and equity
Moving from aspiration to action
Harnessing the passion of members and the broader design community, AIA is taking steps to advance racial justice and equity in our organization, in our profession, and in our communities. It will do so in the following ways:
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Dismantle barriers within all AIA systems: governance, honors and awards, internal policies, vendor selection, hiring/retention, and any business practice that intentionally or unintentionally contributes to injustice and exclusion (policies, practices and programs).
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Expand inclusiveness and diversity within the profession through K-12 and higher education engagements and advocate for effective pathways into the profession. Expand the participation of racially and ethnically diverse populations, women and other underrepresented groups.
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Conduct training, and enhance education and knowledge dissemination, and increase the number of high-quality new resources for the Board, staff, volunteers and members.
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Ensure alignment with AIA 2021-2025 strategic plan.
For more information and to follow updates, click here.
Three new leaders have been elected to The American Institute of Architects’ (AIA) Board of Directors, to serve terms beginning in 2021.
The AIA delegates elected are:
Malcolm Watkins elected Young Architects Regional Director
Congratulations on this accomplishment!
Malcolm Watkins, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP, has been elected to a two-year term as Regional Director for the Central States Region. He is the current AIA Kansas President and has served in various leadership positions in the past 10 years for both AIA Kansas and AIA Wichita. He recently was named one of Wichita Business Journal's 40 under 40 for the class of 2020.
The AIA Central States Region Emerging Professionals Committee evolved out of an effort to better engage professionals earlier in their career.The AIA Central States Region is a designation by AIA National for the states of Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Oklahoma. The Central States Region is represented by two Directors who serve on AIA's Strategic Council and help guide policy matters for the national organization. Each month, these Directors convene a Central States Region Board, representing each of the components in the region, to discuss issues for both the region and at the national level.
Update: Stateside Summary for 9/11/2020 Version
This order requires state agencies to extend renewal deadlines for specified occupational licenses.
This order is applicable to occupations and professions that require a license, certificate, permit, or registration issued by a state agency, such as nurses, physicians, pharmacists, and mechanics.
This order requires all state agencies to extend renewal deadlines for any occupational or professional license, certificate, permit, or registration issued by a state agency or any board, commission, division, or other licensing authority within a state agency to any individual, business, or organization, that was in good standing as of March 12, 2020, and that has expired or will expire during the state of emergency. The extension will be for 90 days after the end of the state of emergency.
This order requires the same extensions for any organization, establishment, facility, shop, or premises license, certificate, permit, or registration issued by a state agency or any board, commission, division or other licensing authority.
This order does not affect licensing for attorneys.
This order will now expire on January 26, 2021.
Link to Record:
Kansas Fire Marshal's office provides checklists for architects
Download these helpful checklists and save for reference!
The State Fire Marshal's office has provided a series of helpful checklists for those in the architectural and engineering professions. These checklists offer a helpful guide to safety throughout the design process. View, download, and print them for reference by clicking below!
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Bob Schaeffner to give a keynote address for virtual AIA Kansas conference
"Milestones: The Through Lines" to explore the significant points in an architect's career
AIA Kansas is pleased to announce that Bob Schaeffner, FAIA, LEED AP, will be the keynote speaker on Tuesday, October 27, for this year's annual conference. Schaeffner joined Payette in 1981 and became part of the firm’s expansion into research facility design.
After completing seminal research projects for leading institutions such as Massachusetts General Hospital and Princeton University, he led the firm’s first academic project: the Severance Hall Chemistry Addition/Renovation at the College of Wooster. Seeing this as an opportunity to further expand the practice, Bob helped develop Payette’s strong presence in college/university science facility planning and design. His seminal 1998 Article “Recovering from Sputnik” recognized the trend that the plethora of science buildings built in the 1960s and 70s (in the post-Sputnik era) were all failing in their systems, but more importantly, in how they served the rapidly changing world of science education. He has led a number of science center projects at prestigious colleges and universities which have positively transformed entire campus precincts.
Tim Schroeder, President and Principal of Neumann Monson Architects, is the keynote speaker for October 28. He will be featured in the September newsletter.
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AIA Kansas President Malcolm Watkins named one of Wichita Business Journal's 40 under 40
Congratulations on this accomplishment!
Malcolm Watkins has been honored this year by the Wichita Business Journal as one of their 40 under 40.
As the AIA Kansas President, Watkins is committed to advocacy and building community within the profession and on improving the visibility of and enhancing the reputation of the profession in the eyes of all Kansans.
Congratulations on this exciting achievement!
AIA's Chief Economist offers insights
The series is available free on AIAU
The economic impact of COVID-19 on the profession is a rapidly evolving story. An excellent resource to help you stay informed is offered on AIAU by AIA’s Chief Economist, Kermit Baker, PhD, Hon. AIA. In the series, Baker analyzes the latest economic data and examines its impact on firms and their response to the pandemic. The most recent course dropped on July 23.
AIA Kansas recently spoke to Baker, who said the series' focus was on the national picture and advised that there could be regional differences. Next month, AIA Kansas reports on the economic view closer to home.
Baker's courses, free to AIA members, can be found here.
Professional licensing renewal deadlines extended
Gov. Kelly's executive order extends through September 15
n May, Gov. Kelly signed an executive order extending the deadline for professional licensure expiration deadlines. On June 30, this order was extended through September 15th by Executive Order 20-49.
This measure requires all state agencies to extend renewal deadlines for any occupational or professional license, certificate, permit, or registration issued by a state agency or any board, commission, division, or other licensing authority within a state agency to any individual, business, or organization, that was in good standing as of March 12, 2020, and that has expired or will expire during the state of emergency. The extension will be for 90 days after the end of the state of emergency.
Architect Registration Examination (ARE) appointments adjusted due to coronavirus
Additional testing times available
Prometric is continuing to enforce social distancing at test centers, and as part of that effort has had to cancel a small number of Architect Registration Examination® (ARE® ) candidate appointments that were originally scheduled for July 1 – 15. Less than 3 percent of appointments were impacted—a dramatic improvement compared to June ARE appointments. Any candidate impacted for those dates has already been contacted by NCARB.
Prometric will now assess the need to adjust appointments scheduled between July 16 – 30, and will provide candidates a minimum of two weeks’ notice if they have an impacted appointment. All candidates who test will need to bring and wear a face covering while in the test center. If you would like to schedule a new appointment or reschedule an existing appointment to an earlier date, please check the Prometric scheduler on a regular basis. All newly opened appointment times are available on a first come, first served basis.
Additional information about testing procedures can be found on Prometric’s website.
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Gabrielle Bullock, FAIA, is Whitney M. Young, Jr. 2020 Award Winner
Forging a new path for future of profession
Named for civil rights leader Whitney M. Young Jr., this award distinguishes an architect or architectural organization that embodies social responsibility and actively addresses a relevant issue, such as affordable housing, inclusiveness, or universal access.
A consummate innovator in areas of equity and inclusion, Gabrielle Bullock, FAIA, has forged a new path for the future of the profession.Her voice as a leader has reverberated throughout her firm and the design community, leading to palpable changes and the realization that a more just and equitable profession is within reach. To read more about her, click here.
Nominations for the 2021 Whitney M. Young Jr. Award will be accepted through September 1, 2020.
July 2020 Licensees Announced!
Congratulations to all!
Samantha Bodine
Cassandra Price
Kala Ade
Paul Folger
Jeffrey Petrick
Clinton Armstrong
Clayton Cowell
Beth Valdivia
Brendan Nelson
Wesley Morgan
Brandon Lewis
Todd Redburn
Free access to Technology | Architecture + Design (TAD) journal
Due to the pandemic, access to the journal of Technology | Architecture and Design (TAD) is free until August 1, 2020. Typically only two papers are open per issue to non-subscribers.
This issue has many papers that should be of interest to practitioners including an essay challenging the research/practice divide, reviews of California Energy regulations and the Minneapolis 2040 Comprehensive Plan, an essay on mass-timber performance-based codes, and a paper about how questions that arose in practice and were researched through academic partnerships contributed to Helsinki's new public library. There is also an analysis of Guastavino specifications and a paper describing a project for neurodiverse students.
Take advantage of this opportunity to read the journal today!
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2020 Conference goes virtual
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, AIA Kansas and the conference committee have announced that the in-person event previously scheduled for October 27-28 at the Hilton Garden Inn, Manhattan, KS will now be a two-day virtual experience, October 27-28.
This was not an easy decision, but ultimately the safety of our attendees, exhibitors, speakers, and staff is our top priority.
While we look forward to a time when we can re-convene the AIA Kansas community face-to-face, the AIA Kansas team and committee are working hard to deliver a virtual conference that will exceed your expectations with a lot of the same great content and opportunities to connect that were planned for Manhattan.
Details and registration information will be available soon.
RFQP: Design-Build-Finance Services
Student Housing Project - Kansas City Kansas Community College
Please review the Recording Link for the Pre-Submittal Conference:
Important Note: to obtain the greatest benefit of the Pre-Submittal Conference, Proposers are strongly encouraged to have their Critical Project Team Members & direct supervisory personnel review the Recording Link (in addition to business development, executives, or sales personnel). As described in the Recording Link, the Proposer’s Critical Project Team Members are expected to be heavily involved in preparing the Proposer’s written proposal response.
Thank you for your interest!
KCKCC Student Housing Committee
AIA Kansas staff attend AIA Seattle webinar on accelerating decarbonization
Representatives from multiple industries discuss design, implementation, and policy
AIA Kansas team member Sage Ezell recently attended a webinar on accelerating decarbonization hosted by AIA Seattle. Sessions ranged from incorporating decarbonization into design to retrofitting buildings and addressed policy concerns and highlighted examples of success
Each session included representatives from all relevant areas, including industry leaders, landlords, and advocates for policy change alongside architects and engineers. The embodied carbon design session focused on the technical aspects of embodied carbon, including points of design focus and supply chain concerns. Decarbonization of buildings takes investment from all entities involved in the process. Each speaker highlighted their own role in reducing carbon and spoke about the importance of advocating for the work they are doing and encouraging others in their field to engage in similar practices. Each party in the design and implementation process, from the source of products to the design and construction, can play a role in catalyzing movements towards environmentally friendly products and building processes.
The decarbonization through electrification session focused on project development and design practices. Passive housing was highlighted, and the range in design was also a focus of conversation. Some projects were highlighted that were successful in Washington and only recently had become viable in Minnesota through creativity in design due to the variation in weather patterns. Retrofitting buildings focused on maintaining the use of viable structures and components and investing in clean, environmentally friendly practices when implementing new structures or energy systems. Tax credit schemes were also discussed as incentives for property owners to incrementally upgrade systems or develop properties to be more efficient and, when possible, restructure energy systems. Those participating in the design and implementation of these processes understand what it requires and the speakers encouraged these people to advocate for policy change using their knowledge and awareness to encourage effective change. Developing environmentally friendly buildings, the speakers argues, must be done proactively - even if the policies regulating development have not yet caught up.
Everything you need to know about the Paycheck Protection Program
The $349 billion Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), which opened Friday, April 3rd, offers federally backed loans of up to $10 million to employers with fewer than 500 workers as an incentive for employers to retain workers during the pandemic and resulting economic crisis. The loan amount is calculated based on 2.5 times the total average monthly payroll cost payment that was incurred by the business in 2019.
The PPP program is administered by the Small Business Administration (SBA) through local lending institutions. You can apply for PPP loans immediately – there is no need to demonstrate economic injury in order to qualify for these loans. Consequently, high demand is anticipated for these loans and you should apply as soon as possible. The program became available as of April 3rd.
IMPORTANT NOTE: PPP loans are largely incompatible with several other COVID-19 relief programs for small businesses (in other words, you cannot take advantage of both PPP and these other programs), including:
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The SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program (EIDL) – only available to organizations that have already sustained substantial economic injury; they cannot be secured in anticipation of potential economic injury. Exceptions to this incompatibility with PPP are noted in the description of the PPP loan program below.
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The Employee Retention Tax Credit
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The Payroll Tax Deferral program
A brief overview of these programs is provided later in this document.
Small businesses that are eligible for PPP loans include sole proprietorships, independent contractors and self-employed persons. The core eligibility questions are:
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Were you in business as of February 15, 2020?
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Did you have employees or independent contractors at that time?
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Do you have less than 500 employees/independent contractors on your payroll?
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Do you certify that the uncertainty of current economic conditions makes the loan request necessary to support ongoing operations?
NOTE: Even if a larger architecture firm – 500 or more employees -- has locations with fewer than 500 employees, they are considered “affiliated” and not eligible for the franchise/hotel exemption.
The SBA will forgive loans if all employees are kept on the payroll for eight weeks and the money is used for payroll, rent, mortgage interest, or utilities. The Paycheck Protection Program will be available through June 30, 2020.
Applications for PPP loans are to be made through third-party lenders – not directly through the SBA. Here is a list of active PPP lenders: https://www.sbalenders.com/bank-type/active-ppp-lenders/
You should ask your existing local lender whether they are participating in the program. We understand this will be a first-come, first-served situation. Therefore, expect long wait times to try to connect with a lender, but try to do so as soon as possible.
A personal guarantee is not required for the loan, nor is collateral required for the loan. The timeline for receiving funds will vary by lender; the intention is for those approved for the PPP loan program to receive funds within three weeks.
Overview of How to Apply for PPP Loans
Start with these three steps:
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Contact your bank to inquire about the PPP and get in their queue for the application. Applications opened on Friday, April 3, and the program will be available through June 30, 2020.
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Review the sample application form. (summarized below)
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Gather the information and documents needed to be ready to apply:
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2019 payroll records: Your last 12 months of payroll
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2019 employee documentation: 1099s for your 2019 employees and independent contractors who would otherwise be an employee of your business.
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Healthcare cost records: All health insurance premiums paid by your business under a group health plan.
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Retirement documentation: Your business’s retirement plan funding paid for by the company.
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Other allowable expenses: Information on amounts paid for rent, interest on a mortgage, and utilities for the last 12 months.
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NOTE: While these resources are focused on nonprofits, they may be helpful to you:
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FMA PPP Calculator (xls) — This calculator will help you estimate the average monthly payroll and loan amount for your application.
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FMA Template for Board Resolution Authorizing Loan (docx) — If your business has a board of directors, this template will allow you to quickly get approval from your board to apply for a PPP loan.
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FMA Script for talking to a Bank about PPP (docx) — This script provides you with key questions you can use to call a bank immediately.
MORE DETAILS
Elements of the Application Form
To prepare to submit your application, download a sample form. You will be asked to provide the following:
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Core business information (legal name, address, business TIN/EIN/SSN, contact info)
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Average monthly payroll (this amount is multiplied by 2.5 times to equal the loan amount).
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“For purposes of calculating ‘Average Monthly Payroll’, most Applicants will use the average monthly payroll for 2019, excluding costs over $100,000 on an annualized basis for each employee. …For new businesses, average monthly payroll may be calculated using the time period from January 1, 2020 to February 29, 2020, excluding costs over $100,000 on an annualized basis for each employee.”
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Employees who make more than $100,000 in compensation (salary and benefits) should be included in the payroll, however it is only their compensation up to the $100,000 amount that should be included in the loan application.
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Number of employees
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Purpose of the loan (selecting all that apply): Payroll, Rent / Mortgage Interest, Utilities
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The loan will be 100% forgiven if the funds are used for payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent, and utilities. Due to the limited amount of funds and expected demand, the SBA suggests that at least 75% of the loan amount be used for payroll, in order to be forgiven.
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A list of all owners with greater than 20% ownership stakes and their TIN/EIN/SSN numbers and addresses
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Checking a box verifying that you are a U.S. Citizen or have Lawful Permanent Resident status.
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“Documentation verifying the number of full-time equivalent employees on payroll as well as the dollar amounts of payroll costs, covered mortgage interest payments, covered rent payments, and covered utilities for the eight week period following this loan will be provided to the lender.”
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You will need to acknowledge that the lender will calculate the eligible loan amount using tax documents identical to those submitted to the IRS.
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You will also be asked to answer a series of questions. Question 4 asks whether the business has received an SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan between January 31, 2020 and April 3, 2020. If so, details of that loan have to be provided. If you have received or applied for an SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan during this time period – or if you anticipate applying for one of these disaster loans – your PPP loan request cannot be for the same purpose or you will be denied!
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AIA’s legislative counsel believes that a business could, for example, apply for a PPP loan focused on payroll, and impacts on rent, mortgage, or utilities could be included in an Economic Injury Disaster Loan application. They are checking with the SBA on this question.
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If you have applied for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan but have not yet been approved, you will want to consider whether to cancel that application and, if so, reach out to your loan officer.
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PPP Loan Forgiveness
Any loan payments that cannot be forgiven will be deferred for six months. No collateral or personal guarantees are required. Neither the government nor lenders will charge small businesses any fees.
Forgiveness is based on the employer maintaining or quickly rehiring employees and maintaining salary levels. Forgiveness will be reduced if full-time headcount declines, or if salaries and wages decrease; if you reduce salaries by more than 25%, you will be docked by that calculation. However, if you hire back employees who had been furloughed or laid off before June 30, 2020, your loan forgiveness would not be reduced.
These loans have a maturity of 2 years and an interest rate of .5%.
Brief Overview of Other Programs Incompatible with PPP
Economic Injury Disaster Loans:
As noted earlier in this document, Economic Injury Disaster Loans are only available to organizations that have already sustained substantial economic injury – they cannot be secured in anticipation of potential economic injury. Substantial economic injury is along the lines of not being able to meet the organization’s obligations, not being able to pay expenses and/or not being able to produce/market your product. If you are considering applying for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan, here is an overview (more details can be found here: https://www.benefits.gov/benefit/1504):
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Cannot be for the same purpose(s) as the purpose(s) listed in applying for the PPP loan program
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EIDL loans are up to $2 million and are intended to provide a couple of months of working capital
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We understand that collateral requirements can be waived (guidance from AIA’s attorneys); if you do have collateral, it would still be attached on loans over $25,000
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Have to have been in business as of Jan 31, 2020
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Don’t have to show ability to get credit
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These loans are based on gross receipts before and after the economic injury—calculated over the period of the loan on an individual basis
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The SBA is offering advances of up to $10,000 on these EIDL loans within 3 days of application, with certifications under penalty of perjury
Employee Retention Tax Credit
This program allows a firm to receive a refundable payroll tax credit related to operations being fully or partially suspended, due to pandemic shut-down orders. Here is an overview. (More details can be found here: https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-employee-retention-credit-available-for-many-businesses-financially-impacted-by-covid-19):
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Cannot apply if the business has taken advantage of the Paycheck Protection Protection (PPP) loan program
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Available to all firms regardless of size
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Have operations partially or fully suspended as a result of orders from a governmental authority due to COVID-19 OR the business experiences a decline in gross receipts by more than 50% in a quarter compared to the same quarter in 2019 (eligibility ends when gross receipts in a quarter exceed 80% compared to the same 2019 quarter)
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Applies to 50% of qualified wages paid by employers March 13-December 31, 2020
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For businesses with less than 100 employees, this would include all wages paid to employees when they were not able to provide services due to COVID-19
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For businesses with more than 100 employees, all employee wages qualify
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Covers first $10,000 of compensation, including the employer portion of health benefits, for each eligible employee
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Payroll Tax Deferral
This program allows a business to defer paying the employer portion of certain payroll taxes through the end of 2020. Here is an overview. (A reference can be found here; this information was consistent with guidance from AIA’s legislative counsel – it was difficult to find the exact reference on the IRS website: https://www.uschamber.com/co/start/strategy/cares-act-small-business-guide)
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Cannot apply if the business has taken advantage of the Paycheck Protection Protection (PPP) loan program
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Available to all firms regardless of size
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Allows employer to defer 6.2% payroll tax share through the end of the year (March 27, 2020-December 21, 2020)
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All 2020 deferred amounts must be paid back over the next two tax years (50% end of 2021, 50% end of 2022)
For more information
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More guidance will be available from the Small Business Administration as of April 6
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AIA’s Website (www.aia.org)
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AIA’s legislative counsel, Hance Scarborough, may be available on a limited basis for consultations specific to overall provisions and eligibility: dpore@hslawmail.com
State-wide stay-home order: What does Gov. Kelly's executive order mean for architects?
Wyatt A. Hoch, partner in Foulston Siefkin LLP, offers opinion on order's impact on architects
Governor Kelly’s state-wide Executive Order raises several questions about whether architects and engineers in Kansas provide “essential functions” that are therefore exempt from the prohibitions established in the Order. Below is a response from Wyatt A. Hoch, partner in the Kansas-based law firm Foulston Siefkin.
"In my opinion," says Hoch, "architectural and engineering services are “essential functions” and therefore “exempt from the prohibitions established in [the Executive Order.]” § 9.
Although we don’t have the clarity provided by the “professional” exemption contained in the Sedgwick and Johnson County orders, the Governor’s Order identifies as essential functions in § 9 the development and maintenance of public works [KEFF 300.3]; construction and repair of roads [KEFF 300.14.a]; and construction, maintenance, and cleaning of buildings [KEFF 300.14.b]. There’s no “development” or construction of public works, roads, or commercial buildings without the design and construction-administration services that architects and engineers perform. Thus design services are implicitly an essential function under this Order.
Architects have also asked for an interpretation of the ambiguous “telework” mandate in the Order [§ 9.c]. Although design services are an essential function – thus allowing architects (and engineers) to work from your office and make construction site visits – in my opinion § 9(c) compels them (“must”) to use telephone/video conferencing for “meetings” unless that would cause “significant disruption” to their practice. Anyone working in the office must “follow appropriate safety protocols,” including social distancing (6’)."
Meet the AIA Kansas Area Presidents!
Welcome to the new AIA leadership!
Below are the AIA Kansas Area Presidents for 2020. To learn more about the components and see their upcoming events, visit their pages on our website linked below!
Garric Baker, AIA
President, AIA Flint Hills
Garric received his Master's of Architecture from Kansas State University in 2013. His diverse project experience includes emphasis on new projects as well as renovation/restoration. He has provided design services on community-based projects, such as the Brett Bolton Memorial Pavilion in Manhattan’s CiCo Park, the USD 487 Master Plan and Community Garden project for Herington, and the Johnny Kaw Statue Plaza in Manhattan's City Park.
Lauren Fitzpatrick, Assoc AIA
President, AIA Topeka
Lauren wanted to become an architect from a young age. She loves discovering what people want and then providing a better quality of life by designing a space to meet their needs. Lauren joined SDG in 2015 and has rapidly expanded her knowledge of every phase of the design and construction process. She was an integral team member for the FHLBank corporate office as well as the Blitt Gallery at Washburn University’s Mulvane Art Museum.
Allison Le, AIA
President, AIA Wichita
Allison shows strong determination in everything she does, whether it’s running a marathon or focusing on a project. Her passion for work is evident, especially when it comes to designing schools and knowing the impact of an ideal learning environment has on children. When she’s not at work, Allison can be found curled up with her two pups, cheering on the Saints!
Docking tour, committee hearing highlight building's uncertain future
Bills offer several options for the Docking building
Several architects joined the Friends of Historic Preservation (FOHP) for their Day at the Capitol on Wednesday, March 4. As part of the event, FOHP and AIA Kansas members attended a presentation on the Docking Building and took part in a tour of the facility.
The presentation provided insight into the benefit that the rehabilitation could have for the city of Topeka and continuation of downtown revitalization. Participants also commented that the history and grandeur of the building alone are enough to justify preserving the structure. Click here to read a letter from the Downtown Topeka about their position.
Legislators have a wide range of opinions on what to do with the Docking Building. On February 25th, a bill was introduced in the House to raze the building. In an article published in the Topeka-Capital Journal, Representative Claeys (R-Salina) provided some insight into his proposed bill, stating that he was pursuing this option because of costs. However, this does not account for the benefits of preserving and adapting the building, nor does it take into consideration associated long term costs of maintaining separate buildings or accommodating other entities that could be addressed with Docking renovations.
A separate new bill, SB 487, was later introduced on March 6 and received a hearing in the Senate Ways and Means committee on March 16th. It was the only Docking bill to receive a hearing before all committee meetings were canceled due to COVID-19 concerns. SB 487 proposes construction of a new KDHE lab on parking lot #4 of the Capitol Complex It would also issue bonds to maintain the first three floors of the Docking Building and construct three new floors. This bill would eliminate the viability of the plans for rehabilitation and reuse within the Docking Building report because it provides an alternative to the plans for targeted preservation of Docking as well as the plans to include the KDHE lab within the Docking Building.
AIA Kansas will continue to monitor this issue closely and provide further updates when the legislature returns to continue the session. If this is of interest to you, please contact your legislator to share your views.
Recap: Grassroots 2020
Attendees share knowledge, network
AIA Kansas leadership attended Grassroots 2020 in New Orleans. Grassroots offers training and education for leaders of the AIA. This year’s agenda emphasized component and community leadership with workshops designed to help component officers become more effective chapter and civic leaders.
Michael Grogan (AIA, LEED AP, NCARB), an assistant professor at Kansas State University and the AIA Kansas President-Elect, served as one of the AIA Kansas representatives at the Grassroots conference this year. He appreciated the tours, presentations, panels, and opportunity to prepare for his upcoming role in AIA Kansas. One of the panels dealt with resiliency in places affected by natural disaster and how architects can assist in developing solutions that improve resiliency. "As the AIA Kansas President-Elect, I was pleased to attend the annual AIA Grassroots Conference," Grogan said.
Malcolm Watkins
President, AIA KS
Meet the New AIA Kansas President
Welcome to the new AIA leadership!
Malcolm Watkins, the 2020 AIA Kansas president, has been interested in building things for as long as he can remember.
He grew up on a farm and had seven uncles who worked in and talked a lot about construction. So, it is not surprising that by the time he was 7 years old, he was telling people he wanted to be an architect. His interest in the field continued to grow during grade school as he spent many hours creating designs on graph paper and building Lego models.
Through his early college years, Watkins spent summers working for a concrete construction company. He went on to graduate from Kansas State University with a Masters degree in Architecture and is now a vice president with SJCF Architecture in Wichita.
He most enjoys working on public projects such as schools or recreation centers because he finds it immensely satisfying to see how the finished results benefit the entire community. His favorite project to date was the central branch YMCA in Wichita (completed in 2014). He has also enjoyed working on a cutting-edge high school for Junction City. He explains that student needs have changed considerably in the past decade and school systems are seeking creative ways to address those changes when planning new structures. Integration of technology is a high priority as are flexible spaces that allow for individual and cooperative learning, maker areas, and traditional lectures.
As AIA Kansas president, Watkins will continue to focus on advocacy and building community within the profession and on improving the visibility of and enhancing the reputation of the profession in the eyes of all Kansans. He will, of course, attend the national convention to vote and offer a Midwest perspective.
When not working or representing AIA Kansas, Watkins, an Eagle Scout, enjoys spending time with his family and looks forward to pursuing scouting activities with his two sons.
Will Robarge of TreanorHL appointed to AIA Disaster Assistance Committee
Congratulations to Will on his appointment!
Will Robarge, AIA, of TreanorHL in Lawrence, has been appointed by AIA President Jane Frederick to serve on the AIA Disaster Assistance Committee for 2020.
The AIA Disaster Assistance Program supports a nationwide network of architects who help communities prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters. It provides training, support, and resources for architects through local, state, and national AIA chapters.
The Disaster Assistance Committee and AIA National have sustained the program providing guidance, recommendations, toolkits, and training to members, AIA chapters, and other built environment professionals.
Will Robarge, AIA
As a result, architects’ disaster response processes, protocol, and training are institutionalized to strengthen chapter preparedness, foster mutual-aid relationships with jurisdictions and the larger disaster-response community, and, most importantly, equip members with the knowledge and skills needed to be of service before and after a disaster.Specifically, the program’s work has led to establishing Disaster Assistance programs in more than 25 states, Good Samaritan liability coverage in 29 states, and architects in 34 states and territories trained in AIA’s Safety Assessment Program. Disaster and resilience education is regularly hosted at the AIA National Convention, on AIA’s online education platform, AIAU, and throughout the country through AIA chapter offices.
More information about the AIA Disaster Assistance Program can be downloaded here.
AIA Advocacy Day a Success!
Architects join large crowds at the Capitol, meet with legislators
2020 Advocacy Summit attendees joined large crowds of advocates at the Capitol on January 30th. Attendees heard from several presenters and had the opportunity to meet with their legislators.
During the Summit, Marta Zaniewski, Assistant Vice President, NCARB's Council Relations Department, shared information about licensing and reasonable regulations. While she was presenting, a bill regarding licensing was introduced (HB 2506). Click here to read the bill, and here is a bill brief.
Secretary of Commerce, David Toland, shared critical information with attendees regarding the current Kansas economic climate and what his office is doing to recruit and retain businesses. Click here to review the PowerPoint presentation.
The event concluded with a School Safety panel discussion. Senator Molly Baumgardner (District 37), Susan McMahan and John Cavart from the Kansas Department of Education, Terri Moses, Wichita Public Schools, and Malcolm Watkins, AIA Kansas President, served as panelists. Grant Thome, AIA Kansas, asked the panel questions about school safety, funding for school security, weather disasters, and overall trends related to school safety and security.
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Thank you to Stevens & Brand for their sponsorship in making this event a success!
Jane Frederick, AIA President
Meet the New AIA President
Welcome to the new AIA leadership!
Jane Frederick, the 96th AIA president, anticipates a dynamic future for architecture and challenges her colleagues to do likewise. "Don't ask what will happen. Be what happens!" she says.
She was inspired to become an architect by an encouraging high school art teacher; her father, an aerospace engineer; and while working with her mother, an interior decorator. She went on to earn her Bachelor of Architecture degree from Auburn University.
In 1989, she and her husband, Michael, started Frederick + Frederick Architects. The award-winning firm, based in Beaufort, South Carolina, specializes in custom residential architecture. Frederick is a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects and also holds LEED AP certification. She particularly enjoys working on renovation projects, noting that it is an extremely satisfying way to contribute to a more sustainable society.
Frederick has previously served in many leadership roles for AIA and views herself as one person in the continuum that is AIA. The organization is dedicated to supporting its 95,000 members with solid resources to assist them in their careers and in civic engagement.
During her watch, AIA will continue to focus on climate change through its 2030 Commitment to the goal of Net Zero (no carbon emissions) for all buildings by 2030. Commercial and residential buildings account for approximately 40% of carbon emissions in the United States, a fact the general public is unaware of, she explains.
AIA "put a stake in the ground" last year and committed resources to doubling the number of firms participating in the 2030 Commitment by year-end, says Frederick. To help achieve that, AIA will launch an ambitious media campaign (from March until November) aimed at educating members and their clients about the importance of supporting the Commitment. AIA is also conducting research and collecting data to help its members in their work with clients.
Frederick points out that architects will continue to have a huge impact on our world as they bring beauty, comfort, safety, and sustainability to our daily lives. For this reason, she encourages young people who want to make a difference to consider the profession, particularly if they are curious, have good communication skills, and are interested in learning technical skills.
Next Month: Meet AIA Kansas President: Malcolm Watkins, AIA
Darius Mathis, AIAS
University of KS
Austin Willis, AIAS
Kansas State Univeristy
Kansas Architectural Foundation Scholarships Announced
Recipients announced at the 2019 annual meeting
The Kansas Architectural Foundation (KAF) has announced the recipients for this year's scholarship awards.
Austin Willis, AIAS, is a fourth-year architecture student at Kansas State University. He is passionate about uniting form and function to create architectural spaces that work for the people using them. Willis has known that he wanted to be an architect since childhood and hopes to lead his own firm eventually.
Darius Mathis, AIAS, is an architectural student at the University of Kansas. He is passionate about the deep connection between architecture and every aspect of community life, and he hopes to help encourage diversity within the profession.
Each year, the KAF provides two $1,000 scholarship grants to honor outstanding full-time architectural students at KU and K-State. These scholarships are funded in part by thegenerous donations from AIA Kansas members.
Congratulations to this year's recipients!
Sponsorsed by:
Annual Meeting Inspires, Educates Attendees
KDI's Chelina Odbert featured as the keynote speaker
AIA Kansas hosted its annual meeting on November 21 at Studio 804 in Lawrence. Attendees heard from keynote speaker Chelina Odbert, who discussed the social impact that architectural design can have on local communities.
As the co-founder and Executive Director of Kounkuey Design Initiative (KDI), Odbert is passionate about the potential for low-cost, high-impact design interventions to improve the quality of life in low-income communities.
Attendees also learned more about a variety of student architect efforts, such as the University of Kansas's mobile classroom, the Kaw Pavilion, and Kansas State University's Net Positive Studio. These cutting-edge, inspirational projects demonstrate the benefits that thoughtful design can produce.
Special thanks to Build Smart and Prosoco for sponsoring the event!
Dave Schaecher, AIA/NCARB
AIA KS Disaster Assistance Program Welcomes New Leadership
Dave Schaecher, AIA/NCARB, to serve as program coordinator
AIA Kansas is pleased to welcome David Schaecher, AIA/NCARB, on board as the new AIA Kansas State Disaster Coordinator. Schaecher will be filling the position held by Ava Christie, who guided the program with dedication and passion for several years and served on the AIA National Disaster Assistance Committee during that time.
The AIA maintains the AIA Disaster Coordinator Network to empower staff and members in all states to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters.
On October 22, Schaecher and Christie attended the first ever Disaster Assistance Bootcamp at the AIA National Headquarters in Washington, D.C. for State Disaster Coordinators and AIA component staff. The program brought together over 60 State Disaster Coordinators, along with staff from more than 40 states and territories, for an interactive experience to share ideas and suggestions. Attendees learned new strategies for engaging members and partners in state disaster programs and heard first-hand lessons learned from recent disasters.
AIA Kansas continues to offer the Safety Assessment Program (SAP) & Kansas Assessment Training (KAT) program during the fall and spring of each year. Schaecher looks forward to seeking out new ways to sustain member engagement between disasters and training sessions, as well as continuing to develop impactful relationships with industry allies and state decision makers.
Keep an eye out for more information to come on the spring SAP and KAT training!
Malcolm Watkins, AIA
2020 AIA Kansas President
Malcolm Watkins Addresses KASB Conference
AIA Kansas President-elect gives presentation on school safety
Malcolm Watkins, the AIA Kansas President-elect, gave a presentation on school facility planning and safety at the Kansas Association of School Boards annual conference on December 7.
School safety planning involves not only physical items such as metal detectors and shelters, but also the implementation of strategies to promote transparency, community connectivity and the well-being of students and staff, according to Watkins and his co-presenter, David Wilde, COO of Geary County USD 475.
Watkins and Wilde shared the latest information on approaches to school safety and how they are promoting schools that can be viewed as homes of opportunity. Check out the PowerPoint presentation here!
AIA Kansas' 2019 Annual Report Now Available
Click the image to open the report
The AIA Kansas Annual Report is now available. Click the image to see the year in review!