September 15, 2021

How might one analyze older photographs of Utah — downtown Salt Lake City in particular — to gain some knowledge about little moments in life as they were lived in another era? Is it even possible to ascertain such a thing with any detail by examining, studying, and researching what is captured in one or two old black and white photographic images or surviving local primary sources like newspapers?

The EQxD committee aims to educate the design community on the importance of equitable practices and the value of diverse individuals in order to foster inclusive and equitable environments, processes and policies; and eliminate explicit and implicit bias in the built environment and profession.

In the U.S., all communities are not created equal.
The legacies of redlining and other racist policies are still powerful forces in cities across the country.

Dr. Robert Bullard, the Distinguished Professor of Urban Planning and Environmental Policy at Texas State University, has spent his career researching and chronicling environmental injustice, penning 18 books along the way. On day two of AIA’s 2021 Conference on Architecture, he shared his perspective on how architects can address some of the most urgent environmental equity issues of our time.

Utah has a serious housing challenge. Home and rental prices are at all-time highs, but inventory is at all-time lows. To rent a market-rate two-bedroom apartment, the point at which rentals become affordable is a combined income of $23.15 per hour ($48,152 per year), and the average home price is $551,100. Last year, the median home price increased 17%; available inventory dropped 11%-32% during the same period. As a result, many people in Utah do not have a path that will lead them to homeownership.

Announcing the hybrid 2021 AIA Utah Annual Conference, held September 20-24 with digital and in-person events at AIA Utah and Okland Construction in Salt Lake City. The 2021 conference theme, CONNECT, COLLABORATE, CELEBRATE, will showcase high-energy speakers, building tours, and genuine opportunities to connect with the Utah AEC community — but it won’t be the same without you! Join us!

Learn more and register at aiautah.org.

I hope everyone is having a nice and safe summer. I wanted to share some thoughts and provide an update on what is happening at AIA Utah in the next few months.