September 1, 2023

The mission of the AIA SFx is to advance the mutual interests of architects practicing in small firms.

Architects play a critical role in the transition to clean energy. Building decarbonization is more than a buzzword — it’s an essential step to a cleaner and more sustainable built environment. When talking about building decarbonization, the electrification of our homes and buildings is a fundamental part of the solution, and many designers and building owners wonder how all-electric buildings will impact our climate in a state with a long history of fossil fuel electricity generation.

The Utah Chapter of the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) officially became the 37th chapter of the organization in the summer of 2022. The mission of NOMA Utah is to support and highlight underrepresented communities in the design and construction industry. Through mentorship, outreach and education, we promote increased diversity, helping individuals in the development of their professional careers.

As architects, we have a profound influence over our communities and the built environment. However, demographically, the gender makeup of the architectural profession does not reflect the populations we serve. In Utah, women make up less than 20% of practicing architects. NCARB and the AIA have studied gender disparity in the profession and have identified disparities along the path to licensure and within the profession that result in high attrition for women.

Carol Ross Barney is the AIA National’s 2023 Gold Medal Winner. She is also the Keynote Speaker for the 2023 AIA Utah Fall Conference. We chatted with her about her career, about women in architecture, what led to her success and the primary points of her address. The following are excerpts from our conversation.

Time is valuable; why AIA? AIA has a known presence that provides resources, community and insight within the profession of architecture. As an emerging professional, I look for opportunities to not only grow my skills but to diversify the profession and empower people to use architecture as a community tool. I’ve found this in joining

As part of our ongoing series of interviews with architectural legends, we are proud to present this interview with Donald Finlayson, AIA. We spoke about his introduction into architecture and how his experience brought him to where he is today. We hope you enjoy learning more about Don as much as we did.

Let’s talk about collaboration. Research shows it is essential to creativity and efficiency and can bring a distinctive expertise to a project. Post-pandemic online meetings and documentation tools have put an emphasis on connectivity in our daily habits and made collaboration easier than ever.