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.
Equity by Design
At AIA Utah, we strive to educate and promote equitable practice through design. AIA Utah has resources to educate and take action around race, equity and inclusion. The Equity by Design committee is committed to keeping the conversation current and inviting all to the table.
Sustainability & Stewardship
The AIA provides valuable resources for firms striving to attain the 2030 Commitment. AIA Utah is committed to providing Building Envelope education to its Utah Members through panels and podcasts. Don’t forget to listen to the more current podcast on building resilience.
Conferences
AIA Members receive discounts for AIA National Conference and AIA Grassroots. The nice thing about the AIA Utah conference is that there is room to get involved. Conference planning is happening NOW. If there is something you would like to see, get involved. Involvement can vary – from an email, a phone call or joining one of our eight committees to express what you want to see at the AIA Utah Conference. All AIA Utah committees work to incorporate professional development, networking, conferences, education, and advocacy through the lens of diversity, inclusion, and sustainability.
Benefits of an AIA Utah Membership have the potential to expand from metrics and resources to true connections. The more you put into the organization as an active participant, the more you get out of the organization. As one of our AIA legends, Mike Stransky, said elsewhere in this issue of REFLEXION, “I was an active member of AIA. I met hundreds of men and women across the country who I got to share my experience with and they with me, and a number of those we partnered with on work because we had mutual respect for one another, and they brought something to the table that we didn’t have. I cherish that part of my career. That was a big part of my life. It was very rewarding.”
