“Advocacy On the Boards” is a monthly update from the AIA Pennsylvania Government Affairs Team to inform members of the great work “on the boards” ensuring architects are at the policymaker’s table to affect positive and equitable social, environmental, and economic outcomes for the profession and the commonwealth. This work includes lobbying state lawmakers, their staff, and other government officials and agencies to provide architects’ guidance on policies that impact the built environment and, in turn, the health, safety, and welfare of all Pennsylvanians. AIA Pennsylvania members’ technical expertise and experience are critical to the priority issues as charted by the Government Affairs team and informed by the membership’s feedback each two-year legislative session cycle.
Get the latest on the issues moving through the legislative process that AIA Pennsylvania worked on throughout December and continues to monitor and pursue.
Building Codes
Updated Uniform Construction Code Regulations Published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin
Pennsylvania Bulletin – December 25, 2021
Housing and Community Development
AIA Pennsylvania Presents “Lunch & Learn” to House Urban Affairs Committee
Ken Doyno, AIA, Karen Welsch, AIA, and Scott Compton, AIA presented to the House Urban Affairs Committee on the role of the architect in Housing and Community Development. Topics included adaptive reuse, infill projects, affordable housing, blight, and much more. AIA Pennsylvania is looking forward to continuing to advocate for quality housing and community in the Commonwealth.
End of Year Thank You
2021 was one of our busiest years legislatively to date. We hosted two state-wide advocacy events and weighed in on many bills and regulations that impact architects and the health, safety, and welfare of the public currently in front of the general assembly. Thanks for all of your advocacy in 2021. We are now halfway through the 2021-2022 legislative session and there is much more work to do. Stay tuned for a full 2021 recap in our annual AIA Pennsylvania Year in Review publication. In 2022 we are looking forward to advocating for a more sustainable Pennsylvania, creating more equitable communities, improving the business of architecture, and pushing for legal reform for design professionals. If you are interested in getting involved with any of our Government Affairs Committees please reach out to Amal Mahrouki at amahrouki@aiapa.org
The Pennsylvania Architects PAC
“Nearly all of our work as architects is impacted by decisions made at the state level, whether licensure, codes, our profession or sustainability. AIA Pennsylvania has worked hard for years to become a trusted advisor to legislators and decision makers, and these relationships are yielding opportunities for our members to provide meaningful input into decisions that affect the future of our profession and our industry in every corner of the state. A robust PAC is an essential part of this strategy, giving us the ability to express our priorities and to be in the game in an ongoing manner. Your contribution is essential to these efforts.”
– Marc Mondor, AIA, LEED Fellow, 2021 PA Architects PAC Chair