The recent school shooting in Florida continues an unsettling trend of assaults on students in their neighborhood schools. While the debate will continue at the national level on proposals for arming teachers and “hardening” our schools, in Pennsylvania, we need to continue the conversation on what can be done to make our students safer at…
Government Affairs
AIA Pennsylvania Attends Budget Address
AIA Pennsylvania’s Director of Legislative Affairs, Amal Mahrouki, was in attendance last Tuesday, February 6, as Governor Tom Wolf delivered his final first term budget address. View the press release, budget document, and Senate leadership response to learn more.
Go Green for the Built Environment! Join the New AIA Pennsylvania COTE Committee
We are excited to announce the launch of a statewide Committee on the Environment, otherwise known as AIA PA COTE. Nearly all that architects do touches the environment, so this is an opportunity to leverage the work of our profession. From planning to design to construction, then to operations and the entire project life cycle,…
AIA Pennsylvania Adds Four Association Excellence Awards to Collection
AIA Pennsylvania is proud to announce the addition of four Pennsylvania Society of Association Executives (PASAE) Laurel Awards to our existing award collection. The PASAE Laurel Awards give AIA Pennsylvania the chance to reflect on our accomplishments and honor the dedication of our board, committees, and staff. Being honored with multiple awards for the third year in a row is the cherry…
2015 ICC Code Re-Review Public Comment Period is Open Until February 11, 2018
The PA Uniform Construction Code Review and Advisory Council (UCC RAC) is currently re-evaluating the 2015 ICC codes for adoption in Pennsylvania. The Review and Advisory Council’s report is due to Labor and Industry by May 1, 2018 with an effective date of October 1, 2018. The timeframe for conducting this re-review is short, and the…
A Message from Marc & the Government Affairs Committee
As we enter 2018, there is much to celebrate for both the past and new year. AIA Pennsylvania has a new and very capable Director of Legislative Affairs, Amal Mahrouki, backed by Meghan Baird and Olivia Perry under Steve Swarney’s leadership. And our Committee’s new Vision Statement and Action Plan will better serve our Education,…
The PLAN for 2018
Simply put, the plan is for architects to establish relationships with their legislators and feel comfortable contacting them when there is an issue facing the profession and built environment. How can you help bring our PLAN to fruition? Sign up to be part of the PLAN here. You will get our email updates, calls to…
Where We Are Headed
Welcome to 2018! I am extremely excited to usher in the second half of the 2017-2018 legislative session. In 2017, AIA Pennsylvania saw some significant wins with the passage of Act 36 of 2017, the appointment of three AIA architects to Labor and Industry’s Review and Advisory Council, and the passage of Act 40 of…
Citizen Architect Profile: Mike Thompson, AIA
Neighbors for Mike Citizen Architect, Mike Thompson, AIA rang in 2018 with an oath of office at the Abington Township Municipal Building on January 2nd. This past fall, Mike received 515 votes to claim victory over a sitting commissioner in the three-person race for Abington Township’s Ward 6 Commissioner. In his new role as Commissioner,…
Update on Building Codes in PA
Update on Building Codes in PA December 13, 2017 By Al Comly, AIA, AIA Pennsylvania Board Member, Building Codes Subcommittee Chair Act 36 of 2017 (revisions to the Uniform Construction Code (UCC) and the Review and Advisory Council (RAC)) was signed by Governor Wolf on October 25, 2017. Fifteen pages of text have many implications…