AIA Pittsburgh 2022 Annual Report

Second Harvest Community Thrift Store by Rothschild Doyno Collaborative; Photographer credit: Joe Wahy

A Message from the Executive Director

Dear Members, Partners and Friends,

AIA is pleased to share with you our 2022 Annual Report. The year started with continuing COVID concerns, causing event disruptions and a decision to extend our strategic plan one more year, rather than try to plan extensively in a time of uncertainty. Our major events – Build Pittsburgh and Design Pittsburgh – were happily held in-person. While attendance was not back to 2019 levels, there was a robust turnout for both and an energetic vibe of a community reuniting.

We continued to seek ways of building relationships and collaborating. We were quite successful with the introduction of Architecture Week (14 partners), the reintroduction of PechaKucha Night, the AIA-MBA Owners Roundtable, the AIA-GBA Mass Timber series, the AIA-ULI event, “Built by Women: How would women design cities differently?,” and support of the reception for the Daniel Libeskind presentation at CMU, among other events.

Internally, our biggest project was a much-needed website redesign. The new website went live in November and we will continue to add material and features. We now have an easy to find Calendar of Events, an easier to use Job Board, a simpler way to search decades of news and blog stories, and a super fun “Back in the Day” digital archive of COLUMNS magazine from 1987-2011. Each AIA Committee now has its own page, so check out what issues and topics are being worked on and take action on issues you care about - join a committee! You can follow the growth of the Pittsburgh Architecture Foundation (PAF) on its new web page, and view PAF’s exciting new logo.

After three years of reacting to many external forces, we ended the year with a concerted effort to look ahead, way ahead. The Board held a Strategic Foresight Workshop in December, exploring scenarios for the future of the architecture profession in 2035. The top two issues that surfaced were climate change and the impact of technology / AI on the field. These and other identified issues will feed into our planning for the years ahead so we not only deliver programs and services on what is happening today, but also prepare our members for tomorrow.

As always, thank you for being part of the AIA Pittsburgh community,

Michelle Fanzo Executive Director

Vision, Mission and Values

OUR VISION

AIA Pittsburgh members play a central role in ensuring healthy and sustainable design and development in all communities in which we serve.

OUR MISSION

AIA Pittsburgh improves the built environment in which we live, work and play by raising the standards of architectural training and practice, supporting our members efforts to design healthy, safe and connected places and spaces, and promoting the value of architectural services to the public.

OUR VALUES

Member support and development

Design advocacy

Civic engagement

Environmental stewardship

Equity, diversity and inclusion

Integrity, openness, empathy and patience

International Associate: 6

AIA Pittsburgh is part of a national network of over 200 AIA chapters representing over 94,000 architects.

Architect Emeritus: 327

Associate:

473

Architect: 2,114

AIA Pennsylvania Total Members:

2,920

Our Community in Numbers

Allied Members:

38 Allied Members

Total Members: 589

Associate AIA Members: 91

Emeritus Members: 71

AIA Members: 427

Newly licensed:

5 young professionals successfully completed the Architect Registration Examination (ARE) and Architectural Experience Program (AXP) hours to become registered architects in 2022. Congratulations!

• Nickie Cheung

• Brandi Davis

• Laura DeLuca

• Sarah Kusuma Rubritz

• Melanie Ngami

Fellows:

Daniel Rothschild was admitted to the College of Fellows (FAIA) in 2022. Dan is founder and Chief Executive Officer of Rothschild Doyno Collaborative.

23 current AIA Pittsburgh members have been admitted to the College of Fellows.

AIA Pittsburgh’s 2022 Board of Directors

Bea Spolidoro, AIA President John Ryan, AIA 1st Vice President

Sean Sheffler, AIA 2nd Vice President

Lisa Carver, AIA Secretary

Catherine Wick, AIA Treasurer

Dina Snider, AIA Immediate Past President

Jason Andrews Assoc. AIA

Patricia Culley, AIA

Joseph Chaffin, AIA Quintin Kittle, AIA

Amanda Markovic, AIA

Dario McPhee, AIA

Christine Mondor, FAIA Emily Pierson-Brown, AIA Bob Shelton, AIA

Lena Andrews, Public Director: Director of Real Estate Development, ACTION-Housing

Grant Ervin, Public Director: Chief Resilience Officer, City of Pittsburgh

Michael Cremonese Ex Officio: Esq., Burke Cromer Cremonese

Michelle Fanzo, Ex Officio: Executive Director Omar Khan, Ex Officio: Head, CMU School of Architecture

Carly Sacco, Ex Officio: AIAS President

“It has been a pleasure for us at EPIC Metals to support the efforts of AIA Pittsburgh for the past 18 years. We appreciate the recognition given to some of our city’s most creative efforts and finest examples of architectural design, structural engineering, and building construction. EPIC Metals looks forward to AIA Pittsburgh events and networking with our region’s most influential architects.”

Learn about the benefits of Allied Membership here.

- Anthony Antonelli, Architectural Sales, EPIC Metals

2022 Finances: Income

Marketing & Advertising

AIA Documents & National Revenue Share

Office Rental & Miscellaneous

$201,823 Member Dues

$9,910 Allied Member Dues

$17,471 Continuing Ed/ Member Events

$95,055 Build Pittsburgh

$148,237 Design Pittsburgh

Design Pittsburgh

Build Pittsburgh

Member Dues Allied Members Con Ed/ Member Events

$24,035 AIA Documents & National Revenue Share

$1,020 Marketing & Advertising

$749 Office Rental + Misc.

Total Income 2022: $ 498,300

2022 Finances: Expenses

AIA Contract Documents

Member Services & Programs

Communications

Administrative & Operating Expenses

Design Pittsburgh

$153,242 Administrative & Operating Expenses

$25,010 Board & Committee Expenses

$124,499 Build Pittsburgh & Con Ed

$102,959 Design Pittsburgh

$27,320 Communications

$8,842 AIA Contract Documents

$30,209 Member Services & Programs

Build Pittsburgh & Con Ed

Board & Committee Expenses

Total Expenses 2022: $ 472,081

AIA Pittsburgh’s Young Architects Forum

What were young architects up to in 2022?

• PALM Kickoff and Fall Program

• Yafapalooza (partnered with national YAF conference)

• Young Architects Studio Competition and Gallery Exhibit at GBBN

• Partnered Events - NAIOP Happy Hour

• New Social Events - Axe Throwing, First Fridays Outing, Happy Hours

• Panel Discussion - Getting Your Next Job

• ARE Reviews

• 9 Building Tours

• AIAS CMU/Pitt Portfolio Review and Crit Nights

• Post Libeskind lecture dinner with AIAS CMU

• Improved social media presence

Connect with YAF: @YAFpgh Facebook

Greg Coni, AIA Vice Chair

Jason Andrews, Assoc. AIA Vice Chair Oyuki Sulu, Assoc. AIA Communications Chair

Michael Sweterlitsch, Assoc. AIA, Mentorship Chair

Cassidy Roberts, AIA Fellowship Chair

Meredith Ludlam, Assoc. AIA Secretary

Natalie Mitchell PALM Director

D.J. Bryant, Assoc. AIA YASC Director

Cassandra Osterman, AIA Past Chair

Pittsburgh Architecture Foundation

The Pittsburgh Architecture Foundation (PAF) focused on two main areas in 2022:

1. Strengthening the Next Generation: With the completion of its fifth cohort in May, the Leadership Institute (LI) graduated a total of 98 participants from 32 firms over five years.

Since 2016, the Pittsburgh Architecture Foundation has been teaching leadership skills to young and mid-career architects. In 2019 LI expanded to include participants from allied fields. In 202021 LI offered its first full scholarship to the program, funded by Syl Damianos, FAIA. In 2021-22 a second scholarship was offered, funded by Gwen Dakis, AIA.

The Foundation and Chapter together supported MAPS – Minority Architects of Pittsburgh Scholarship with a matching $500 donation to support the next generation of minority architects. The donation and matching challenge was announced at the MAPS gathering to award scholarships to the first five high school and college recipients, hosted at IKM in June 2022.

Mission: Our mission is to advance architects’ meaningful and collaborative involvement throughout the Pittsburgh region by fostering civic engagement and leadership, sustainability, and the well-being of our communities.

2. Public Outreach: AIA Pittsburgh and the Pittsburgh Architecture Foundation launched Pittsburgh Architecture Week this year, with a Mayoral Proclamation and ceremony in the Mayor’s Conference Room. We partnered with 14 local organizations to bring 16 architecture / built environment events to the public and attracted extensive media coverage.

The Foundation also supported Rebuilding Together Pittsburgh (RTP) with a $500 donation. RTP was started with the support of The Master Builders Association of Western Pennsylvania and the Greater Pennsylvania Regional Council of Carpenters to do rehabilitation projects for low-income homeowners in Allegheny County.

2022 AIA Committees and their Accomplishments

Committees are where the action is!

AIA Pittsburgh supported ten committees in 2022. All are forums for sharing knowledge, new ideas, and professional growth. Below are the 2022 major activities for each group. Click here to see a more detailed list of committee goals and purposes. Interested in learning more or joining a committee? Email us and we can connect you!

Advocacy Committee Identifies, explores and advocates for issues that impact architects and the built environment in southwestern PA. The group provides outreach to and discussions with local legislators, decision-makers and partners. Achievements in 2022:

• Continued conversations with the Gainey administration and has developed a regular, bimonthly schedule of meetings with Deputy Mayor Jake Pawlak

• Held quarterly meetings with the Department of Permits, Licensing and Inspections, resulting in reinstituted Plan Reviews + feedback on new PLI features

• Mayoral Proclamation + ceremony for Pittsburgh Architecture Week

AIA-MBA Joint Committee Promotes collaboration between the design and construction industries and supports cooperation and learning between the two groups. Highlights in 2022:

• Published three Best Practices Guide White Papers on Design Assist, Building Envelope, and “Pre-Con versus Free-Con: Expectations for Preconstruction Services in GMP Projects”

• Facilitated a popular Owner’s Roundtable in November focused on “Strategies to Manage Today’s Supply Chain”

Committee on the Environment (COTE)

Serves as the community and voice on behalf of AIA Pittsburgh architects regarding sustainable and resilient design. The group advances design practices that enhance a building’s quality, performance, and material reuse, and promote human health and wellbeing. In 2022 the group:

• Held four Mass Timber seminars with Green Building Alliance

• Presented COTE expertise to Deputy Mayor Jake Pawlak

AIA Committees and their Accomplishments (continued)

Design Pittsburgh Committee Plans and executes AIA Pittsburgh’s signature program, Design Pittsburgh, which includes the Design Awards competition, exhibition and celebration of architecture. The committee seeks to engage the public in the value of good design in our communities through the People’s Choice Award. Highlights in 2022:

• 66 projects submitted

• 12 awards given by an AIA Colorado jury

• 3,893 People’s Choice votes

• 350+ attendees at Nova Place

Design + Research Group Infuses research into the practice of architecture in Pittsburgh and beyond and openly shares emerging data and knowledge. The group hosts a lunch + learn format, speakers and online resources. Highlights in 2022:

• Conducted Joint Research Brainstorming and How-To Sessions at monthly meetings

• Presented a series of Research Presentations on industry developments

Education Committee Directs the planning and / or development of AIA Pittsburgh’s continuing education programming, including Build Pittsburgh, Procrastinator’s Day, and ad hoc trainings. Highlights in 2022:

• Offered 16 courses and 3 Lunch & Learns at Build Pittsburgh 2022

• Identified Build Pittsburgh education topic areas and helped craft course abstracts and descriptions; session topics covered equity in architecture, building performance, legal trends, historic preservation, advocacy, building codes, office culture, and more

• Keynote given by Katie Swenson, Senior Principal of MASS Design, AIA Firm of the Year

• Developed and delivered end-of-the-year Procrastinator’s Day of CEU sessions

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Community (EDI)

Explores and fosters diversity, equality and inclusion issues in the architecture profession in our region. The committee’s work is guided by the AIA’s Guides for Equitable Practice. Highlights in 2022:

• Began work on firm outreach and introduced diversity conversations to firm leadership at the AIA PA Small Firm Exchange

• Contracted an HR consultant to facilitate EDI conversations

• Organized “Equity in Architecture” session at Build Pittsburgh 2022

AIA Committees and their Accomplishments (continued)

Fellows Group (FAIA)

In 2022, AIA Pittsburgh introduced the Fellows Group. AIA Pittsburgh Fellows Group promotes the recognition of member achievements through the annual review of eligible members and support of potential candidates for Fellowship. AIA Pittsburgh has 23 members who have achieved Fellowship. In 2022:

• Daniel Rothschild was elevated to FAIA status

Healthcare Committee / AIA Academy of Architecture for Health

Shares knowledge and collaborates to improve health design education, connect to health design resources, strengthen the pipeline of architects for health/ wellness design, and provides advice to the wider community. Highlights in 2022:

• Organized building tour of WVU Medicine Women and Children’s Hospital by IKM

• Supported three sub-committees: Knowledge, Emerging Professionals, Collaboration

Young Architects Forum (YAF)

Supports and encourages young professionals in the field of architecture to: obtain their license, become involved with career development opportunities, engage allied professionals through collaboration, and have fun. Highlights in 2022:

• Held 39 events, including YAFapalooza, ARE support, building tours, Young Architects Studio Competition, mentorship events and learning with PALM and the AIA Fellows

• Engaged and collaborated with over 14 different organizations

• Conducted outreach and support to architecture students / AIAS

Learn more about the Committees: https://aiapgh.org/aia-community/committees/

Social Media & Website Stats

113,240 Unique Pageviews to AIA Pittsburgh’s website

12,870

Facebook Reach

1,926 Instagram Followers

1,725 Columns Subscribers

2,701 Twitter Followers

768 Connections

Social Media & Website Stats

Top 5 Visited Pages on aiapgh.org

1 AIA Pittsburgh Job Board

2 Design Pittsburgh 2022

3 People’s Choice Award 2022

4 Architecture Week 2022

5 Build Pittsburgh 2022

Most Viewed COLUMNS Articles

Eckles Architecture and DRAW Collective announce merger

Member in the Spotlight: Pittsburgh’s Skinny Building, Roberts Building could be connected with new structure

Member in the Spotlight: City Meets Country at DeNinno’s Three Bears House

Firm in the Spotlight: Best of Summer: Inside The Year-Round Party Pool House by Shelton Design

Firms in the Spotlight: Eckles Architecture and DRAW Collective announce merger

View the Design Pittsburgh Photos

Eckles Architecture has been in business since 1898. DRAW Collective was founded in 1945.

Architects District Days

In August 2022, AIA Pittsburgh architects met or spoke with local representatives in their districts as part of District Days, AIA Pennsylvania’s premier advocacy event. Members got to know their legislators and shared architects’ ability to help solve some of the state’s toughest public health and economic challenges.

The primary goal of these meetings was to build relationships with legislators through discussion around members’ practice, business / clients, firms, and life in the district. Member participants were briefed on their meetings with a webinar and “blueprint” guide covering Pennsylvania politics, pre-meeting, in-meeting, and post-meeting steps to advocate, and helpful dos and don’ts. Be sure to join District Days in 2023!

Top issues discussed in 2022

Statute of Repose

Whole Home Repair Funding

CPACE Expansion

Build Pittsburgh:

Raising the Standards of Architectural Education, Training, and Practice

AIA Pittsburgh’s 22nd annual continuing education conference and exhibitor show

Provided cuttingedge programming beneficial to architects, engineers, owners, and other design industry professionals

Attendees could earn up to 7 hours of Continuing Education credits

250+ attendees; 47 presenters; 16 Courses; 3 Lunch & Learns

Brought together architects and built industry professionals to engage in learning, collaboration and networking

Design Pittsburgh 2022

Design Pittsburgh 2022 featured a juried Design Awards competition (with a Colorado jury), including the Young Architects Studio Competition which had its own local jury that reimagined an ambitious future to build upon the new Fern Hollow Bridge as a community connector, an extension of the park spaces that surround the bridge, and a meaningful destination that adds to the environmental, social, and aesthetic value of Frick Park.

Over 3,800 members of the public voted for the coveted People’s Choice Award. DRAW Collective, with 600 votes, won for their Hillview Elementary School Additions and Alteration.

Attending in-person at Nova Place were more than 275 members, affiliates, and design fans. The awards ceremony was hosted by Nancy Polinsky Johnson, co-host of WQED’s Saturday morning “QED Cooks”.

Design Pittsburgh highlights the importance of good design and how our members, sponsors, partners, and the public support and promote the value of architecture and design in the places where we live, work, and play.

31 firms submitted a total of 66 projects

3,893 votes cast for the People’s Choice Award

12 awards presented

Brendan Bogolin & Brad Feitl won the Young Architects Studio Competition with their proposed accessible pedestrian junction to reconnect Regent Square with Squirrel Hill and Frick Park, “The Fern Hollow Junction”.

Social Impact Award* Winner: Liberian Self-sustaining Orphan Village

“Protean Design Collaborative is honored to receive both the 2022 Social Impact in Design Award and the Honor Award for Small Projects for our Liberian Self-sustaining Orphan Village. These awards confirm AIA Pittsburgh’s continued commitment to design advocacy, civic engagement, environmental stewardship, and equity, diversity and inclusion. Given the many challenges we face as a global society it is essential for architects to engage in work that addresses the needs of under-resourced communities across a wide range of scales and functions, locally and internationally.

This project has been a labor of love for several years for our team of American and Liberian architects, contractors, and missionaries that required an international exchange of professional and cultural knowledge. The resulting project provides a safe, adaptable, context-specific, and sustainable campus for orphaned children and staff members whose lives have been stabilized and improved. With this recognition we hope to expand our network of local and international partners in this mutually transformational work.”

- Joshua D. Lee, AIA, PhD, Principal of Protean Design Collaborative

*Two other projects also won 2022 Social Impact Awards: August Wilson House by Pfaffmann + Associates and Second Harvest Community Thrift Store by Rothschild Doyno Collaborative.

Peoples Choice Top 10: the People Speak

AIA Pittsburgh received 3,893 votes among 66 projects this year for our People’s Choice Awards. As part of the voting process, we asked people why they chose the project they chose, offering prompt questions like:

Does the project inspire you?

Would you enjoy spending time in that space?

How does the project enhance or serve your community or surroundings?

From this we compiled the Top 10 People’s Choice list, along with a small collection of the public’s comments.

Here are some comments on the top 3 projects:

1. Hillview Elementary Additions and Alterations, DRAW Collective: 600 votes

“It’s an absolutely beautiful building! From the outside it may look like a normal school……but then, boom! you go inside and it’s an amazing work of art and fun colorful learning environment for everyone!”

2. Steelers Heinz Filed Flagship Store Interior Fit-Out, LGA Partners: 350 votes

“This display is clean and creative. The designers took the Pittsburgh theme to the next level. Way to go!!”

3. Seneca Valley School District Aquatic Facility, IKM Architecture: 313 votes

“It is an engaging facility that promotes a healthy physical and positive mental lifestyle for students, faculty, and the surrounding community. Most collegiate aquatic centers cannot even compare.”

View the comments from the top 10 projects here.

Design Pittsburgh - View the 12 Winning Projects in 2022

Pittsburgh Architecture Week

AIA Pittsburgh and the Pittsburgh Architecture Foundation launched Pittsburgh Architecture Week (PAW) this year, partnering with 14 local organizations to bring 16 events to the public. Though we are always excited by architecture, we wondered how many people would notice. What did we learn?

Pittsburgh is ready to talk about architecture! We received a Mayoral Proclamation honoring the event and our city’s architecture, attendees were engaged and learning at our events, and we attracted extensive media coverage, such as the following:

We brought back PechaKucha Night for PAW and had nearly 100 in attendance. Among other events, AIA Pittsburgh members led a tour and discussion of the adaptive reuse of buildings at Museum Lab, spoke to Assemble’s after school program, and engaged the audience at the Fall Home & Garden Show at the Convention Center. We expect to grow PAW incrementally as resources allow.

ARCHITECTURE WEEK

ARCHITECTURE WEEK ARCHITECTURE WEEK PITTSBURGH

september 26 - october 2 2022

Annual Meeting Celebrates our Community in 2022

In December, AIA Pittsburgh members gathered in-person for the Annual Meeting & President’s Party. After Executive Director Michelle Fanzo and 2022 Board President Bea Spolidoro presented the chapter accomplishments from the year, members enjoyed an evening of networking in the Strada Architecture office in Downtown Pittsburgh.

Members voted in four new Board members to the 2023 Board of Directors:

• Stuart Coppedge, FAIA

• Joshua Lee, AIA

• Prerana Paliwal, Assoc. AIA

• Rebecca Schwartz, AIA

The meeting also welcomed 26 new AIA Pittsburgh members, honored 4 retiring architects and celebrated 5 newly registered architects. The Board Presidency was transferred from Bea Spolidoro, AIA to John Ryan, AIA; and the YAF Presidency was transferred from Greg Coni, AIA to Jason Andrews, Assoc. AIA.

Read the full highlights from the meeting here.

What is the value of an architect?

This is a question we grapple with on a daily basis in many ways: when we guide our clients to make the best decisions for their current budgets and future growth, and when we seek to address larger challenges like health and wellbeing, safety, homelessness, equity. There are many good answers to this question. For me, the value of an architect is to envision the future and to guide collaboration with our partners to realize that vision. We achieve this when we design spaces which honor our human dignity and celebrate our diversity, human spirit and individuality.

Significant challenges lie ahead: rising construction costs, market instability, Artificial Intelligence, climate change, housing for all people. Each one is daunting in its own way and in combination can be overwhelming to comprehend. Which is why I am grateful for the professional camaraderie and personal growth I receive from being part of our AIA Pittsburgh architecture community.

AIA Pittsburgh continues to ask the right questions in seeking solutions for these issues and providing a knowledge base to empower our members to do their best work. We are building stronger relationships with our industry and government partners to create more predictable procurement and permitting processes in the service of our projects. We are strengthening our position in the community to provide a united voice for the power of design.

This is the value of an architect: it is our ability to envision a better world, where our built and natural environments function in harmony. AIA Pittsburgh provides a forum for learning and for action to amplify the unique perspective of the architect, and show how design can make a difference. Get involved in AIA Pittsburgh and help us realize that vision.

- John Ryan, AIA 2023 AIA Pittsburgh President and Associate Principal at DesignGroup

Thank you to our 2022 Sponsors

The following sponsors have contributed to both Build Pittsburgh & Design Pittsburgh

alleghenymillworklumber.com centria.com

BUILD PITTSBURGH SPONSORS

AL Harding

Armina Stone

Case Technologies

Construction Junction

DaVinci Roofscapes

ECS Mid-Atlantic

GBBN

epicmetals.com garlandco.com

JB O'Connor

Keith Bush Associates (KBA)

Langan Engineering & Environmental Services

MAK Construction Products Group

gatewayengineers.com pella.com

Modular International

Oswald Companies

stradallc.com turnerconstruction.com

Performance Roofing Associates

R.I. Lampus Company

REPS of Ohio

Rockwood

workscapeinc.com vitroglazings.com

In-Kind Sponsors

gregcollcreative.com tsrepro.com

Simply Automated

Topcon Solutions

Barber & Hoffman

Barton Associates

Bohler Engineering

Burchick Construction

Buro Happold

Cadnetics

Cascade

Civil Engineering Consultants

Compu-site

Corbett Inc.

CurranTaylor Foodservice Equipment & Design

Denmarsh Studios

Design Group

Desmone

Ed Massery

Fenner & Esler

Franjo

Franklin Interiors

HF Lenz

Hilbish McGee

Hope Furrer Associates, inc.

Lam Partners

Marvin Windows

Mascaro Construction

MBA

McKim & Creed

Michael Baker

NV5 (formerly The Sextant Group)

Perkins Eastman

PJ Dick

Providence Engineering

PVE, LLC

Remington Vernick Engineers (RVE)

Rothschild Doyno Collaborative

Rycon Construction

Sci-Tek

Stantec

Strada

Tall Timber Group

Taylor Structural Engineers

TEDCO

Trans Associates

DESIGN PITTSBURGH SPONSORS

Allen & Shariff

Atlantic Engineering Services (AES)

Babich Acoustics

IKM

JLL

Keystone Structural Solutions

Kimley-Horn

TriState Reprographics

WBCM

Wilke & Associates

WNA Engineering