Dear Members of the AIA Interior Architecture Knowledge Community:

As the 2009 chair, I would like to thank you for your continued membership in the AIA Interior Architecture Knowledge Community. I would also like to take this opportunity to bring you up to speed on our accomplishments and plans as we continue our efforts to provide you with the leadership and expertise you need to enhance your practice of interior architecture and design.

• Interior Architecture Committee Events at the AIA 2009 National Convention
  We will once again be providing educational programs at the AIA National Convention, including an outreach session to explore linkages with AIA components. We hope you will join us for these sessions:
  
  W32 Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment, The Essentials: Diversify Your Practice to Include Selection, Specification and Procurement of FF&E HSW
  Wednesday, April 29, 2009, 1–5 p.m., $155, 3.75 LUs
  
  E18 AIA Interior Architecture Local Component Outreach Forum
  Thursday, April 30, 2009, 10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
  
  T20 Design as a Business Strategy
  Thursday, April 30, 2009, 7–8 a.m., 1 LU
  
  S03 Grow Your Practice: The Interior Advantage
  Saturday, May 2, 2009, 7–8 a.m., 1 LU
  
  
• Significant Interiors Book
  Released last year, Significant Interiors is a hard-cover publication featuring award-winning interiors by notable architecture and design firms. Members of the Interior Architecture Knowledge Community selected 55 projects based on creativity and innovation. This publication helps promote excellence in interior architecture.
  
  
• Interior Architecture eNewsletter
  The Interior Architecture Advisory Group is very proud of its member resource, the quarterly Interior Architecture Newsletter. This has become our primary communication device with members, as it collects and disseminates knowledge relevant to interior architecture and provides a mechanism to increase outreach.
  
  
• Sustainability Leadership Awards for Design and Development
  For the 5th consecutive year, we, along with the AIA Committee on the Environment, joined with CoreNet Global and the International Interior Design Association (IIDA) to present the annual Sustainability Leadership Awards for Design and Development. This awards program promotes the awareness and use of sustainable practices by corporations and their service providers.
  
  
• Web Seminars
  Last year we launched our first Web seminar presentation: Case Study of a LEED-CI Project: International Interior Design Association Headquarters. The presentation reviewed the challenges in achieving a high level of LEED-CI certification in a 1920's era building located in a dense urban environment. Look for more Interior Architecture Web seminars to follow in 2009.
  
  
• Podcasts
  We believe that access to knowledge should be available in diverse and unique ways. This year, we plan on introducing more podcasts so that members can tap into knowledge during their spare time in a convenient way that is completely at their convenience and discretion.

We'd love to hear from you! If you have any questions or comments, or wish to become more involved in the Interior Architecture Knowledge Community, please email interiors@aia.org.

Thank you again for your interest in the Interior Architecture Knowledge Community!

Sincerely,

Timothy Hawk, AIA
2009 Chair, AIA Interior Architecture Advisory Group