AIA Year in Review

Heading into 2020, few could have guessed this year would bring both a global health crisis and a renewed struggle for racial equality. The architecture profession has important contributions to make in this historic moment, and we face the challenges of 2020 strengthened by the passion and integrity of our members—a firm foundation further reinforced by the achievements of prior years.

Sustainability has long been an AIA priority, but 2019 marked the year we took decisive action to make it our top priority. Building on more than 30 years of work supporting the design of sustainable and resilient communities, the member-led sustainability resolution adopted at AIA’s Conference on Architecture 2019 spurred the development of a comprehensive climate action plan to guide meaningful, measurable progress. Harnessing our members’ collective expertise and jumpstarting collaboration across the industry, 2019 stands as a turning point when our profession accelerated our commitment to reduce carbon emissions in the built environment.

Architects’ duty to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public—including efforts to mitigate climate change impacts—is supported by our commitment to ensure an inclusive, equitable, and diverse profession with a demonstrated record of advancing social justice through the power of design. Now more than ever, our goal is for future generations to know architecture as much for the inclusiveness and diversity of its practitioners, and focus on sustainability, as for its creativity and technical expertise.

Robert Ivy, FAIA

EVP/Chief Executive Officer