Citizen Architect

 

The well-attended March meeting of the Eugene Section of AIA Oregon took place last Wednesday at the Ninkasi Better Living Room. The intriguing subject of the meeting was what it means to be a model “Citizen Architect.”

Simply put, the notion of the Citizen Architect relates to design professionals who engage in civic endeavors, contributing their insights, talents, and experiences towards the betterment of society. Citizen Architects regard architecture not merely as a vocation but as a conduit for social progress, leveraging their skills to address pressing issues affecting the profession and more broadly the communities of which they are a part.

Central to the spirit of the Citizen Architect is a dedication to civic activism and advocacy. Architects possess specialized knowledge of the built environment's impact on society, and thus are uniquely positioned to advocate for policies addressing urgent issues impacting everyone. Local engagement additionally serves as a cornerstone of the Citizen Architect's mission. By interfacing with grassroots organizations, attending town hall meetings, and collaborating with local stakeholders, architects forge connections that underpin community-driven development initiatives. They harness their collective influence to shape legislative agendas and advocate for policies conducive to sustainable urban growth.

The meeting featured speakers who collectively described some of the paths architects can follow toward fulfilling the role of a Citizen Architect:

AIA Oregon Leadership Summit

The Eugene Section’s representative on AIA Oregon’s Emerging Professional Committee is my colleague at Robertson/Sherwood/Architects, John Webster, AIA. John described the February 21 Oregon Leadership Summit at the State Capitol in Salem, which featured the opportunity for the 15-20 young professionals who attended to learn firsthand about how the legislative process, public policy, and governance impact the work of architects. The event also provided them with an opportunity to meet with the AIA Oregon Legislative Affairs Committee, various state representatives, and the Oregon State Board of Architect Examiners (OSBAE).

John regarded the Summit as an excellent introduction for the attendees to the responsibilities of a “Citizen Architect.” Learning how to become effective voices for the profession is a critical aspect of leadership and advocacy. Seeking change when laws or policies are contrary to the best interests of our communities or the architectural profession often means being an advocate in public spaces, a useful lesson for every emerging professional.  

Oregon House of Representatives (photo by Cacophony, CC BY 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons)

The 2024 Oregon Legislative Session

As I mentioned above, helping to shape legislative agendas is a central function of a Citizen Architect. AIA Oregon has provided the structure and support for its members on matters of public policy, both at the State and Federal levels.

Cindy Robert, AIA Oregon’s lobbyist since 2000, reported on the outcomes of the recently adjourned 2024 Legislative Session impacting the architectural profession. Cindy said the legislators only passed 100 of 300 bills introduced, but many of those which became law portend “monumental changes” for Oregon architects. Chief among these changes are the Governor’s Housing Bill & Funding Package (allocating $376 million in funding for housing initiatives across the state), the creation of a new Housing Accountability & Production Office, a directive for the Department of Land Conservation and Development to create model ordinances that provide clear and objective standards for the development of various housing types, and the barring of design professional “duty to defend” provisions in construction contracts.

The passage of the “duty to defend” legislation (SB 1575A) is particularly welcome and overdue. I’ve seen too many public agencies throughout Oregon include contractual clauses that require architects to defend those agencies in the event of legal claims for damages even though the design professional is not responsible for them. The “duty to defend” language is legally problematic, expensive, and uninsurable by professional liability carriers. The fact such clauses became ubiquitous may in part be a consequence of many architects failing to understand their implications, or simply missing the “fine print” altogether. The new legislation will ensure fairness for architects and engineers in the public contracting process by requiring each party to a construction contract to be responsible for their own negligence or fault. This means parties will pay damages based on actual liability, rather than alleged liability once that responsibility is determined.

Mentor Madness

The definition of a Citizen Architect can also include the duty to mentor the future generation of design professionals. Evon Calabrese, Assoc. AIA and Nicole Becker, AIA, introduced Mentor Madness, which will be a fast-paced four-week program offering group and one-on-one mentorship sessions. The sessions will match experienced professionals looking to share their wisdom with aspiring architects-to-be.

Evon and Nicole, both emerging professionals themselves, organized Mentor Madness particularly for those new to the Oregon architecture community. In addition to a series of virtual meetings, the coming Oregon Design Conference will serve as a program venue. The conference (May 8-10 in Bend) will host related presentations, including an overview of the AIA and the pathways to getting involved at the chapter and national levels, an introduction to allied professional organizations, and what it means to be a Citizen Architect. Acceptance into the Mentor Madness program includes registration to the Oregon Design Conference and a $300 travel stipend. The AIA College of Fellows provided the funding necessary to make the program possible.

Unfortunately, the deadline for both mentor and mentee applications is tomorrow (Monday, March 25); I’m late in reporting about the Mentor Madness program. Act quickly if you’re interested. I expect the program may become a fixture on the AIA Oregon calendar in future years, so future opportunities to participate will undoubtedly exist.

The Architect as Mayor

Kaarin Knudson, AIA is currently one of three candidates running for mayor of Eugene. I’ve already endorsed Kaarin’s candidacy. She is nothing but the epitome of a Citizen Architect. As I first wrote last September, Kaarin brings a fresh perspective to local politics, one that combines her experience as an architect, urban designer, university educator, and community leader. She addressed the value of that perspective during her presentation and the subsequent question & answer period.

In some respects, it’s curious more architects have not taken this step. Architects do possess political agency by virtue of their training and the nature of their work, which is inherently public. I believe design excellence as a civic imperative should be a precondition for holding political office at the local level. Thomas Jefferson’s dictum that “design activity and political thought are indivisible” comes to mind here. By their nature, architects are adept at solving complex problems through design, leading project stakeholders as well as the communities they serve toward better futures.

Effective leadership from the mayor’s chair can result in constructive and responsible change. This is even true here in Eugene, which operates under the council-manager form of government. The mayor’s influence is limited or “weak” in such a system. Regardless, the mayor of Eugene can exercise leadership to build a constituency for design excellence and influence the community to confront its adaptive challenges—those gaps between a citizenry’s values and the current reality that cannot be closed by routine behavior.

I believe Kaarin has the acumen, collaborative mindset, and most importantly the vision to be the persuasive leader Eugene needs. She is most worthy of your support. Ballots for the primary election are due on May 21.   

*    *    *    *    *    *

I cannot claim the mantle of “Citizen Architect” to the extent that those who have worked tirelessly over many years on behalf of their clients, friends, neighbors, and fellow design professionals can. Yes, I did my part during my 2008-2009 stint on the AIA Oregon board, traveling to Salem and Washington D.C. to advocate for sound public policies that support livable, sustainable communities. Since then, my contributions have mostly been limited to attending public meetings and directly participating in public workshops associated with issues related to urban design, the housing affordability crisis, and the like. If anything, perhaps this blog fulfills my obligation to be a Citizen Architect, as I have used it as a public platform upon which to advocate on behalf of the broader purposes of architecture.

The Citizen Architect paradigm epitomizes the convergence of professional expertise and civic responsibility, serving as a catalyst for transformative change in the built environment. Through advocacy, activism, and community engagement, architects leverage their talents to address societal challenges, advance public welfare, and nurture inclusive, sustainable communities. As stewards of the built environment, Citizen Architects embody the ethos of service, stewardship, and social progress, shaping a more equitable and resilient future for future generations.