Committee on Architecture for Education

The Committee on Architecture for Education (CAE) is a Knowledge Community of the American Institute of Architects (AIA). We are a large and active group of over 10,000 architects and allied professionals concerned with the quality and design of all types of educational, cultural, and recreational facilities that promote lifelong learning in safe, welcoming and equitable environments. The CAE’s mission is to foster innovative and collaborative design of educational facilities and to heighten public awareness on the importance of learning environments.

I am honored to be this year’s CAE Chair and eager to share the programs, content and insights we have in store. Just as we design for learning, I believe in the power of learning and the power of our CAE community to transform, encourage and advocate as we expand our own personal and professional quests for knowledge. We are the voices for design and innovation that can truly impact the lives of those we serve. This is a passion that fuels me to learn from my colleagues, contribute and give back, and encourage those emerging in the profession to find that same love for education architecture.

The CAE is governed by a five-member Leadership Group. Each member is appointed by the American Institute of Architects to serve a five-year term. During the course of this tenure, each member serves a rotation as Secretary, Content Curator, Vice-Chair, Chair and finally, Past Chair, and acts as a liaison to each of the subcommittees.

Together with my esteemed CAE Leadership Group - Diego Barrera, Judy Hoskens, Rebecca Baibak and Jason Forney - we are excited about what is to come. At last year’s convention in Chicago, CAE held a well-attended open forum where we asked you, our members, what you’d like to see more of in the coming year. An emphasis on community, mental health & wellness, and research rose to the forefront of the lively discussion.
During a successful strategic planning session in January, the CAE Leadership Group met to outline key goals and initiatives for the coming year, taking your feedback into account.

For 2023, we have established three primary goals inspired by our heightened focus on community, our overall CAE mission and the AIA’s core values. The aim of these goals is to provide value to our architectural community and the communities of students, educators, and neighborhoods we serve:

1. Amplify involvement and outreach to members and emerging professionals to strengthen and grow our influence both internally and externally, as we develop partnerships with allied organizations, local chapters and the public.
2. Increase impact to add value to CAE membership by developing tangible deliverables and resources that assist in advocating for students, educators, and the architecture & design community in diversity, equity and inclusion.
3. Foster innovation by sharing and exploring valuable content and research in pedagogy and design.

In the spirit of these goals, and with valuable input from CAE co-chairs and members, we have implemented some changes to better support your needs. We have simplified the structure of the CAE and its subcommittees to provide members with increased opportunities for involvement and to break down the silos between bodies of knowledge. As of January 2023, our subcommittees will be organized as follows:
 
Research
The Research committee develops, curates and distributes research that fosters innovation and success in the design of educational environments. This committee empowers practitioners who are leading innovative design and research initiatives.
 
Advocacy
The Advocacy Committee works with AIA staff and the Government Affairs Committee (GAC) to establish CAE as experts on public policy related to educational environments and to heighten awareness of issues related to the design of educational environments.
 
Conferences & Awards
The Conferences and Awards Committee supports the Vice Chair in the planning of the Spring and Fall conferences for the following year, and supports conferences from allied organizations. The committee promotes the AIA CAE Award program and supports other award programs for educational environments.
 
Outreach
This committee is charged with communicating and sharing knowledge and information related to initiatives and events with CAE membership. It also collaborates with allied organizations.
 
Education & Programs
This committee is charged with organizing and curating webinars and other events to disseminate knowledge to foster innovation in the design of educational facilities.
 
Upcoming initiatives for our 2023 schedule include monthly programs to stay involved and get inspired, such as the CAE Book Club, webinar series, safety & security topics, website discussion board, our Fall Conference & partner event with EDspaces in Charlotte, and the upcoming CAE Spring Conference in Dallas, March 22-25. We hope you’ll join us for a fabulous conference, filled with tours and hands-on learning, as we explore Pathways to Opportunities. Registration is now open: 2023 CAE Spring Conference: Pathways to Opportunities
If you’d like to learn more about joining a committee, please feel free to reach out to the committee chairs, the Leadership Group, or Bruce Bland, AIA Staff Director, at bbland@aia.org.

On behalf of the Leadership Group, I’d like to thank each of our members for the passion and enthusiasm you contribute to the CAE. We look forward to a productive year and to continuing to connect and serve you!

Olivia Graf Doyle, 2023 CAE Chair