Happy 50th Anniversary of Earth Day COTE members!
We don't typically have an April newsletter, but a lot has changed since the March Chair Letter. You may have heard that the
announcement of the COTE Top Ten Awards winners will be postponed until May. Disappointing, I know. With another round of federal funding for Paycheck Protection Program launching this week (
see attached email from Tim Hawk), and the first-come, first-served nature of the financial assistance, it was important to make sure that AIA prioritized these
resources and
business continuity support communications for member-firms.
Rest assured that the Institute's commitment to urgent and sustained climate action for human and ecological health stands strong. Here are some things happening across the organization that you may not have heard about yet:
- Robert Ivy (EVP/ CEO AIA) and Jane Frederick (2020 President) shared an Earth Day message linking climate action directly to the COVID-19 public health crisis. They call on all people to band together in hope, solidarity, and action to bring meaningful societal change.
- On April 15, the Board approved the AIA 2021-2025 strategic plan prioritizing climate action- see attached graphic. The next step is for staff to begin prioritizing and operationalizing this plan over the next five years. It is nothing short of "revolutionary" in the words of the Strategic Planning Committee Chair Brian Frickie.
- At that same meeting, the Board also approved the AIA Climate Action Plan to prioritize and support urgent climate action to exponentially accelerate the decarbonization of buildings, the building industry and the build environment by:
- declaring an urgent climate imperative for carbon reduction;
- transforming the day-to-day practice of architects to achieve a zero-carbon, equitable, resilient, and healthy built environment; and
- leveraging support of all potential partners, including peers, clients, policymakers, and the public.
- The AIA Sustainable Leadership Group, which COTE is a part of, is compiling connections between COVID, public health and climate action for AIA Board review and action.
- AIA staff and member-volunteers have organized, mobilized and curated/ created COVID-19 resources for architects. Three special task forces were quickly formed: starting with Rapid Response Safety and Space Assessment, which shared recommendations for Alternative Care Sites, an Implementation and Community Outreach organizing body that compiled a virtual toolbox for local chapter components, and finally a group focused on Business Practice Resources.
- Even though the 'A20 conference was canceled, COTE is exploring ways to virtually celebrate the Top Ten Award winners, the Student Competition winners, and to thank all of our sponsors in our 30th anniversary year. We're also looking forward, exploring how COTE's mission should adapt and align amid the AIA's significant shift in prioritizing climate action across the entire organization.
Last weekend, as I was thinking about Earth week, the star-studded 1985
"We are the World" recording for African hunger relief, and its 2010 remake after the Haitian earthquake, popped into my head. I can remember hearing this song during my elementary school field day; the chills invoked from the conviction and passion of the artists and the beautiful message of the
lyrics:
purpose, love, hope, unity. "There's a choice we're making, We're saving our own lives, It's true we'll make a better day, just you and me..." Seems just as relevant today, decades later.
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Julie Hiromoto
AIA 2020 COTE Chair
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