Small Firm Exchange

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Who We Are

The mission of the AIA Small Firm Exchange (SFx) is to advance the mutual interests of architects practicing in small firms. The objectives of the AIA SFx are three-fold:

1. Advocate the value of small firms, the national SFx, and local SFx groups, both within the AIA and to the public.

2. Curate and disseminate the most pertinent resources and information, from the AIA & elsewhere, that benefit small firms.

3. Inform the AIA of current issues facing small firms and areas in which current resources/information are lacking.

Approximately 75% of all firms within the AIA are small firms (less than 10 employees), which equates to 14,459 small firms within the organization.

~26.8% = sole practitioners = 5,173

~33.5% = 1-5 employees = 6,459

~14.7% = 5-10 employees = 2,827

For context, small firms share of staff is 16.0% and share of billings is 12.0%

We need to find ways to leverage that size for collaboration and influence, just like the individual large firms do.

   

  

  • 1.  What is your favorite chair?

    Posted 09-05-2017 09:07 PM
    My chair has been a good friend for many years, but unlike me, has aged and must be replaced. I'm looking for a replacement and thought this would be a good place to get some opinions about chairs. 

    I really like the Robert Aeron chair for the support and might get one if it looks like it won't need replacing for a long time (because of the price). However, these chairs are not different from most in that they are too wide for the too narrow to use two arm rests at the same time.  Slouching toward one side of my chair is definitely a favorite bad posture habit of mine, but I'd prefer it if it weren't also engineered into my chair.  

    Do you have a favorite chair?

    ------------------------------
    Barbara Richter-Norton, AIA
    Architect
    Richter-Norton Architecture, PLLC
    Chapel Hill, NC
    ------------------------------


  • 2.  RE: What is your favorite chair?

    Posted 09-06-2017 05:25 PM
    I have had my Herman Miller Aeron chair for about 13 years and LOVE IT!  My chair shows no wear, and I cringe when I have to sit in another chair.  It has been a great investment! I suggest you find a distributor that will let you try out/test drive different chairs.  

    --
    Edward J. Shannon, Architect
    T.515-779-9050





  • 3.  RE: What is your favorite chair?

    Posted 09-11-2017 06:08 PM
    For task work, I prefer my AllSteel Sum chair. For dining, I prefer the Knoll Brno. For reading/ relaxing, I alternate between the Cassie's Corbu Chaise and the Herman Miller Eames chair and ottoman.
    Bill Eberhard

    Sent from my iPhone




  • 4.  RE: What is your favorite chair?

    Posted 09-06-2017 05:35 PM
    It looks really really odd, but I've been using a smallish yoga ball set on top of 7" of carpet samples.  I'm quite happy with it and have had avoided lower back pain for the last couple years I think in large part of this arrangement.  The only exception was when I got a really large yoga ball so I could get rid of the carpet samples. but I don't think that ended well.  The advantage of what I currently have is that I can also kneel and work at my desk, so I use a wide range of postures.



    JUSTUS PANG, AIA, LEED AP

    Las Vegas | Long Beach | Chicago

    1200 South 4th Street, Suite 206
    Las Vegas, Nevada 89104

    O 702.839.1200 | M 510.301.8721
    justus@aptusgroup.com | www.aptusgroup.com







  • 5.  RE: What is your favorite chair?

    Posted 09-07-2017 05:36 PM
    This is a really easy question. I've had two office chairs since my back surgery thirty years ago. The first was a Haworth chair that gave me 6-8 years of good service before succumbing to coffee stains and general wear and tear. My next chair was an Aeron chair. Within a month, I bought one for each person in my office. They accommodate every body type and posture; every one is still in service; no one in my office ever complains . . . at least, not about his/her chair.

    ------------------------------
    Thomas Howorth FAIA
    Principal Architect
    Howorth & Associates Architects
    Oxford MS
    ------------------------------