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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.  Contract Documents

    Posted 02-15-2012 09:27 AM
    This message has been cross posted to the following Discussion Forums: Small Project Practitioners and Small Firm Round Table .
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    The Small Firm Round Table will be meeting with the Contract Document Staff in March. What is working for you in our contract documents and what would you like to see changed or added?
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    Linna Frederick FAIA
    Principal
    Frederick & Frederick Architects
    Beaufort SC
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  • 2.  RE:Contract Documents

    Posted 02-16-2012 09:22 AM

    Jane:

    First, congratulations on your elevation to Fellowship.

    As far as Contract Docs, five years ago the Component Partnerships Committee recommended that the AIA develop a series of single page documents for very simple projects that could be mass marketed to Home Depot, Lowes, etc.  This serves as both a source of revenue, plus it creates an awareness in a mass market about the profession and AIA.

    I would strongly suggest that Small Firm Roundtable make this happen.
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    Walter Hainsfurther FAIA
    Kurtz Associates Architects
    Des Plaines IL
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    Original Message


  • 3.  RE:Contract Documents

    Posted 02-20-2012 09:37 AM
    I agree with Walter - simple single page documents for small projects would be extremely helpful. 

    I would also like to offer another suggestion, although I suspect it will not be popular with the bean counters at AIA.  I believe that the contract documents are one of the biggest benefits offered to the profession - contracts are a vital part of doing business.  My suggestion is to add value to the AIA membership by lowering the cost, to members, of the contract documents and raising the cost to non-members.  I believe that if the pricing structure was sent to actually encourage joining rather than discourage joining, we would all be better served.  Non-members should pay substantially more for the documents created by an organization they've chosen not to support.

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    Mark T. Humitz, AIA LEED AP
    Project Manager
    Cornwell Architects
    Traverse City MI, 49686
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    Original Message