WASHINGTON D.C. GRASSROOTS 2023
KBYG AIAS GRASSROOTS LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE
July 20 – July 23, 2023
Thank you for being a part of our in person Grassroots 2023 conference! To make the most of the experience we’ve compiled all the information you’ll need to know before you go below.
Registration Desk Locations & Hours
Please check in upon arrival in DC to receive your conference badge, bag with many goodies, and more!
Date | Time | Location |
---|---|---|
Thursday, July 20 | 10:00am – 4:00 pm | Embassy Suites 900 10th Street N.W. Washington, DC 20001 |
Friday, July 21 | 8:00am – 12:00pm | Embassy Suites 900 10th Street N.W. Washington, DC 20001 |
Schedule
All times in Eastern.
Time | Programming | Details | Location |
---|---|---|---|
10 a.m.-4:00 p.m. | Hotel Check-in / Registration Open | Check into the Embassy Suites, your preferred hotel, or AirBnB, and then be sure to pick up your conference badge, bag, and other materials! | Embassy Suites Hotel |
4:30-7:00 p.m. | Opening Keynote Session | New Board Swearing-In Ceremony. Read more about our Keynote Speakers here. | National Housing Center |
7:00-9:30 p.m. | Informal Quad/Region Dinners | While not an official event, traditionally, Quads and Regions will all grab food together and get to know one another. Check in with your Quad Director or Regional Director and see where people are heading! | Various locations |
7:00-9:30 p.m. | Alumni Reception | AIAS Alumni and Legacy members, as well as recent graduates and emerging professionals are invited to an informal reception full of opportunities to network and reminisce! | Embassy Suites Hotel |
9:30-11:30 p.m. | Nighttime Monuments Tour | Join Immediate Past President Cooper Moore and Immediate Past VP Nicole Bass on a nighttime tour of some of DC’s most iconic sites. | Meeting point TBA |
Time | Programming | Details | Location |
---|---|---|---|
7:30-9:00 a.m. | Breakfast with the Presidents | Join us for Breakfast with the Presidents of our Alliance Organizations | Embassy Suites – Capital Ballroom (lower lobby) |
8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. | Registration Open | Embassy Suites Hotel | |
9:30-11:30 a.m. | Sustainability Tour | Join President Cooper Moore for a walking tour of DC that highlights sustainable design initiatives, green roofs, urban trees, and so much more. Learn how design can fulfill the UN Sustainable Design Goals and create beautiful, healthy spaces for everyone. | Meet in Embassy Suites Lobby |
9:30-11:30 a.m. | Planning Tour | Join the DC Office of Planning on a tour of Downtown focusing on the city’s efforts to expand and improve public space supporting economic recovery and the growth of commercial-to-residential properties. Explore strategies that can re-invigorate the public spaces and make Downtown an interesting and inclusive neighborhood for all residents and workers in DC. The tour will be led by OP staff working on the city’s Downtown Public Realm Plan and Streets for People Program. | Meet in the Embassy Suites Hotel Lobby by 9 am |
9:30-11:30 a.m. | The Architecture of Transportation – Tour | Join members of KGP Design Studio for a tour of the intersections of architecture and transportation design. Learn about the history of DC’s Metro, see the brutalist stations, and talk about the revitalization of Union Station, which KGP is the prime consultant for. Check out this tour for a niche but incredibly important sector of architecture, exploring how to improve infrastructure and how a designer can play a large role. | KGP Office |
9:30-11:30 a.m. | Accessibility Tour | Join members of the top-ranked design firm, Quinn Evans, through the Smithsonian Institution’s National Zoo to explore accessibility strategies. Highlighting three National Zoo projects – The Bird House, American Trail, and the Conservation Pavilion – this tour will focus on the universal design of visitor spaces and experiences. Learn how to balance historic preservation with the updates necessary to ensure all people can experience cultural landmarks.
Tour Leaders: Marisa Allen, AIA, LEED AP; Ryan McEnroe, FAIA, ASLA, LEED AP, LFA (former AIAS West Quad Director ’04-’05); Alfredo Davalos Intl Assoc AIA, LEED AP, NOMA; and Bryan Asson. |
Smithsonian’s National Zoo (Connecticut Ave entrance).
Please note that this tour will be leaving the Embassy Suites at 8:45 a.m. |
9:30-11:30 a.m. | Dining Along the Wharf – Tour | Adjacent to America’s longest running fish market, the Wharf is a mile long development with the first phase open in 2017 and the second in 2023. This tour will walk the length of the Wharf discussing the project and its history while focusing on the dining experiences that enliven the waterfront. We will meet at The Market Pier then walk alone Wharf Street past residences, retail, event spaces and restaurants ending at M Street Landing. The visit will discuss the overall urban plan and its affect on the dining scene of DC’s hottest area. | Meet in the Embassy Suites Hotel Lobby by 9 am |
9:30-10:30 a.m. | Freedom by Design Session | Discover how to embrace your architecture skills to contribute to your community and enhance its well-being via the AIAS Freedom By Design (FBD) program. Through FBD, you and your chapter can acquire real-world experience by collaborating with clients and receiving guidance from local architects. In this session, you will learn about the history of FBD, how to run a successful FBD chapter, and the transformative effects that practical architectural solutions can have. | Embassy Suites Hotel |
10:45-11:45 a.m. | Working with AIA Components | When your chapter is looking for help finding a speaker, identifying funding, finding a location for an event, who do you turn to? Have you reached out to the AIA component in your area? AIA components are often hidden resources, and many, if not all, would love to help AIAS chapters in some way. Learn how you can work with your nearby components.
Speakers: Cathy Guske and Kevin Watkins |
Embassy Suites Hotel |
11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. | Lunch | Lunch on your own: enjoy exploring all DC has to offer! | Various locations |
1:30-2:30 p.m. | Firm Tour – Gensler | Check out the DC office of Gensler!
Gensler is a global architecture, design, and planning firm with 53 locations and 7,000 professionals networked across the Americas, Europe, Greater China, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East. Founded in 1965, the firm works globally with more than 4,000 clients across more than 29 practice areas spanning the work, lifestyle, community, and health sectors. We are guided by our mission to create a better world through the power of design and believe the source of our strength is our people. |
Gensler |
1:30-2:30 p.m. | Firm Tour – SmithGroup | Check out the DC office of SmithGroup!
SmithGroup is one of the world’s preeminent integrated design firms. Working across a network of 20 offices in the U.S. and China, a team of 1,300 experts is committed to excellence in strategy, design and delivery. The scale of the firm’s thinking and organization produces partnerships with forward-looking clients that maximize opportunities, minimize risk and solve their most complex problems. SmithGroup creates exceptional design solutions for healthcare, science and technology organizations, higher education and cultural institutions, urban environments, diverse workplaces, mixed-use and waterfront developments, parks and open spaces. |
SmithGroup |
1:30-2:30 p.m. | NCARB Open House | Cafés and zoom rooms and chairs! Oh my! This tour of the award-winning National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) office will highlight the features of the downtown DC office designed for collaboration and inspiration. Take a peek behind the curtain of what our everyday operations entail and the facilities we use to do that. Meet key team members in this colorful LEED Gold and Fitwell certified space. NCARB is a place with real people who want to help you succeed as an architect. | NCARB HQ |
2:45-4:00 p.m. | Sketch Tour – National Portrait Gallery | Tour Leader: Carrie Parker of CannonDesign | National Portrait Gallery (Meet at north steps) |
2:45-4:00 p.m. | Sketch Tour – Western Market | Tour Leader TBA | Western Market |
2:45-4:00 p.m. | Sketch Tour – Old Executive Office Building/Renwick Gallery | Tour Leader: Mckaylie Morter | Old Executive Office Building/Renwick Gallery/White House |
2:45-4:15 p.m. | Advocacy Workshop | Join the AIA Advocacy team to learn about best practices and methods for advocating as architects and design professionals. This workshop will cover the ins and outs of lobbying, effectively engaging with policymakers, key issues facing architects today, and more. | Embassy Suites Hotel |
4:15-7:30 p.m. | Career Expo | Come mingle with firms, partners, associations, and universities in a casual, low-stress environment. Whether you’re interested in talking about career opportunities, exploring graduate school, or just gathering information, the Career Expo is the place! | Embassy Suites Hotel |
6:30-7:30 p.m. | Leadership Q&A | If you’ve been thinking about running for a position on the national AIAS Board of Directors and wondering what it would entail, attend this informal Q&A session. Hear from current AIAS Board members about their experiences. | Embassy Suites Hotel |
8:30 p.m.-12:00 a.m. | Silent Disco | Enjoy a fun evening event with your fellow Grassroots attendees, partaking in some delicious food and great music. Join in the celebration of this year’s Honor Awards recipients as well. | Embassy Suites Hotel |
Time | Programming | Details | Location |
---|---|---|---|
7:30-8:45 a.m. | Breakfast | If you’re staying at the Embassy Suites, made-to-order breakfast is free! Get a good start on the day. | Embassy Suites Hotel |
9:30-10:30 a.m. | Storytelling in Architecture: Presentation and Portfolio Techniques | Architecture is about so much more than creating a successful design. If you are not able to present that design in a clear and concise manner, your idea may fall flat. But sometimes you will not be around to talk about your work – like in a job or scholarship application. In this session, learn how to convey your ideas so that they can speak for themselves. We will answer questions like: “How do I develop a narrative for my design? Why should I?” and “What drawings and techniques will get that story across to the viewer?” In addition to drawing and layout presentation techniques, this session will also cover some of the intangibles around public speaking and thinking on your feet when you are standing in front of your work for your review.
Speaker: Adam Fogel |
National Press Club |
9:30-10:30 a.m. | Creating a Culture of Wellbeing for Growth: The Intersection of Leadership and Mental Health |
Why is mental health important, particularly for those taking on leadership positions? Hear from licensed clinical psychologist Nabil El-Ghoroury, who has spoken with volunteer leaders of every age about the importance of maintaining strong mental health, how to recognize stress and burnout in you and your peers, and what to do about it.
Speaker: Nabil El-Ghoroury, PhD |
National Press Club |
9:30-10:30 a.m. | How to Run Your Chapter | Join your National Vice President and Quad/Regional Directors to learn the best practices of running an AIAS chapter from all the foundational knowledge you should know about AIAS to preparing budgets and events at your school!
Speakers: Julia Andor and Valerie Ulloa |
National Press Club |
9:30-10:30 a.m. | Live Ask an Architect | Hear from established architects about how they have grounded themselves as professionals despite the -isms that plague the architecture industry. | National Press Club |
9:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. | NCARB Licensing Workshop | Are you the person everyone comes to with questions of what to do next? Do you love being the person ‘in the know?’ Is your anticipation to keep moving towards your license infectious? Do you wish you knew other people working towards their license? Do you wish you knew people who are already licensed who want to help others along the path? Are you energized by helping others? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you should be an architect licensing advisor! Equip yourself to be the ‘go to advisor’ for your peers through this training session. Come expand your knowledge, your network, and your mentoring value to your chapter, your members and fellow students. | NCARB HQ |
11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. | The Value of Paint and the Energy of Color (sponsored by BEHR) |
Understand the four basic components of paint and their impact on paint quality and performance, the improvements in Latex vs. (alkyd) Oil-base resin technologies, understand the impact of paint air pollution regulations and limits of VOC – Volatile Organic Compounds –in modern coatings, and understand the characteristics of quality paints and coatings.
Speakers: Jeffrey Madigan and Heather Sterling |
National Press Club |
11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. | Tips & Tricks to Kickstart Your Architecture Career | After completing an architecture degree, many students find themselves uncertain about what comes next.
The transition from the academic to the professional world can be challenging, leaving graduates feeling lost and unsure about their next steps. While the architecture profession may seem promising, there is often a lack of guidance regarding career paths. We all have been there, and it is not easy. Terry Bitar will discuss the reality of the architecture profession, what can you do, are you doomed to drafting? Or simply just do some 3D visualizations? How does one know about the salary? How much should I start earning? What makes the architecture profession pay? Should I directly start with an architecture philosophy? As a young founder and principal of Bitarchitects, Terry will share her experience providing tips and tricks on how to mitigate some of the most common hurdles of our profession, to enhance the architectural career. Topics discussed: Architecture positions Speaker: Terry Bitar |
National Press Club |
11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. | How Does Your Chapter Work with Others? | Talk with your National Vice President and Quad/Regional Directors about how to best work with other clubs, organizations, and firms! We’ll go over how to best advocate as a chapter, finding agency in your local area, and have an open discussion with the audience.
Speakers: Tristan Osorio and Paulina Garza González |
National Press Club |
11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. | Portfolio Review – 1st Session | Looking for some feedback on your portfolio from someone outside of your program or school? Participate in the Portfolio Review to meet with AIAS alumni and other professionals, and get perspectives you may not have considered!
Reviewers: Adam Fogel; Mike Chiappa, Assoc. AIA, AIAS; Austin Peterson; and Rachel Wiesbrock, Assoc. AIA |
National Press Club |
12:00 p.m.-12:45 p.m. | Portfolio Review – 2nd Session | Looking for some feedback on your portfolio from someone outside of your program or school? Participate in the Portfolio Review to meet with AIAS alumni and other professionals, and get perspectives you may not have considered!
Reviewers: Adam Fogel; Mike Chiappa, Assoc. AIA, AIAS; Austin Peterson; and Rachel Wiesbrock, Assoc. AIA |
National Press Club |
1:30-4:00 p.m. | Closing Keynote Session | Read more about our Keynote Speakers here. | National Press Club |
4:00-5:30 p.m. | Break + Chapter Time | Various locations | |
5:30-7:30 p.m. | Quad/Regional Receptions | The quad/regional receptions give you a chance to mingle with the members of your quad or international region! This is a chance for you to get to know your new quad or regional directors as well. End the conference with your AIAS regional family, and make those close connections that AIAS is all about. Hosting firms TBA | Various locations |
Quad and Regional Receptions
Northeast Quad
Address:
3299 Water St NW #300, Washington, DC 20007
Midwest Quad
Address:
2020 K St NW, Washington, DC 20006
South Quad
Address:
600 14th St NW #800, Washington, DC 20005
West Quad
Address:
3299 Water St NW #300, Washington, DC 20007
International Regions
Address:
600 14th St NW #800, Washington, DC 20005
Taking Care of Yourself at Grassroots & What to Pack
AIAS Silent Disco
Bring your ID if you are 21+ and would like to drink. Please drink responsibly.
Staying Hydrated
DC is hot and you’ll be walking around quite a bit! Please bring a water bottle to stay hydrated. There will be water refill stations at the Embassy Suites and the National Housing Center.
What to Pack
- “Smart casual” clothes, here’s an AIAS fashion show to explain more
- Hat
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses
- Light, breathable clothes
- Comfy and supportive shoes for walking (you will be walking a lot)
- Sketch book
- Sketching Utensils (Pens/Pencils/Watercolor/Markers/etc)
- Gatorade/Powerade/more hydration
- Cereal Bars/Snacks
Transportation
Introduction to Riding Metro
Link here.
Metro Rail and Bus Maps
Link here. This is a great resource to learn more about specific Metro lines and bus routes.
Transit App
Link here. The staff at the AIAS National Office strongly recommend the Transit App for planning travel while in DC. It’s helpful to see live tracking of busses and metro trains.
Tips for Travel
Plan ahead! This year, Grassroots programming is decentralized throughout the city of DC. Be sure to have a plan including which tours you’re signed up for and how you are going to get from location to location.
Be Social
Networking
Be ready to network! Bring business cards if you have them, or your portfolio for the Career Expo. To network online, be sure to follow AIAS on LinkedIn as well.
Follow and Tag Us on Instagram
@aiasorg
@aiasmiddleeast
@aiaslatinamerica
@aiasnortheast
@aiaswest
@aiassouth
@aiasmidwest
Tags: #AIASGrassroots2023 #aiasleadership #aiasservice #aiasdesign
Slack Workspaces
International Members – aiasinternational.slack.com
Midwest Quad Members – midwestquad.slack.com
Northeast Quad Members – nequad.slack.com
South Quad Members – southquad.slack.com
West Quad Members – westbest.slack.com
Sharing your Photos with Us!
We want to see all of the awesome photos that you take during the conference! Download the Google Drive App before you arrive at Grassroots and upload your images to THIS FOLDER. We can’t wait to see all of the photos and videos you take!
AIAS Merch
We will be selling AIAS and Grassroots merch at the Career Expo. There will be limited quantities, so be sure to get to the expo on time!
Help Desk
Throughout the conference, you can always call our help-desk line at (703)-304-0207 to get help with anything from directions, to logistics questions, and more. We’re happy to help!
Career Expo Firms and Organizations
- National Organization of Minority Architects
- American Institute of Architects
- National Council of Architectural Registration Boards
- American Galvanizers Association
- BEHR
- NAVFAC
- //3877
- Thomas Jefferson University
- Washington University in St. Louis
- Ferris State University
- Bitarchitects
- Quinn Evans Architects
- Cannon Design
- Graphisoft
- AISC
- Stantec
- KGD