Grassroots 2023 Know Before You Go

Registration Desk Locations & Hours

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.

Thursday, July 20thFriday, July 21stSaturday, July 22nd

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 Architects pay structure Architecture philosophy Competition vs. collaboration Breaking the God complex Clients Flexibility 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

Grassroots 2023 Know Before You Go

Registration Desk Locations & Hours

Schedule

Quad and Regional Receptions

Northeast Quad

Midwest Quad

South Quad

West Quad

International Regions

Taking Care of Yourself at Grassroots & What to Pack

AIAS Silent Disco

Staying Hydrated

What to Pack

Transportation

Introduction to Riding Metro

Metro Rail and Bus Maps

Transit App

Tips for Travel

Be Social

Networking

Follow and Tag Us on Instagram

Slack Workspaces

Sharing your Photos with Us!

Roll Call

AIAS Merch

Help Desk

Career Expo Firms and Organizations

Past Blog Posts

Thank You to Our Partners!