Conference Day 3. AIA24. Washington D.C. ArchiWeek.
Written by Aliya Pinnock, Edited by Aliya @archistudentnotes
Archiweek
ArchiWeek is the sub-section of archistudentnotes sharing week in the life accounts from Architecture Students, Architectural Assistants and Architects from all over the world. It is free to read and free to submit!
This ArchiWeek we have a week in the life submission of my experience at the American Institute of Architects Annual Conference 2024 in Washington D.C! I was invited by the AIA due to the work I have done here at archistudentnotes so what better way to share my week than with a (rather long) ArchiWeek submission here at archistudentnotes.com!
This post is Day 3 of the Conference itself! If you are interested in reading my week from Monday click here!
Would you have tackled the week any differently?
AIA Conference Day 3.
Up and out for the third day of the Conference, but second keynote event! There were, as yesterday, introductions by the CBS Senior White House Correspondent; Weijia Jiang which today were followed by the presenting of the AIA Gold Medal Award to David Lake and Ted Flato of Lake Flato Architects. I honestly did not know how much of a big deal it was but previous winners that I am sure you have heard of include Richard Rogers, Robert Venturi, Steven Holl, Renzo Piano,Frank Gehry… etc etc, so a pretty big deal! The speech by the winning pair that followed truly reinvigorated my passion and love for the profession. I do not think I have ever heard the phrase ‘It is an honour and a privilege to be an Architect’ but those were said and their whole acceptance speech followed the same message. A great working pair that really seem to love the job and working together.
‘It is an honour and a privilege to be an Architect’
We then had a speech from the AIA President 2024 Kimberley Dowdell. I am not sure if I have mentioned it already in this very long ArchiWeek submission but it feels special as a Black Woman myself to see a Black Woman leading a collective of Architects, especially where the profession is still working on diversity. So that alone was inspiring, her words in addition to that, again reinvigorated my love for architecture, made me see and think of ways it can help people from all walks of life, the importance of sustainability and doing everything we can to combat climate change and she really focused on the importance of diversity across the profession.
Not forgetting to add, one of my personal favourite quotes from her speech - ‘Your work should not be given away for free’ which you would be surprised to find, got a big round of applause from the audience. It is something I have seen in all 3 of my UK based architecture practices and I know from talking to others from other practices, that it happens a lot and really contridbutes to devaluing the profession.
The event ended with a more informal, sit down interview/discussion between the President of the AIA and the keynote speaker Dr. Sanjay Gupta where the focus was health, the disparities depending on where you live and your background and how architects can help to improve the health of the users of their buildings with design. I personally prefer the one person speaker focusing on particular topics but I still loved the talk and it really made me think about the impact an Architect has on the world.
Since we explored the Expo yesterday and I didnt have a seminar on my schedule until 2pm, it was time for a bit of sightseeing! I had visited D.C before and done some research prior to this trip so knew in the few hours we had, that a taxi straight to the Lincoln Memorial was the best way forward, as then we could slowly work our way back to the Conference Centre as we saw more sites.
So after a quick taxi ride we got out in the baking heat at the Lincoln Memorial and it very quickly became evident that since my last visit (7 years ago to be fair) a lot of work had been done and was in progress. A later sign would explain the works were part of a $69 million project to create a museum to sit under the Memorial due to complete in 2026. Check out this site if you're interested, structurally it looks like an insane task! https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/lincoln-memorial-new-underground-museum-2026-180981736/
They went about the work really well, sectioning off what they needed for the work whilst keeping retaining stair and keeping it accessible to all visitors. I assume they were doing work to the base of each column as well as they were wrapped to replicate the colour and form of the original column. Very nicely done and everything was very much appreciated once we got to the Washington Monument, looked back at the Lincoln Memorial and without looking closely, you wouldn't even really see all the work being done.
Anyway, photos were taken, we grabbed some food, stopped at the Vietnam War Memorial followed by the Martin Luther King Memorial and the Washington Monument, getting our first glimpse of the White House and the Capitol Building. We walked down the African American Museum (we will visit tomorrow) and took an uber back to the Conference for the afternoon's seminar.
The seminar today didn't really feel like a choice, it was something that was on my schedule, no question - A Dialogue with Kimberley N.Dowdell and Muyiwa Oki - Navigating Architecture, Sustainability and Equity .. basically a conversation discussing important issues between the President of the AIA; Kimberley Dowdell and the President of the RIBA; Muyiwa Oki. Following what I had learnt at my networking seminars yesterday I sat at a table already occupied, smiled and introduced myself (I am definitely finding it alot easier to speak freely which is great and I really hope I continue to do so). Back to the talk, it was really interesting. They discussed what you would expect; the climate emergency and how Architects should respond and fight for change, the importance of getting Architects in the media and showcasing the value of the profession and equality and diversity in the profession as well.
After the seminar I waited around to introduce myself to the President of the RIBA. It was a bit weird to meet him in the U.S considering we are of course, both from the U.K but I am glad we were able to have a very brief discussion and it was nice that he recognised the archistudentnotes name and I got a photo too. I give thanks for this entire exchange to the networking seminars yesterday as before them, there would have been absolutely no way that I would have put myself out there like that.
I left the room with a bit of a bounce in my step, met up with my Partner and started the walk home (the hotel), stopping for some gelato, as you do, on the way. After a quick hotel rest and refresh, we headed out to Cuba Libre Restaurant and Rum Bar which had been on my saved ‘Places to go list’. After a lovely meal, we headed back to the hotel via insomnia cookies, on the mind after watching this YouTube video a few weeks ago.
Stay tuned for tomorrows post to find out what I got up to on Day 4 of the AIA24 Conference!
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