AIA Ohio’s mission is to advocate for the profession of architecture, and that has been much of the focus for the first quarter of 2024.

Our Members participated in advocacy days at both the state and national level.  At the AIA Leadership Summit in Washington, DC, we met with our Ohio Senators and Representatives to discuss three initiatives relevant to our profession and culture.

The Democracy in Design Act addresses architectural design at the Federal level.  The Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act supports business friendly tax policies that encourage investment in research and development, incentivize private-sector affordable housing, and ensure tax parity between large and small businesses.  There is a provision in federal law limiting the fee for architectural and engineering services for federal public works to 6% of the estimated cost of the project.  AIA supports Revising Fee Limitations for Federal Contracts.  The law in effect is over 80 years old and the scope of A/E services has drastically expanded in that time frame.  Arbitrary “caps” on federal architecture are hurting the small, mid-size and larger firms that perform A/E services for the federal government.

Closer to home our Government Advocacy Committee, led by Co-Chairs Karen Planet, AIA and Dave Robar, AIA have been working diligently to expand our government advocacy approach.  On March 6th our members took issues developed by the committee to the Statehouse, holding meetings with state Senators and members of the Ohio House of Representatives.  The three issues that were most important to our members and discussed with legislators were:

  • Expanding Affordable, Workforce, and Senior Housing Opportunities
    • AIA Ohio asked the legislature to increase funding and incentives to renovate and construct more affordable housing in Ohio and ensure that all Ohioans have access to affordable housing that provides our citizens with the stability they need to focus on education and workforce development.
  • Permanently Expanding Ohio Historic Tax Credits
    • AIA Ohio asked the legislature to renew and expand the annual appropriations of $120 million for the Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credits.
  • Sensible Residential Building Codes
    • AIA Ohio asked the legislature to support the Ohio Board of Building Standards plan to update the Residential Code of Ohio standards based on the 2021 residential model codes.

I want to extend a sincere thank you to all of the AIA Ohio members who participated in our advocacy day at the Statehouse.  The event continues to grow, and it is so important that we share our voices to advocate for the profession and express our concerns to allow the profession to grow as well as enriching our communities and culture.

In addition, I want to thank our AIA Ohio Members who have donated to the AIA Ohio PAC.  Our PAC donations allow us to advance the profession through advocacy.  The list of donors continues to grow, and I ask that you please consider contributing at aiaohio.org.

The year is off to a great start.  I look forward to hearing from you or seeing you at upcoming AIA Ohio events.

 

John Meegan, AIA

AIA Ohio President, 2024