Design Awards Committee

The AIA Orange County Design Awards recognizes outstanding work by local architects, both within the county and across the country. The purpose of the awards program is to honor the architects, clients, and consultants who work together to achieve design excellence. The committee organizes and implements the annual AIA Orange County Design Awards Competition and Awards Celebration.

EDI + J, Equity, Diversity, Inclusions + Justice Committee

Leadership in design and construction requires collaboration. The Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Committee creates programs that encourage and celebrate the contributions of those who bring diverse experiences, views, and needs to the design and construction industry.

Education Committee

Through student outreach, the Education Committee introduces architecture to new generations.

Emerging Professionals & Associates Committee

Provides a forum for associates to cross-communicate with practicing architects and to train and transition effectively into the profession. Assists in preparation for the Architect Registration Exams (ARE) and California Supplemental Exam (CSE).

Fellows Committee

AIA Fellows are recognized with the AIA’s highest membership honor for their exceptional work and contributions to architecture and society.

Architects who have made significant contributions to the profession and society and who exemplify architectural excellence can become a member of the AIA College of Fellows. Only 3 percent of the AIA members have this distinction. Learn More Here

Healthcare Committee

The AIAOC Healthcare committee is comprised of individuals from all aspects of design, construction and implementation. The purpose of the committee is to shape developing innovation, create an interdisciplinary healthcare task force to incubate new ideas and share our collective experience with each other for the purpose of elevating our work and success.

Housing Committee

Since the early 1960s, Orange County has been at the epicenter of the national focus on quality housing and community design. OC Architect’s design reach has spanned the globe and many of the most influential new communities are designed here. Today, in the midst of the Housing Crisis, architects must be at the forefront of efforts to shape our communities and provide solutions. The lack of housing will affect our economy and long-term viability as a place. Orange County is the sixth most populous in the country, and the second densest, and many of the nation’s leading residential design firms are located here. What happens here and in California as a whole has a ripple affect across the country. The AIAOC Housing Committee’s mission is to inspire and engage professionals on creative, attainable and sustainable housing strategies and solutions through research, advocacy, awareness and recognition.

Our Committee will advocate for housing issues, celebrate trends and people that will shape our housing future, and be a conduit for legislative activity regarding housing topics to our members.

NomCom

The Nominating Committee “NomCom” is responsible to developing a list of proposed candidates for Directors and Offices that is presented to the Board for approval to take to the Chapter for a vote. Nominations from the floor are also allowed on the date of the vote.

NonCom’s responsibilities include:

• Compiling a list of potential Director candidates
• Interview potential Director candidates
• Come to a consensus on what to recommend to the Board of Directors
• Provide a formal nomination list the the Board of Directors

Past Presidents Committee

The Past President’s committee is comprised of past presidents of AIA Orange County. This committee is largely a sounding board for the Executive Director and Executive Committee. The Past Presidents meets on a as-needed basis.

The Past President's Committee is responsible for the 25-year award.

Secretary Advisory Committee

Committed to AIAOC governance, the Secretary Advisory Committee is responsible for updating of Bylaws and issuance of Policies.

Sustainability/Advocacy Committee

The Sustainability Committee, which is also the AIAOC Committee on the Environment (COTE) is a professional group dedicated to the advancement of sustainable design practices, education which enhances the quality of integration between the natural and built environment, and advocacy on behalf of AIA architects for sustainable, high performance design of the built environment.

This group invites all who have an interest in sustainable design principles and practices to join this collaborative community to further sustainability in Orange County, and to influence sustainable built environments worldwide. The Sustainability Committee provides education and shares expertise on a variety of topics, including water, energy, materials, waste management, passive design strategies, and more. Together we are leaders and advocates toward a sustainable future, encouraging the community and those we reach to ‘BE Sustainable’

AIA Committee on the Environment National Resources on Sustainability and the Environment

The AIA Strategic Plan 2021-25 was released this month. Priority: It includes Climate Action!

The AIA’s Where We Stand statement emphasizes the AIA’s commitment to fighting climate change and AIA member’s ethical and environmental responsibilities.

AIA Framework for Design Excellence incorporates the former COTE Top Ten Toolkit

AIA Resilience Tools: Understanding Resilience and Qualities of Resilience, and How to Integrate Resilience into your Practice.

AIA’s Architect’s Guide to Business Continuity + free webinar

Women in Architecture Committee

In October 2016, we launched “Women in Architecture” committee for AIA Orange County. WIA-AIAOC is an all inclusive committee for AIA, Associate AIA and Allied AIA women members.

What do women of AIAOC want?

Instead of basing our committee’s ideals and goals on the data driven by popular media surveys and articles, we convened together for a round table meeting at our launch and discussed what is most important for us in the committee. We touched on topics such as compensation gaps, and inherent stereotypes and gender roles observed during site visits, as well as the lack of women role models in education, and in practice.

However, throughout our discussion we had a common reference; we all wanted to use Women in Architecture to make a positive difference in AIA Orange County.