The Custom Residential Architects Network grew out of a conviction among the three National Capital-area chapters’ leaders that local architects can reap great mutual benefits from opportunities to collaborate and network. CRAN is the first, and perhaps the most obvious, formal tri-chapter initiative to take shape. Nationally, CRAN is the fastest growing group within the AIA’s Residential Knowledge Community. Bringing CRAN to our local residential architects is a great way to address the unique issues related to custom residential practice, while also serving a body of architects that has lacked the common resources often available to larger firms and other, more specialized architectural firms. As a forum, it provides for the exchange of ideas, concerns, successes, failures, resources, and more that affect residential practice; and it provides continuing education opportunities with programs that are relevant to custom residential designers.

The small Tri-chapter CRAN steering committee, made up of residential architects from all three chapters, is itself an example of what happens when you bring residential architects—many of them used to practicing alone or in small firms–together. The group has been meeting since the beginning of the year to brainstorm, plan for, and shape the CRAN group and its programs. In our discussions, we’ve shared the trials and tribulations of our own practices and have discovered first-hand how much we can learn from one another by talking amongst ourselves.

In fulfillment of the mission of AIA CRAN, future programs will embrace the goals of public outreach and education, academic and professional advocacy, and will provide relevant continuing education seminars relevant to residential designers. We invite all interested area architects whose practices include custom residential design to join us. In the near future, we will be launching our own CRAN website, which will cross-link with all three AIA chapters’ websites. We will blog about our goings-on and advertise upcoming events. The next program in our bi-monthly series is scheduled to take place July 10 and will be hosted by AIA Potomac Valley; look for an announcement in the near future. Please email me at helen.wilkes@aiapv.org; include name, phone number, and chapter affiliation if you’re interested in being included in our emailings.

We’re also looking for a few bright minds to work with the steering committee to shape the vibrant CRAN group we’re building. If the shoe fits, we invite you to join us in this exciting and rewarding new venture.

Helen Crettier Wilkes, AIA
Chairman, National Capital Area CRAN

On March 19th and 20th, leading up to Grassroots, I attended my first AIA Board of Directors meeting as a voting Director. Like Grassroots itself, much of the Board meeting focused on Repositioning. (If this term is not familiar to you, go to www.aia.org/repositioning to learn more about it. If you are reading this, chances are Repositioning is important to your career.)

By no means was there a conclusive discussion among the Board about Repositioning. Such a debate would not have been appropriate since the assessment process is just beginning. The research into the architectural profession and AIA conducted by LaPlaca Cohen and Pentagram was first presented to the Board in December. Most of the intervening months have been devoted to preparing for Grassroots with the purpose of engaging AIA chapter leaders from around the nation and world in Repositioning. As you can see through the materials on the website, the process took very important steps forward at Grassroots.

This said, during the Board meeting Directors were given an opportunity to express their thoughts on Repositioning. I’m probably showing my naiveté, but I was somewhat surprised by the divergent opinions. Put in the simplest terms, two views of the profession, AIA’s role, and the opportunities of Repositioning were revealed.

The first perspective is about circling the wagons. The architectural profession is under attack on many fronts. It is AIA’s responsibility to protect the interests of licensed architects from further erosion. The second viewpoint is about expanding the relevance of architecture. The profession contributes to solving many of today’s economic, social, and environmental challenges. It is the AIA’s responsibility to empower its members to seize new opportunities.

Last year I read Deborah Rudacille’s terrific book Roots of Steel about Baltimore’s steel industry that went from boom to bust. After World War II, the unions and management engaged in an apparent murder-suicide pact that took Sparrows Point from the largest producer of steel in the world to mostly shuttered in twenty years. It is a sobering tale.

I can’t help but draw parallels to our position today. As a high school student I worked afternoons for an architectural firm led by a handful of registered architects, staffed mostly by career drafters. That world is gone. The pace of change only increases. Can Repositioning succeed if its goal is protecting architects from change?

For me the answer is clear. It is undeniable that the standing of architects has been transformed since the giants of the 20th century erected the modern world in a flurry of industrial expansion. But the determined forcefulness of their era has been replaced with the complex diversity of ours.

Imagine if the importance of architecture in energy security and the green economy was understood. Imagine if the contribution of architecture to improving human wellbeing and public health was valued. Imagine if the role of architecture in addressing environmental degradation and the causes of climate change was recognized.

It’s not hard; many already do. Throughout the millennia, architects have shaped a better future by facing the challenges of an ever-more-complex world. Repositioning means facing today’s challenges with the same confidence and vision. Together, we must aspire to do much more than protect our profession from the irresistible forces of global evolution. We must lead our profession to a place of optimal relevance and impact.

Carl Elefante, FAIA
2013-15 Middle Atlantic Regional Director

On March 19th and 20th, leading up to Grassroots, I attended my first AIA Board
of Directors meeting as a voting Director. Like Grassroots itself, much of the
Board meeting focused on Repositioning. (If this term is not familiar to you, go to
www.aia.org/repositioning to learn more about it. If you are reading this, chances
are Repositioning is important to your career.)

By no means was there a conclusive discussion among the Board about
Repositioning. Such a debate would not have been appropriate since the assessment
process is just beginning. The research into the architectural profession and AIA
conducted by LaPlaca Cohen and Pentagram was first presented to the Board in
December. Most of the intervening months have been devoted to preparing for
Grassroots with the purpose of engaging AIA chapter leaders from around the
nation and world in Repositioning. As you can see through the materials on the
website, the process took very important steps forward at Grassroots.

This said, during the Board meeting Directors were given an opportunity to express
their thoughts on Repositioning. I’m probably showing my naiveté, but I was
somewhat surprised by the divergent opinions. Put in the simplest terms, two views
of the profession, AIA’s role, and the opportunities of Repositioning were revealed.

The first perspective is about circling the wagons. The architectural profession is
under attack on many fronts. It is AIA’s responsibility to protect the interests of
licensed architects from further erosion. The second viewpoint is about expanding
the relevance of architecture. The profession contributes to solving many of today’s
economic, social, and environmental challenges. It is the AIA’s responsibility to
empower its members to seize new opportunities.

Last year I read Deborah Rudacille’s terrific book Roots of Steel about Baltimore’s
steel industry that went from boom to bust. After World War II, the unions and
management engaged in an apparent murder-suicide pact that took Sparrows Point
from the largest producer of steel in the world to mostly shuttered in twenty years.
It is a sobering tale.

I can’t help but draw parallels to our position today. As a high school student I
worked afternoons for an architectural firm led by a handful of registered architects,
staffed mostly by career drafters. That world is gone. The pace of change only
increases. Can Repositioning succeed if its goal is protecting architects from change?

For me the answer is clear. It is undeniable that the standing of architects has been
transformed since the giants of the 20th century erected the modern world in a

flurry of industrial expansion. But the determined forcefulness of their era has been
replaced with the complex diversity of ours.

Imagine if the importance of architecture in energy security and the green economy
was understood. Imagine if the contribution of architecture to improving human
well being and public health was valued. Imagine if the role of architecture in
addressing environmental degradation and the causes of climate change was
recognized.

It’s not hard; many already do. Throughout the millennia, architects have shaped a
better future by facing the challenges of an ever-more-complex world. Repositioning
means facing today’s challenges with the same confidence and vision. Together,
we must aspire to do much more than protect our profession from the irresistible
forces of global evolution. We must lead our profession to a place of optimal
relevance and impact.

LEAFHouse doors before

LEAFHouse doors after

The Potomac Valley Architectural Foundation has identified several efforts, such as renovation of the green wall, to restore or maintain the systems that make the LEAFHouse such a unique structure. If you would like to assist in future projects, please contact Randy Davis, Chairman of the PVAF LEAFHouse Committee.