AIA Lobby Day 2022
AIA Members including principal, Jason DeMarco alongside Senator Brian Schatz
AIA Lobby Day Advocacy Workshop
AIA Lobby Day Advocacy Workshop Leaders
The Need for AIA Lobby Day
AIA Lobby Day occurs annually, allowing architects to advocate for national legislation that will affect the field of architecture and design. By providing a safe space for exchange prior to legislation being put in place, AIA members have the opportunity to show support for equitable, sustainable design while influencing the terms of legislation.
Prior to Lobby Day, AIA Hawaii State Council hosted a Grassroots Workshop which informed AIA members of how the AEC industry is affected by state legislature. This event encourages the architecture community to be involved with legislative processes by teaching advocacy strategies. Polyline principal, Jason DeMarco, helped to organize this event and served as a table lead in the charrette groups.
In this year’s discussion of architecture in regards to law making, AIA members nationwide conversed with legislators in support of The Democracy in Design Act (HR 5291) & the Yes In My Backyard Act (HR 2198/S 1614). Jason DeMarco was honored to be a part of this effort as he sat on panels and spoke with Hawaii State Representative Ed Case & Senator Brian Schatz alongside other forward thinking architects in Hawaii.
The Democracy in Design Act (HR 5291)
The Democracy in Design Act celebrates diverse, relevant architectural styles by preventing federal mandates from establishing a national design style. This bill also protects GSA’s Design Excellence Program which establishes the procedure for selecting the most relevant and skilled architects for the federally built environment.
The need for this bill stemmed from an executive order in December 2020 which decreed federal courthouses to be “classical” and “traditional” architecture styles if their cost is over $50 million. The executive order has been revoked however, the architecture community was reminded just how important our voices are when dealing with concerns of region, geography, community, and culture. AIA is in support of Democracy in Design Act as they believe in place-based design and architectural innovation.
The Yes In My Backyard Act (HR 2198/S 1614).
The Yes In My Backyard Bill aims to provide more transparency about land use policy to give power of reform decisions back to communities. This bill would require a 5 year report from Community Development Block Grant recipients in regards to their land use policies. The goal of this is to encourage new affordable housing construction that is more inclusive to all.
AIA sees this bill as a means to ease Hawaii’s housing crisis which is so important to our work as architects and designers.
To learn more about AIA’s involvement in legislature see their 2022 policy priorities here.
