AIA Seattle

September is Disaster Preparedness Month! Check out these upcoming opportunities for safety training:

• WAsafe Building Safety Evaluations (ATC 20/45 Plus) | October 28 in Spokane

• SAP Evaluator Training with AIA National | November 18-19 online

🔗Learn more: https://aiaseattle.org/events-and-opportunities/

One week away! Join us on Monday for the 2026 Business of Architecture program.

Make an investment in your firm and business and commit to a full day of learning dedicated to strengthening your firm's long-term success and impact.

Our expert facilitators from AVEC have developed engaging programming specifically for new, emerging, and current firm leaders looking to strengthen their business strategy and skills.

Sessions include:

• Introduction: How All Aspects of Running Your Firm Are Connected
• Understanding Financial Management: “How Will We Earn Revenue and Profit?”
• Streamlining Operations: “How Will We Get the Work Done?”
• Planning for Marketing & Business Development: “How Will We Bring in the Work?”
• Close: Bringing it All Together --> Firm Success & Impact

Join us and connect with other leaders through interactive learning and a concluding happy hour!

✔️Register by the final deadline this Thursday, September 24

📅Monday, September 28 | 9am-6pm
📍National Nordic Museum
🔗Register: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/6ujegdn

It's the final countdown! Showcase the design leadership in our region and submit to the 2026 Honor Awards.

To finalize your submission —
• Reference the event page, 2026 Call for Submissions + Guidelines, and FAQs
• Download the updated 2026 Common App (required for applicable BUILT submissions only).
• Log in or create a free Submittable account! Start, save, and return to your draft submission at any point.
• Get inspired by past awarded projects, and watch the "What Makes a Good Submission?" video

+ Reminder that the submissions process has not changed since last year, so it's easy to resubmit and share your work with a new jury this year!

📅Submit by September 30 at 5pm PT
🔗https://aiaseattle.org/honorawards2026/

This Month in Advocacy: Historic Preservation, Stamp Fraud, Disaster Preparedness, QBS, Inclusionary Zoning

AIA Seattle 10-County Area: Seattle re-introduces Mandatory Housing Affordability (MHA) Accelerator -

Councilmember Dionne Foster has proposed a draft ordinance that would reduce MHA fees for two years to jumpstart housing production. The proposal, similar to one that was withdrawn earlier this summer, would provide an 80% reduction in fees for two years for projects with vested permits. Proposals not yet vested are eligible for a 60% reduction if those projects designate at least 25% of units as multi-bedroom and if they reach foundation inspection stage within 3 years of receiving building permits. CM Foster also dropped a draft resolution stating that the Council will consider legislation to expand MHA requirements to neighborhood residential zones.

Plus: More local cities explore inclusionary zoning proposals, and opportunities to provide feedback on Seattle Regional Center Plans

National level: AIAWA joins national coalition to protect Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, signing onto a national coalition letter to Congress opposing the proposed overhaul

Washington State: Updates on fraudulent use of professional stamps, AIAWA's disaster preparedness and response efforts, QBS and your practice, and more

📸The Urbanist
🔗Read the September Advocacy Update: https://aiaseattle.org/advocacy-update-september-2026/

Tickets are live for the 2026 Honor Awards Live Event🎉

Reserve your spot for our biggest event of the year. Hosted at Town Hall Seattle again this year, join us as our community comes together to celebrate design excellence in and from Washington state.

Hear from jurors Billie Tsien, Omar Gandhi, and Z Smith, and moderator Lauren Gallow, as they discuss and reveal this year's awarded projects live on stage.

✔️Make sure your work is considered! Submit your project by the final deadline September 30 at 5pm PT.

📅 Monday, November 9 | 5:30-9pm PT
📍Town Hall Seattle
🔗Live Event Tickets: https://aiaseattle.org/events/2026-honor-awards-live-event/

AIA Washington Council's Civic Design Awards Winners have been released! Congratulations to all of the awardees

Honor Awards
• Mercer Middle School by Bassetti Architects
• Snoqualmie Tribe Child Development Center by Boulder Associates

Award of Merit
• Bellevue Fire Station 10 by Bohlin Cywinski Jackson
• Expedition Elementary School by NAC Architecture
• Birch Grove by SMR Architects

Citation Awards
• Next Generation Conceptual Plan 2065 by Mithun
• Field Arts & Events Hall by LMN
• Grand Coulee Dam Fire Station by TCA Architecture + Planning
• Cheney Aquatic Center by NAC Architecture
• Gateway Building by Perkins&Will
• Skyway Resource Center by Schemata Workshop

+ We hope you're feeling inspired to submit your work to AIA Seattle's Honor Awards by the final deadline on September 30!

🔗See the full list of awarded projects: https://aiawa.org/2026-design-award-winners/
📸Lawrence Anderson Studio (1), Andrew Storey (2), Kirk Hostetter (3), Ben Benshneider (4), William P. Wright, William Wright Photography (5)

Learn to unlock healthcare savings through a short, virtual informational session with AIA Seattle + MBA Health Trust!

Join us to learn how AIA Seattle Firm Network Members and Corporate Allied Partners get lower rates for their healthcare plans.

📅Monday, October 19 | 12-12:30pm PT
📍Online
🔗Learn more + register: https://aiaseattle.org/events/unlock-healthcare-savings-aia-seattle-mba-health-trust/

Submit to the 2026 Honor Awards and showcase your work in front of our esteemed jury!

We're here to share images from last year's jury weekend to get excited for the Live Event this year on November 9 📸🎉

We're thrilled to welcome a new esteemed jury this year - Billie Tsien, Omar Gandhi, and Z Smith - who will join us in Seattle for jury weekend to participate in project tours, deliberate and announce this year's awarded projects at the Live Event!

+ Save the date for the Honor Awards Live Event, November 9!

⏰Submit your work by the final deadline on September 30
🔗See details + submit: https://aiaseattle.org/honorawards2026/

Two weeks away! Don't miss the 2026 Business of Architecture Program at the National Nordic Museum, September 28.

Architecture firms are interconnected systems. Growth affects staffing. Staffing affects overhead. Operations affect profitability. Marketing and business development need to support the firm’s larger financial and strategic goals. Pull one lever, and something else moves. That’s the whole idea behind this program.

Join expert facilitators from AVEC to connect the dots between purpose, finance, operations, leadership, marketing, and business development—and put those ideas to work in a Business Planning Workbook that you can take back to your firm.

Business planning can’t happen in silos. Join us for this powerful learning experience and happy hour to connect with other leaders and support your team and business!

📅Monday, September 28 | 9am-6pm
(Happy hour 5-6pm)
📍National Nordic Museum
✔️8 LU
🔗Learn more + register: https://aiaseattle.org/events/2026businessofarchitecture/

Final call for Young Voices Nominations! Submit by Wednesday.

We're seeking nominations to fill 3 spots on our Young Voices Selection Panel, an exciting part of the Honor Awards program each year.

These individuals will deliberate and select 1 BUILT project to be announced at the Live Event.

📅Nominate by Wednesday, September 16 at 5pm PT
🔗See eligibility details + nominate: https://form.jotform.com/262037017852151