2021

AIA National Development of AIA Investment Board of Directors

Evelyn’s broader professional network was critical to helping develop AIA’s Investment Board of Directors. The board is responsible for developing and implementing an investment portfolio focusing on the mission, vision, and values of the AIA, creating a portfolio that is broadly aligned with architecture, engineering, and construction industries. The board convened its first meeting in January of 2022.

2020

AIA National Adoption of Sustainable Investment Prioirites

Through her role as Treasurer, Evelyn led the research and decision for the AIA National’s Board of Directors to move its long-term equity and fixed income investment portfolio to 100% sustainable investments. The investment strategy is guided by Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria that screen companies and mutual funds to adhere to these principles. ESG investments will center on companies and funds that align with the Institute’s Climate Action goals.

2020

AIA National Budget Alignment During the Pandemic

As Treasurer during a financially tumultuous year, Evelyn worked with AIA National staff and the Finance Committee to ensure that the Institute remained economically solvent by reducing nearly $10M in costs, primarily from operations. The cuts reflect the prioritization of member programming to ensure members had the resources to cope with an ongoing global health emergency and long-term economic disruption by increasing advocacy efforts, ensuring architects get relief through the PPP program.

2019

AIA National Practice Innovation Lab 2.0

Evelyn Co-Chaired the day-long Practice Innovation Lab 2.0 (PIL 2.0) to bring a new dimension to the practice innovation discussion. PIL 2.0 convened forward-thinking architects who developed a new idea or new business concept. Three panels of venture capitalists and successful architecture entrepreneurs in software development, experience design, and digital technology came to talk about real business opportunities to extend the practice of architecture. The event culminated in a Shark Tank-style pitch session. Following the feedback from the day-long session, we are looking to repackage the PIL 2.0 similarly to PIL 1.0.

2017

AIA National Practice Innovation Lab 1.0

As Chair of the Young Architects Forum, Evelyn inaugurated the Practice Innovation Lab at the quinquennial Young Architects Forum Summit. The three-day summit brought together 10 teams of six to develop ten new practice models and create a catalyst for the Institute to evolve the future of practice.

Both Architectural Record and Architect covered the Practice Innovation Lab to a broad audience. The PIL positioned the YAF as the voice of the future of the profession. The success of the Program has also been replicated in various forums in 7 different state programs and the YAF’s handbook on How to Facilitate the Practice Innovation Lab.

2005 & 2015

AIA National Diversity Audit Report

Evelyn co-managed the diversity member survey development, implementation, and analytical evaluation of the AIA’s first Diversity study in 2005 and reported on the architecture profession’s demographics on the National Diversity Committee. Consultants Holland and Knight issued the final report with the statistics that the Missing 32%, now titled Equity by Design (EQxD) has further developed.

The AIA completed the next diversity survey 10 years later in 2015. Evelyn is the only committee member who served on both the 2005 and 2015 committees.

2015

AIA National Culture Collective – Practice and Prosperity in Architecture

Past AIA National President Helene Combs Dreiling, FAIA selected Evelyn to participate in the Culture Collective and the repositioning of AIA initiative and the new strategic council. Evelyn developed the Let’s Talk Practice Discussion Guide with the Influence and Prosperity Group.

The ready-made conversation kit defined what influence and prosperity is and why it matters. The Kit stimulated examination of the seven impediments to influence and prosperity in architecture. A call to action was created to craft a new covenant for the professional and created a social compact for architects within their local communities.

2012

AIACA “Now Next Future” Conference Re-Launched

Evelyn’s leadership role as Vice President of Communication and Public Affairs was pivotal to AIA California’s Bi-Annual Practice Conference’s relaunch. The practice conference was previously sunset. It was the first time the practice lab was reintroduced since the great recession.

“Now Next Future” explores technological innovation in design thinking. Emerging Professionals took center stage at the conference during an opening reception/technology bootcamp.

At the Bootcamp, Associates and other young architects helped more seasoned members create social media accounts and jump-start their #hashtags.

2007

AIA National Pro Bono Guidelines

Evelyn Co-Chaired the AIA’s Task Force on Pro Bono Services, where she coedited the AIA’s first guidelines for Firms and Components Undertaking Pro Bono Services. The document assists AIA members, firms, components, and others to understand the risks and benefits of pro bono work. The guidelines also served as a resource for those interested in delivering pro bono services.

They later led to the creation of B106- 2010, the Standard AIA Contract between an Owner and Architect for Pro Bono Services.

2006

Revised AIA Position Statement on ARE + IDP Timing

As Chair of the National Associates Committee, Evelyn launched a guerrilla campaign to evolve the AIA’s position statement on architecture licensure to encourage concurrent experience and examination. The campaign presented a resolution at the AIA National conference to further review the benefits and consequences of allowing individuals to take the ARE while still finishing IDP.

AIA ultimately changed their position statement on Professional Licensure and Examination for Architects to include the following text:

…the AIA Supports architectural registration boards’ allowing emerging professionals for licensure candidacy to take registration examinations following their graduation from a NAAB-accredited program concurrent with enrollment in IDP.

The revised position statement opened up a larger conversation to push the AIA to seek ways to shorten the licensure path. Ultimately the dialogue led to the launch of today’s iPal offering, allowing for licensure upon graduation.

2006

AIACA Bylaws Change Allowing More Associate Members to Serve on the AIA CA State Board

Evelyn sponsored a by-laws change to encourage the leadership of the most engaged members on the AIA California Council Board to serve, whether or not they are an Associate or full AIA Member. The change allowed components to elect Associates to serve as their representatives or proxy to the AIACA Board.

Most of the 23 components have taken advantage of having Associates serve as their voice to the board.

2005

AIA National & NCARB Internship and Career Survey Report

Evelyn was a critical part of the ArchVoices Board of Directors and a Regional Associate Director for AIACA on the National Associates Committee when they released the first-ever Internship and Career Survey Report, compiled from over 2000 responses from their readers. Evelyn led the identification, tying together crucial information from the various participating groups. The Report won the 2006 AIA National Collaboration Award. In 2005, ArchVoices partnered with the AIA and NCARB on the second survey.

NCARB has taken over the study with its success and published its annual NCARB By The Numbers. At the time, ArchVoices was an independent, nonprofit organization and think tank on architectural education, internship, and licensure. It existed to foster a culture of communication through the collection and dissemination of information and research.

2004-2005

Emergence, A Newsletter for the AIA California Academy of Emerging Professionals

As Vice President of the Academy for Emerging Professionals, Evelyn launched and led as editor of an all-new bi-monthly newsletter with more than 50 different contributors, focused on sharing successful programs and the perspective of our students, associates, and young architects within the region.

2005

AIACA Monterey Design Conference Emerging Talent Presentations

Evelyn revitalized the presentation of emerging talent, increasing the number of presenters and showcasing the speakers on the main stage as the Associate Representative at the Biannual Monterey Design Conference. With much acclaim, the conference’s emerging talent segment makes up an essential part of today’s agenda.

2004

AIA National Associates Committee, White Paper on Diversity

Evelyn co-authored AIA National’s first paper on diversity within the profession as presented by the National Associates Committee. The report was a call for the Institute to seriously address diversity in architecture at all levels of the profession.

The paper included 5 specific recommendations to build equity within the profession and challenged all members to address diversity in the workplace, educational institutions, and professional networks.

2004

AIACA Desert Practice Conference, Emerging Professionals Track

Evelyn saw an opportunity to make the Desert Practice Conference attract Associate members. Historically, practice conferences are for seasoned professionals. She designed and coordinated a professional development track aimed at greater participation from emerging professionals. The conference’s success increased attendance by Associates and Young Architect members by 200% Associates.

2003

AIACA Academy for Emerging Professionals as a National Role Model

Evelyn, one of the founders of the Academy for Emerging Professionals (AEP) at AIA California Council, built connections among advocates on behalf of architecture school graduates, aspiring and recently-licensed architects, as well as individuals mentoring these crucial groups of people.

In 2011, AIA National adopted the model of California’s Academy for Emerging Professionals when they launched their Emerging Professionals Council.