December 6, 2016

NWAIA to disband and be part of Seattle AIA

The Northwest Washington Chapter of the American Institute of Architects will disband at the end of the year and become a section of the Seattle Chapter of the AIA.

NWAIA board president Douglas Landsem said in a newsletter to members that NWAIA will continue to provide its own programs, awards and education, but can take advantage of the Seattle chapter's resources.

The NWAIA started in 1985, when some architects wanted to have more control over their AIA membership, he said.

“It's a lot of hard work and has taken dedication from all to keep this four-county chapter going,” Landsem said. The chapter serves San Juan, Island, Skagit and Whatcom counties.

In an interview Monday, Landsem said the NWAIA's part-time executive director position, now held by Rose Lathrop, will be eliminated, but will be reinstated if needed. The section will send a representative to the Seattle chapter's monthly meetings.

He said money will be earmarked for the section's own design awards and annual golf tournament — “that sort of thing.” But the Seattle chapter will take over managing money, collecting dues and other bureaucratic chores that the NWAIA has been doing.

“We feel that we've gotten bogged down with some of the bureaucracy of managing a small chapter,” and now can concentrate on programs, he said.

Landsem said some programs offered in Seattle could be held in the Bellingham-Mount Vernon area where many NWAIA members are located.

Landsem of Bellingham-based Douglas Landsem Architect said the AIA felt NWAIA did not have enough members for a separate chapter, and that was not likely to change as its membership has stayed fairly constant at about 80.

He said that as part of a reorganization, the national AIA is looking at chapters to determine if they have enough members to justify remaining open.

“This is happening all over the country,” he said.