Associates gathered at the ASU Media and Immersive Experience (MIX) Center in Mesa in April 2023 for the first in-person Associates Conference since 2020. The event was reframed as the “Associates Gathering” to emphasize a return to connecting with colleagues in person. Associates gathered in Mesa on Thursday, as well as in Tucson on Friday, in an effort to bring members together statewide.
The event was led by AIA Arizona Associates Director, Annette Park, Associate AIA, of Holly Street Studio. This is her second year organizing the event with her Associates Committee, this year focusing on the theme of “connections.” Their mission was to bring emerging firm leaders to share their unique paths toward leadership and a personal side of themselves to connect the person to the profession. Annette also brought in a pair of firm leaders from Los Angeles who specialize in intentional building within existing communities and how architects can become advocates for their clients’ communities.
Read on for more details about the day, including the tour of the ASU MIX Center which was designed by Holly Street Studio in partnership with ASU, City of Mesa, and Colwell Shelor Landscape Architecture.
Thursday, April 20:
The day began with individual presentations from firm leaders, Anthony Laney, AIA, of Laney LA in Los Angeles, Karin Santiago, AIA, of Lightvox Stuido in Phoenix, and Aaron Bass, AIA, of Stance Architecture in Phoenix (below). They also engaged in a dynamic panel discussion moderated by Annette Park. Their varied backgrounds and stories created a dynamic conversation with multiple perspectives.
A tour of the state-of-the-art ASU MIX Center was led by Holly Street Studio firm leader, Diane Jacobs, AIA, along with Ryan Pottle, Audio Systems Technical Director for the MIX Center (below). The comprehensive tour took attendees into various sound stages, labs, and recording studios throughout the impressive facility.
Before concluding with a mixer at 12 West Brewing, firm leaders from Los Angeles-based firm, Office of: Office, led a workshop about becoming an advocate within the built environment for intentional design within active communities. Chaz Kern, Director of Programs, and Alejandra Guerrero, Director of Urban Planning + Policy, shared their insight and experience with activating existing spaces and connecting with the individuals and communities who become clients and tenants.
Friday, April 21:
The second day of the Associates Gathering took place at Reilly Craft Food & Drink in Tucson, where Associates and Architects gathered for a presentation led by Ed Marley, AIA, NCARB, and Mike Kolejka, AIA, NCARB (below), who shared updates about NCARB’s policies and the various paths toward licensure. Attendees were able to mingle and enjoy a mentorship mixer with good food and drink to close out the the two-day event!
Thank you to the Associates Planning Committee members who made the two-day event happen!
And a special THANK YOU to ALL of our event sponsors who supported Associates through their sponsorship, which will ultimately go toward their growth within the profession through ARE exam fee reimbursement.
