AIA Presidents Speak for The Principle of Interoperability

LOS ANGELES — Since 2002, the American Institute of Architects has held the International Presidents’ Forum at each of its national conventions. The forum was created to provide opportunities for informal, broad-reaching consultation and information-sharing among the leaders of the international architecture community.

This year, approximately a dozen presidents of national, regional and international architects associations attended the AIA convention in Los Angeles, along with other officers and members of these associations. It was clear that forum attendees shared many concerns. Their agenda included discussions about sustainability and follow-up to the 2005 Las Vegas Declaration; continuing professional development; and integrated practice, building information modeling and interoperability.

Continuing the model developed last year, the presidents used the the gathering to speak with one voice to the global architecture community on one of these issues. David Parken, LFRAIA, Hon. AIA, CEO of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects, drafted the following statement that was agreed to by all the presidents.

Los Angeles Declaration

We the undersigned, presidents of our respective national architectural institutes, recognize the transformation that is occurring in the design and construction industry and the new models of architectural practice that are emerging. Responses to the well-documented waste and inefficiencies of the construction industry, owner demand for increased productivity and cost-control, and the technological evolution, are all converging to move the profession toward revolutionary models of cross-disciplinary collaborative methods of project delivery, using new forms of information technology.

We support the development of collaborative practice and business models that will enhance the role and the creativity of the architect. We are committed to interoperability, based on open, non-proprietary international standards, as the key to maximum exploitation of software applications which will allow us to attain the goals of sustainability, wise use of resources and environmental stewardship expressed in the 2005 Las Vegas Declaration.

Kate Schwennsen, FAIA
President, The American Institute of Architects

RK Stewart, FAIA
First Vice President, The American Institute of Architects

Douglas L Steidl, FAIA
2005 President, The American Institute of Architects

Yolanda D. Reyes
Chairman, Architects Regional Council of Asia (ARCASIA)

José Manuel Reachi Mora
Federacion de Colegios de Arquitectos de la Republica Mexicana (FCARM)

Gabriel Durand-Hollis, FAIA
President, Panamerican Federation of Architects Associations (FPAA)

Francisco Méndez Ugalde
President, Costa Rica Institute of Architects (CACR)

Mitsuru Senda
President, Japan Institute of Architects (JIA)

Yong Byun
President, Korean Institute of Architects (KIA)

Yael Kinsky, AIA
President, The Israeli Association of Independent Architects (IAIA)

Carey Lyon, FRAIA
President, Royal Australian Institute of Architects (RAIA)

Vivian Manasc, FRAIC
President, Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC)

Endorsed by:

H. Carleton Godsey, Jr., FAIA
President, National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB)

C. William Bevins, FAIA
President, National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB)

Stephen Schreiber, FAIA
President, Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA)

Jordi Farrando, Secretary General, UIA

Donald J. Hackl, FAIA, UIA Treasurer