AIA New Mexico

Support the continuing professional education of nm architects and educate the public on the importance of architecture and architects to society. Aia nm organized and hosted the six-state, four-day western mountain region annual conference of 2014. The conference was attended by 263 architects and guests and provided up to 17 hours of professional education seminars. Design awards were presented for thirteen juried architectural projects from 143 entries. Displays were mounted of all design entries and open to the public. The event was widely publicized and reported, heightening the awareness of the importance of architecture and architects.

Government advocacy - in 2014, Aia nm advocated for the passage of a bill in the state legislature to require qbs (qualification-based selection) for architects, surveyors and engineers in contracts by all municipalities in the state. It failed in the senate, but raised significant awareness of the need for and value of qbs in procurement. A representative of Aia nm continued to serve on the governor's procurement taskforce to speak for the interests of architects in the state procurement process. Aia nm also continued to lobby New Mexico legislators in Washington on matters of importance to architects and the profession of architecture, including such issues as energy efficiency tax credits, easing the tax burden on small businesses, and increased availability of financial credit for commercial building projects by community banks.

Support of New architects and emerging professionals: Aia nm supported associates (interns) with study groups and other learning activities, including a three-day training seminar for associate architects for the are (certification exams). The yaf - emerging professional architects practicing for under 10 years - carried out an active mentorship program at the unm school of architecture and planning, and were themselves mentored by senior architect members of Aia nm. There were several social and educational programs presented during the year for and by young architects and associate architects of Aia nm.