Scott Ward

The AIA was formed in 1857 in New York City. The mission of the AIA is “to promote the artistic, scientific and practical profession of its members; to facilitate their intercourse and good fellowship; to elevate the standing of the profession; and to combine the efforts of those engaged in the practice of architecture for the general advancement of the art.” To achieve these ends, the document called for regular meetings of the membership, lectures on topics of general interest, creation of a library, and development of an architectural model and design collection for the use of the membership (as noted on the AIA National Web page).

This mission is still ongoing. We are promoting the profession and supporting our members through relationship building locally, regionally and nationally, to be a knowledge resource and communicate to our member current information about the practice of architecture.

How does the local chapter support that mission?

The local component provides monthly lunch meetings/presentations from product manufacturers and suppliers on current building products. We provide representation for several joint committees with the Springfield Contractors Association and the city of Springfield. Our component provides a scholarship for students going to Drury University’s School of Architecture. We also cosponsor guest lecturers with the school. We also sponsor and coordinate classes for intern architects preparing to take the licensing exam by holding classes on each section of the test.

We coordinate high school career days and shadow programs with schools from all over southwest Missouri and area firms and professionals.

We have an annual golf outing to raise money for the scholarship fund. This year we sponsored a private screening of the HBO docudrama “My Architect,” a film about Louis Kahn, a renowned architect.

Our local component also has several individuals serving on the AIA Missouri board, which meets in Jefferson City and works with state lawmakers on issues that affect the profession of architecture in the state of Missouri.

How many members does the local chapter have, and who is eligible to join?

We have around 150 members on our rolls. We have a board of directors that meets every month. Other officers are Jeff Smith, president-elect; Michael Buono, secretary; Ken Stufflebeam, treasurer; Lisa Drew-Alton, Chris Swan and Todd Bolin, directors; and Doug Sampson, past president.

There are several different membership categories. Architect members (AIAs) are licensed to practice architecture in the U.S. state or territory. Associate members (associate AIAs) are interns working toward licensure, working under the supervision of licensed architects and holding a degree in architecture. Associate members also may be faculty members in university architecture programs.

International associate architect members (International Associate AIAs) have architecture licenses by a non-U.S. authority.

Allied individual members do not have degrees in architecture but share a special interest in the built environment as professional colleagues.

Emeritus members have been members of AIA for 15 successive years and are at least 70 years old, or are 60 years old and are fully retired from the profession.

How did you get involved with the local chapter, and why?

I became involved in the local component after I moved here from out-of-state. I have been involved in the AIA since I was in college.

What are some of the major issues facing architects?

Due to the diverse nature of the profession, there are all types of issues that challenge each of us daily. Public life, health and safety issues are always at the forefront of our profession. For those of us that practice in several states, we are required to understand and use several different building codes that regulate our building components.

Protecting the environment is an important issue for our profession, and so we look to sustainable design or green architecture for ways that we can be environmentally responsible in our building designs.

On the business side of the profession, the rising cost of liability insurance is a concern. And as with any business we deal with the increasing cost of health insurance for our employees and their families.

How does the chapter equip members to deal with those issues?

The local component provides educational networking opportunities for professionals in our area and acts as a conduit for the membership to the national AIA organization.

At the regional and national level, AIA sponsors conferences, which provide access to all types of building product information and seminars about the business and practice of architecture.

What goals do you have for the organization under your leadership?

My main goal has been to celebrate the diversity of our profession, to interact with the community by promoting the value of architecture and provide support to our membership in their practice of architecture.

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