ArchiTEXT | April 2022

 Dear Colleagues,

ECO EL PASO

Spring has sprung!

I look outside and see all the new growth and activity abound as the daylight lasts longer with each passing day. This seems to be a welcome of sorts as we have been transitioning back to a normal way life. There is an abundance of AIA El Paso chapter supported or sponsored activities for members this month.

One event I do want to highlight is the 14th Annual Conference presented by Eco El Paso. AIA El Paso is proud to partner with Eco El Paso on this informational series of lectures focused on sustainability.

The 2-day sustainability conference runs during our monthly scheduled chapter meeting. With that in mind, the chapter will forgo the usual chapter meeting CEU presentation and will support the Eco El Paso conference as the chapter event. So instead of one CEU credit, the conference will offer possibly up to 8 continuing education credits. I strongly encourage you to join me at this conference.

Sincerely,

Michael T. Stills
2022 AIA El Paso Chapter President

ArchiTEXT | March 2022

 Dear Colleagues,

GRASSROOTS

This past February, I participated in AIA’s Grassroots. This is the AIA’s premier chapter leadership training event. Our chapter president-elect, Bill Helm, also participated in three days of leadership training, including discussing critical issues facing the profession. Although virtual, we were able to connect with other chapter leaders in Texas, throughout the country and I observed some were as far away as Guam, to share priorities and discuss alignment of those priorities. We also explored the barriers that hold us back from achieving our highest ideals as a profession and how to use the power of our community to create an equitable, sustainable future. Recall, AIA President Dan Hart’s inauguration speech, justice and climate was echoed 50 years ago.

At Grassroots, we had the pleasure of listening to four inspiring keynote speakers whose work is the embodiment of AIA’s values. These speakers are some of the most exciting voices in leadership, equity, and sustainability. They are Dr. Ibram X. Kendi, author, professor and antiracist activist; Dr. Katherine Wilkerson, author, strategist and teacher; Dr. Lawrence Chatters, Director for DEI at the University of Nebraska; and Walter Hood, FASLA, Hood Design Studios.

Please take a moment to look up these inspirational leaders and view their work and I’m sure you will come away with a new perspective. I personally found Mr. Hood to be the most interesting and relatable. When he was speaking of and showing his work, I could only think of El Paso. Through his work he creates urban spaces that unite neighborhoods. He transforms marginalized communities and blighted areas into emerging sustainable public and social space and always honoring the cultural fabric in his design.

This makes me think of El Paso and our local firms doing work throughout the city. Again, referring to Dan Hart, he said “design is our superpower”. How do you, your processes and designs meet AIA’s values and creating an equitable and sustainable future? I ask you to reflect and going forward, strive to achieve this though the built environment using the power of design.

Sincerely,

Michael T. Stills
2022 AIA El Paso Chapter President

ArchiTEXT | February 2022

 Dear Colleagues,

With every new year begins the cycle of events and conferences locally, statewide, and nationally. There is AIA Grassroots virtually February 22-24 and the 10th Annual Design Conference March 3—6 in Wyoming. However, I don’t think there is any one more important for our chapter and the EL Paso area than this year’s TxA Conference and Design Expo in October.

I believe that most if not all our members and a lot of our friends in the industry can contribute in one form or another to the success of this event. For our members, the most obvious would be to attend. And why not, since this will be in our own backyard there should be little reason not to attend. A strong El Paso membership attendance will reflect positively with TxA.

Above and beyond attending, consider presenting at the conference  (Call For Presentations)  or perhaps helping the conference committee with organizing the conference tours by contacting our TxA committee chairperson Bill Helm at wchelm@insituarc.com . To our Professional Affiliates and friends of the industry, take this opportunity to showcase your brand and engage with attendees by securing a booth at the conference. (2022 Design Expo).

For at least the past 5 years, this is the big event we as a chapter in coordination with other entities, have been planning to bring back to El Paso. Now that we have secured the conference, this is our opportunity to shine and show what TxA and fellow architects has been missing. Be engaged, do your part and contribute.

Sincerely,

Michael T. Stills
2022 AIA El Paso Chapter President

ArchiTEXT | January 2022

 Dear Colleagues,

 WELCOME

Welcome can be a noun as a manner of greeting someone, used as a verb to greet (someone arriving) in a friendly way or used as an adjective for a new arrival gladly received. January is the start of 2022, a new year that offers many opportunities to welcome the people around us and the events we share. As I prepared to be the next chapter president, I considered choosing a platform or theme for this year. I had a few ideas in mind and after some reflection on the current and future state of matters I have chosen “Welcome” as my theme.

I justify my choice because in the January 6th edition of TxA Checkset your 2022 TxA President Eva Read-Warden has chosen “Connection” as her theme for her presidency. I see many commonalities in her idea of “Connection” when talking about architecture, the environment, and people in general. In fact, I feel “Welcome” and “Connection” can be interchangeable.

So, to who and what do we have to look forward to welcoming?

After years of planning and hard work, El Paso will welcome the TxA Annual Conference & Design Expo back for the first time since 1977. It has been a long time waiting, and a lot has changed. However, El Paso will welcome our colleagues from across the state and showcase our architectural history, points of interest, and our proud and diverse cultural fabric.

Your Executive Committee welcomes familiar faces in new positions and new faces in familiar positions. Please welcome Rida Asfahani - Vice President, Elias Padilla – Community Director, Sebastian Escobar – Associates Director, and Edgar Lopez – TxA Director. We can all also welcome our new TAC Trustee, Charles Mais. As your representatives, we hold your and the Chapter’s best interests in mind. We establish a strategic plan, review policies and engage in outreach and promote our profession to name a few. However, I want to ensure transparency in our membership. I welcome you to reach out to the Executive Committee and provide your input, your ideas, or be active by joining a committee or speaking at our chapter meetings.

A goal for this year is to strengthen our chapter, and that can only be done collectively with a deep and active membership base, our Professional Affiliates, and our friends in the industry. As we continue to navigate the pandemic, I look forward to seeing you at our events and chapter meetings where I will greet you and say “welcome.”

Sincerely,

Michael T. Stills
2022 AIA El Paso Chapter President