Written by Erin Reilly-Sanders, AIA
AIA leaders from Columbus joined architects from across the country to meet in Washington, DC with over half of our legislators in Congress, representing 48 states. We met with Senator Bernie Moreno, Representative Mike Carey, and Representative Joyce Beatty’s Financial Services Counsel, receiving broad support for tax incentives that benefit architecture firms and construction projects, affordable/workforce housing, historic preservation, and design freedom for federal architecture. We also promoted the economic advantages of resilient design and instructing GSA to stop arbitrarily capping fees at 6% when that limitation was only intended for cost-plus-fixed-fee contracts. Many thanks to our legislators for looking out for architects and the health, safety, and welfare of the public!
While preparing for Capitol Hill Day, we honed some leadership skills. I inquired into advocacy for energy codes in Indiana, balancing leadership responsibilities, personal resilience, sharing good ideas, and public outreach. Dr. Christine Porath showed us how to help communities thrive using civility and radical/compassionate candor. Baratunde Thurston shared stories of citizenship in action in promotion of democratic good. AIA leaders also shared their perspectives on leadership as well as speeches from the excellent slate of board candidates for 2026.
AIA Columbus Attendees
Tim Hawk- AIA National Presidential Candidate
Matt Toddy- National Board Member
Hannah Evwaraye- AIA Columbus President
Erin Reilly-Sanders- AIA Columbus President-Elect
Elizabeth Krile- AIA Columbus Executive Director
Mark Hensler- AIA Ohio Emerging Professional Director
Alex Oetzel- AIA Ohio Young Architects Forum Representative
