Local Policymaking for Architects

THE ROLE OF ARCHITECTS IN POLICYMAKING

As leading experts in the built environment, architects are uniquely positioned to serve as catalysts for transformative change, enhancing life safety and protecting public health and well-being through thoughtful, innovative design and planning. However, one of the most powerful tools for driving meaningful change is often overlooked as an area of influence for architects—effective policymaking. By engaging in the policymaking process, architects have the opportunity to shape the future of our cities in ways that extend beyond design, creating environments that foster more sustainable solutions in communities at a citywide scale.

The AIA Austin Advocacy Board was established in 2009 with the mission to elevate awareness and catalyze action within the local political landscape. As leaders and stakeholders in the city, AIA Austin is well positioned to directly communicate with staff and elected officials, raising awareness about the implications of proposed initiatives. Our approach aims to shape the direction of city initiatives and ordinances before they are proposed rather than merely reacting to them afterward. To this end, we have made concerted efforts to engage regularly with local government and to track many municipal issues. Through our trusted expertise, we help local leaders understand the real-world policy outcomes for their citizens.

However, our influence did not materialize overnight. It is the result of a gradual, deliberate evolution—one marked by numerous challenges, setbacks, and incremental progress. This article will discuss one of our most successful initiatives—housing advocacy.

ESTABLISHING THE HOUSING ADVOCACY COMMITTEE

Amid the escalating housing crisis in 2022, the AIA Austin Advocacy Board recognized the urgent need for action and responded by forming a new committee focused on housing affordability. This strategic organizational shift brought together architects with diverse interests from both the commercial and residential sectors who share a commitment to addressing critical community needs through the built environment. The committee quickly gained momentum as we were approached by a city council member requesting our expertise in reviewing an important housing policy known as the Home Options for Mobility and Equity (H.O.M.E).

In short order, we collaborated with city officials on a pivotal ordinance to update local zoning definitions concerning what can be developed on single-family lots in Austin. Our work together resulted in a comprehensive report with detailed recommendations for adjusting the Floor Area Ratio (F.A.R.) on these lots through a series of gradual increases based on the density of units permitted. This laid the foundation for the city’s adoption of these recommendations, which ultimately informed the drafting of a new ordinance approved by the city council in December 2023.

This achievement marked a significant victory for our advocacy members and underscores the power of architectural expertise in shaping policy. While the process was not without its challenges, it ultimately solidified AIA Austin’s approach to advocacy: adaptable, collaborative, and driven by a collective passion to make a meaningful impact.

The following outlines key elements of our approach that led to effective policymaking.

Expand Impact through Peer Organizations

To maximize our impact, we collaborate with and leverage our relationships with peer volunteer organizations—such as the Home Builders Association, Austin Housing Coalition, and Preservation Austin, among others—along with council and mayoral staff, board members, commissioners, and city staff. Our goal as partners is to make Austin a more livable and affordable city, fostering prosperity while enhancing mobility and connectivity for all residents. Not surprisingly, all these organizations were reaching for the same goals.

Influence policy

Along with our peer organizations, we craft recommendations for policies that shape the built environment and address broader social factors. We provide informed, detailed reports and mobilize advocacy efforts through various means, including drafting letters of support or opposition to proposed ordinances, as well as meeting with the mayor’s offices and the Development Services Department to exchange input. We also participate in public comment sessions during city council and committee meetings. 

Educate Members

We educate our membership by holding monthly roundtables on various topics, with each session rotating based on the committee hosting the discussion. To simplify the complex landscape of municipal regulations, we’ve created Code Cards for our members. These printed cards, designed for easy portability, allow professionals to slip them into their work cases and bring them to meetings. This approach has proven effective in explaining the city’s unique code topics, making them more accessible to professionals, and ensuring we use the same definitions when communicating and discussing complex projects.

Structure Organization for Effectiveness

Our advocacy strategy is evolving to be more agile and expansive, designed to address urgent challenges while ensuring our contributions remain relevant and timely. At the core of this evolution is a restructuring of the AIA Austin Advocacy Board, focused on increasing accessibility and participation, with all meetings now open to the membership. By facilitating open meetings, we not only encourage broader involvement but also preserve institutional knowledge, ensuring that our insights remain both enduring and forward-thinking.

The AIA Austin Advocacy Board  is designed to flexibly meet the demands of any emerging issue that is given to us by our membership or found internally. The primary role of this board is to act as a sounding board for our smaller tactical committees, which focus on emerging trends and specific topics. The board is comprised of all the tactical committees, such that the body is not siloed into distinct parts. This dual structure ensures that we maintain a unified, broad message while also addressing the complexities of individual challenges. Once a tactical committee achieves its objectives, its work and members are integrated back into the larger board, ensuring that our efforts remain consistent with AIA’s core values and in the context of current concerns. 

To direct our advocacy efforts, we have identified three critical areas: mobility, resiliency and climate response, and housing and affordability.  Each of these key areas is supported by a dedicated committee that tackles some of the most pressing challenges facing our community. Through this strategic, focused approach, we aim not only to influence policy but also to help shape a sustainable, inclusive, and adaptable built environment, ensuring that we are responsive to the evolving needs of the future. Lastly, all external advocacy-related letters are sent to the chapter’s president and executive director for review and approval, and the executive board reviews all comprehensive initiatives. 

CONCLUSION

In the evolving landscape of urban development and policy, it is essential for architects to recognize that policymakers are not only open to dialogue but actively seek it. They require impartial expertise to navigate complex issues and informed perspectives that go beyond mere criticism and contribute meaningfully to shaping policy. 

A practical starting point is to engage directly with a local district council member: reach out to their office staff to express concerns, share your expertise, and offer informed insights. Beyond this, architects should seek opportunities to serve on public boards and commissions where our specialized knowledge can make a tangible impact.

As architects, it is our responsibility to step forward, ensuring we are visible as measured voices amidst the often-noisy debate of partisan factions, many of whom present more problems than solutions.

By engaging in these conversations with creativity, clarity, and a solutions-oriented mindset, we position ourselves as indispensable allies to those in decision-making positions. We can help shape policies that align with the values and responsibilities of our profession, reinforcing our collective role in guiding the future of our communities.