Decarbonizing the AIA's Brutalist-style headquarters

The transformation of the headquarters was a project that was really important to Robert Ivey, who is the CEO from about 2011 to 2021.

That's Rebecca Sharkey, partner at the architecture firm EHDD.

And he always said this was like his lifelong dream, his priority to make this project happen at some point during his tenure there.

The AIA did look into around 2007, 2008.

They had started thinking about a major renovation to the building.

The Brutalist building was about 35 years old at that time.

So it was starting to, you know, have aging systems.

There were things that were outdated and needed modernization.

But

then the recession hit and it just was not a good time to focus on a remodel.

And

that's Melanie DeCola, director of the Climate Action Pledge programs at the AIA.

And I think membership would not have appreciated a remodel in the middle of a recession as well.

So that went into part of it.

Then as the building was approaching 50 years of age, The idea of the project came back around and it was even more urgent to make this renovation happen.

There were many end of life outdated systems, there was single pane glazing, lack of exterior wall insulation, just a lot of systems and efficiency measures that didn't meet you know, current standards by any means.

Also, the building just didn't support the way AIA works anymore.

The building really did look and feel much like it did originally when it first opened 50 years ago.

So it just didn't support the workplace culture they were trying to achieve or the visitor experience.

So it was especially urgent as the building approached its 50-year milestone.