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Dear Members of the Design for Aging Knowledge Community (DFA):
As the 2008 Chair, I would like to thank you for your membership in
Design for Aging, be you an architect, provider, consultant or
other person passionate about improving how we design for seniors.
The DFA Advisory Group is working to expand possibilities for all
to become more involved in our activities and to inform and provide
an excellent source of knowledge for people in our field. With this
in mind, I would like to take this opportunity to bring you up to
date on DFA’s accomplishments for 2007 and inform you of our
goals for this year.
2007 Design for Aging Knowledge Community Highlights and
Accomplishments:
DFA had a very productive year with extensive collaborations with
allied organizations, such as national and regional chapters of the
Association for Homes and Services for the Aging (AAHSA), as well
as local and regional AIA components for knowledge delivery at
regional conferences. Also, the Design for Aging Review awards
program expanded this year. We have collected valuable,
comprehensive data on a variety of building types; entries for the
DFA awards program increased; and we also offered expanded
categories for non-architect/allied professionals, which resulted
in greater outreach. One major focus was on completing and
publishing the Post-Occupancy Evaluation book, evaluating
past award winners. We also kicked off our quarterly newsletter,
Blueprints for Senior Living.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mitch Green,
AIA, of Hillier Architecture, for his tremendous leadership and
efforts as 2007 Chair of DFA. Mitch has completed his tenure on the
Advisory Group, but we look forward to his continued involvement as
chair of the Design for Aging Review.
For 2008, I welcome our newest member, Joyce Polhamus, AIA,
of SmithGroup; Joyce joins the following current members of the DFA
Knowledge Community Advisory Group:
Ingrid Fraley, ASID, Design Services, Inc.
Eric McRoberts, AIA, RLPS
James Warner, FAIA, JSA
In 2008, DFA will offer continued value to members through
recognition of design excellence for facilities for the aging, as
well as educational opportunities, advocacy and leadership among
allied professions, and the industry as a whole.
2008 DFA Goals and Initiatives
Research
We have applied for a grant to data-mine the information submitted
in the Design for Aging Review to share with our membership.
Knowledge Dissemination and Communication
We are continuing our e-news and morphing it to allow more
participation through blogging and on-line search engines, using
the new AIA Soloso as a tool. We are also examining ways to provide
webcasts and webinars through new partnerships, in order to share
more content.
Design for Aging Review
We are performing Post-Occupancy Evaluations on two of the 2007
award winners and working to change and improve the on-line
submission process by bringing the process in-house with the
AIA.
Advocacy
We are holding a workshop with the Access Board to look at ways to
improve regulations for transfers and layouts of skilled nursing
home rooms and baths.
Next Generation
We have begun a committee to encourage a new generation of
designers interesting in learning and pursuing excellence in design
for aging.
AIA Conferences and local Design For Aging Groups
We are increasing DFA presentations at national and state
conferences and putting the focus on knowledge-intensive subjects,
in order to offer audiences current information on innovations and
topics of interest. DFA has developed a “mini-intensive”
course that can be held in conjunction with AIA state-level
conferences. 2007 component conferences included Nebraska, Montana,
and Seattle. For 2008, DFA programs will focus on continuing
efforts with Seattle, New England and Bay Area Chapters, with
expansion of services and networking in Pennsylvania, Washington,
DC, and Chicago.
Affiliate Organization Conferences
AAHSA's Design for Aging Review presentations and exhibitions, as
well as seminars by DFA members, provide members with excellent
opportunities to see and hear the latest information and trends in
environmental design for older adults. Presentations to allied
organizations ,including EDRA, NAHB, ASID and ULI, will continue in
2008. DFA also co-sponsored Vendome's Environments for Aging
Conference and was therefore able to offer member
discounts.
Collaborative Knowledge Community Programs and Member Outreach
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DFA will explore collaboration with other AIA Knowledge Communities
to sponsor seminars, coordinate award programs and mutually promote
other KC activities through blast emails to members
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DFA will engage in outreach with AIA Young Architects Forum and the
National Associates Committee to promote higher awareness of Design
for Aging issues among students and recent graduates
Advance Collaboration with Allied Professionals
It has always been a strategy of the DFA KC to include allied
practitioners (interior designers, landscape architects, engineers,
gerontologists, professional care providers, etc.) in our programs
and governance. We expect to continue this inclusionary policy in
2008 through their participation in our subcommittees and as active
participants in all our programs. This will increase the relevance
and broaden the depth of the knowledge we disseminate, thereby
improving overall design quality in this field of design.
The Profession and the AIA
Through an increased attention to outreach to AIA components, the
DFA KC will advance its programs and awareness within the
profession at a level that will increase both DFA membership and a
“grassroots” participation of membership, leading to more
meaningful contributions in DFA programs.
Society
Since its inception, DFA has enjoyed a beneficial collaboration
with AAHSA (American Association of Homes and Services for the
Aging), the umbrella organization for operators, developers,
sponsors, financiers and marketers of senior living facilities.
Their members have benefited from our various programs,
particularly Design for Aging Review exhibits and
educational sessions. We are seeking on-going publications of
Post-Occupancy Evaluations with this initiative’s
continuation.
Other Practitioners
Through the process involved in gathering and editing the content
material for the publication Post-Occupancy Evaluations:
Evidence Based Design for Aging, DFA will engage numerous
practitioners and professional care providers by bringing diverse
teams of architects together with care providers for a common
purpose, with the added collateral benefit of increased
understanding between the groups.
I hope you can tell from this email how excited I am to build upon
the past success of DFA. We encourage all members to become engaged
in DFA, either through AIA National or your local component. DFA
offers numerous opportunities for participation in subcommittees
for research and publications, advocacy, communications, and
outreach to emerging professionals. Please see more information
about DFA’s programs and resources on the AIA Web site at www.aia.org/dfa.
If you have any questions or comments, or wish to learn more about
becoming more involved with DFA, please email dfa@aia.org.
Sincerely,
Leslie Moldow, AIA - 2008 Chair
Perkins Eastman
The American Institute of Architects
1735 New York Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20006
E-mail: dfa@aia.org
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