Ask the Architects! 

Spring Home/Garden Show

Del Mar Fairgrounds

March 2, 3 & 4 

Architects from the San Diego Chapter of the American Institute of Architects will be on hand during the Spring Home/Garden Show to answer all of your questions about home building, remodeling and renovation. These architects will be volunteering their time for this event and there is no charge to you!  Just bring your questions, ideas, sketches, photographs and dreams and spend some time talking with a licensed architect who specializes in residential work.   

• Do I need an architect for my project?
• What benefits does an architect bring to a residential project?
• I’m thinking about a small remodel – do I really need an architect?
• My contractor says he can design the project.  What’s wrong with that?
• What services do architects provide?
• How much does it cost?
• How long will it take? 

  As residential architects we have devoted our careers to helping people realize the dreams they have for their homes.  The training and experience we bring to the project team benefits the project in so many ways:

• We help you explore and visualize the design options available to you.
• We help you understand the latest building technology options.
• We help you take advantage of solar heat and natural lighting to save on energy.
• We understand building code requirements and the building permit process.
• We bring creativity to the process! 
• A project designed by an architect brings improved property value.
• We understand the construction process and can help you select a contractor.
• We act as your representative during the construction of your project.
• We are your design expert, your coordinator, your facilitator.

  We’d love to hear about your project.  Please come and see us on March 2, 3 or 4th at the fairgrounds.   

Update from AIASD Home & Garden Show participant, Kent Prater, AIA:

Even on the very first day of the three-day show, it was clear that we were generating far more interest and a higher quality of interest than we had ever seen in prior events.  Throughout the weekend, we had numerous good quality, in-depth conversations with folks that genuinely seemed poised to do some kind of project.  There were times during the busiest parts of the day when we actually had folks lingering outside the AIA San Diego booth waiting to be able to talk with us!   The message that we were displaying seemed to be understandable.  The signage and graphics were engaging and seemed to draw people in.  Our colleagues from some of the other professional associations that shared in the “Ask the Experts” section had very modest, if any, booth enhancements and I think their level of activity reflected that.  Personally, to date I've had two meetings/interviews with prospective clients as an outcome of the connections I made at the show.  Proposals have been sent and hopefully work will be generated.  And, as the weeks and months go by, hopefully I'll hear from others that I made contact with at the show.   Some other thoughts:

• This is a terrific public/community outreach opportunity for the AIA, in general, and of course more specifically for those members engaged in residential design.  I'm having a hard time thinking of any other event the AIA participates in that puts our purpose directly into the hands of as many folks as this event does. 
• The show organizer, Lawrence Bame, continues to embrace this concept of “Expert Row” or “Ask the Experts” and I'm sure we will be invited back.  As for our physical position within the show, it could not have been much better - and the space was free! 
• Member notification for future events needs to be improved.  I believe we should be communicating directly with the residential members, and this needs to be done weeks in advance of the show.  I'd like these members to be hearing from the committee members about the value of the show. 
• I'm really proud of what Tanya and I put together for this booth, and we had very flattering comments from our colleagues down the row.  We have great ideas for improvements at future shows but it won't be without cost.    

I will say what I've said numerous times in the past; this show is not about a very small group of AIA members “peddling their wares.”  It is about putting the AIA in front of hundreds of folks in our local community that are engaged in, or contemplate being engaged in a building project of some kind.  I believe it is no different from any other marketing effort - repetition is key.  Over time folks will get used to seeing us at the show and will eventually make the logical connection between an AIA architect and their building project!   The next show is in September – I hope we can get chapter support and member involvement in that event!