Just over 75% of firms within the AIA are classified as small, with 10 employees or fewer. Small architecture firms nationwide employ roughly 46,000 people. As employment trends continue to shift in relation to pandemic-related policies, it is anticipated this number will increase.
The AIA Small Firm Exchange (SFx) is dedicated to advancing the mutual interests of architects practicing in small firms. SFx just accepted AIA Houston Immediate Past President and founder of AMB Architects, Alyse Makarewicz, AIA, for a one-year term as the Texas State Representative to SFx. She will be the voice for small firms across the state, advocating at the national level on their behalf. Alyse has been a long time member of the AIA Houston Small Firm Roundtable.
Alyse will be responsible for raising awareness at the national AIA level of areas in which current state-wide resources and information are lacking. Conversely, she will disseminate to Texas firms the most pertinent national resources and information, from the AIA & elsewhere, that provide benefits small firms are seeking.
Part of the service pledge to SFx is committing to advocate the value small firms provide, both within the AIA and to their greater economies. That part will come easily for Alyse. “I started AMB Architects because I wanted to create a culture where individual voices can be heard. When you give people the opportunity to put their best foot forward, people naturally rise to the challenge of doing their best and giving 100%. Thinking about all the small firms in the U.S. doing that collectively, it gives me goosebumps because I know it would make such a positive impact on the architecture profession as a whole,” she stated.
