Small Firm Symposium

A Virtual Program Hosted by AIA New Jersey, AIA New York State, and AIA Pennsylvania

April 2, 9, 16, 18 & May 2 | 8:30am-10:00am PST

Earn CES credits | Flexible schedule | Affordable registration fees

The 2024 Small Firm Symposium, hosted by AIA NY, NJ, and PA, offers a dynamic five-part online series focused on ownership transition, expansion, enhancing visibility, AI in design, and business development for small architecture firms. Industry professionals will lead discussions on relevant trends and challenges, providing actionable strategies. You can join the entire series or choose specific sessions, making it a flexible and valuable opportunity for firm leaders seeking to innovate and grow their firms.

Registration fees

• AIA member (all states): $175 entire series | $45 per session
• Non-member: $230 entire series | $70 per session

Schedule

Thursday, April 18 | 11:30am – 1:00pm EST

AI Image Generation – Prompt Design and Engineering (Submitted for AIA CES credits)

Brian W. Penschow, AIA, NCARB, CSI, Principal Architect, BWP Architecture Firm

William J. Martin AIA, P.P., LEED AP-H, Owner, WJM Architect, Co-chairperson, AIA NJ Public Awareness Committee

The Tri-States are thrilled to announce the launch of a new and pioneering program, highlighting the boundless potential of Artificial Intelligence within the visionary field of Architecture.

In this interactive experience, you will gain invaluable insights into the strategic art of crafting prompts that harmonize with your architectural vision and style. Explore the depths of prompt design, from refining parameters to orchestrating intricate input specifications. We are committed to demystifying the complexities, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of this cutting-edge integration.

Our course is meticulously designed for real-world application. You will have the opportunity to translate theory into practice, applying AI architecture directly to your projects. Witness the transformative impact as AI-generated visuals seamlessly merge with your designs, elevating your presentations to unparalleled levels of sophistication.

At the end of this session, you will be able to:

1. Deploy the Art of Strategic Prompt Design: Develop the ability to craft prompts strategically, aligning them with specific architectural visions. Understand the psychological nuances behind effective prompts and their impact on the output of AI Image Generators.
2. Refining Prompt Design Techniques: Acquire advanced skills in Prompt Design, including parameter adjustment and fine-tuning of input specifications. Learn how to navigate the intricacies of AI algorithms to optimize the output for precise and desired architectural outcomes.
3. Ethical Considerations in AI-Enhanced Architectural Creativity: Explore the ethical dimensions of using AI in architectural design and presentation. Gain insights into responsible practices, ensuring alignment with ethical standards and promoting a thoughtful approach to AI-enhanced creativity within the architectural community.
4. Practical Integration of AI Architecture in Architectural Projects: Apply theoretical knowledge to real-world scenarios by integrating AI architecture directly into architectural projects. Develop hands-on skills in seamlessly incorporating AI-generated visuals into presentations, enhancing the overall impact and storytelling capabilities of architectural narratives.

Thursday, May 2 | 11:30am – 1:00pm EST

Building a Culture of Business Development in Your Architecture Firm

(Submitted for AIA CES credits)

Kelly Klopfer, Principal and Owner | Kelly Klopfer Consulting, LLC
Susan Radzyminski, CMO & Leader, CMO for Hire | BST & Co. CPA’s, LLP

Ideally, everyone in your firm should have a role in the stewardship of business development (BD). How do firms build an engaging, efficient, and effective BD culture? What does the roadmap of tactics look like, who is responsible and how do you measure the outcome of these efforts? 

Creating a sustainable business development culture is an investment. It takes time, learning, listening and sometimes coaching. Whether you are a sole proprietor or a small to medium sized firm, you can develop a team of champions and partners to nurture and advance your goals and create a framework to keep you focused and accountable.

In this seminar, we will discuss and identify the key components of a BD framework to foster a successful and strategic BD culture. 

Upon attending this session, participants will be empowered to:

1. Identify the top 5 factors in creating a healthy BD culture.
2. Explore strategies to build your core BD team, define your ideal clients and integrate regular BD activities into day-to-day operations.
3. Implement the BD tasks required in a productive BD framework.
4. Consider the key performance metrics (KPIs) to measure and how to build accountability into your BD culture.