(GREAT FALLS) Architects from around the Treasure State are in Great Falls for a three-day conference.
The American Institute of Architects (AIA) hosts this event every year which is typically in Bozeman, home to the only architecture school in the state at Montana State University.
But this year, AIA Montana chapter presidentelect Sophia Sparklin decided to host the event in her hometown, Great Falls. The event brought more than 250 attendees to Great Falls.
“The architecture crowd is often involved with projects and clients all over the place. I hope that they’ll share some of their insights and experiences here,” Sparklin said.
Each year, the licensed professionals have to meet continuing education requirements for education and safety. Sparklin says this is just a fun way to bring architects from all over together.
“Architects are curious people and seeing how other people have solved typical challenges we have, learning from that and making our own projects better for our clients which can really mean many things but that’s really what we want to come back to our offices,” Sparklin said.
The conference featured a number of keynote speakers. Those included: James Cutler of Washington; Julie Eizenberg of California; Scott Erdy of Pennsylvania; and Joseph Tanny of New York.
Sparklin says it’s great to see colleagues come together and talk about some of the same complications and challenges architects face.
“We invited our speakers to find out other perspectives. Sometimes when we are here in Great Falls and Montana we don’t get as much exposure of it. Inviting them and spending a few days with them actually allows us to hear a lot more of their stories that you ever get in the magazines,” Sparklin said.
To find out more about the AIA, you can click here.
