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Contact: John Schneidawind 202-626-7457 johnschneidawind@aia.org http://twitter.com/AIA_Media

For immediate release:

Washington, D.C. – May 13, 2014 – Leaders of America’s design and construction industry, which generates more than $1 trillion in GDP, have agreed for the first time to promote resilience in contemporary planning, building materials, design, construction and operational techniques as the solution to making the nation’s aging infrastructure more safe and secure.

CEOs of almost two-dozen leading associations representing a half-million members of the design and construction sector today used the occasion of “Building Safety Month” to issue a joint statement on resilience, which can be found here. The statement was unveiled at a press conference at the National Building Museum.

The CEOS committed the design and construction sector to significantly improve the resilience of the nation’s entire built environment through research into new materials, construction procedures and other methods to improve the standard of practice. Among other things, they also committed the industry to educating itself through continuous learning; to advocating for effective land use policies; to responding to disasters alongside first responders and to planning for future ones with a strategy for fast recovery.

“We want architects to take the lead in encouraging resilience, particularly in the non-government and private sectors,” said American Institute of Architects CEO Robert Ivy, FAIA. “I would like to congratulate my fellow leaders in the design and construction sector for joining together to make sure resiliency is not viewed as just a fad but remains front and center in our efforts moving forward.”

In addition to the AIA, here is a list of organizations signing onto the joint statement on resilience:

• National Institute of Building Sciences
• International Facility Management Association (23,684)
• U.S. Green Building Council (12,000 organizations)
• Building Owners and Managers Association (17,000)
• American Institute of Architects (80,000)
• American Society of Landscape Architects (15,400)
• American Society of Interior Designers (28,000)
• ASHRAE (53,000)
• American Planning Association (40,000)
• Associated Builders and Contractors (22,000)
• Lean Construction Institute (600)
• Urban Land Institute
• International Code Council (50,000)
• International Interior Design Association (13,000)
• National Society of Professional Engineers (34,000)
• Associated General Contractors of America (30,000)
• Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (4,754)
• American Council of Engineering Companies (5,000 firms)
• National Association of Home Builders (140,000)
• American Society of Plumbing Engineers (6,200)

About The American Institute of Architects

Founded in 1857, members of the American Institute of Architects consistently work to create more valuable, healthy, secure, and sustainable buildings, neighborhoods, and communities. Through nearly 300 state and local chapters, the AIA advocates for public policies that promote economic vitality and public wellbeing. Members adhere to a code of ethics and conduct to ensure the highest professional standards. The AIA provides members with tools and resources to assist them in their careers and business as well as engaging civic and government leaders, and the public to find solutions to pressing issues facing our communities, institutions, nation and world. Visit www.aia.org.