I Am AIA:

David Fish AIA

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I became a licensed architect in 2013 and began working at Perkins + Will in 2014. I am so fortunate to be a part of three buildings in our office pursuing DPD's Living Building Pilot Program, one of which I am managing. It is my pleasure to be a part of attempting to bring such a far-reaching program into a market-rate situation and to a set of developers that are positioned to be leaders in the pursuit of sustainability. This makes me proud.

Why did you join AIA Seattle?

I transferred from AIA Triangle in Raleigh primarily to continue to pursue a community of architects like I had been a part of back east.

What is the value of AIA to you?

For me AIA can serve two major functions. Both are outreach. One to the public to help encapsulate and deliver design to those that may not understand it or care. And two, interface with policy makers to advocate and lobby for mechanisms to enable better buildings.

What relationships have you created?

In reference to the two scenarios above, I was part of a founding group at AIA Triangle to host a residential architecture tour. It has grown in size and stature from ~800 visitors in 2010 to well over 5,000 last year. Regarding policy makers in Seattle, through the LB Pilot work I have developed a close working relationship with code writers at DPD and those in sustainable design incentive thinking. (Notably Jess Harris, Aly Pennuci and David Goldberg)

How do you want AIA Seattle to impact our city?

Continue the course that is set. The Seattle Design Festival is great, let’s make it better. Many tours are offered, let’s partner to make them more visible. Let’s gather and create solid ideas to shape our land use code, preservation and development language, let’s become most visible in Seattle in general.

What interested you about being on the AIA Seattle Board of Directors?

The knowledge and experience in that room must be leveraged to achieve great outcomes for the City, outer neighborhoods and the profession. I want to be a part of those giants, learn, engage and re-distribute that wealth of knowledge in time. I’ll also try to add to it!

What project are you working on now?

I have four in my hopper. 15th & Market in Ballard – spec office, 6 stories, LB Pilot project, competition for the Integrated Science Building, Parking and Central Utility Plant on the University of Kansas campus. Illumina – a 400,000 sf T.I. in San Francisco, a laboratory test and manufacturing facility. And finally my attic – I’m finishing my attic into our master bedroom suite!

How do you explain what you do for a living?

I keep it simple. I am an architect. “Do you do houses or what?” Yes. Houses and what…

What inspired you today?

I was at the Living Future Conference today and marveled at the community of folks that were gathered and fully committed to the vision of living buildings, living communities and living products. It’s a family that can (and is) changing the world.

Has your career taken you anywhere you didn’t expect?

Yes for sure. I’ve gone from digging footings by hand to designing basement renovations to the board rooms of the biggest and most storied developers in Seattle. I’ve taken my wife along for the ride and can’t wait to bring my son along too.

Where is the field of architecture, engineering or construction headed?

Regenerative design. We’re past being better than not bad, we must reach regeneration. This means arch, engineering, ecology, landscape, construction, ownership, management… fully collaborating to be great, not better.

Can design save the world?

Collaborative, integrated design can. I heard a guy say tonight, “Sustainability is the very best way to fight poverty.” I agree with him.

What do you hope to contribute from your work?

I’m building on the foundation laid by others and I hope that that will be substantial when I finish. I want to spread out more eventually and begin to give back to the community and the world.