Greetings, Members of AIA Baltimore!

I sit here on our screened back porch, as a heavy late spring shower falls around me. It’s silenced the cicadas, at least for today, so I take that as a positive. And as we near the halfway point through 2021, I reflect on our progress and achievements for the year so far.

AIA Baltimore and its members have weathered the events of 2020 and 2021 well. We’re seeing an increase in workload, renewed hiring, and increased profitability across multiple sectors. Our members are busier, our economies are strengthening, and our work and personal lives appear to be returning to more “normal” routines. It’s not over yet, but we’re really close to it.

I can see it every day. Just this past weekend, my wife and I dined INSIDE a favored restaurant in Towson. Yes, inside. With actual unmasked and vaccinated fellow diners just seats away. The food and drinks were great, but the atmosphere and enthusiasm were really the draw. I had forgotten the sounds, sights, and smells of a restaurant and was clearly ready for their return. I encourage all of you to give it a try.

As we enter the next half of our Sesquicentennial year, I encourage you to continue to participate in our many events, to network with your colleagues, and advance your knowledge base. Between AIA Baltimore and the BAF, we have some great events planned, with a focus on them being “live and in-person”, as they have been in the past. I look forward to actually seeing your smiles as we gather as a community of designers and planners!

Scott A. McGovern, AIA – 2021 President – AIA Baltimore