ASHRAE and the American Institute of Architects (AIA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to work together in various industry initiatives.

This effort extends to areas related to technical activities and research, the development of young professionals, advocacy and public outreach, publications and education.

“ASHRAE and AIA share many common technical interests, including health and safety, energy efficiency, and resilience,” said David Underwood, president of ASHRAE. “This agreement formalizes our plans to foster technical cooperation in these areas, providing needed guidance to the industry.”

Russ Davidson, AIA President, FAIA, said design challenges in the built environment are increasing and need to be addressed.

“The extension of this agreement is important for our organizations to continue to work together to further sustainable design strategies, to be active on building codes related issues, as well as for providing tangible resources that are useful for our respective members in their daily practice,” he added.

ASHRAE and AIA are currently part of a group that is developing a new version of the International Green Construction Code (IgCC). The code is scheduled to be released in 2018.