Cost
Free
Location
Zoom
Program Overview
This month’s Ohio Small Firm Exchange session highlights OPEN DOORS, an initiative supported by AIA Toledo in collaboration with local member architects and community partners. The program is designed to raise public awareness, particularly among new business owners, about the process of opening a commercial space. It addresses key challenges such as permitting, leasing, funding, and regulatory compliance, which are often misunderstood or overlooked by first-time applicants.
In Northwest Ohio, nearly 70% of permit applications are submitted by individuals unfamiliar with the building process. This leads to avoidable delays, safety concerns, and increased costs—issues that disproportionately affect small businesses. OPEN DOORS was launched to bridge this knowledge gap through a series of community-based forums featuring panel-led story-telling discussions from architects and code officials to inform business and economic development professionals.
This session will explore how AIA Toledo is fostering these conversations and equipping the public with tools for success, while also inviting a broader dialogue with peers across the state about similar challenges and solutions in their regions.
This month’s Ohio Small Firm Exchange is hosted by AIA Toledo and presented by Erin Curley, AIA, Principal at Engage Studio Architects.
About the Small Firm Exchange (SFx)
The mission of the Small Firm Exchange (SFx) is to advance the mutual interests of architects practicing in small firms. SFx representatives connect small firm leaders in their local and state components to the national organization.
Ohio’s Small Firm Exchange (SFx) representative Sarah Kleiner, AIA hosts virtual SFx coffee chats and programs so small firm leaders can engage with one another, discuss issues facing small firms today, and see what the AIA can do to support Ohio’s small firms. AIA members practicing in small firms are encouraged to reach out to Sarah to discuss how the AIA could better support their practice.
Sarah is a principal at Envisage Architecture LLC, in Cincinnati, a firm she co-founded in 2016. They have seven employees that range from part-time to full-time. Their practice focuses on commercial projects, particularly retail, as well as multi-family projects. They recently renovated their own LEED Silver multi-family, multi-use building that will include eleven apartments with their office on the first floor.
During this program, photography, audio, and video recording may occur. By attending this program, you consent to interview(s), photography, audio recording, video recording and its/their release, publication, exhibition, or reproduction to be used for news, web casts, promotional purposes, telecasts, advertising, inclusion on websites, social media, or any other purpose by AIA Cincinnati and its affiliates and representatives. Images, photos and/or videos may be used to promote similar AIA Cincinnati in the future, highlight the program, and exhibit the capabilities of AIA Cincinnati.