Advocacy
Advocacy is an essential activity of the Chapter.
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It ensures that the unique needs, perspectives, and priorities of the architectural community are represented and addressed. As a local chapter, our involvement allows us to engage directly with city officials, organizations, and residents to promote policies, initiatives, and projects that enhance the built environment of Santa Fe.
Active participation at the local level also strengthens our voice in shaping architectural standards and fosters meaningful collaborations that benefit both our members and the community at large.
By championing local issues, we reinforce our commitment to creating spaces that reflect the culture, history, and vision of Santa Fe, making our advocacy efforts both impactful and relevant.
Here’s how the Chapter turns advocacy into action.
Civic Conversations That
Build Connections
Each year, the Chapter welcomes Santa Fe’s elected officials and senior City staff to a monthly member meeting, creating space for direct, meaningful dialogue.
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These gatherings foster mutual understanding—allowing Chapter members to share priorities, hear updates, and explore the challenges shaping our city. By cultivating open conversation, we strengthen relationships that lead to collaborative solutions and lasting impact.
Shaping Policy, Building Santa Fe
The City of Santa Fe is revising its Land Development Code and General Plan—two foundational documents that guide growth, design, and the future of the built environment.
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Chapter members play an active role in this process by serving on Technical Working Groups for each document. Their expertise ensures that architectural perspectives are reflected in the policies shaping Santa Fe’s character, functionality, and quality of life.
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Through this civic engagement, the Chapter helps craft a more thoughtful, resilient, and well-designed future for our city.
Mayoral Forums: Elevating Civic Dialogue
Held every four years, the Chapter’s Mayoral Forum is a signature event that brings Santa Fe’s mayoral candidates face-to-face with the architectural and construction communities.
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This dynamic platform empowers members to engage directly with future city leaders, advocate for built environment priorities, and shape the policies that define Santa Fe’s growth.
Through open dialogue and shared vision, the Forum reinforces our role in guiding civic decisions and enhancing quality of life citywide.
Designing Tomorrow’s Santa Fe: A Land Use Alliance
Established in 2021, the Land Use Working Group unites four Santa Fe organizations—the Chapter, the Santa Fe Area Home Builders Association, the Santa Fe Association of Realtors, and the New Mexico Roofing Contractors Association—to support the City’s Planning and Land Use Department.
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Through weekly collaboration and monthly briefings with City leadership, the Group advances permitting efficiency, transparency, and code clarity.
Key initiatives include:
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Launching a Third-Party Plan Check option for architects and builders
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Supporting the City’s transition to Electronic Plan Review
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Maintaining a Code Interpretation Committee to resolve regulatory ambiguities​
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Together, we’re building a more responsive, streamlined, and collaborative land use process for Santa Fe.