News:
You are Invited | National Day of Civic Hacking
YOU ARE INVITED: TransformKC is participating as a team in the National Day of Civic Hacking from June 1-2 at Union Station and we want you to come help us determine what Awesome Transit Apps should be made accessible to Kansas City! You don’t need to be a software programmer to participate – just bring your ideas. You can also propose your own ideas or take a look at what others are proposing here. You can register for free here. These events are a lot of fun and really inspirational – hope you can make it!
Update: Midtown/Plaza Area Plan
Thank you for helping to make the Midtown/Plaza Area Plan process a huge success. Citizen input is critical to helping the City get things right by assisting us to understand the issues that are important to the community.
As you know, in addition to traditional Steering Committee and Public Meetings, we are utilizing an easy to use online town-hall meeting website that coincides with our traditional meeting format. We received a lot of great ideas through the site so far, and today are asking a new set of questions that we hope you will forward to anyone you think might be interested: http://midtownplaza.mindmixer.com/.
Kansas Citians always give willingly of their time and energy to make our city a better community. We appreciate your participation and encouraging of others to participate in this important planning activity. Your help and guidance for the Midtown/Plaza Area Plan will ensure its success. If you have questions, please contact project managers John DeBauche at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or 816-513-2869 or Kellie Johnston Dorsey at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or 816-513-2889.
Architizer | Demolished Too Soon: 11 Buildings That Should Still Be Standing
When the news broke that MoMA was planning on demolishing the former American Folk Art Museum, the design community responded with a gigantic petition to preserve the architectural gem, designed by Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects, which had only opened in 2001. Fortunately, the fierce reaction looks to have stymied the Goliath neighbor-next-door from bulldozing. Or perhaps MoMA brass took notice of the revival of Arrested Development, the cult TV comedy premiering a final season on Netflix seven years after Fox prematurely canceled it. (Yeah … just go with it.)
But unlike TV shows, when it comes to architecture, once the building explodes, there’s no wrangling up cast members for a reunion. Which is why it’s so important to fight to save buildings; just take a look at the at-risk Robin Hood Gardens, which has managed to stay standing (so far) thanks to petitions signed by the likes of Richard Rogers and Zaha Hadid.
So, a cautionary tale: We’ve gathered a list of 11 buildings that we think were demolished too soon. Lament their demise? Think they deserved to R.I.P.? Or have other suggestions for buildings that should have been renewed for another season? Let us know in the comments section below.
ARCHITECT | Architecture Loses Steam in April
In April, the American Institute of Architects’ Architecture Billings Index marked the first negative month of growth in the demand for architectural design services in nine months. With a national score of 48.6, down more than three full points from March’s score of 51.9, the architecture industry is seeing the first significant soft patch, spanning across all regions and industry sectors, in nearly a year. (A score above 50.0 in the index means that demand is increasing; below 50.0 means that demand is contracting.)
The score for project inquiries came in at 59.5, down from 60.1 in March. This means that inquiries are still growing, but it did break a streak of three straight months where the index for project inquiries not only continued to grow, but stayed above 60.
ARCHITECT | Architects Respond to Oklahoma City Tornado Disaster
While the scale of the damage done by the massive tornado that struck Moore, Okla., yesterday remains uncertain, architects are preparing now to offer help when called on.
First responders are still working to locate and assist injured and displaced Moore residents. The tornado whipped through homes and infrastructure on Monday evening, leveling the Oklahoma City suburb.
The AIA issued a statement on the disaster.
“On behalf of the AIA, and the AIA’s national Disaster Assistance Committee, I want to extend our concern, thoughts and prayers to people affected by the devastating storm,” said AIA president Mickey Jacob, FAIA. “As experienced disaster responders, the AIA has already reached out to our affected AIA components to offer any support we can as our members assist clients and communities in evaluating the damage and moving forward with recovery.”
As prior disaster-recovery experience shows, coordinating recovery and rebuilding efforts is the first task at hand for architects.
Community Leadership Grant
Encouraging members to enhance their leadership ability, 2013 AIA President Mickey Jacob, FAIA, is awarding 10 grants for leadership training programs in 2013. The grants will help offset the financial commitment of AIA members participating in programs outside of the architecture profession, such as those sponsored by a local or state chamber of commerce.
Call for Entries | Annual Design Review
CELEBRATING THE BEST IN AMERICAN ARCHITECTURE
ARCHITECT’s Annual Design Review is a juried competition of the best U.S. architecture completed in the past 12 months. Judging is blind, to give every project an equal opportunity to win, and awards are given in six project-type categories.
ELIGIBILITY
Projects must have been completed after June 30, 2012, and must have been built in the United States or designed by a U.S. firm.
PUBLICATION
Winners in each category (selected by a jury) will be published in the December 2013 issue of ARCHITECT.
CATEGORIES
WORK Office, Government, and Commercial Mixed-Use
PLAY Sports, Hospitality, and Retail
LIVE Multifamily Housing, Single-Family Housing, and Residential Mixed-Use
GROW Education, Science, and Healthcare
MOVE Infrastructure and Transportation
BOND Institutional, Cultural, and Religious
Webinar on Upcoming Infrastructure Projects in the United Arab Emirates
Venue: Your Computer
Date: Tuesday, May 21, 10:00am CDT
U.S. companies in the fields of infrastructure, construction, energy, water and/or transportation will learn about major upcoming projects in the fast-growing Emirate of Dubai and find out how they can participate in these exciting projects. Dubai is the leading transportation and logistics hub in, as well as gateway to, the MENA region. The Direct Line Program provides a unique opportunity for American businesses, particularly small and medium sized enterprises, to engage directly via teleconference with U.S. ambassadors and other government officials overseas. The program is open to American companies that are already in the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.) or that are interested in expanding their businesses into this market.
Please click on the following link to register for the Direct Line program on May 21st: http://www.state.gov/e/eb/directline/events/208929.htm
Opportunities for Architects to Work Abroad
We receive periodic announcements from the local office of the US Department of Commerce about webinars and information to assist architects and engineers with overseas project leads.
If you would like more specific information about these international opportunities, please contact:
Regina D. Heise, CGBP
Director
U.S. Commercial Service-Kansas City
1000 Walnut, Suite 500
Kansas City, MO 64106
816-421-1932
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
AIA ArchiPAC Releases Annual Report
AIA ArchiPAC has just released its 2012 annual report. Take a look at ArchiPAC’s fundraising achievements in 2012 and how they are helping to advance the AIA’s advocacy efforts on Capitol Hill.
If you have any questions regarding the 2012 ArchiPAC Annual Report or the AIA advocacy program, please email Steve Jernigan, FAIA, National Chair of ArchiPAC directly at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).