News:
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).
Call for Ideas | TransformKC
Whether it’s a streetcar, light rail line, commuter and/or high speed trains, rail transit has a transformative impact on the built environment. Such a long-term public investment opens the door for private development and urban revitalization that makes communities more livable, walkable and sustainable. Rail-based urban mass transit, taken together with a comprehensive multi-modal transportation System that includes infrastructure for pedestrians, bicycles, automobiles, buses, and airplanes will create a paradigm shift in the way we design and build our cities.
Kansas City is on the verge of investing in several rail transportation projects. At this critical juncture, the Kansas City metropolitan region has the opportunity to develop a new vision of its future:
What will our new transportation infrastructure look like?
How will we rebuild our region?
Who will design our shared future?
Transform Kansas City invites you, no matter your background or experience, to submit your ideas on transportation, urban design and architecture to its 2013 International Call for Ideas.
If you are interested in getting involved with TransformKC contact .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
Input Needed | Streetcar Stop Survey
The City and the project design team met this week with property owners along the streetcar route to discuss the design of streetcar stops. Meetings were held in the River Market, Central Business District and Crossroads to gather input on the design of the shelters, benches/leaning rails, way-finding signs and other stop amenities.
In addition to learning about the different options the design team is considering for the streetcar stops, property owners were asked to fill out a survey so the City could learn about their preferences regarding stops.
The project team also wants to hear from you. The team is interested in learning more broadly about people’s preferences regarding the overall look and feel of the stops as well as configuration preferences, color schemes and amenities.
To take the survey regarding streetcar stops, please click here. The survey will be available until May 24.
The results from the surveys will be shared with the City, design team, and Streetcar Authority.
To stay connected, please visit http://www.kcstreetcar.org or call the Streetcar Hotline at 816-822-3011.
ARCHITECT | AIA to Congress: Don’t Gut Energy Conservation Requirements
Anticipating the scheduled mark-up of the Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on May 8, more than 350 associations and companies have signed a letter voicing opposition to special interests that are lobbying to reduce or cut energy conservation requirements for federal buildings. The legislation up for discussion was introduced by Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and Rob Portman (R-Ohio), and promotes greater use of energy efficiency technology in commercial and residential buildings and by manufacturers.
In a letter released by the AIA and addressed to Energy and Natural Resources Chairman Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), the signatories voice concern over efforts to weaken or repeal Section 433(a) of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, which requires federal agencies to phase out the consumption of energy from greenhouse gas-emitting sources in new or renovated federal buildings by 2030. Currently a waiver exists for buildings that can show that such reductions are not technically feasible. However, the letter notes, “some have argued that these requirements, in Sec. 433(a) of the 2007 law, are not achieveable, but the facts tell a different story.” To further support this, the AIA also released a “Myth vs. Fact” document on Section 433.
The letter states “weakening or repealing federal building energy policies will dramatically harm the federal government’s ability to design and build facilities that use less energy, save taxpayers money, and protect the environment.”
Click here for the entire article from ARCHITECT.
AIArchitect | Simple Geometric Forms Prevail with AIA Kansas City Design Awards
Outside of one omnipresent international standout that became the focus of last summer’s Olympics, many of AIA Kansas City’s 2012 Design Awards celebrated projects that stacked and layered simple shed-like forms, differentiated by materials and color. Glass-encased breweries, minimalist duplexes, and campground bunkhouses enlivened by splashes of color all emphasize a well-applied program before an over-designed form.
Check out all of our winners featured in AIArchitect.
Deadline on Friday: Applications for AIA Repositioning Ambassador
We always have our eye out for special opportunities for AIA KC members to volunteer and lead within AIA. AIA National has just announced a new program to support their Repositioning Initiative. It’s called Ambassadors, and it may be a good fit for your experience and your dedication to AIA. We would love to see someone from our chapter chosen as an Ambassador—there will be only 38 chosen nationwide.
Please take a look at the 1.5-page brief, which also has the simple application instructions. Application deadline is May 10.