News:
AIA Convention Update | Sonya Jury, AIA Kansas City President-elect
Thousands of Architects and Designers descended upon Washington, D.C. for the AIA 2012 National Convention to attend educational programs, AIA business meetings, Expo, and best of all – see the sites! It was a good convention and time to reconnect with colleagues from across the country. My highlight was hearing Historian David McCullough share his thoughts on architecture and history. We are honored to have him research and write about our democracy and architecture which intertwine to shape our nation.
The AIA Annual Business Meeting on Saturday morning was robust with two proposed bylaw amendments submitted to delegates by the AIA National. The first – Bylaws Amendment 12-A, Emeritus Membership Eligibility Requirements passed 3030 to 547. This amendment raises the emeritus age to 70 and adds the verbiage ‘and is retired from the profession of architecture’. Much debate took place and a revised amendment was submitted for consideration, which was defeated by the delegates.
The second bylaw – Amendment 12-B, Authority to Form an International Region was passed with a vote of 3554 to 117. This amendment supports the formation of an AIA International Region supporting our 2400 Architects which work outside of the United States. It is a strategic move to increase our presence globally and allows the International Region a voice within AIA.
Finally, as many of you have seen, the delegates elected Helene Combs Dreiling, FAIA 2013 First Vice President and 2014 President. Her enthusiasm and dedication to the profession will serve AIA National at a turning point when we need it.
On a closing note, it’s not too early to think about Convention 2013 in Denver June 19-22. See you there!
ARCHITECT | AIA Reports Progress Toward 2030 Commitment
A new report on architects’ progress toward the AIA’s 2030 Commitment Program finds that firms are taking gradual steps toward the AIA’s goal of carbon-neutral buildings by the year 2030. More firms filed energy-consumption reports in 2011 than in 2010—and by many metrics, the AIA can report progress toward its broader goals.
The Measuring Industry Progress Toward 2030 report finds an 86 percent increase in the number of firms filing reports in 2011 over that of 2010. Collectively the firms reported energy-consumption findings on 565 million gross square feet of building—a 70 percent increase from the figure reported in 2010.
In other respects, the gains were slimmer. In 2011, 45 percent of the total gross square footage was area for which actual energy use will be collected (as opposed to data modeling), representing a 9 percent increase in this figure from 2010. Just 13 percent of total gross square footage meets the current 60-percent carbon reduction target.
“We are encouraged to see such a large increase in the number of firms reporting their data, as well as the amount of square footage accounted for in this report,” said AIA executive vice president Robert Ivy, FAIA. “But we are still a long way from our target goals for reduced carbon emissions in buildings. Integrating energy modeling into the design process is the best way for architects to implement strategies to reduce energy consumption in their projects and educate their clients of potential for savings on utility costs over the entire lifecycle of the building.”
AIA National Election Results
Helene Combs Dreiling, FAIA, Elected 2013 First Vice President and 2014 President
Helene Combs Dreiling, FAIA, of AIA Blue Ridge in Virginia, was elected 2013 AIA first vice president/2014 president.
Donald C. Brown, FAIA, Elected 2013-2014 Vice President
Don Brown, FAIA, from AIA Montgomery, was elected 2013-14 AIA vice president.
Susan Chin, FAIA, Elected 2013-2014 Vice President
Susan Chin, FAIA, from AIA New York, was elected 2013-14 AIA vice president.
Richard DeYoung, AIA, Elected 2013-2014 Secretary
Richard DeYoung, AIA, from AIA Pittsburgh, was elected 2013-14 AIA secretary.
ARCHITECT | Q & A with Bill Zahner, Hon. AIA
Bill Zahner, Hon. AIA, is the president of the the Zahner engineering and fabrication company. Zahner is one of three engineers tapped by Frank Gehry, FAIA, to build a prototype for the vast metal tapestries that will be part of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial. Zahner talked to ARCHITECT about the design and potential construction of this feature.
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ARCHITECT | AIA Billings Index Contracts in April
After five straight months where the American Institute of Architects’ Architecture Billings Index reported growth for the design and construction professions, April’s numbers report mild contraction, a disappointment for many who were hoping that the economic recovery had finally caught some steam and that growth, moderate though it has been, would continue through the spring and summer. April’s score was 48.4, beneath the metric’s growth threshold number of 50. (March’s billings score was 50.4.)
April’s project inquiry index also dipped to 54.4, from March’s 56.6. This does still mean growth in inquiries for architectural work, just at a lower level than the profession has seen since September 2011. (The project inquiries index has come in above 50 every month since February 2009—that’s 39 straight months.)
This drop in billings could be an aberration, or it could be a market correction caused by a mild hangover from the unseasonably warm winter. Some have argued that this would happen, saying essentially that work which would have been done this spring was instead performed over the winter because there were no harsh conditions to prevent doing so (i.e., firms didn’t need to wait for snow to melt before beginning construction). They would say that now there is a lag in production and work because we didn’t really witness an excess of demand over the past six months, just work that was performed earlier than expected. Others have opined that applying historical trends in this way to our current economic situation doesn’t apply, and that instead, we are in a unique situation due to the long, jobless recession and the extraordinary actions taken by the Federal Reserve and federal government over the past few years, in addition to the continuing output gap and accompanying buildup of demand. One data point does not make a trend, though, and it is too early to prove or refute either story.
The score for all four industry sectors is down in April, although half of those remain in growth territory. And three of the four regions of the country also saw their billings score decrease. Only the West region defied this condition.
Regional Averages
Northeast: 51.0
Midwest: 50.1
South: 49.0
West: 48.0
Sector Index
Commercial/Industrial: 53.8
Multifamily Residential: 50.5
Institutional: 46.6
Mixed Practice: 45.0
(The regional and sector categories are calculated as a three-month moving average, whereas the index and inquiries are monthly numbers.)
Call for Entries | Urban SOS: Frontiers
This year, we are seeking integrated design, planning, environmental restoration and engineering responses that address border, gateway and edge/fringe conditions in cities worldwide. Proposals should address urban sites currently facing chronic liveability challenges that are largely the result of a city’s location on a physical, political, cultural or economic border. Proposals should be implementable. In addition to a cash prize for the winning team, we will be engaging a local organization to help advance the proposed project. Responses can range from a strategic framework to a surgical micro-response, from a whole landscape system to a single piece of architecture. Entrants should demonstrate a holistic and sustainable approach. Judges will value creativity and innovation, but your response must be fundamentally feasible.
The competition is open as of April 16 to students worldwide. Students may work as individuals or in teams of up to four. The deadline for final submissions is 31 August, and pre-registration must occur by that deadline any time prior to the final submission. Finalists will be announced by October 1. During the week of November 12, finalists will present their submissions to a panel of judges in Shanghai, and a final winner or winners will be announced. At stake is USD$15,000 as a cash prize, as well as USD$25,000 to help see the winning scheme implemented. For full submission requirements and competition details click here.
Call for Entries | ReSpace Competition
The ReSpace Competition is an effort to raise awareness of reuse materials while showcasing creative and successful small space designs inspired by their use.
A total of $3,000 in awards will be presented to multiple winners. The Grand Prize winner’s design will be constructed in a 48-Hour Build overseen by Habitat for Humanity of Wake County and will receive $1,000 in prize money. The final ReSpace structure will be sold and proceeds will benefit Habitat for Humanity of Wake County.
AIA National | 2012 AIA/HUD Secretary’s Awards
The Housing and Custom Residential Knowledge Community of the AIA, in conjunction with HUD, recognizes excellence in affordable housing architecture, neighborhood design, participatory design, and accessibility. Good design is a cornerstone of thriving homes and communities of all incomes and backgrounds. These awards demonstrate that design matters, and provide examples of important benchmarks in the housing industry.
The categories of the program include (1) Excellence in Affordable Housing Design Award (2) Creating Community Connection Award (3) Community-Informed Design Award (4) Housing Accessibility – Alan J. Rothman Award. View all 2012 AIA Awards Recipients.
AIA National | AIA Launches New Sustainable Practice Resources for 2012
New practice resources for the IgCC, the 2030 Commitment, sustainable project documents, and energy modeling
In 2012, the AIA will launch a number of resources and tools to raise member awareness and understanding of sustainable practice issues. From the International Green Construction Code (IgCC) to LEED 2012, the practice of architecture is rapidly changing—and greening. The AIA is committed to helping its members succeed in this new practice environment, remaining competitive as code, technology, and legal requirements evolve, pushing the design envelope toward carbon neutrality.