News:
KCAF Awards Local Architectural Students $16,250 in Scholarships
The Kansas City Architectural Foundation (KCAF) and the American Institute of Architects – Kansas City is pleased to announce that seven outstanding students have been selected as recipients of the 2010 – 2011 scholarship. A total of $15,050 in scholarships were awarded for the 2010 – 2011 school year, in addition to a $1,200 National American Institute of Architects Award. The KCAF Scholarships are awarded each year to deserving students from the greater Kansas City metropolitan area, who will be or currently attend an accredited architectural school. Selection criteria include demonstrated financial need, academic performance, letters of recommendation, and answers to short essay. The recipients will be honored at a special reception on the 10th of August.
We are pleased to award scholarships to the following students:
Kansas City Architectural Foundation Scholarship
Alex Callow – 3rd Year, Kansas State University
Kelsey Vusich – 3rd Year, Kansas State University
The Kratz Scholarship
Samantha McCloud – 3rd Year, Kansas State University
The Linda Erwin Young Scholarship
Lana Keltner- 3rd Year, Kansas State University
The Peggy and Frank Zilm Scholarship
Christopher Clark – 4th Year, University of Kansas
The Kent Spreckelmeyer Scholarship
Daniel Gregory- 1st Year, University of Kansas
The Bruce McKenzie Scholarship
Darcy McDonough – 3rd Year, Kansas State University
The AIA Kansas City Scholarship in conjunction with AIA National
Christopher Clark – 4th Year, University of Kansas
The Kratz Scholarship was established to honor the legacy of Edwin and Edith Kratz, lifelong residents of Missouri. Edwin was a licensed architect who worked as the Chief Architect and Chief Underwriter for the Federal Housing Administration in Kansas City. Both Edwin and Edith had a passion about the importance of education and a personal commitment to continue to learn and expand their own knowledge as well as encouraging other to do so.
The Linda Erwin Young Scholarship was established to honor the legacy of Linda Young, Executive Director of the American Institute of Architects Kansas City Chapter from 1978 to 1989. Through Young’s exceptional dedication and leadership she actively supported the community awareness of architecture and the built environment.
Peggy and Frank Zilm established two scholarships to honor young and deserving architectural students the first named The Peggy and Frank Zilm Scholarship’ and the second to honor Kent Spreckelmeyer a professor at the University of Kansas for his strong commitment to mentoring students named as The Kent Spreckelmeyer Scholarship’. The Professor Kent Spreckelmeyer Scholarship was established to award to a deserving student attending the University of Kansas.
The Bruce McKenzie Scholarship was established in 2000 by Gary Nevius, AIA as a colleague and friend to honor Bruce’s life as a talented architect and designer. The scholarship was established to provide a deserving student from Bruce’s alma mater, Kansas State University, a better opportunity in his honor.
The Kansas City Architectural Foundation is a charitable corporation (501© (3)) established in 1984 through the leadership of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Kansas City Chapter. The Kansas City Architectural Foundation educates individuals and communities about the power of architecture to transform lives and improve the places where we live, learn, work, and play. Through our outreach programs, grants, scholarships and educational resources, KCAF inspires people to become thoughtful and engaged stewards of the built environment. To learn more about the Foundation please our website at http://www.aiakc.org/kcaf/ and click on DonorsEdge.
For more information please contact The Kansas City Architectural Foundation c/o Dawn Taylor, Executive Director of the American Institute of Architects 816-221-3485 for information concerning these scholarships and applications.
NCARB | Answers to Questions about NCARB Fees
On July 1, the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) raised fees for several services after much thought and consideration. Below are some factually answered questions regarding the increased fees, the timing involved in this decision, and who is impacted.
Why did NCARB pick such a difficult economic period to increase fees?
The recession, which has affected us all, began several years ago. During this time fees were increased only minimally, and not across the board. Also during this time, changes and improvements have been made to help our customers do their business with us more efficiently. Fees were increased this year because we could no longer afford to continue these substantial processing and service improvements without significantly reducing our ability to service our customers.
• Most fees have not increased since July 2007
• The IDP application fee was last increased July 2003
*Why did NCARB pick such a difficult economic period to overhaul services (spend money)? *
Three years ago, our customers and members were very vocal about needing improvements on our service delivery. We responded. Our business process re-engineering project started before the recession beg changes and improvements to our systems were well underway before the full impact of the economy hit us.
What has NCARB done to reduce costs?
With the understanding that these are difficult economic times for our profession, before NCARB even considered increasing fees, we analyzed expenses thoroughly and reduced our planned expenditures. However, in order to continue to support our mission and to improve the way we conduct business with you, we had to evaluate the true cost of all of our programs and services.
We endeavored to balance the budget by being as fair to all constituents as possible, without overburdening any one group. We reduced Member Board support, either eliminated meetings or added more virtual meetings for our committees, reduced the size of committees, and reduced staffing and staff benefits. Any further cuts in expenses would impact our ability to deliver services, impact our ability to implement further improvements in services and programs, and impact our ability to carry out future initiatives.
Was it really necessary to increase the fee for a new Certificate to $1,500?
The decision was made to move to a business model where we reduce the practice of subsidizing programs and services and charge the actual costs. The most accurate assessment of the cost of compiling everything that goes into an NCARB Record is $1,500. This $1,500 application fee only impacts registered architects who have never had an NCARB Recor??approximately 800 people per year?and apply for the NCARB Certificate after many years (or decades) of practice. This fee does not apply to any existing Record holders or interns going from IDP to certification.
Will it cost me $1,500 to get the NCARB Certificate?
Most likely not. This fee does not apply to current NCARB Record holders (whether active or inactive). In fact, this fee is waived entirely for interns who have kept their Record active throughout the IDP and examination processes and who return for certification soon after licensure. (They also receive a significant renewal discount for the first three years.) See the Benefits of Keeping Your Record Active page for more information.
Your NCARB Record is a necessary component of becoming licensed in all U.S. jurisdictions; it is important that you keep it active and up-to-date.
*Why did the fee for the Broadly Experienced Architect program increase so much? *
The decision was made to work toward reducing the subsidies to the Broadly Experienced Architect program. The BEA dossier fee increased from $3,000 to $5,000, a 67 percent increase. This new fee is closer to the actual cost required to support this program and allows a pathway to certification for those architects who do not have a NAAB-accredited degree. This fee impacts approximately 30 architects a year.
I’m an intern who started a Record two years ago. Does the new $350 fee to start a Record impact me?
No. Interns who took advantage of the $100 down payment to start their Record during school or just after graduation will only be required to pay the remainder of the fee that was in effect when they started their Record. So if you started your Record before 1 July 2010, you will only pay the remainder of the $285 fee. The annual renewal fee for interns will continue to be waived for the first three years.
Over the past few years, NCARB has made significant enhancements to services and programs. The online application and the electronic Experience Verification Reporting (e-EVR) system were both launched so that you could conduct business more efficiently. New systems were also developed to decrease the time it takes to evaluate your Record for certification and transmit your Record without increasing fees.
This financial plan allows us to maintain all programs and services at current levels plus continue on the path to improved service and new initiatives.
Questions or comments? Send them to NCARB Customer Service.
Questions or comments? Send them to NCARB Customer Service at (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
AIA Kansas City Welcomes the 2011 Pillars Leadership Class
AIA Kansas City is proud to announce the 2011 Pillars Leadership Development Class. Congratulations!
Sara Deuel, Dimensional Innovations
Jennifer DeWitt, AIA, BNIM Architectures
Austin Herndon, AIA, Rees Masilionis Turley Architecture
Chris Herring, Assoc. AIA, Hollis & Miller Architects
Stephen Hopkins, AIA, Populous
Matthew Huderski, McCownGordon Construction
Ryan Hunter, AIA, Helix / Architecture + Design
Miranda Kumler, Assoc. AIA, DLR Group
Michael Monceaux, AIA, Gould Evans Associates
Megan Mulvihill, Assoc. AIA, HNTB
Matthew Nugent, Assoc. AIA
Kevin Pinkowski, Kaw Valley Engineering
Scott Sayers, AIA, Ellerbe Becket an AECOM Company
Jeff Shawhan, AIA, Shawhan Sheet Metal
Sally Wurtzler, Assoc. AIA, River Bluff Architects
Click here for more information on the Pillars Leadership Program from the 2010 class.
AIA | In a New Decade, During a New Recession, Cities are Going Back to Public Transit
by Zach Mortice
In the midst of the Great Recession, civic leaders, developers, and designers are relearning old lessons: Investment in public transit infrastructure is an investment in economic development
Post-WWII prosperity brought to America coast-to-coast interstate freeways and sprawling green suburbs that become the quintessential image of the American dream, but during today’s economic recession, a different set of development patterns are being rediscovered: dense, urban neighborhoods facilitated by public transit infrastructure. Cities across the country are re-investing in light rail, street cars, and bus lines.
The potential causality between previous automobile-centric development patterns and the economic crash will be a topic of discussion for scholars, politicians, and interest groups for decades to come, but the connection between the economy and public infrastructure development is clear in one way: Just in time for a global economic meltdown that created a call for massive investments of public capital, including public transit spending, a growing consensus has settled in among civic leaders, developers, and designers that cities and towns are more sustainable and stronger economically with mass transit.
AIA Provides Resources on Energy Tax Incentives for Architects
Enacted in 2005, the federal Energy Efficient Commercial Buildings Tax Deduction enables architects to claim a deduction of up to $1.80 per square foot directly for their firms. In the case of energy efficiency improvements in a building owned by a federal, state, or local government, the legislation states that “the allocation of the deduction (will be) to the person primarily responsible for designing the property in lieu of the owner of such property.”
The AIA has launched a webpage providing resources to help architects claim the deduction. For more information, http://www.aia.org/advocacy/federal/AIAS076661
Call for Entries | Monsters of Design
Are you a Monster?
young architects forum – Kansas City invites all young designers in the KC area to enter the 2010 Monsters of Design competition. Check out the attached Call for Entries for more information and register TODAY. Join yaf for the awards party on October 08. Please pass along to all of your colleagues, friends, students or anyone else who might be interested.
Find out more: www.monstersofdesign.com Ready to register? Click: www.aiakc.org/mod/
WiD - KC | July Newsletter
Please find the enclosed July newsletter. Upcoming events for July include The Architecture and Art of the Bloch Tour and a Hot Dog Social. We hope to see everyone there!
Member Roundtable Notes from June 17th Meeting
Thank you to those who joined us for the first Member Roundtable discussion. If we missed you please read below to find out more on what we discussed. See you at one of the next events.
General
The AIA KC roundtable meeting is an opportunity for architects in town to meet and discuss topics related to their professional growth and career. The main goal of the roundtable meeting is helping architects get back to work on their own as firm owners or finding a new job. The AIA KC roundtable meeting will have 3 tracks (more tracks can be added in the future as needed). Every track will meet separately to discuss issues and topics related to them and their interest. The track members will meet as often as they would like but it is recommended to have a monthly meeting. In addition, we will hold a monthly general session that will feature a guest speaker to discuss topics of interest to all members. We will include time in these sessions to discuss planning issues organizational topics / new ideas. The General sessions will typically will be hosted at the AIA Kansas City office. Track session can meet in the AIA office or in other locations as they see suitable.
Training Track
‐Finding volunteer members who can offer training program on software in demand i.e. Revit AutoCAD for the members who are out of work and looking to improve their skills.
‐Finding volunteer to offer project management training for members who are interested to get into the project management field
‐Finding volunteer members who can offer training in specialized market segment or field i.e. Healthcare , Government work etc.
‐AIA will check with the department of labor in MO and KS on the professional exam reimbursement for people out of work.
Job Search Track
‐Networking opportunities such as site tours and carpenter camps to connect with other professionals in the field
‐Job leads through AIA career center – members who are out of work to email AIA KC so they are on the list. AIA KC will email those members with available job opportunity
‐Resume writing and portfolio preparation
‐Volunteer work in firs: Members who are not working can take advantage of these opportunities to improve their skills in software skills.
‐AIA to help organizing networking session (mini job fair) for firms in Kansas city where people who are looking for work can meet face to face with these firms. ( once every 3‐6 month)
Small Firm Track
‐Establishing Business mentorship and business training for small firm and sole practitioners
‐Design review and design charrette . AIA can help organizing design charrette events for small firms and invite members/ school professors/ students to take part and provide design critic for sole practitioners who want to share ideas or discuss project specific.
‐Networking events and opportunities for small business looking to grow : invite speakers and city/state officials, developers, contractors and business owners
‐Discussing new business models sharing spaces and resources similar to medical group practice
A201 Commentary by AIA Kansas City and AGC
A joint committee of the Kansas City-AIA chapter and the Kansas City AGC chapter have collaborated since last October to develop suggestions to amend the 2007 edition of the AIA’s A201 General Terms and Conditions contract document. The joint committee was tasked with more evenly balancing the 2007 A201 edition which was not endorsed by the National Board of the AGC. The result of this effort is a list of suggested amendments and annotations, jointly developed with Architectural, General Contractor and Subcontractor input.
AIA Kansas City will be presenting a session on July 22 to discuss teh commentary. This session will educate Architectural community on the committee’s specific recommendations and provide insight from the multiple perspectives represented in order to achieve a more balanced contract.
To read the full commentary see attachment.
Attention AIA Members | Has your contact information changed?
If your contact information has recently changed please be sure to update with the AIA Kansas City office. Please contact Tiffany Shepherd at 816.221.3485 or (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). Thanks.