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1.  Message from AIAMI President Harry Terpstra, AIA

Many of us just returned from the AIA National Convention in Las Vegas. One of the interesting things to see was the extreme contrast between the areas around the hotels and casinos and the natural areas. It is amazing – and I still wonder why there is a city like that in the middle of the desert.

AIA was one of four conventions in town. Ours was large with about 26,000 attendees. One of the others had  40,000 people, so you can imagine what the airport was like even at 7 a.m. Sunday morning for our return home. Oh, did I mention it was also hot? Saturday afternoon Jackie and I visited the Valley of Fire and of course, we had to be there when they had record temperatures over 100 degrees. Although it was beautiful, it certainly lived up to it’s name. It may be dry heat, but it is still HOT! 

We are often asked about what AIA does for us as member architects and the first things that come to mind are services like Contact Documents and activities such as involvement in Government Affairs. After attending the Convention, one is reminded that AIA offers much more. It provides opportunities for learning, for discovery and it prompts us to think about what we can do as architects and members of our communities.

What do I mean when I say the events made us reflect upon our profession? There were nearly 100 seminars to choose from for continuing education as well as the product expo, but it goes beyond that. What really made me stop and think were the keynote presentations that focused on communities and the changing role of architects.

On Thursday, a presentation and film discussed the concept of communities, the role of architects in community development and the forces that will shape our future communities.

On Friday, we heard a discussion on technology in architectural practice. The panel discussed the future of our profession as it is affected by technology and strategies to manage information throughout the design and construction process. The discussion also touched on ideas for expanding architectural services through the entire building life cycle and enhancing collaboration. These are important considerations because of changing client and industry expectations for timing, accuracy, completeness and breadth of knowledge sharing. Clearly, these changes will be a challenge to our profession and us. In fact, they are already changing the way we work.

I was privileged moderate one of the regional caucuses on Thursday morning. This is where all national candidates have an opportunity to answer questions before the election, and where we can get a better sense of the qualifications of each candidate.

The delegates you send to the convention not only vote on these candidates, but also on resolutions that affect how AIA is involved in shaping our profession. This year, resolutions centered on specialty certification of architects, architectural registration tracking, advocating sustainability and promoting leadership in building science and technology. Watch for the next AIA Update to learn more about all of these issues.

Finally, I want to mention one of the seminars I attended, one that reminded me of the things that we are often too busy with our daily routines to consider. The title was “Dimension M: The Power of Architecture to Transform Communities.” I was surprised to learn that the “M” they were referring to was Morality. The presenters explained their view of why morality is a factor in what we design and how it affects our communities.

For example, is it better to design a building that fits a community or just any prototype that you could find in any city around the country? Do we want every town to be just like every other one or should we encourage a unique quality to every place? What is our responsibility as architects? The seminar went much farther, but you can see why I said that AIA and the convention cause us to pause and think once again about what we do and where our profession might be going in the future.

2. Plan Now to Attend Mid Summer Conference

If you’ve never before attended our Mid Summer Conference, this is a great year to join us on the porch at the Grand Hotel. It’s our longest running event, filled with great speakers, family events and fantastic Island activities. This year, it promises to be better than ever because we’re partnering with the Michigan and Greater Detroit chapters of AGC. Visit the AIAM website for complete event information and to register online.

3. Courthouse Accessibility Examples Sought for New Guidance Material

The U.S. Access Board has created the Courthouse Access Advisory Committee to develop guidance material on providing access to courthouses for people with disabilities. As part of this effort, the group seeks “best practice” examples of accessibility in new and renovated courthouse design. They are looking for photographic examples or other graphics which highlight good examples of accessibility in courthouses. All examples used in the guideline will be credited to the designer and photographer. Information is sought on all types of courthouses and spaces within them including courtroom spaces such as jury boxes, witness stands and judges’ benches; judges’ chambers; jury rooms; witness rooms; mediation and counsel rooms; holding cells; information and services areas; law libraries; exterior accessible routes, entrances and drop-off areas; and interior building way-finding. Send graphic examples to David Calvert at lawdpc@swbell.net. Call Marlene Walli Shade, AIA at 704-698-9064 with questions.

4.  Free Glazing Code Interpretation Manual Offered

Call the Glazing Contractors Association to receive a free copy of their recently published manual, The Rules, which provides an interpretation of codes and standards for safety glazing. The Rules is designed for use by architects, code specifiers, glazing contractors, plan checkers and building inspectors. It consolidates all substantive references to glass, glazing and glazing products from the Michigan Building Code 2003 into one reference guide. Call the Glazing Contractors Association at 248-972-1132.

5. Opportunities

Call for Entries – Faith & Form Magazine and IFRAA seek entries for 2005 Awards Program for Religious Art and Architecture.

Call for Entries - Place Magazine - Please submit entries for Place Magazine. These entries can be built or unbuilt, small projects welcome. Please submit to AIA Michigan. Call Lynne Francis at 313-965-4100 for more details. We need these submittals before June 17th. Pass the word around in your firm

6. Firm News

New Positions

Schley Architects: Greg Good to project manager … DSA Architects: T. J. O’Connor to senior project manager … THA Architects & Engineers: Carrisa Ferris, AIA; Ronald Boezwinkle, Assoc. AIA; Mary Strobl, Assoc. AIA and Lisa Demankowksi have joined the firm … Soil and Materials Engineers, Inc.: Timothy Mitchell, PE to principal; Andrew Emmert, CPA, Michael Thelen, PE and J. Art Johnson, CET to senior associates; James Harless, CHMM and Debra Osuch, REM to associate … Hobbs + Black: Henry Henrichs, AIA to senior vp and head of healthcare studio; Gregory Doucette to vp; Ann Kenyon, AIA, Norman Rehm, AIA and Charles Huber to senior associates; Leland Kellogg, RA and Eric Wubbenhorst to associate … O’Boyle, Cowell, Blalock & Associates, Inc.: Elizabeth Heiny-Cogswell, registered Landscape Architect, SuLin Ellerbrook, landscape designer and Allissa Matthis, receptionist joined the firm … Progressive AE: Mary Lynn Holden to director of human resources … Albert Kahn Associates, Inc.: Peter Lynde, PE, Rick Dye, PE and Simon Yendle, AIA named to AKA’s Strategic Board of Directors.

Awards, Recongnitions

J. Bradley Moore and Associates: Gold Award in Best in American Living Awards sponsored by the National Association of Home Builders and Professional Builder magazine for the Oak Grove-Manchester development in Jackson … Quinn Evans | Architects: Renovation of the S.T. Dana Building at University of Michigan has received a Gold LEED rating by the U.S. Green Building Council. It is one of only two Gold LEED-rated major renovation projects at a college or university in the U.S.

7. Grapevine

John Banicki, founder of Testing Engineers & Consultants Inc., received the MSPE 2005 Outstanding Engineer in Private Practice Award … AIA Detroit Chapter President Beth Yorke was the subject of a profile article in the May, 2005 Oakland Business Review, published by the Oakland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce … Congratulations to Beth for also being named to the State Construction Code Commission … Three member firms have been named to Crain’s List: Private 200 (ranked by revenue) including SmithGroup Inc. (102), Ghafari Cos. (144) and HarleyEllis (160). Numerous contracting companies appeared on the May 9 list as well.

8. Obituary

James Snyder Sr. – James R. Snyder Sr., a founding father of the Masonry Institute of Michigan, passed away on May 7, 2005, at the age of 81. Memorial contributions may be made to the J.R. Snyder Memorial Scholarship Fund with the Masonry Institute of Michigan, 12870 Farmington Rd., Livonia, MI 48150.

9. Mark Your Calendar

Highlights of Upcoming AIA Michigan & Chapter Events

Be sure to mark your calendar for these upcoming events:

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Call 313 965-4100 for information