Wednesday, August 31, 2005

Make News-For Free

This just in from National AIA:

"ArchiWire, the AIA electronic, online news service that showcases project and other firm news, is offering free postings through the end of the year. The service allows firms to post new or existing press releases of all types for easy access by the public and the press. It even notifies users when requested, specific news based on geography, project type, and budget is posted.

Don’t have a formal release? ArchiWire has an easy-to-use interface that will build one for you. And your releases, over time, build a firm-news archive that will keep you work on display. So visit www.aia.org/archiwire, register for free, and share your good news with the world."

For more information: www.aia.org/archiwire

Help Katrina's Victims

During the next few days, the victims devastated by Hurricane Katrina can best be helped by your generous donations to the Red Cross.

As soon as we have an understanding of the complete rebuilding needs, the AIA staff will be in touch with its membership. Until then, please do donate to the Red Cross.

To Donate:
http://www.redcross.org/donate/donate.html

Vernon DeMars, FAIA, Memorial Celebration

A memorial celebrating the life and accomplishments of Vernon DeMars, FAIA, UC Berkekey CED Architecture Professor Emeritus and Former Department Chair, will be held on Saturday, September 10th, 2005, in the Wurster Hall Courtyard from1 to 4 p.m.

Please RSVP to Lawrence Lawler at lawler@berkeley.edu.

Tuesday, August 30, 2005

Green Building Fair

The AIA Santa Clara Valley's Committee on the Environment will be holding a 2-day Green Building Fair September 9 & 10, 2005 at the Parkside Hall in San Jose, part of the Convention Center Complex.

Green Building Fair's purpose is to educate construction professionals on the means and materials to create sustainable buildings and to preserve and even repair our delicate environment. This year's event is bigger and better with added value for attendees and exhibitors.

For more information: http://www.greenbuildingfair.org/

Monday, August 29, 2005

Free Online Continuing Education

Are you behind in your CES units? Ron Blank & Associates offers free online continuing education--and there's a wide variety of topics. If you can't get out to the chapter office for our free continuing education programs (like the Lunch & Learns, tours, presentations, etc.) you should certainly check out Ron Blank's site.

Don't forget to share your thoughts. Is it worth your time?

For more information: http://www.ronblank.com/ce_course_home.htm

AIA Procurement Guide

The AIA Government Advocacy team has launched a new online guide on how architects can apply for and win design commissions with the federal government, including filling out the Standard Form 330, the key document the government uses to engage A/E firms.

The AIA Guide to Federal Procurement offers AIA members concise, accurate, and up-to-the-minute information on everything that firms need to know about seeking government commissions, from how to register as a government vendor to where to look for the best opportunities.

For more information: AIA Guide to Federal Procurement

The 2005 IDP Mentor Guidelines

More unburied information from the Institute Update:

"The AIA, in cooperation with the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB), is pleased to present this new edition of the “IDP Mentor Guidelines.” Originally produced by the AIA in the early 1980s, the mentor guidelines were out of print for a number of years. Then, from 1996 to 2002, NCARB published a version of the “IDP Mentor Guidelines” that primarily served as a resource for mentors unfamiliar with IDP requirements.

This new edition is broader in scope, focusing on the benefits of mentoring for interns in the Intern Development Program (IDP), strategies for successful completion of IDP requirements with the help of a mentor, and information about mentoring to help both interns and their mentors. Although addressed to interns and mentors, it may also be helpful for IDP supervisors who provide encouragement to interns on a regular basis."

For more information: Download the 2005 IDP Mentor Guidelines

2005 Internship Conference - Designing Tomorrow’s Architect.

The Institute Update from Norman Koonce, FAIA, is usually a 10+ page memo chock-a-block with information. Here's one of the highlights:

"2005 Internship Conference - Designing Tomorrow’s Architect. The 2005 Internship Conference will be held next month in San Antonio. About 70 invited participants and speakers will convene...setting the stage for discussions about the important transition from education to practice. In order to best engage all interested parties in the dialogue, the advisory committee has hosted forums at the annual meetings of each collateral organization and collected stakeholder input from various groups within the profession while shaping the conference agenda.

The advisory committee was overwhelmingly pleased by the response of 158 emerging professionals to the essay competition they hosted to select 25 emerging professional participants. They agreed that the entrants put forward thoughtful and passionate essays on internship, both their personal experiences as well as proposed changes. The Web site,
www.designingtomorrowsarchitect.org has been updated to include the names of selected participants and links to their essays. Also posted are the essays of the non-selected entrants in order to stimulate the discussion concerning internship issues prior to the conference.

You will also find background information and suggested reading on internship issues as well as progress reports from the collateral organizations outlining their accomplishments in this area. "

For more information: www.designingtomorrowsarchitect.org

Survey: Urban Public School Design & Construction

National AIA's Committee on Architecture for Education is conducting a survey on Urban Public School Design and Construction:

"The planning process for schools can be highly variable, ranging from integrated project delivery to linear planning, programming, design, bid, build processes. As a CAE initiative, we are interested in gathering information related to project delivery and the affected outcomes. We appreciate your cooperation in responding to the attached survey. Results will be correlated and presented as part of the Fall Conference in Hartford, Connecticut."

To participate:
http://www.zoomerang.com/survey.zgi?p=WEB224KN4UKPWS

Thursday, August 25, 2005

Architects’ Confidential Clearinghouse for Mergers & Acquisitions

This just in: Strogoff Consulting, a management consulting firm to design professionals, announces the launch of a new ownership transition service: Architects’ Confidential Clearinghouse for Mergers & Acquisitions.

In response to the dramatic consolidation within the architectural industry, Strogoff Consulting has expanded its ownership transition services to include confidential introductions between prospective buyers and sellers. As a strategic advisor to firms throughout the U.S., Strogoff Consulting has an extensive network of contacts and an insider’s knowledge of the industry. Firms are introduced to each other only when there is a strong strategic and cultural fit.


“We are seeing increasing numbers of architectural firms actively looking at acquiring or merging with other firms or considering selling their practice,” states Michael Strogoff, AIA, principal of Strogoff Consulting.

“This is due to a convergence of factors, including the desire of large firms to expand geographically, increasing competition among small- and mid-size firms, a dearth of qualified staff, and baby-boomers searching for viable exit strategies as they look ahead toward retirement. The Confidential Clearinghouse aligns buyers and sellers that share common cultures and goals.”


For more information: Contact Michael Strogoff, AIA, toll-free, at 866.ARCH ENG (866.272.4364) or by e-mail at Clearinghouse@StrogoffConsulting.com or visit www.StrogoffConsulting.com.

New Member Benefit: Life Insurance

All new members receive 12-months life insurance as part of their AIA membership. This is offered through the AIA Trust and JLT Services.

Want to know more about the coverage, or other programs offered such as disability, long-term care, or dental? Call JLT Vice President Bob Bartee at 800/255-8215.

For more information: http://www.theaiatrust.com

Wednesday, August 24, 2005

City of Alameda Historical Advisory Board

From Tom Saxby, AIA
Vacancy: City of Alameda Historical Advisory Board

The available seat is for a registered architect, landscape architect or building designer, who is a resident of Alameda. They meet the first Thursday of every month at the City Hall.

Interested individuals should contact the city clerk for more information: (510) 747-4800.

Palo Alto Arch Review Board

Vacancies on the Palo Alto ARB (Architectural Review Board)
Terms of Eschweiler and Maran
Residency NOT required.

The ARB is charged with the design review of all new constructionand changes & additions to commercial, industrial and multiplefamily projects. Applications and Form are available in the City Clerk's office 650-329-2571. Deadline for applications in city clerk's office is 5:30PM August 30.

We are looking for a few good men and women; builders welcome. Strength in green building a plus.

Judith Wasserman, AIA
Chair, Architectural Review Board

For more information: 650-329-2571

Tuesday, August 23, 2005

Monterey Design Conference



Inspiration is "found poetry" in the go-go business world, and all too often design professionals find themselves conforming to clients wishes, code requirements, and budget restraints.

The Monterey Design Conference, presented by AIA California Council, is an event designed to let artistic minds wander. Speakers are selected based on their ability to inspire, provoke and tax the creative muscles. The location, Asilomar, is a Julia Morgan treasure trove on Monterey Bay. Its camp-like atmosphere allows the curious child resurface and keeps the present world at bay, at least for the weekend.

The line-up is strong: Toshiko Mori, AIA; Robert Ivy, FAIA; and Yung Ho Chang. Saturday night curl up with some smores for the revolutionary documentary
Los Angeles Plays Itself. Relax, unwind, rejuvenate.

For more information: Monterey Design Conference

Monday, August 22, 2005

September Small Firm Forum

Take note! The September Small Firm Forum will be the SECOND Thursday of the month (September 8), instead of the usual first Thursday. Now all of you die-hard SFF-ers can take a really long Labor Day vacation.

The topic for September is a good one: changes in the new Title 24 Energy Standards.

The presenter will be Matt Golden, a founder of Sustainable Spaces, a Bay Area company dedicated to improving energy efficiency, indoor air quality and the comfort of both existing and new buildings.

Sustainable Spaces offers services including Title 24 compliance, green building consulting, HVAC system design, building commissioning and third party verification. Mr Golden has extensive experience helping designers, architects, contractors and owners create high performance structures through qualities testing and applied building science.

Bungalow Kitchens Wanted

The Taunton Press is searching for projects by architects and interior designers around the U.S. for a new book entitled Bungalow Kitchens. The book will feature 16-18 kitchen (and related adjacent spaces) projects that are in Bungalow/Arts and Crafts/Craftsman style houses.

The projects can be restorations or renovations of existing houses, or new houses that are built with a Bungalow flavor. The author of the book is Peter LaBau, ASID, who can be reached at plabau@comcast.net or
617-823-9423. Scouting/informal shots are all that are required at the moment, but if the projects have been professionally shot that is fine too.


JPEG images by e-mail are the best, and the deadline is very soon- Tuesday, August 30 2005. If the projects are chosen for inclusion in the book, more questions and detail will follow. Taunton Press will arrange to have the projects photographed later this fall.

Transit Conference

This just in from National AIA:

The AIA Regional and Urban Design Committee, the AIA Housing and Residential Design Committee, the AIA Center for Communities by Design, and the American Planning Association will collaborate in co-hosting "Communities on the Line: Transit and the Design of 21st-Century Communities", to be held October 7–9, 2005, at the Wyndham City Center Hotel in Washington, D.C.

"Communities on the Line: Transit and the Design of 21st-Century Communities" will include a series of terrific speakers from around the country, tours of nationally significant TOD projects in the Washington, DC area (lead by public officials, national developers, planners, architects), and sixteen individual programs which will explore the opportunities and challenges that will shape the next generation of TOD and the increasingly important role that TOD will play in shaping the future of planning and designing 21st-century communities.

Presenters include: Congressman Earl Blumenauer (OR-3), representatives from the Federal Transit Administration, American Planning Association, American Public Transportation Association, Urban Land Institute, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, Arlington County Economic Development, Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, and Bay Area Rapid Transit officials.

We encourage you to reserve you space now. Advanced registration ends September 2. Please visit www.aia.org/communitiesontheline for further details, or contact rudc@aia.org for specific questions.

Free ADA Training

Free ADA Training: Reasonable Accommodation in the Workplace.

The Pacific ADA and IT Center, which is at 555 12th Street, Suite 1030, Oakland (right around the corner from the AIA Chapter Office), provides training and technical assistance on the ADA.

They have federally-approved ADA materials and they staff a free tech assistance hotline and provide referrals, consultation and info to assist businesses, employers and persons with disabilities in understanding their responsibilities and rights under the ADA.

Call 800-949-4232 or email adatech@pdbtac.com.

Two SMACNA Education Programs

Bay Area SMACNA is offering two programs on September 22:

The SMACNA Architectural Sheet Metal Manual

and

The Top Ten Ways to Prevent Major Screw-Ups in Construction Projects.

They'll be at the Westing San Francisco Airport from Noon-5:30, with a reception and dinner to follow. I've read the announcement over multiple times, and it appears this event is completely free of charge, including dinner.

Visit www.bayareasmacna.org for more information.

Kanika Brown, Assoc. AIA and Mohsen Mahbubian

A million thanks to Kanika Brown, Assoc. AIA and Mohsen Mahbubian, who dedicated their weekend to ensuring the ARE Graphics Seminar ran smoothly. It was long hours (8am-8pm on Saturday for many) and hard work: there were nearly 50 people attending.

Kanika and Mohsen were extremely detailed in their attentiveness and follow-through, and it is much appreciated. Thank you both.

AIA San Francisco Home Tours

Tickets are now available for AIA San Francisco's wildly popular Home Tours, held this September 17 & 18. Included on the tour is the Exceptional Residential winning Crumpacker Residence, by Regan Bice Architects.

For tickets and more information:
www.aiasf.org/hometours or call 415/362-7397.

(Check out the Home Tours exhibit and forum too!)

Sunday, August 21, 2005

IDP Tool for Firms and Candidates

If an architecture license is in your future, or if your firm needs tools for its Intern Development Program (IDP), you must check out AIA's Emerging Professional's Companion (EPC). Developed by and for AIA members, this free, downloadable resource is a gold-mine for anyone involved with IDP.

The EPC is now free to all AIA members and IDP registrants.

(Psst! It's also a good source for continuing education credits!)

Saturday, August 20, 2005

Canstruction at Copia

COPIA: The American Center for Wine, Food & the Arts located in Napa, is holding a CAN-Struction event on October 19, 2005. While the teams are pretty much in place, any firm that is interested in getting involved should contact AIA East Bay as soon as possible.

Also, COPIA is looking for two individuals who could team up with a St. Helena-based architecture firm to round out their group. Interested? Contact Karin Jacobs at cultural.arts@sbcglobal.net.

Friday, August 19, 2005

ARE Graphics Review

It's 6:20 on one of the last Friday nights in August. The AIA East Bay office is filled with nearly 50 licensure candidates who are dedicating this sure-to-be gorgeous weekend to a Graphics seminar.

There's still time for people to sign up for the Site Planning portion on Sunday.