Friday, December 28, 2007

Passing of AIA's 60th President, George Notter, FAIA

From Chris McEntee, National AIA EVP:

Word has come to the Institute of the passing of the AIA’s 60th President, George M. Notter Jr., FAIA. George died peacefully on the day after Christmas.

George joined the AIA shortly after becoming registered in the mid 60s and quickly became passionately involved in the life of his professional community, first as a member of the Boston Society of Architects’ Professional Services Committee between 1968 and 1972, and eventually as National President in 1984. An eloquent advocate for public outreach, he encouraged greater interaction between architects and the public. In an article that appeared in Engineering News Record shortly after assuming the AIA Presidency, he was quoted as saying: “When the public begins to share in the design experience and understands what architects do, then they’ll want more of it, I’m sure.”

A founding principal of the firm Anderson Notter Finegold, which later became Notter Finegold & Alexander, he was a leader in planning related to urban areas, the design of new structures in urban areas, and the adaptive use and preservation of historic buildings and districts. Nationally known as a pioneering preservationist and creative enthusiast of adaptive use, George Notter would today be recognized as an early advocate of sustainability and urban regeneration.

Made a Fellow of the Institute in 1978, he was also an Honorary Fellow in the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada and a Member of Honor of La Federacion de Collegios de Arquitectos de la Republica Mexicana. He is survived by his wife, Bett, and two sons, David and Jamie.

In response to inquiries about contributions, the family has asked that memorial gifts honoring the memory of George Notter may be made either to the American Architectural Foundation or to the AIA College of Fellows.


Additional details about President Notter and the memorial service this Sunday, December 30, can be found in a blog written by his son, Jamie:
http://www.getmejamienotter.com/getmejamienotter/2007/12/george-m-notter.html.

I join with all of you, his colleagues and friends, in mourning the loss of an inspired
architect, teacher, writer, and leader of the profession.


Chris McEntee
Executive Vice President/CEO
The American Institute of Architects

Friday, December 21, 2007

Landscape Architect Instructor Saught

Chabot College in Hayward is looking for an instructor for their landscape architecture class for the spring semester.

The school is Chabot College in Hayward.
The class is Arch 16: Landscape Architecture, for two units
The term is the spring semester, which begins Tuesday, January 22nd.
The time is 6-9:50 PM on Tuesdays.

For more information:
Dean of the College of Arts & Humanities - Gene Groppetti, reachable at ggroppetti@chabotcollege.edu or at 510.723.6828.



Tuesday, December 18, 2007

RFQ: Surgical Suite Expansion and Renovation/Tenant Improvements at the UCSD Shiley Eye Center

The University of California, San Diego (UCSD) will select an Executive Architect to perform program and conceptual floor plan diagram confirmation, construction cost confirmation, conceptual construction phasing analysis, HVAC capacity analysis, design, construction and bid documents, and provide construction phase services for the Surgical Suite Expansion and Renovation/Tenant Improvements at the UCSD Shiley Eye Center. The approximate total construction cost for the renovation is estimated to be approximately $1,100,000 at CCCI 4981.

Contact
Sidney Sweeney for copies of the Request for Qualification document, University Form Attachment B, and Standard Form 330.

Proposals are due no later than 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, January 2, 2008.

For more information: Holli Nicewander Administrative Services Manager UCSD Facilities Design & Construction 10280 N. Torrey Pines Road, Suite 470 La Jolla, CA 92037-0916 (858) 534-7484 (858) 534-8579 fax www.fdc.ucsd.edu

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

GREEN FURRY MONKEYS

Date: Jan. 10, 2008
Time: High noon.
Location: AIA East Bay, 1405 Clay St., Oakland
Cost: $3 (free for AIA/EB members)

Early in December 2007, a few thousand diplomats, politicians, famous personalities and scientists descended on a remote paradise, Bali, mostly in small private jets that had to be parked on an adjacent island because there wasn't enough ramp space for all of them, to discuss climate change and how countries should address it. In particular they were concerned about a follow on to the Kyoto Protocol, which would be more strict and effective. They were also extremely interested in the problem of crafting offsets which would allow relatively wealthy and developed countries to buy their way out of goals for carbon emission reductions which they could not, due to practical political considerations, meet.

A veteran Small Firm Forum member tried to make sense of all this, the new green revolution, and the implications for small scale architects and their clients in his reflections during the day without success. But some pot must have gone to simmer because that night, after a day of seeing the word "green" a hundred times, said veteran found himself sitting at the wheel of his car, stopped at a stop sign when out of the corner of his eye, moving from left to right in the cross walk was a green furry monkey. Soon thereafter many others followed, and a trickle became a swarm. Sensing some danger in this wandering, ambling army of green-ness, said Small Firm Forum veteran noticed that his window was open and quickly proceeded to close it. It was a difficult hand crank window that just wouldn't seem to go up fast enough. But finally it was done and breathing a sigh of relief he turned his head to the right and there he was, a green furry monkey sitting in the passenger seat.

At our first meeting of 2008, we will explore The Color, in small practice. Bring your experiences and help us understand the difference between dream and reality. Bring some good questions and give some thought to questions like these:

What are we doing in our practices/firms operationally that we did not do a couple years ago that might be considered more environmentally friendly?

Is there anything we should be doing that is just too inconvenient?

Are we going to be able to manage this field of sustainability or are we in the end going to resort to having another regular consultant on the team?

How hard should/can we push clients?

People who can afford to hire us are reasonably well off. Should those less well off be held to a stricter and more inconvenient set of conservation measures?

What is the low hanging fruit in terms of products or concepts that we can incorporate into our work which will make them more environmentally friendly?

What is your experience with your clients? Are they consistent in their commitment/reservations about color architecture?

See you there for a lively discussion, and have a great Holiday Season and New Year.
---------------
Donald has given us a provocative challenge. Contact him at
donald@more-than-construction.com or just come on January 10 and join the debate.

For More Information Contact: Catherine Roha, AIA - Architect

for faster response please phone 510-845-1833

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

AutoCAD Instructor Needed

Laney College, in Oakland CA, seeks qualified individual to teach an Intermediate AutoCAD class using version 2006 (soon to install 2008 Revit/AutoCAD).

The course will be offered in the upcoming 2008 Spring Semester on Mondays and Wednesdays from 6:30pm to 9:30pm. Individuals should be able to teach students how to draw multiview/isometric drawing and 3-D modeling and rendering, as well as help students gain familiarity with file transfer and management, and other aspects of AutoCAD as is currently used in the Architectural profession.

Individuals should have a minimum of a Bachelor's Degree in Architecture and at least 3 years of experience.

Interested individuals are requested to contact Ron Betts, Laney Arch. Dept. Chair at 510-464-3450 or
rbetts@peralta.edu.

Interested individuals may also inquire or discuss additional information regarding pay and other considerations with Dean Peter Crabtree at 510-464-3218, or
pcrabtree@peralta.edu.

For more information: Ron Betts, Laney Arch. Dept. Chair at 510-464-3450 or rbetts@peralta.edu.

Transportation poll online now through January 9

Got opinions? The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) wants to hear them. MTC is hosting a Web survey on a variety of issues related to transportation, the environment and land development in the Bay Area. What actions do you think the Bay Area should take to relieve traffic congestion, focus future development, and improve the region's transportation network? Now is your chance to tell key decision makers your priorities.

Every four years, MTC updates its regional transportation plan, the region's blueprint for spending federal, state and regional transportation dollars over the next 25 years. The current update, called Transportation 2035, is in full swing, and Bay Area residents now have the opportunity to weigh in online and make their voices heard.

"MTC's Web survey is a great way for all of the Bay Area's residents - from truck drivers to bicyclists - to get involved in the important transportation decisions that affect their everyday lives," said MTC Chair and Napa County Supervisor Bill Dodd.

The online survey asks participants questions about greenhouse gas emissions and global warming, housing, improving traffic congestion, and planning and transportation funding priorities in the region. Participants also may compare their personal answers with the results of a telephone poll of 1,800 Bay Area residents conducted by MTC.

To participate in the MTC Web poll now through January 9, 2008, log on to
www.mtc.ca.gov/T2035. In addition to the English version, the online survey is available in Spanish and Chinese. Don't miss out on the opportunity to help create a shared vision for the region's transportation network that will help protect the environment, preserve our quality of life and improve mobility over the next 25 years.

MTC is the transportation planning, coordinating and financing agency for the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area.

For more information: www.mtc.ca.gov

Friday, December 07, 2007

The Green Affordable Housing Coalition Presents “Green Operations and Maintenance”

Date: Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Time: 11:30 am - 1:30 pm
Location: AIA East Bay, 1405 Clay Street, Oakland

Join us for a behind-the-scenes look at two case studies of green projects that have emphasized green O&M practices since opening their doors. Bring your property management team and come hear about:


Experiences training property management staff and residents
Challenges, choices and experiences with green cleaning products and O&M techniques
How green products and systems choices have held up
Tools and resources for greening your O&M practices

Case Studies:
Folsom Dore Apartments, a Citizens Housing Corporation property, provides 98 units of affordable housing for low- and very low-income residents with a variety of special needs. The project was completed in February, 2005, and was certified LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver by the US Green Building Council in October 2006, making it the first San Francisco affordable housing project to receive that level of recognition.

The Plaza Apartments, developed by the Public Initiatives Development Corporation, a non-profit subsidiary of the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency, provides 106 studio apartments for the formerly chronically homeless of San Francisco. Conard House provides on-site support services, including 5 full-time Case Managers, a full-time Psychiatrist and Nurse as well as a part-time Nurse Practitioner. The Plaza Apartments was completed in December 2005. It is a pilot project for the Redevelopment Agency’s “Green and Sustainable Guidelines” program, as well as being a grantee of Enterprise Foundation’s “Green Communities Initiative.” The Plaza is also LEED registered, and anticipates receiving a “Silver” rating.

Transportation:
AIA East Bay is located in downtown Oakland at the NW Corner of 14th and Clay Streets.

Click here for a map

BART: Exit at the 12th Street/City Center Station.
Parking: Clay Street Garage between 14th and 15th Streets; limited on-street parking

Cost: $15.00. Brown-bag lunch & drinks provided
Registration: Space is limited. Register online at http://www.builditgreen.org/registration/index.cfm?fuseaction=eventsWe appreciate your interest in green affordable housing and look forward to seeing you there!

For more information: Bruce Mast at Bruce@BuildItGreen.org, 510-845-0472 x111.

Women In Architecture: Social

Please join us for the Women in Architecture Social on December 13th at 6pm!

Meet and connect with peers, mentors, friends and new crop of Archichicks- now is your chance to learn from successful and accomplished women architects and influence the up and coming generation!

This event is a casual, free get together open to all at the AIA East Bay office at 1405 Clay Street, Oakland. Please RSVP to
kellie@aiaeb.org to ensure refreshments for all!

Time: 6:00 pm
Location: AIA East Bay Chapter Office, 1405 Clay Street, Oakland
Contact: Kellie Hewlett at 510/464-3600 or Stacy Webb, Assoc. AIA
Cost: None; this program open to all

Tuesday, December 04, 2007

Call for Entries: COTE Top Ten Awards 2008

The AIA Committee on the Environment (COTE) is accepting online submissions for the 2008 COTE Top Ten Green Projects awards program.


WHEN: The deadline to submit projects is January 31, 2008.


WHAT: Since 1996, this juried recognition program has celebrated the best in sustainable design. The program requirements are unique and require narrative descriptions as well as performance metrics. This unusual set of requirements is part of the program’s recognition of the importance of qualitative and quantitative elements of sustainable design. These COTE measures and metrics of sustainable design are a framework for a holistic understanding of sustainable design.


HOW: To submit a project for consideration, click here http://www.aiatopten.org



AIA COTE 2008 Top Ten Green Projects jury:
• Glenn Murcutt, 2002 Pritzker Prize winner
• Marvin Malecha, FAIA, dean of the School of Design at North Carolina State University and AIA First Vice President
• Susan Rodriguez, FAIA, Polshek Partnership
• Jason McLennan, AIA, CEO of the USGBC Cascadia Region Green Building Council
• Gail Brager, PhD, mechanical engineer, and professor at UC Berkeley Center for the Built Environment
• Rebecca Henn, AIA, PhD candidate at the University of Michigan


For more information: Marsha Garcia, 202-626-7488, mgarcia@aia.org

Monday, December 03, 2007

Special Meeting of the Oil Independent Oakland

Dear OIO Task Force Subscribers ~

The electronic Agenda (“E-genda”) for the next Special Meeting of the Oil Independent Oakland (OIO) by 2020 Task Force can be viewed on-line, here:
http://www.oaklandnet.com/Oil/pdfs/120607_oiotfsm_agenda.pdf

The next meeting is scheduled for this Thursday, December 6, 2007, from 6 pm to 9 pm in Hearing Room *1*, on the first floor of City Hall. Parking at the Clay Street Garage will be validated so please bring your parking ticket to the meeting.
The Agenda can also be accessed via the OIO Task Force web page, at:
http://www.oaklandnet.com/Oil/default.html.

There are only two more meetings (December 6 and 20) of the OIO Task Force scheduled. The OIO Task Force is now discussing and evaluating potential policy recommendations to include in its Oil Independent Oakland Action Plan to be presented to the City Council early next year. Your input is important so please join us on December 6th (and forward this email to other interested individuals)!

**If you would like to be removed from this email list, please hit REPLY and type “UNSUBSCRIBE” in the subject line.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to call or email me.
~ Marisa

For more information: Marisa Arrona, Policy AideOffice of Councilmember Nancy J. NadelOakland, District 3One Frank Ogawa Plaza, Second FloorOakland, CA 94612Direct: (510) 238-7031Fax: (510) 238-6129
arronam@oaklandnet.comOn the web at http://www.NancyNadel.org