Wednesday, February 21, 2007

Monthly Program: Sketches of Frank Gehry, a Sydney Pollack Film


2/28/07 CES

Click for a preview.

Time: 5:30pm-8:00pm. 5:30-6:00 check-in and appetizers; Movie to begin at 6:00pm; dinner & discussion follows.
Location: AIA East Bay Chapter Office, 1405 Clay Street, Oakland
Contact: Kellie Hewlett
Cost: $10 chapter members; $20 non-chapter members. Cost includes program and dinner.

This program open to all. RSVP's are mandatory.

Click here to Register

Sketches of Frank Gehry by Sydney Pollock chronicles the friendship between director Sydney Pollock and the famed architect every bit as much as it does Gehry and his work, and it makes for a delightful window into the world of creativity and genius. Gehry has made a big imprint (which critics might liken to Bigfoot's) on architecture at the turn of the 21st century; his molten-looking visions have graced buildings small (actor Dennis Hopper's industrial-looking home in Venice, Calif.) to enormous (the sprawling Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain). He's the genius behind Los Angeles's sweeping Walt Disney Concert Hall--which, though formidable in shape and size, manages to nod gracefully to its adjoining, beloved predecessor, the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. (He also created the controversial Experience Music Project museum in Seattle, which residents have likened to a giant psychedelic beetle crouched at the foot of the Space Needle.)

For creating such mega-structures, Gehry is remarkably self-effacing; as he and an associate fiddle with a model with bent rooflines and walls, Gehry chuckles, "That is so stupid-looking, it's great!" Yet make no mistake, he possesses a singular vision and strong ego, which we view not only through the wide variety of his works, but also from interviews with friends, architecture critics, and clients, including artist Ed Ruscha, Hopper, L.A. talent manager Mike Ovitz, architect Philip Johnson, and others. Pollock's intimate conversational film allows us to feel as though we're sitting right there on the couch with them, or in Gehry's "factory" of associates and assistants; in its backstage look at the process of creativity, the film feels a little like TV's Project Runway, in the very best sense. As the viewer gets to know Gehry, one finds oneself wishing for more biographical details to be fleshed out--what was Gehry's childhood really like, for instance, and how does he feel about having changed his birth name, Goldberg, at the request of his first wife? Still, for a peek into the world of one of America's most prolific artists, the film is a rare opportunity to get up close and personal. Extras include more conversations between Pollock and Gehry and further examinations of his creations. --A.T. Hurley

Rehabs, Reuse, Additions and "Greening": A Look at Some of Oakland's Most Exciting History Resources and What's Being Done With Them

Rehabs, Reuse, Additions and "Greening": A Look at Some of Oakland's Most Exciting History Resources and What's Being Done With Them

Thursday, March 8, 2007
7:30pm
Chapel of the Chimes, 4499 Piedmont Avenue
OHA or AIA members $8. Non-members $10.

The Oakland Heritage Alliance and AIA East Bay Chapter will present a look at exciting preservation projects in Oakland. The Chapel is located at 4499 Piedmont Avenue. Here is a great opportunity to discover how some of Oakland's most important historic resources are being given new life. Presentations include:

The Fox Theater: its rehabilitation and new addition. Presented by Starkweather/Bondy Architects and ELS Architects.
Find out how the rehabilitation of the historic Oakland Fox Theater, one of the grand West Coast movie palaces. You'll also hear about plans for an addition for the Oakland School for the Arts that will add 45,000 square feet of program space, including classrooms, administrative offices, student services, and music, drama, dance and art studios to the renovated landmark structure.

The live-work conversion of Cotton Mill Studios (California Cotton Mills). Presented by Thomas Dolan Architects
Located on the site of the former California Cotton Mills Company, The California Cotton Mills Studios occupies the largest building that remains of the historic cotton mill. The 121,738 square foot, 4-story brick warehouse/storage building has been converted to 75 units of Work/Live space. The California Cotton Mills Studios serve as an incubator for local artists and small businesses and is becoming the hub of artists' activities in this diverse industrial neighborhood.

The rehabilitation and "greening" of the Municipal Boat House. Presentation by Murakami/Nelson Architects
Murakami/Nelson architects will describe the plans to restore the Municipal Boathouse (1520 Lakeside Drive) to its original condition, with a new program to accommodate public uses such as boat storage, a restaurant and a meeting hall. Sustainable design components will make this project the City's first historic LEED-certified (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) "green" building.

The restoration of the Cleveland Cascade. Presentation by PGA Landscape Architects.
PGA Landscape Architects will discuss current plans to restore the Cleveland Cascade, built in 1923, and designed by Howard Gilkey. The Cleveland Cascade was modeled after similar cascades in Italy and originally featured 20 concrete bowls in which water, illuminated at night by colored lights, flowed down, alongside plantings and two sets of stairs, their runs interrupted by several landings. Starting in 2004, dedicated volunteers have been working to restore the Cascade. In 2005, $300,000 of Measure DD funds were allocated for restoration of the Cleveland Cascade. At the same time, private funds were sought to fund initial design work. In November, American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation's Partners in Preservation program awarded a $50,000 grant to the project.

Climate Change Workshop 2/23 Still Open

From MTC:

"If you could not attend the Climate Change Workshop on Friday, Feb. 16th at the MTC/ABAG headquarters, RSVP’s are being accepted for an identical, second workshop this Friday, Feb. 23rd from 1 to 4 PM in the Metrocenter Auditorium at 101 8th Street, Oakland, across from the Lake Merritt BART station. The second workshop was added because of the overwhelming response to the first workshop.

Seating is limited. Please RSVP to the event via e-mail at info@mtc.ca.gov or by calling 510.817.5706. The RSVP deadline is Thursday, February 22 at 12 noon.

Those who cannot attend can listen to an audiocast of the workshop on the MTC Web site at www.mtc.ca.gov and can submit comments via-email to climate@abag.ca.gov.

The purpose of the workshop is to hear your ideas and get your reaction to a set of strategies that are being explored by the four regional agencies: the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG), the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (Air District), the Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC) and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) who are working together as the Joint Policy Committee (JPC).

The meeting agenda will include a short background presentation on global warming and the Bay Area, a group discussion on the attached set of questions and, after a break, a discussion using your proposals for specific action that should be taken by the four regional agencies. We will also get your input through written comments during the workshop.

Thank you for your interest, and we look forward to either seeing you on Friday, February 23 or reading the comments you submit at climate@abag.ca.gov. "

For more information: 510/817.5706

Tuesday, February 20, 2007

Request for Proposals for Field Design Services

Request for Proposals for Field Design Services

Notice is hereby given that the Lafayette School District, acting by and through its Governing Board, hereafter referred to as the Lafayette SD, is seeking “Requests for Proposals for Field Design Services” from qualified providers for architectural and engineering services to assess the conditions and needs of the fields and related hardscape, recommend a maintenance program, and develop a Master Plan. Click here for the RFP. Click here for the sample contract the District uses.

Response to the Request for Proposals will be received up to, but not later than 2:00 p.m., March 16, 2007, in the District Office, Lenee Cadotte, 3477 School Street, Lafayette, CA 94549-1029, (925) 299-3504 (phone) and (925) 284-1525 (fax).

Interested firms can also request a copy of the Request for Proposals from Vanir Construction Management (415-284-9050) or the Lafayette SD.

For more information: 415/284-9050

Friday, February 16, 2007

Call for Submissions: Best Practices

To: Architectural Subject Matter Experts

As part of the AIA’s commitment to provide useful tools and knowledge to its members, the Institute is undertaking a major initiative to update and expand its collection of Best Practices. To that end, we are asking you, the leaders in our industry, to share your knowledge and experience by contributing a Best Practice article or suggestion for an article topic. As an industry leader, you represent an essential part of the AIA’s wealth of knowledge that we want to offer as best-practice information for the benefit of the entire profession.

We seek Best Practices on the following subject areas: business practices and trends, client relations, delivery methods, design, sustainability, emerging building technologies, financial management, integrated practice, and project management.

Best Practice articles vary from one to four pages and fit into an easy-to-read format. Completed articles are preferred; however, the AIA will work with you to develop even the barest outline of an idea. The only criteria are that submissions provide members with useful information and consist of knowledge gained from experience, immediately applicable to a task at hand.

Best Practices will be an integral part of the upcoming AIA eKnowledge Web site. The new site will increase Best Practices accessibility and likely increase readership. This is a great time to get involved and share your knowledge.

For more information: visit http://www.aia.org/bestpractices or contact Darcey Thomson (Dthomson@aia.org, 800-626-7380) to discuss an article.

MTC Climate Change Workshop

The Joint Policy Committee's climate change workshop this Friday is FULL, so don't try to go on February 16 unless you already registered for it.

The JPC has scheduled a second workshop for 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. next Friday, 2/23/07, to meet the demand.

If you want to attend, please register quickly by email to info@mtc.ca.gov.

For more information: http://www.abag.ca.gov/jointpolicy/jpc_climate_change.htm

Oak Knoll Update Meeting

Oak Knoll Update Meeting

Monday, February 26
6:30 p.m. Oakland Zoo – Snow Building

SunCal Companies, in keeping with our commitment to maintain regular communications with local residents during the development of our Oak Knoll community in the hills of East Oakland, will host a public meeting February 26 to provide an update on the status of our plans. The event will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Snow Building at the Oakland Zoo.

Scheduled topics of discussion at the meeting currently include:

• Oak Knoll plan overview
• Seneca land swap
• Creek restoration and open space
• Results of merger of Oak Knoll and Central City East redevelopment areas
• Site clean-up and demolition
• Proposed construction schedule

For more information: Please call Sarah Chavez at (510) 251-0711 with any questions.

Call for Submissions: Sustainable Design Awards Program

Sustainable Design Awards Program co-sponsored by the Boston Architects Society and AIA New York Chapter

The overuse of fossil fuels, unprecedented population growth, and the pollution of air, water, and the land cannot continue. Sustainable development should provide a basic level of comfort for all while repairing and protecting local and global ecosystems for future generations. A broad definition of sustainability must include social, economic, cultural, aesthetic, and natural components of our environment. In this program, we honor work that contributes, by its design, to the creation of a sustainable world.

Eligibility
This program is open to any designer practicing anywhere in the world; the work submitted may be anywhere in the world. “Designers” in this context includes anyone involved in the physical design of places or buildings, including architects, planners, landscape architects, engineers, and allied design professionals. All types of projects including buildings, urban, regional, and rural planning, landscape design, interior design, renovation, and rehabilitation projects are eligible.

Deadline: February 20, 2007
SD Awards/BSA,
52 Broad Street
Boston MA 02109-4301
Submission to arrive by 4:00 pm, February 20, 2007.

For more information about the Sustainable Design Awards Program and to read the CFE, visit http://architects.org/design_awards_programs/index.cfm?doc_id=9#Sustainable_Design

For more information: call/write Richard Fitzgerald at 617-951-1433x232 rfitzgerald@architects.org

AIA St. Louis Photography Contest Call for Entries

AIA St. Louis Photography Contest Call for Entries

The fourteen winning images will be posted at the 2007 convention, cash prizes are available for the top four prizes and 52 of the images will be used in the 2009 Rizzoli Architectural Engagement Calendar.

The subject of the photo contest must be architecture, and must be submitted in a slide format, although they may be taken on a digital camera. The Competition is open to any and all actively registered architects in the US – and is open to associate members of AIA, and student members of AIAS.

The prizes are as follows:

First place $500
Second $400
Third $300
Al Fuller Award $200 (subject must be architecture in America).

The deadline is March 15, 2007


For more information: www.aia-stlouis.org

Friday, February 09, 2007

Western Chapter of the Assoc. for Preservation Annual Meeting

AIA members and their guests are welcome to attend the 2007 Annual Meeting of the Western Chapter of the Association for Preservation Technology.

The event will be held Friday, February 23rd, 4:00-7:00pm at the offices of SGH, One Market Street, Suite 600 in San Francisco. The event is $25 per person, in advance or at the door. RSVP is requested.

The event will begin with a 2 hour presentation on 3D laser high-definition surveying. There will be a panel of guest speakers who are leaders in the field, utilizing the technology for detailed surveys and fabrication.

Following the presentation, there will be a reception andsummary of WCAPT's annual activities and goals for 2007 by the chapter president, John Lesak.

AIA members, guests, and the public at large are encouraged to attend and learn about WCAPT, its mission, and upcoming events.

For More Information: gaudreau@page-turnbull.com

Climate Change Workshop 2/16

From the Metropolitan Transit Commission:

"The Regional Climate Action Workshop is taking place on Friday, February 16th, 9 a.m. to Noon in Oakland at the MTC/ABAG headquarters (Joseph P. Bort Metrocenter, MTC Auditorium, 101
8th Street across from the Lake Merritt BART station). We want to hear your ideas and get your reaction to a set of strategies that is being explored by the four regional agencies: The Association of Bay Area
Governments (ABAG), the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (Air District), the Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC), and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) - all working together as the Joint Policy Committee (JPC).

Due to limited seating at the workshop, please RSVP to the event as soon as possible via e-mail at
info@mtc.ca.gov or by calling Public Information at 510.817.5706. The RSVP deadline is 5 p.m., Wednesday, February 14th. The workshop will also be audiocast on the MTC Web site at http://www.mtc.ca.gov/. Bay Area residents who are unable to attend are encouraged to comment via e-mail at climate@abag.ca.gov.

The meeting agenda will include a short background presentation on global warming and the Bay Area, a group discussion on the attached key questions and, after a break, a discussion using your proposals for
specific actions that should be taken by the four regional agencies. We will also get your input through written comments during the workshop."

For More Information: e-mail at
info@mtc.ca.gov by calling Public Information at 510.817.5706.

Wednesday, February 07, 2007

Green Affordable Housing Coalition (GAHC) Brown Bag: Energy Efficiency and Solar Resources for Multifamily

Build it Green: Green Affordable Housing Coalition (GAHC) Brown Bag: Energy Efficiency and Solar Resources for Multifamily

Tuesday, March 13, 2007

Time: 11:30 a.m.- 1:30 p.m.
Location: AIA East Bay
1405 Clay Street
Oakland, CA

Transportation: BART accessible. Take the train to the 12th Street/City Center station and exit to
Frank Ogawa Plaza. AIA East Bay is at the corners of 14th and Clay Streets, near the Federal and State Buildings.

Cost: $10.00 Brown-bag lunch & drinks provided

Registration: Space is limited. RSVP required.
Register online at
http://www.builditgreen.org/registration/index.cfm?fuseaction=events

Affordable housing professionals are invited to join the Green Affordable Housing Coalition for a brown-bag session on energy efficiency and solar resources for multifamily construction new projects.

Attendees will learn how to qualify for a range of cash incentives and technical support available to designers and developers through PG&E’s 2007-2008 residential new construction incentive programs. The California Multifamily New Homes Program offers cash incentives, technical resources, design assistance, program coordination with related programs, and marketing benefits to affordable and market rate multifamily high- and low-rise projects.

Attendees will also learn how to access funding for high-performing solar systems through the New Solar Homes Partnership and how participation in the Multifamily New Homes Program can help projects meet the energy efficiency threshold criteria for accessing solar incentives through the Partnership.

Presenters:
Heather Larson,Assoc. AIA, Heschong Mahone Group, Inc.

New Construction Energy Efficiency Incentive Program
Nehemiah Stone (KEMA) and Laurie Schrager (PG&E), CEC New Solar Homes Partnership and Affordable Housing

For More Information:
www.h-m-g.com/multifamily/cmfnh
www.gosolarcalifornia.ca.gov/nshp

Monday, February 05, 2007

Affordable Multi-Family Housing

Women in Architecture: Affordable Multi-Family Housing
Thursday, February 8

5:30pm-7:00pm Discussion
AIA East Bay: 1405 Clay Street, Oakland, 94612

Please RSVP to Kellie Hewlett, Program Coordinator 510/464-3600

Next Thursday, February 8, Women in Architecture hosts Affordable Multi-Family Housing, presented by Michael Pyatok, FAIA and Betsy Yost, AIA.

Michael Pyatok, FAIA Principal of the Oakland firm, Pyatok Architects Inc., a firm which he started in 1984, Michael Pyatok has focused his career on society’s housing needs, designing over 35,000 high-quality affordable housing units for a diverse demographic range, both in the US and abroad. He has been a professor of architectural and urban design for 40 years and is a prominent lecturer in the US and abroad about designing for America’s housing needs. He is unswervingly dedicated to serving those in society who are most in need, and his success is demonstrated by the numerous design awards he has received. Last year Builder magazine identified him as one of the 50 most influential people in the housing development industry.

Betsy Yost, AIA a partner at Pyatok Architect’s, Inc. for over two years, has 28 years experience in architecture and has been with the firm for 12 years. Betsy will present her recent rehab of a senior housing project, Altenheim, into independent senior housing. This interesting and highly involved project includes the rehabilitation of 6 historic buildings situated in extensive gardens and the addition of 3 new buildings.The program starts at the Chapter office at 5:30pm. There's no charge and drinks will be served.
Please RSVP

For more information: Kellie Hewlett, Program Coordinator 510/464-3600