Small Firm Forum: January 4

Interesting Materials and Finishes

Thursday, January 4, 2007 from 12 Noon to 1:30 PM at the AIA East Bay Chapter office, 1405 Clay Street in downtown Oakland.

Kimberley Bry and Robert Malone will speak on:

"Interesting Materials and Finishes" highlights cutting-edge, innovative materials for design and building, from the clever re-use of commonplace materials to more obscure finishes. Topics include sustainable materials, advantages and limitations of surfaces, and information on sourcing these unusual finds. The Powerpoint presentation is constantly updated with new products, so even people in the trades will be inspired.

Kimberley Bry of Moxie Design coordinates the design and fabrication process with emerging and established artists for builders and architects. She also has been a professional artist for over 20 years. www.moxiedesign.info

Robert Malone founded Baywood Building & Design in 1978 and specializes in custom residential remodels, as well as restaurants and light commercial work. www.baywoodbuilding.com

All are welcome. Remember, it's a brown bag lunch affair, but soft drinks will be provided. Free to chapter members - $3.00 for non-members. 1.5 Continuing Education credits.

For more information: Miltiades Mandros 510.654.3800

Registered in Florida?

The State of Florida is requiring all registered architects to complete a 2-hour Advanced Florida Building Code course every 2-years, with the up coming deadline of 2/28/07. Please advised your members who are registered in Florida of this requirement and the option of taking a course on line or DVD that will fulfill this requirement.

AIA Florida is offering the Advanced Florida Building Code Accessibility Course, taught by Larry Schneider, AIA on their website, file://www.aiafla.org/. The AIA member price is extended to all AIA members in other states.

For more information: 850-222-7590

DRA Practice Management Seminars

Understanding Employee Leaves of Absence
Presented by Dealey, Renton & Associates

Thursday, February 22, 2007

Dealey, Renton & Associates
66 Franklin Street, Suite 210
Oakland, CA
510-465-3090

Registration begins at 8:15 a.m.
Seminar begins at 8:45 a.m. and concludes at 11:30 a.m.

Registration is free!!!

Speaker: Matt Bartosiak, Manager of the Consulting Helpline for the Employers Group

For more information: seminars@insdra.com

DRA Practice Management Seminars

Design-Build: Is it for you?
Presented by Dealey, Renton & Associates

Thursday, January 25, 2007

Dealey, Renton & Associates
66 Franklin Street, Suite 210
Oakland, CA
510-465-3090

Registration begins at 8:15 a.m.
Seminar begins at 8:45 a.m. and concludes at 11 a.m.

Registration is free!!!

Continuing Education Credits: AIA members qualify for 2 LU's. Please bring you AIA membership number on the day of the seminar or you will not receive credit.

For more information: seminars@insdra.com

Request for Qualifications

The Calistoga Joint Unified School District is requesting statements of Qualifications for REPLACEMENT OF TWO PORTABLE BUILDINGS. Deadline for submittal must be received by 5:00pm Wednesday January 17, 2007.


For more information: femi@aiaeb.org or call 510-464-3600 to recieve a faxed copy of the RFQ.

Curbed LA Interviews: Ray Kappe, FAIA

Did you see the Curbed LA interview with recent Exceptional Residential: Bay Area Regional Design Awards Jury Chair Ray Kappe, FAIA?

Curbed LA Interviews: Ray Kappe, FAIA
Monday, December 11, 2006, by Marissa Gluck

The latest in our occasional but continuing series of interviews with LA's architects, planners, politicians and thinkers who shape this city. Someone must have misinformed Ray Kappe, architect, academic and founder of SCI-Arc, about the importance of Curbed LA because he actually answered our emails and thoughtfully responded to our interview questions. Below, find his thoughts on sustainable architecture, the future of SCI-Arc, and why he rejects the "living legend" label.

For More Information: http://la.curbed.com/archives/2006/12/curbed_la_inter_4.php

APA Techinical Seminar

BUILD YOUR KNOWLEDGE
A Technical Seminar Presented by APA - The Engineered Wood Association

Thursday, December 14, 2006

Hilton San Jose
300 Almaden Blvd.
San Jose, CA 95110
Phone: 408-287-2100

Registration and refreshments: 8:30 a.m. – 9 a.m.
Seminar begins at 9 a.m. and concludes at 3 p.m.

Registration fee is $60 and includes a continental breakfast, mid-morning refreshments, a box lunch, and a comprehensive CD-ROM filled with useful design aid information.

Persons attending this seminar will be eligible to receive 5 AIA Learning Units, 5 AIBD Continuing Education Units, 0.5 Continuing Education Units, or 5 Professional Development Hours.

For More Information: http://www.apawood.org/seminars

Will BIM Be the Death of Design?

Staff at National AIA asked in October: Will BIM Be the Death of Design? Or will it free designers to enrich the creative process?

Have you joined in the conversation? On January 31, 2007 the AIA East Bay's monthly program will be a panel discussion on Integrated Practice--including BIM and how it might change how architects work in the office, with clients, and related agencies.

What are your thoughts? Comment here or at AIA's blog (link is below).

For more information: Will BIM Be the Death of Design?

Call for entries: EDRA/Places Awards 2007

Call for entries: EDRA/Places Awards 2007
Deadline January 30, 2007

Place Design - Place Planning - Place Research

The annual EDRA/Places award program recognizes good places and how people inhabit them. Awards are offered in planning, design and design research. EDRA/Places awards recognizes projects with significance beyond any one profession or field. The awards emphasize a link between research and practice. As these awards demonstrate, excellent design can be inspired by a careful understanding of people's interactions with places.

EDRA (Environmental Design Research Association) is an international association of design professionals, researchers, students, and others committed to advancing and disseminating environment design research. EDRA is committed to improving the relationships between people and places, and helping to create places that respond to human needs.

Places is a leading interdisciplinary journal dedicated to providing a forum of design for the public realm.

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS: January 30, 2007

For More Information: www.edra.org

Forum: Integrated Practice on Wed., 11/29

After this month's AIACC Desert Practice Conference, many attendees expressed concern regarding Integrated Practice and its impact on the direction of the profession.

Rather than wait for the next large conference to address what architects and firms can do now, architects and design professionals in the East Bay are coming together on Wednesday, November 29 from noon to 1:30pm for a brown bag forum at AIA East Bay.

The forum will be moderated by Tim Craig, AIA, of VBN Architects. All are welcome (and need not have attended DPC). Please drop us a line or call 510/464-3600 if you plan to attend.

11/29/06
Forum: Integrated Practice
Time: Noon-1:30pm
Location: AIA East Bay Chapter Office, 1405 Clay Street, Oakland (12th Street/City Center BART Station)
Contact: Sidney Sweeney
Cost: None; this is a brown-bag lunch. Drinks will be provided.This forum is open to all.

For more information: call 510/464-3600

Book Signing Thursday, 11/30

From Builders Booksource:

Come early (5 pm) for Hot Cider and Champagne!
Talk and Booksigning start at 7:30 PM, Join us!

Mitchell Schwarzer, author of Architecture of the San Francisco Bay Area, A History and Guide is a professor of art and architectural history at California College of the Arts, where he is also chair of the Department of Visual Studies. This wonderful new guidebook belongs on every Bay Area residents' book shelf!

For more information: ph 510 845 6874

DVC Seeks Mentors

The Diablo Valley College architecture program is looking for architects, professionals and students of all levels to participate in a mentoring program on the college campus for beginning architecture students enrolled in courses in hand drafting and rendering, design and computer graphics.

DVC is located in Pleasant Hill a short distance from Highway 680. We currently have approximately 150 new students each semester enrolling in the architecture program.

If you are interested in visiting the campus on a weekly or monthly basis to present your work, talk with students, offer critique and feedback or share your experiences as a design professional, please contact Daniel Abbott at dabbott@dvc.edu for further information.

For more information: contact Daniel Abbott at dabbott@dvc.edu

Transportation & Livable Community for 21st Century

Transportation & Livable Community for 21st Century (2 HSWs)
November 30, 2006
5:30-7:30 pm
AIA San Francisco
130 Sutter Street, Suite 600

TRANSPORTATION & LIVABLE COMMUNITY FOR 21ST CENTURY, presented by AIA East Bay's Tian Feng, AIA, FCSI
- An International Overview

A livable community represents a collective physical and social qualities that support productive, enjoyable, and healthy life style. Architect has the most significant role in creating the physical aspects of a livable community through beautifying landscape and living spacing, humanizing infrastructure, and preserving natural resources. Transportation is an essential to both physical and social aspects of a livable community. 21st century transportation’s key challenge is to continue improve people’s mobility while enhance community’s livability and sustainability. This program will highlight global practices in applying public transport as catalyst to revitalize our cities and energize our suburbs. The pictorial presentations of international case studies will show how global cities are striving for mapping out livable and sustainable communities for the new century.

Tian A. Feng, AIA, FCSI, is the chief architect for BART. His work on environmental design and public transits has received international and national recognition, including US EPA, the US Senate and Congress. He has been a presenter at many international and US conferences on sustainability, urban infrastructure and transit systems.

For more information: AIA SF www.aiasf.org

RFP: Bus Storage Facilities

Request for Proposals
DESIGN SERVICES FOR Bus Storage FACILITIES

The Transbay Joint Powers Authority (the “Authority”) is issuing a Request for Proposals (RFP) for DESIGN SERVICES FOR NEW BUS STORAGE FACILITIES for the Transbay Transit Center Program from qualified architecture and engineering firms.

All Services shall comply with federally-funded project engineering and design guidelines described in the Code of Federal Regulations and the California Department of Transportation Highway Design Manual.

The Authority is prepared to select one design team to perform architectural and engineering design services while working closely with the Authority’s staff and other consultants. The contract will be established for a period up to three (3) years, although the Authority will have an option to extend the term for two additional years by mutual agreement of the parties.

Proposal packages must be received by the Authority no later than 5:00 p.m. on Friday, December 15, 2006 at the address below. Late proposal packages will not be considered.

Ms. Maria Ayerdi, Executive Director
Transbay Joint Powers Authority
201 Mission Street, Suite 1960
San Francisco, CA 94105

Prospective Respondents may obtain copies of this RFP, including required forms, by visiting the Authority’s website at www.TransbayCenter.org or by contacting:

Ms. Nila Gonzales, Office Manager
Transbay Joint Powers Authority
201 Mission Street, Suite 1960
San Francisco, CA 94105
(415) 597-4620
Email: RFPBus Storage@TransbayCenter.org.

This announcement shall not create any legal rights or responsibilities. All terms of this offering shall be as set forth in the RFP and related materials. Without limiting the foregoing, any and all contracts will be contingent upon prior Authority Board approval.

For more information: (415) 597-4620 RFPBus Storage@TransbayCenter.org.

RFP: Temporary Terminal Facilities

Request for Proposal
DESIGN SERVICES FOR NEW TEMPORARY TERMINAL
FACILITIES

The Transbay Joint Powers Authority (the “Authority”) is issuing a Request for Proposal (RFP) for DESIGN SERVICES FOR NEW TEMPORARY TERMINAL FACILITIES for the Transbay Transit Center Program from qualified architecture and engineering firms.

All Services shall comply with federally-funded project engineering and design guidelines described in the Code of Federal Regulations and the California Department of Transportation Highway Design Manual.

The Authority is prepared to select one design team to perform architectural and engineering design services while working closely with the Authority’s staff and other consultants. The contract will be established for a period up to three (3) years, although the Authority will have an option to extend the term for two additional years by mutual agreement of the parties.

Proposal packages must be received by the Authority no later than 5:00 p.m. on Friday December 15, 2006 at the address below. Late proposal packages will not be considered.

Ms. Maria Ayerdi, Executive Director
Transbay Joint Powers Authority
201 Mission Street, Suite 1960
San Francisco, CA 94105

Prospective Respondents may obtain copies of this RFP, including required forms, by visiting the Authority’s website at www.TransbayCenter.org or by contacting:

Ms. Nila Gonzales, Office Manager
Transbay Joint Powers Authority
201 Mission Street, Suite 1960
San Francisco, CA 94105
(415) 597-4620
Email: RFPTempTerminal@TransbayCenter.org.

This announcement shall not create any legal rights or responsibilities. All terms of this offering shall be as set forth in the RFP and related materials. Without limiting the foregoing, any and all contracts will be contingent upon prior Authority Board approval.

For more information: (415) 597-4620 Email: RFPTempTerminal@TransbayCenter.org.

Proposed Berkeley Charles Hotel and Conference Center

NOVEMBER 14, 2006 6:30-8:30pm
Aurora Theater
NOTE VENUE CHANGE!!!!!

Presentation and Discussion of Design Concepts- Proposed Berkeley Charles Hotel and Conference Center

Livable Berkeley and Berkeley Design Advocates are co-sponsoring a members meeting to hear about and discuss the new hotel, conference center and condominiums proposed for Center and Shattuck in Downtown Berkeley.

The design team for the project, Cambridge 7, SMWM, and the offices of Donlyn Lyndon, will make the presentation, followed by a panel discussion and a question and answer period.

For More Information: berkeleydesignadvocates@yahoo.com

Fourteen Projects Selected as Exceptional Residences

On Tuesday, November 7, 2006, the selected projects of the Exceptional Residential Design Awards were announced by AIA East Bay.

Click here to download a full press release with jury comments.



For more information: contact Sidney Sweeney 510/464-3600 or sidney@aiaeb.org .

Call for Submissions: Sustainable Buildings Developed by Environmental Groups

Award-winning Boston architect Keith Moskow, AIA last year wrote The Houses at Martha’s Vineyard, published by Monacelli Press. This year Keith is working on a book focusing on sustainable buildings developed by environmental groups – those with a vested interest in practicing what they preach. Representative projects will be from the US and abroad. McGraw-Hill is the publisher.

If you have recently completed the design and construction of such a project and are interested in having it included in Keith's book, send an initial submission by email, including a project description and low-resolution images, to KM@MoskowArchitects.com no later than December 21, 2006.

Selected projects will be chronicled from design to post-occupancy evaluation with explanations of the trade-offs and rewards of this increasingly important approach to design and construction.

For more information: contact Keith directly at KM@MoskowArchitects.com or 617-292-2000x28 with questions.

Standard of Care: The Boundary of Negligence

Standard of Care: The Boundary of Negligence

"Without negligence, there is no professional liability." - Josh Kardon

SMALL FIRM FORUM
Thursday, November 2, Noon - 1:30 PM
AIA East Bay
1405 Clay Street
Oakland 94612

AIA East Bay allied member Joshua B. Kardon, SE (www.jbkse.com) has studied and written widely about standards of care. He will discuss the subject in some depth. We hope you will attend to learn where the slippery boundary between negligence and non-negligence exists.

Architects provide their services in an environment of uncertainty and variability. They make their recommendations based on judgments that arise from their own individual experience and education. Because of this, there is a wide variation in architect services and work products. When a project fails to achieve its intended goals or results in injury to people or property, the architect can be deemed negligent and held accountable for damages caused by those failures. If the failures which occur because of the architect's performance within the accepted range of variability, the architect may not be held liable. In that instance, the error is not "beneath the standard of care" and is therefore not negligent.

Without professional negligence, there is no professional liability. So where does that boundary lie? In other word, what it the "standard of care"? While you ponder this question, you might read an interesting article on the subject in the AIA newsletter at: www.aia.org/aiarchitect/thisweek06/0804/bp_risk.cfm.

Bring a brown bag lunch. Beverages will be provided. 1.5 CES/LU.

As usual, our December meeting will be our annual holiday luncheon. Details next month.

For more information: contact Miltiades Mandros at 510.6543.800.

Results from Chapter Annual Meeting

At the 10/20/06 Annual Meeting of AIA East Bay, the membership voted to join the "No on Prop. 90" Coalition. Read more here.

Additionally, the following members were elected to the 2007 Board of Directors:
Vice-President/President-Elect: Anko Chen, AIA
Secretary/Treasurer: Anthony Cataldo, AIA
Director: Colland Jang, AIA
Director: Dan Meza, AIA
Director: Joann Pavlinec, Assoc. AIA
Director: Tom Simmons, Allied Member

For more information: Call Sidney Sweeney at 510/464-3600

Berkeley Design Advocates' Seventh Award Program

From David Snippen, Assoc. AIA:

"A bit of short notice, but it would be great to have the Chapter membership included in Berkeley Design Advocates' Seventh Award Program this year. The awards ceremony will be held on December 7, at the Berkeley Art Center in Live Oak Park.

The rules for eligibility are very simple: all candidate projects must be located in Berkeley, and must have been completed ( issued a certificate of occupancy ) within the period from December 2004 through November 2006. Projects may be submitted by the design architect, or may be recommended by anyone in the community. There will be categories for residential work, commercial and institutional projects, schools and public projects, and, depending upon the number and range of submissions, may include local planning policies and programs.

Submissions should include a brief statement to describe the project, the address of the site, names of the owner, design architect, and design team, as appropriate, AND a digital photo or three. All this should be sent to berkeleydesignadvocates@yahoo.com, or to Phillip Henry, AIA, at phil@thearchitects.com as soon as possible. It is not necessary to submit presentation boards, or massive materials for the jury's consideration.

The cut-off date for submissions is 20 October (although we might extend the date for a couple of days longer).

As we have done before, these awards are for excellence in architectural design, technology and creativity, to be judged by a panel of peers in Berkeley.

These events are a lot of fun, and are appreciated by the recipients of awards as an acknowledgement of excellence by other design professionals."

For more information: berkeleydesignadvocates@yahoo.com

Improvements at Lake Merritt

Public Information Open House

The City of Oakland will held a public meeting to discuss new improvements that will take place at Lake Merritt, which include:

• New bridge at 10th Street
• Bicycle, pedestrian, and small boat access
• Increasing tidal circulation between the Estuary and Lake, restoring wetlands and enhancing the shoreline

October 18, 2006
5 pm - 7.30 pm

Tower Administration Building Lobby
Laney College
900 Fallon Street
Oakland

For more information: Jose Martinez, 510/ 238-6864

Standard of Care: The Boundary of Negligence

Come one, come all to the November Small Firm Forum.

AIA East Bay Allied Member Joshua B. Kardon, SE will present "Standard of Care: The Boundary of Negligence." What's the boundary between negligence and non-negligence? Does a boundary exist?

Thursday, November 2
Noon-1:30pm
AIA East Bay Chapter Office (1405 Clay Street, Oakland--12th Street BART Station)
Bring a brown bag lunch; sodas & water will be available.
$3 non-members/free for AIA members.
1.5 CES/LU

For more information: Call Miltiades Mandros 510/654-3800

Visit Bay Area Historic Sites 10/15 (Sunday)

Not only can you vote for your favorite Historic site, but you can visit them on Sunday, 10/15:

" Open House at the Sites
Sunday, October 15, 20061:00 - 4:00 PM
Take advantage of a unique opportunity to learn more about the Bay Area's heritage by visiting one or more of the 25 Partners in Preservation sites. For one afternoon only, the sites will have staff and volunteers on hand to share the history of the site, discuss the pressing preservation needs, and perhaps make a pitch for your vote! Come out and enjoy the afternoon discovering a landmark you've never visited or showing your support for a place that's special to you.
No reservations are necessary. "

Picutred above: The Richmond Municiple Natatorium, aka "The Plunge"

For more information: Go to www.partnersinpreservation.com and vote--the information will be provided once you vote.

Preserve a National Historic Landmark With Your Mouse

American Express Partners in Preservation is a $10 million, five-year commitment to historic preservation that will increase public awareness of the importance of historic preservation in the United States and around the world. This commitment will help protect historic and cultural landmarks and will strengthen local communities. It is a joint effort between American Express, the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the World Monuments Fund. This year, the American Express Partners in Preservation initiative in the U.S. will focus on the Bay Area.

If you live, work or play in the Bay Area, or simply love the region and want to help preserve its rich heritage for the benefit of present and future generations, here’s your chance to participate by casting your vote for your favorite Bay Area landmark.

The Friends of the First Church of Christ Scientist, the stunning Berkeley Bernard Maybeck landmark, want your vote:

"Help save Maybeck's Masterpiece First Church of Christ Scientist, Berkeley
A National Historic Landmark, built in 1910.

Vote On-Line for our Preservation Project:
www.partnersinpreservation.com

for a competition featuring 25 Bay Area Preservation Projects
Vote Often - every day until October 31st!"

For more information: www.friendsoffirstchurch.org and http://www.partnersinpreservation.com

Women in Architecture

Don't forget the Women in Architecture Forum on Thursday, October 12 at 5:30pm.

10/12/06
Women in Architecture: Construction Administration
Bonnie Blake-Drucker, AIA and Claudia Falconer, AIA will present a session on Construction Administration. Included topics will be submittals, RFIs, accessibility, and working with the Fire Marshall.
Time: 5:30 - 7:00 pm
Location: 1405 Clay Street, Oakland
Contact Person: Sidney Sweeney, 510/464-3600
Cost: None. Drinks and Light Refreshments will be Served
All Are Welcome

-----------------------------------------
From the Guardian Unlimited, "I Don't Do Nice" an article about Zaha Hadid by Janathan Glancey:

"In 2006, [Zaha]Hadid is still the world's only major woman architect, by
which I mean an architect who will go down in the history books. "There have
been some well-known women architects in the US," she says. "But they have
always been part of husband-and-wife teams, like Bob Venturi and Denise Scott
Brown [who designed the National Gallery's Sainsbury Wing]. There have been very
intelligent women architects working in local authorities and government offices
worldwide, too. But for a woman to go out alone into architecture is still very,
very hard. It's still a man's world."

What's more, she says, architecture requires 100% dedication. "If it
doesn't kill you, then you're no good. I mean, really - you have to go at it
full time. You can't afford to dip in and out. When women break off to have
babies, it's hard for them to reconnect on the big scale. And when [women] do
succeed, the press, even the industry press, spend far too much time talking
about how we dress, what shoes we're wearing, who we're meant to be seeing.
That's pretty sad for women, especially when it's written by women who really
should know better.

"In another way, I can be my own worst enemy. As a woman, I'm expected
to want everything to be nice, and to be nice myself. A very English thing. I
don't design nice buildings - I don't like them. I like architecture to have
some raw, vital, earthy quality. You don't need to make concrete perfectly
smooth or paint it or polish it. If you consider changes in the play of light on
a building before it's built, you can vary the colour and feel of concrete by
daylight alone. Some winters ago, I flew from New York to Chicago in the snow;
at sunset, the landscape and cityscapes became no colours other than starkly
contrasted black and white, while the rivers and lakes were blood red. Amazing.
You wouldn't call that a nice landscape, but it had the quality of light and
life I would love to get into our buildings."

Read the full article at http://arts.guardian.co.uk/features/story/0,,1890945,00.html

For more information: Email Sidney Sweeney or call 510/464-3600

National Organization of Minority Architects Convention, SF

From Leopold Ray-Lynch, AIA:

"The National Organization of Minority Architects ( NOMA ), is having its annual convention in San Francisco from October 12-15, 2006 at the Argent Hotel. Everyone is invited to attend. Please let your business associates know about the convention. You can access the conference schedule and additional information online at www.sfnoma.org or you may contact me at (510) 499-6844."

For more information: www.sfnoma.org

International Design Competion for the AID Housing Complex

The AID Housing Complex Competition

Adjoining Moon Greeting Hill in Busan, Korea, the existing residential complex needs to be redeveloped in harmony with its natural settings. A winning entry will be awarded a design contract for the project, equivalent to $ 4.8 million.

Submission of entries 12 December 2006

For more information: www.AIDcompetition.org, AID@AIDcompetition.org

You Can't Talk and Drive

From HR CaliforniaExtra:

"Governor Schwarzenegger has signed Senate Bill 1613, making hand-held cell phone use while driving illegal. The bill takes effect July 1, 2008. Those caught talking on a hand-held cell phone while driving will be fined up to $50 per violation. Hands-free devices are permitted.

The new law does not apply to individuals using a cell phone to contact a law enforcement or public safety agency for emergency purposes, or to emergency services professional while operating an authorized emergency vehicle."

Final Means Final:

"Binding arbitration as a means to resolve disputes can save considerable time and money, but there' a cost - unlike the litigation process, the parties have to live with the decision, with limited chance for appeal. This reinforces a key feature of the arbitration process - that the parties accept the outcome as final, even if they disagree with the outcome. In a recent California Court of Appeal case, an employer tried to have the court overturn an arbitrator's finding that a class action was appropriate, even though the arbitration agreement did not authorize class action cases. The court refused, because in order to determine whether the result was appropriate, it would have had to analyze the arbitrator's reasoning, which is prohibited by California law.
The general rule says an arbitrator's decision cannot be reviewed for errors in fact or law. A court's review is limited to determining whether, without looking at any evidence or legal analysis, the arbitrator acted within the authority granted in the arbitration agreement. A court may only correct an arbitrator's findings by examining whether the arbitrator acted within the scope of the agreement itself. Any further analysis by a court is not authorized under California law. Cable Connection Inc. v. DIRECTV Inc. 2006 Cal. App. LEXIS 1462 (Cal. Ct. App. September 22, 2006)."

CBSC Notice of Public Hearing

Notice of Public Hearing

Pursuant to Government Code Section 11346.5(a)17, the California Building Standards Commission (CBSC) has set the time and place for a public hearing to receive written and/or oral comments from interested persons regarding changes to the California Building Standards Code being proposed by CBSC, Department of Housing and Community Development, Division of the State Architect, Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development, and the Office of the State Fire Marshal for incorporation in California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Parts 1, 2, 9, 12 as follows:

October 16, 2006, at 10:00 a.m.

Department of Consumer Affairs
1625 North Market Blvd.
Sacramento, CA 95834

At the hearing, both oral and written comments will be accepted regarding the Notice of Proposed Action published in the California Regulatory Notice Register (Register 2006, Volume No. 35-Z, No. Z06-0718-04) on September 1, 2006. Written comments will be accepted until 5:00 p.m. on October 16, 2006.

Please address written comments to:
California Building Standards Commission
2525 Natomas Park Drive, Suite 130
Sacramento, California 95833
Attention: Jane Taylor, Associate Architect

For more information: Ms. Taylor at (916) 263-0807 or Jane.Taylor@dgs.ca.gov, www.bsc.ca.gov

Call for Entries: The 2007 Kenneth F. Brown Asia-Pacific Architecture Design Award

The Fifth Kenneth F. Brown Architecture Design Award Program.
The School of Architecture at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa and the Asia-Pacific Center for Architecture (APCA), in association with Architects Regional Council Asia (ARCASIA), is soliciting entries for the fifth Kenneth F. Brown Architecture Design Award Program. The program recognizes outstanding examples of contemporary architecture in the Asia Pacific region. The Award winner(s) will receive a cash prize of $25,000 (taxes may apply) and will be invited as a speaker(s) at the International Symposium on Asia Pacific
Architecture which will take place in Spring 2007 at the School of Architecture, University of Hawai'i at Manoa.

Eligibility and Selection Criteria
The design award program is open to any architectural work located either in the continent of Asia or a region that touches the Pacific Ocean. Entered projects should be completed between January 1996 and November 2006. In evaluating the competition submissions, the jury will seek a design intervention that makes the most sensitive, creative, and critical response to its built, cultural, and natural environments.

Jurors
Kenneth F. Brown (U.S.A.)
Istuko Hasegawa (Architect, Japan)
Kerry Hill (Architect, Singapore)
Robert Ivy (Editor-in-Chief, Architectural Record, U.S.A.)

Schedule 2006-07
December 10, 2006 Registration Deadline
January 31, 2007 Submission Deadline
February 17-18 Jury Deliberations
April, 2007 Award Announcement
Kazi K. Ashraf and Philip K. White
Chairs, The 2007 Kenneth F. Brown Award Program

For more information: Kazi K. Ashraf, kbda@hawaii.edu
http://www.arch.hawaii.edu/

Special Exhibition: Your House, My House

Your House, My House

October 14 - January 7, 2007
Bay Area Discovery Museum
557 McReynolds Road
Sausalito, CA 94965

Take a fantastic journey into the homes of people around the world in this international, hands-on travelling exhibition, Your House, My House. Visit a Mongolian herder's ger, an m'bure from the topics of Fiji and a stilt house from a Malaysian fishing village. Create your dream house in the "Design Center" and "Build Your Own" tabletop houses out of plant material, brick, stone and timber.

Exclusive Members' Opening and Breakfast
Sunday, October 15
9-10 am

For more information: membership@badm.org

Ratcliff Exhibit at Oakland Museum

The Architecture of RATCLIFF
A Retrospective on 100 Years of Distinguished Architecture

The Architecture of RATCLIFF is a photographic retrospective on 100 years of distinguished architecture. Highlights include photos of architectural landmarks designed by the RATCLIFF firm, including the Oakland Airport Terminal II, the University of California-Berkeley Life Sciences Building, Veteran’s Administration Hospital in Palo Alto, Berkeley City College, Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Fresno, and many more.

Launch of the book that inspired the exhibit, The Architecture of RATCLIFF, will be announced at a later date. Published by Heyday Books, this extensively researched saga of the Bay Area’s oldest architectural firm is written by Woodruff Minor with photographs by Kiran Singh.

October 1, 2006 – December 31, 2006.
Wednesday – Saturday, 11 am – 4 pm
Sunday, Noon to 4 pm

Oakland Museum of California café
10th and Oak Streets,
Oakland, CA 94607

Admission to the RATCLIFF exhibit is FREE.

For more information: Liz O’Hara at 510/899-6400 or Mary Tressel at 925/798-9421

Design Charrette in Burlingame

From AIA San Mateo County:

BURLINGAME DESIGN CHARRETTE DESTINATION: SOBA
(South of Burlingame Avenue)

A Volunteer Community Service Event

Saturday, September 30th 2006
8:00 AM to 8:00 PM

Burlingame Recreation Center
850 Burlingame Avenue
Burlingame

The event will focus on creating a vibrant Howard Avenue between El Camino Real and California Drive, with an emphasis on improved connections with Burlingame Avenue, the train station and the surrounding residential and business neighborhoods.

For more information: Connie connieb@aiasmc.org

Recruitment of Oakland Residents to Serve on the District's Measure B

From Kerry Hamill, Board of Education:

Dear Constituent,

As you know Oakland voters approved Measure B, a $435,000,000 bond measure, for the Oakland Unified School District at the June 6, 2006 election. The bond measure is a Proposition 69 Measure requiring the appointment of an Independent Citizens Oversight Committee to monitor and to report on the expenditure of Bond proceeds.

The District has been recruiting members for the Committee since September 1, 2006. The formal qualifications and application, in major languages, is available from the District’s web site at http://webportal.ousd.k12.ca.us/SchoolBondInfo.aspx or may be obtained by telephoning 510/879-8200. (A copy of the English language version is attached to this e-mail.) The Committee is required to have among its members at minimum those specified on page 1 of the application.

I am writing to urge if you meet the qualifications, and are interested in serving, to apply for appointment to the Committee. Given our interest in seeing that the bond proceeds are well spent, pursuant to the District’s adopted Facilities Master Plan in effect at the time of passage of the bond measure by the voters, may I count on you to serve or help the District find qualified applicants willing to serve on the Committee? An application must be fully completed and returned to the District’s Secretary with a postmark of October 1, 2006, or hand delivered to District Secretary at the Office of the State Administrator, no later than 5 p.m., Friday, September 29, 2006.

Thank you in advance for your assistance.

For more information: call Edgar Rakestraw, Jr. at 510/879-8200.

Site tour of Congregation Beth El, Berkeley Synagogue and School

10/05/06
Small Firm Forum: Site tour of Congregation Beth El, Berkeley Synagogue and School

Please join us for a tour of the Synagogue and School that was completed in September, 2005. Alex Bergtraun, AIA, Local Project Architect, working w/ MRY Architects of Santa Monica and Owner's Rep. for Beth El will lead the tour and discuss the 9 year journey. He led the congregation through the initial site purchase, feasibility studies, the design phase, approval and construction process to create this new home. It includes Synagogue, School, Administration and Social spaces all under one roof. A discussion of "Green" practices (this being the 1st geothermal project in Berkeley ), creating "sacred" space, and the adventures of working w/ a large family of congregants towards a common goal will all be a part of this visit. Alex is a long time member of the SFF who has been absent for some years because of his intense involvement with this project. We welcome him back and look forward to a stimulating and fun walk through with all of you on the 5th!

Time: Noon-1:30pm

Location: 1301 Oxford Street, Berkeley Meet @ Oxford St. Entrance; One block north of Rose Street across the street from Live Oak Park

Contact Person: Miltiades Mandros (510) 654-3800

Cost: None for AIA members, $3 Non-members
This is a brown bag lunch and all are welcome.
1.5 CES/LU

For more information: Linda Randolph, AIA 510-745-9318

Chapter Fellows Meeting Tuesday 9/26

The Fellows of AIA East Bay are meeting at 2pm on Tuesday, September 26 at the AIA East Bay office. The group will be reviewing the nomination materials for this year's Fellowship candidates.

For More Information: Call Sidney Sweeney 510/464-3600

Sketching Session and Tour Sunday 10/8

From Jane Lin, Assoc. AIA:

"The next Sketch Session will include a tour of the Oakland Hills
Sunday October 8th from 2-4pm
Meet at the Rockridge BART Station

This tour will be of the East Bay Hills and the houses that have sprouted after the Oakland-Berkeley Firestorm. The firestorm happened fifteen years ago on October 20, 1991. A major portion of the area was wiped out. The hills have been repopulated with many new examples of contemporary Bay Area residential architecture.

If you would like to be part of this tour, which will include plenty of opportunities for sketching, please RSVP to me at gojanelin@gmail.com"

For more information: gojanelin@gmail.com

FRP, An Alternate Material for Restoration, Replication And Strengthening

From Michael Scott, Assoc. AIA:

Tour of Kreysler & Associates Facility

FRP, An Alternate Material for
Restoration, Replication And Strengthening
Friday, 22 September 2005
2:00 - 4:00 p.m.
American Canyon, California

The tour is intended for Architects, Contractors, Preservationists, Historians, Specification Writers and anyone else associated with the replication and reconstruction of architectural elements of historic buildings.
Fiber Reinforced Plastics (FRP) has become a recognized and accepted method of replicating and/or reconstructing historic masonry, sheet metal, or plaster assemblies. Proper specification and detailing are critical to successful use of the material. Bill Kreysler of Kreysler & Associates will discuss FRP and lead a tour of K&A fabricating facility. K&A has an established track record of using FRP on historic projects including the Flood Building, Ferry Building, and over 15 other landmark or historic buildings in the bay area alone. The tour and presentation will also touch upon K&A’s sculptural and digital fabrication work.

For more information: Michael Scott, Assoc. AIA 510/817-1408 or Michael_P_Scott@nps.gov

Request for Projects for Wendy A.Jordan's Book

Do you have projects featuring great ideas for Universal Design or Aging in Place?

Author Wendy A. Jordan wants to know about them. She is writing a book for the general public on this important area of home building and remodeling, and is seeking a range of good-looking kitchens, bathrooms, entries, multi-level accommodations and other interior and exterior areas as well as space plans that demonstrate creative, effective accessible design.

Professional-quality photos are a plus. Submit inquiries, short project descriptions and/or photos as soon as possible to wendyajordan@hotmail.com .

It's best to send the images themselves directly to the publisher for quality assessment; I'll receive them next. Attached is a file that explains the requirements for submitting photos. Original transparencies also are fine. Please send your photos by Federal Express using the recipient's account number, (contact for account number). Please mark "universal" on the package.

The package should go to:
Betsy Gammons
Rockport Publishers
33 Commercial Street
Gloucester, MA 01930
phone: 978-282-9590

For more information: wendyajordan@hotmail.com or Wendy at 202-363-5563.

Architecture+Design Education Network Conference 2006

Architecture+Design Education Network Conference 2006

Take advantage of the early bird discount before October 1st!
Identify . Connect . Elevate.
October 27-28, 2006
Chicago, Illinois

Join us in Chicago for the inaugural A+DEN Conference.Hear the unique perspectives of our distinguished keynote speakers - Meredith Davis, Anna Slafer + Fred Dust. Meet design education innovators at the Expo and learn from their wealth of experience. Discover ideas to bring back home and integrate into your work. Discuss the issues and initiatives that will advance design education at the national level. Come for a weekend of inspired dialogue and collaboration - identify, connect, elevate!

Updated Conference Schedule available online

For more information: A+DEN@architecture.org.

Oak Knoll/Central City East Redevelopment Merger Hearing

Tomorrow: Oak Knoll/Central City East Redevelopment Merger Hearing

Wednesday, September 20, 2006 at 6:30 p.m.
Oakland City Hall - Hearing Room One

The Oakland Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on the merger of the Oak Knoll Redevelopment Project Area and the Central City East Redevelopment Project Area. The City’s Community and Economic Development Agency has recommended merging the two areas and portions of their affordable housing production requirements. The Agency also recommends additional amendments to the Oak Knoll Redevelopment Plan, including raising the tax increment and bond indebtedness limits, updating the land use map, expanding the list of authorized public improvements, and changing text references to the General Plan’s Reuse Plan component.

For more information: Aliza Gallo at 510/238-7405 or agallo@oaklandnet.com

A 60-minute documentary about Public Architecture's "ScrapHouse" project will premiere on the National Geographic Channel tonight, Monday, September 18. The listed airtime is 10:00pm (ET/PT).

The National Geographic Channel is presently scheduled to replay the documentary on Tuesday, September 19, at 1:00am; Sunday, September 24, at 2:00am; and Monday, September 25 at 3pm. For those of you in San Francisco, another live screening will take place next Wednesday, September 27, via Green Planet Films' Eco Film Night.

The free screening will start at 7:00pm and take place at Varnish Fine Art, 77 Natoma Street. Click here for more information.

Press
The documentary has generated quite a buzz within the media, including multiple newspaper articles and nearly a dozen radio interviews nationwide. At least two of the articles are available online via the San Francisco Chronicle and Los Angeles Daily News. Thanks as well to Inhabitat.com for its current homepage coverage and to Archinect.com for its news reminder.

Click here to download a press release prepared by the National Geographic Channel.

For more information: Visit www.publicarchitecture.org

Architects and Librarians Unite to Explore Library Planning

The Planning and Design of Public Libraries, a four-day Executive Education program from Harvard University Graduate School of Design will bring architects, librarians, library administrators and trustees together to examine concepts and methods for the planning and design of public libraries.

The program is scheduled on November 6-9, 2006 in Sacramento, CA, and immediately precedes the California Library Conference also in Sacramento.

Program participants will explore the future role of public libraries and how their programming and design is evolving rapidly to meet the changing demands of patrons for library services and technology.

Meeting the needs of a diverse population of users and the demand for new computer technology, electronic media and Internet access has had a significant impact on the function and design of public libraries. As a result, library design must take into account all of the issues that may affect its use in the future.

Today’s public libraries must incorporate flexibility and adaptability for future changes and expansion while addressing the current informational, educational and cultural needs of their communities.

The Planning and Design of Public Libraries will feature lectures, interactive team-based planning and design exercises, and virtual tours. Program participants will also visit several innovative library projects including Sacramento Central Library and the Carmichael Branch Library.

Other topics the program covers include budgets, timelines, and planning essentials, new technology and service models, renovation and addition strategies, and post-occupancy evaluation techniques.

The Planning and Design of Public Libraries will be led by Anthony Tappe, FAIA, who, as principal at Boston-based Tappe and Associates, Architects and Planners, has designed many public and institutional libraries throughout New England and upstate New York and by Hartford, CT-based library consultant Nolan Lushington, former director of the Greenwich Public Library, author of Libraries Designed for Users: A 21st Century Guide (Neal Schuman, 2002), and 2005 recipient of the New England Library Association’s Emerson Greenaway award for distinguished service.

Joining Tappe and Lushington as instructors will be Jeffrey M. Hoover, AIA, principal and library design specialist at Tappe and Associates; and Elisabeth Martin, AIA, architect and library planner, MDA Designgroup, NY, and former director of planning and design for the Brooklyn Public Library, Brooklyn, NY.

The Planning and Design of Public Libraries is registered with the AIA (American Institute of Architects) Continuing Education System.

For more information: Complete program and registration information can be found at www.gsd.harvard.edu/execed.

Mills Cultural Landscape Heritage Plan Lecture Series

Mills Cultural Landscape Heritage Plan Lecture Series:

The first lecture will be presented October 11, 2006 by professor and renowned author Helen Lefkowitz Horowitz of Smith College. She will consider Mills within the evolving plan of women’s colleges in the United States and its bearing on the campus today.

The second lecture will be presented February 28, 2007 by author Phoebe Cutler, who writes and lectures on garden and landscape history. She will speak about the work of landscape architect, Howard Gilkey, the first landscape architect at Mills College, and Dr. Howard McMinn noted botanist, and their influence both regionally and nationally.

The third lecture will be presented March 28, 2007 by Vonn Marie May, Cultural Landscape Specialist and prime consultant for cultural landscape and buildings on the Mills College Landscape Heritage Plan. She will bring the campus up to date on the team’s findings of the campus’s development as influenced by numerous landscape architects and those architects who have worked at Mills.

For more information: Carrie K. Milligan, cmilliga@mills.edu or 510/430-2125

Request for Projects for Duo Dickinson's New Book

REQUEST FOR PROJECTS, etc.
For Duo Dickinson’s new book for Taunton Press:

Saved By Design
-Dr. Duo’s Cure For The Common House

FIRST
Classic House Type (Cape, Center Hall, Ranch, etc.) ADDITION/RENOVATION
Need excellent existing condition photography or, PREFERABLY, a project that would be available for professional photography of “before” photos, BUT WOULD BE FINISHED/READY TO PHOTO NO LATER THAN JUNE 1, 2007! –owners’ names needed in text, but specific location can be vague, budget not needed. Full design credit will be given, as well as copious laudatory prose.

SECOND
Classic Scenarios/Problems/Dysfunctions you’ve found in renovating any Classic House Type (see above) If your specific description of “déjà vu” design flaws of these prototypic American home dysfunctions is useful, you will be credited, and if solutions are acceptable, they will be depicted, with full credit, in the book.

LAST
Submit your favorite Archi-speak phrase(s)/words/syntax This will be a rollicking good time of a book, and a little self-deprecation never hurt any profession–and once again, you will be credited…

SEND (ASAP!) TO: duo.dickinson@snet.net

For more information: calison-duos@snet.net

Builders Exchange of Alameda County Safety Training, Seminars & Events

The Builders Exchange of Alameda County Presents:

Upcoming Safety Training, Seminars & Events in September:
11th Heat Illness Prevention
12th Construction Personal Protective Equipment
13th Effective Hiring Techniques
14th Basic Estimating - 5 Sessions
20th Wage and Hour Law
27th Fall Protection

Other Events
A's Baseball & Playoff Push
Join us for Baseball & Dinner inside the West Side Plaza Club and help push the A's into the Playoffs!
Oakland Athletics host Chicago White Sox
Friday, September 15, 2006
Game Time 7:05 pm
Cost: $40.00 per person RSVP Must Be Accompanied with Payment.

Includes: Ticket to the game, Plaza Club Seats, Section 212, which the Plaza Club Meal inside the West Side Club.

Fall Invitational Golf Tournament
Monday October 23, 2005
Crow Canyon Country Club
711 Silver Lake Drive, Danville

Warriors Night
Golden State Warriors vs. Sacramento Kings
Tuesday, December 12th, 2006
7:30 pm at the Arena

Includes: 1 ticket to the Game - Section 220, Upper Bowl Seating. Pre-game Dinner at Francesco's Restaurant, 5:30-7.00 pm. Raffle Prizes.
Cost: $65.00 per person

For more information: www.beac.com

Give Back to the East Bay Community

AIA East Bay is pleased to participate in this year’s Block Building program, organized by Rebuilding Together, Oakland. Through this worthy program, a team of 25-40 volunteers will come together for two weekends to make much-needed renovations to one of 12 low- income homes in Sobrante Park. This area of East Oakland is on the San Leandro border, and desperately needs our members’ help and expertise.

The working days will be October 7 and 14th. While you need not be available for both days, it is always appreciated. We will be convening volunteers a few times in advance to determine roles, skills, etc.
Rebuilding Together Oakland will provide all needed materials, t-shirts, and meals. There is absolutely no financial requirement to participate. Please encourage co-workers, friends, and neighbors to participate. The more able bodies we have, the more improvements completed.

Please come to a planning session this Wednesday, August 23 at 12:00 noon at AIA East Bay. During this session the skill levels of the volunteers and the roles each of us will play will be determined.
This is a brown bag lunch, drinks will be provided. If for some reason you cannot attend, but would like to volunteer, call Kellie Hewlett, Program Coordinator, at 510/464-3600.

For more information: To RSVP for the information session, email Kellie Hewlett at kellie@aiaeb.org or call 510/464-3600.

South Bay Green Home Tour: October 1, 2006

From Build-It Green:
South Bay Green Home Tour

October 1, 2006
Sunday, from 10:00 am – 5:00 pm

A one-day self-guided tour showcasing 11 green homes that will introduce attendees to homeowners and building professionals who have built or remodeled green. The tour covers the spectrum, from remodels to brand new custom homes, and will demonstrate materials and technologies such as FSC Certified wood products, natural linoleum flooring, radiant floor heating, passive solar design, and natural daylighting.

For more information: www.BuildItGreen.org or 1-888-404-7336

Call for Exhibits

The AIA East Bay Exhibit Call for Entries

The American Institute of Architects, East Bay is a dynamic organization that promotes access to architectural information, materials, and services to its members, design professionals, and the community. Toward this end, the AIA East Bay sponsors design exhibits throughout the year as a source of ideas and inspiration to promote discussion and dialogue.

Exhibits are chosen by the chapter’s Exhibits Committee according to the needs and interests of the membership and community, the variety of shows, the quality of the works, and the suitability of format for the AIA’s physical space.

Those interested in exhibiting are invited to submit a portfolio via emailed website link, jpegs/tiffs, or PDFs (no EPS or Quark files, please). Portfolios will be considered year-round, however, the submittal deadlines for upcoming exhibits are:

September 6, 2006 (Exhibit runs September 21-November 3)
October 18, 2006 (Exhibit runs November 14-January 2, 2006)
January 24, 2007 (Exhibit runs February 15-March 22)

Exhibits that fall within the following twelve categories will be considered during the above time period. Projects need not be built.

Exhibit Types:

1) Public Spaces 2) Arts and Culture 3) Sports and Athletic
4) Learning Centers 5) Civic and Community 6) Religious
7) Caring and Wellness 8) Hospitality 9) Housing
10) Industrial 11) Commercial 12) Transportation

Submittals should include:
Up to 20 labeled images of projects, including architect, photographer, and location.
Brief statement on each project/body of work.
Brief biographical statement for architect/group/firm, as appropriate.
Contact information of submitter.
Size of boards/items.

Submittals will be considered as parts of exhibits and, where appropriate, entire exhibits.

All accepted work must be prepared for presentation without framing. Standard installations are 30Xx30” foam core boards, however, other sizes and installation types will be considered. For unusual mountings, please include weight.

Please note the AIA East Bay is not a gallery; items will not be sold.

The AIA East Bay will:

• Install exhibit, produce descriptive labels and exhibit notes for distribution.
• Produce show announcements.
• Assume responsibility for damage and losses for an appraised value not to exceed $500 per piece while items are exhibited, unless a contract is signed otherwise.
• Submit press release and PSA to local media.
  
  The exhibitee will:
• Provide all items in ready-to-install format by date specified.
• Hold harmless the AIA East Bay for any damages above $500 per piece while items are exhibited, unless otherwise arranged.
• Provide all credits and descriptive information in electronic format.
• Be available to speak to the media.
  

Please send submittals and/or queries to Sidney@aiaeb.org, 510/464-3600.

Solar Homes Tour

From Marvin Hamon, PE, allied member:

"The annual solar homes tour in San Francisco is taking place on
September 30th and might be of interest to the local AIA members. Here
is a link to the specifics: http://www.norcalsolar.org/tour/sf/

I went to the one last year in the east bay and found it pretty
interesting with a mixture of single family residences up to some good
sized condo developments. They don't include any commercial buildings
unfortunately."

For more information: http://www.norcalsolar.org/tour/sf/

Historic Timber Frame

Historic Timber Frame Available:

Unique 1850, hand-hewn, read oak church frame. 30' x 40' with five tapered king post trusses. Complete from posts up. Excellent condition. Carfully dissasembled, coded and ready to ship. Will make spectacular modernist or traditional home, guest house studio, chapel, or....

$60,000.

For more information: Stephen Powell, 812/320-3490 liveoak@mcn.org

XV Pannamerican Biennale of Architecture - Ecuador

The XV Quito Architecture Biennale invites all design professionals of the Americas, to participate in this XV Biennale. The competition will be open to architects from all over the world.

The BAQ-2006 will take place from November 13-17, 2006, in Quito, Ecuador. The deadline to submit projects for the design competition is August 28, 2006

For more information: www.baq2006.com

Historic Old Oakland Live/Work Loft.

Historic Old Oakland Live/Work Loft

919-1,000sf ground floor. Great natural light with huge windows and high ceilings. CAT 5 Wiring/Communications. Lofted semi-private office space. Private bath and full kitchen. $499,800-538,800


For more information: Call Peggy at Market Square 510.893.2222

Pay-to-Play Publishers

If you get a call from someone who says they are publishing a book (about dream homes, or gorgeous restaurants, or inspiring schools, etc.) and are interested in meeting to discuss your firms’ work as part of the book, ask a few questions first.

Is there a financial commitment for firms that are included? Many of these publications are so-called “Pay-to-Play” publications. They run small initial print runs and distribute the title in a limited area. To offset a potential shortfall, they charge the participants. Fees can range from $1,000 per-page to upwards of $15,000.

Are the firms that are committed receiving financial compensation or discounts? Sales people often get a few well-respected firms to agree to be in their publication. In exchange for heavy discounts or compensation, the sales people can now use these “anchor firms” as leverage.

What are the criteria for publication? The publishers should be able to give you an idea of what they are looking for. Project types, years since completion, style, award-winning, etc. If they say that they know when they see it, or that the firm’s quality needs to meet their own aesthetic standards, dig deeper.

Will you be required to purchase a certain number of copies? Many vanity presses will not charge initially for publication, but do require all included to purchase copies after the fact.

Other questions to consider include:

Is there a guarantee of publication? What is the publication schedule? Who will write the copy? Does the firm provide the photographs or will the publisher arrange a photo shoot? Can you have a list of firms to contact who have been published in similar titles?

Once you have a good understanding of the nature of the publication, you may decide it warrants a meeting in-person. You should see samples of other publications produced by the company, or, if this is an editor/writer compiling the book, samples of other books and/or articles in the same field.

Knowing all that is involved, then you can make a decision as to whether this is a marketing venture you want to be a part of, or if it’s one your marketing budget can do without.

For more information: Call Sidney Sweeney 510/464-3600

Women in Architecture Forum Forming

A large number of members and design professionals have requested the chapter revive the Women in Architecture Forum.

We'd like to know your thoughts, involvement, and areas of interest. Please take our survey, and encourage female Bay Area design professionals to do so as well!

The Women in Architecture Forum will be open to all--regardless of gender, age, or membership status (ie., non-members are welcome).

Click here for the survey: http://www.zoomerang.com/survey.zgi?p=WEB225JMX8HA9W

For more information: Call Sidney Sweeney 510/464-3600

Survey: Technology and the Architectural Practice.

Architecture firm owners & employees: Please take our survey on Technology and the Architectural Practice.

It's quick and your answers will help our ArchNews editorial board.

For more information: Call Sidney Sweeney 510/464-3600

Save Money on Pre-Design!

Did you know that the AIA East Bay Pre Design ARE Seminar is quickly approaching?? Register now at www.aiaeb.org for Pre Design with Marina Rubina! There will be a $40 late fee added on Saturday, August 5. Register now and save yourself money!

8/19/06
ARE Seminars: Pre-Design
Time: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Location: AIA East Bay Chapter Office, 1405 Clay Street, Oakland
Contact Person: Click here for cost and registration Information

For more information: Call Kellie Hewlett at 510/464-3600.

Ray Kappe, FAIA to Chair 2006 Residential Design Awards

The AIA East Bay is pleased to announce Ray Kappe, FAIA will chair the 2006 Exceptional Residential: Bay Area Regional Design Awards.

Joining him will be Steven Shortridge, AIA of Callas Shortridge Architects and William Stout of William Stout Architectural Books.

Registration Forms and submittal guidelines will be available online in early August.
Deadline for all submittal binders is Wednesday, October 25, 2006.
The Presentation of Winning Projects and Reception will be Tuesday, November 7, 2006.

We're also pleased to announce that Diablo Publications/Design for Living (DFL) is our media sponsor. All winning projects will be published in DFL in their Spring 2007 issue.

For more information: Call Sidney Sweeney at 510/464-3600

Siegel & Strain's Sunset House Hits Miami

The Miami Herald published an article on Siegel & Strain's Sunset Celebration Idea House on Sunday, July 30, 2006.

For more information: http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/living/home/15145362.htm

BIM & the Future of Collaborative Design & Construction

From Tom Simmons, allied member :

"Members of the Bay Area Construction Industry are making plans for a grassroots effort to draw architects, engineers, contractors, subcontractors and building owners in the Bay Area together for a state of the future discussion group.

Join the first discussion group this Thursday, August 3, to talk about BIM and the Future of Collaborative Design & Construction: Retooling the Construction Industry for Collaboration & Technology 2006 - 2010

Keynote Speaker: Patrick MacLeamy (CEO of HOK Architects)
BIM Software Presentations By ARCHICAD, Revit and Triforma
An AEC Panel Discussion
Audience Q&A Discussion

Thursday, August 3, 2006
6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Pacific Energy Center
851 Howard Street, San Francisco, 415-973-6359

Future discussion topics will include 3D Virtual Design Technology, Better Communications through Information Sharing, Just-in-Time Decision-Making, Breaking Down Old Habits, Risk-Sharing, An Open Book Approach to Performance and Fiscal Auditing, Partnering and Collaborative Business Relationships, and the Better Balance Between Cost, Schedule and Design.

Please RSVP by August 2 to: info@archvista.com phone: 800-522-0554

Webinar Series with LEED v2.2 and Lighting Controls

From Watt Stopper/Legrand:

"Webinar Series with LEED v2.2 and Lighting Controls

August 17th, 2006, 8:30am PDT.

The seminar will cover how lighting control systems are used for meeting the LEED Minimum Energy Performance and Fundamental Building Commissioning Prerequisites. In addition, our webinar leader will discuss ways to achieve higher levels of LEED certification, using lighting control and building integration design strategies, in the Optimizing Energy Performance credit and Controllability of Systems credit.

This session is accredited by the AIA and NCQLP, so you can earn 1.5 LEUs or LU's."

For more information: www.wattstopper.com/education/webinarcourses.html , or education@wattstopper.com

Conference on Livable Communities

The American Institute of Architects presents Livable Communities:
Walking, Working, Water-Connecting Urban and Environmental Issues with Design Opportunities

The Livable Communities conference will engage design professionals, public officials, and others in an exploration of the intersecting spheres of community and environment through design. The focus will be on creating sustainable places that connect opportunities related to walking, working, and water.

Thursday, September 14. Friday through Sunday.

Activities feature Citistates Chairman Neal Pierce providing a national perspective on sustainability of our urban regions.
Key political leaders discussing public policy and regional growth
Participants examining region-to-city-to-neighborhood issues in a series of breakout sessions Participants examining region-to-city-to-neighborhood issues in a series of breakout sessions
Four “Future Visions” panels (“City as Waterfront,” “City Reconstructed—A new vision for the Gulf,” “Density and Rapid Growth,” and “Resettling the Rust Belt”) outlining key strategies for guiding future growth
Participants taking part in tours and mobile workshops of Seattle’s most notable places.

Earn up to 14.5 AIA/CES learning units, including HSW credits.

For more information: http://www.aia.org/ev_rudc_seattle2006 or call 202-626-7557