On Thursday, April 3 at noon Kim Blackseth will discuss his 16 years of experience in disabled access. He has worked for Bechtel & Gensler, Served on the State CBSC 2006-2007 and is a member of an accessibility focus group for the State Fire Marshalls ICBO and ICC certified for disabled access.
Kim will share tales about advising a variety of clients: sporting event centers, public transportation facilities, legal disputes, etc.
Time: Noon-1:30pm
Location: AIA East Bay Chapter Office, 1405 Clay Street , Oakland
Contact: Kellie Hewlett at 510/464-3600 or Cathy Roha, AIA
Cost: Free to AIA members; $3 non-members. Drinks are provided
This Forum open to all.
1.5 CES/LU
For more information: Kellie Hewlett, Program Coordinator, 510/464-3600
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Sustainable Stewardship: Historic Preservation’s Essential Role in Fighting Climate Change
Richard Moe Lecture Sustainable Stewardship: Historic Preservation’s Essential Role in Fighting Climate Change
Thursday, March 27, 2008 at 7:30 pm
First Church of Christ Scientist 2619 Dwight Way, Berkeley
Opening remarks by Jon Carroll, SF ChronicleMinimum
donation: $20
Historic preservation can - and should - be an important component of any effort to promote sustainable development.
The conservation and improvement of our existing built resources, including re-use of historic and older buildings, greening the existing building stock, and reinvestment in older and historic communities, is crucial to combating climate change.
Time: 7:30pm
Location: First Church of Christ, Scientist, Berkeley, 2619 Dwight Way (at Bowditch) Berkeley - Maybeck's 1910 masterpiece
Contact: http://berkeleyheritage.com/calendar.html
Cost: Minimum donation: $20
1.5 HSW CES/LU
For more information: http://berkeleyheritage.com/calendar.html.
Thursday, March 27, 2008 at 7:30 pm
First Church of Christ Scientist 2619 Dwight Way, Berkeley
Opening remarks by Jon Carroll, SF ChronicleMinimum
donation: $20
Historic preservation can - and should - be an important component of any effort to promote sustainable development.
The conservation and improvement of our existing built resources, including re-use of historic and older buildings, greening the existing building stock, and reinvestment in older and historic communities, is crucial to combating climate change.
Time: 7:30pm
Location: First Church of Christ, Scientist, Berkeley, 2619 Dwight Way (at Bowditch) Berkeley - Maybeck's 1910 masterpiece
Contact: http://berkeleyheritage.com/calendar.html
Cost: Minimum donation: $20
1.5 HSW CES/LU
For more information: http://berkeleyheritage.com/calendar.html.
Young Architects Forum: Managing Your Business
On Tuesday March 25, at 6:00 pm the Young Architects Forum will present Managing Your Business!
Rich Pipkin will discuss his treasure trove of "war stories", that will influence your thinking about your career. Whether you are an employee that hopes to grow within and your current firm, or thinking about starting your own firm, or currently an owner, you will leave this presentation with new insights and action items.
The Three Stages of a Successful Practice and Key Do's and Dont's along the way
- What stage of a successful business life cycle is your firm in? Start-up? Mature?
Transitioning?- What proactive steps are necessary to move from one stage to another?
- Why do Firms "get stuck" and remain on a business plateau
- The "Green Practice" - Profitable and Sustainable - both are requirements for
transitioning the Firm to the next generation of leaders.
- Is there a fourth stage? Yes, extinction!
Rich will draw on his 25+ years of experience as a business consultant exclusively to A/E Firms, and a treasure trove of "war stories", that will influence your thinking about your career. Whether you are an employee that hopes to grow within and your current firm, or thinking about starting your own firm, or currently an owner, you will leave this presentation with new insights and action items.
Rich's experience includes helping design professionals form a new business: deal with growing pains: expanding ownership: asking owners to leave: planning and implementing leadership succession and retirements: the sale and purchase of Firms, and the unpleasant reality of liquidating practices that were not positioned for transition. There will be ample time for questions.
Time: 6:00-7:30pm
Location: AIA East Bay Chapter Office, 1405 Clay Street , Oakland
Contact: Kellie Hewlett at 510/464-3600 or Gerard Lee, AIA
Cost: None; this program open to all. Cocktails provided. Please RSVP.
1.5 HSW CES/LU
For more information: Kellie Hewlett, Program Coordinator, 510/464-3600
Rich Pipkin will discuss his treasure trove of "war stories", that will influence your thinking about your career. Whether you are an employee that hopes to grow within and your current firm, or thinking about starting your own firm, or currently an owner, you will leave this presentation with new insights and action items.
The Three Stages of a Successful Practice and Key Do's and Dont's along the way
- What stage of a successful business life cycle is your firm in? Start-up? Mature?
Transitioning?- What proactive steps are necessary to move from one stage to another?
- Why do Firms "get stuck" and remain on a business plateau
- The "Green Practice" - Profitable and Sustainable - both are requirements for
transitioning the Firm to the next generation of leaders.
- Is there a fourth stage? Yes, extinction!
Rich will draw on his 25+ years of experience as a business consultant exclusively to A/E Firms, and a treasure trove of "war stories", that will influence your thinking about your career. Whether you are an employee that hopes to grow within and your current firm, or thinking about starting your own firm, or currently an owner, you will leave this presentation with new insights and action items.
Rich's experience includes helping design professionals form a new business: deal with growing pains: expanding ownership: asking owners to leave: planning and implementing leadership succession and retirements: the sale and purchase of Firms, and the unpleasant reality of liquidating practices that were not positioned for transition. There will be ample time for questions.
Time: 6:00-7:30pm
Location: AIA East Bay Chapter Office, 1405 Clay Street , Oakland
Contact: Kellie Hewlett at 510/464-3600 or Gerard Lee, AIA
Cost: None; this program open to all. Cocktails provided. Please RSVP.
1.5 HSW CES/LU
For more information: Kellie Hewlett, Program Coordinator, 510/464-3600
2007 CBC Codes--A Panel Discussion
Join the AIA East Bay Codes committee on March 26 at 5:30 pm as it presents the 2007 CBC Codes Panel Discussion.
We are now three months into the new code--how is it going?
Our panel includes Isam Hasenin, City of San Francisco Building Department; Massoud Abolhoda, City of Fremont; Kevin Reinerston, California State Fire Marshal's Office; Robert Ludlow, AIA of Field Paoli Architects and will be moderated by Code Expert Steve Winkel, FAIA.
Time: 5:30pm
Location: AIA East Bay Chapter Office, 1405 Clay Street, Oakland
Contact: Kellie Hewlett at 510/464-3600
Cost: $15 for chapter members and their guests; $25 for non-members, cost includes cocktails and dinner.
Click Here to Register
1.5 HSW CES/LU
For more information: Kellie Hewlett, Program Coordinator, 510/464-3600
We are now three months into the new code--how is it going?
Our panel includes Isam Hasenin, City of San Francisco Building Department; Massoud Abolhoda, City of Fremont; Kevin Reinerston, California State Fire Marshal's Office; Robert Ludlow, AIA of Field Paoli Architects and will be moderated by Code Expert Steve Winkel, FAIA.
Time: 5:30pm
Location: AIA East Bay Chapter Office, 1405 Clay Street, Oakland
Contact: Kellie Hewlett at 510/464-3600
Cost: $15 for chapter members and their guests; $25 for non-members, cost includes cocktails and dinner.
Click Here to Register
1.5 HSW CES/LU
For more information: Kellie Hewlett, Program Coordinator, 510/464-3600
Friday, March 21, 2008
Green Building Symposium
Green Building Symposium featuring presentations by Ericka Jennings from Green Key Real Estate, Tenaya Asan from Build it Green, Michael Hazinski from EBMUD, Michael McCutcheon of McCutcheon Construction, Richard Parker AIA of 450 Architects, Inc, and Douglas Hansen the author of the CodeCheck series.
Sustainable building and remodeling practices are no longer just trendy, they're increasingly more vital to clients, and therefore the survival of your business.
Join us for the Green Building Symposium to learn:
What green remodeling means and what it really costs.
How to assess and communicate the value of green building projects with your clients.
How local government and utilities support, influence and impact green building initiatives.
How New Code changes may affect the way our homes are built and what we should look out for.
Date: Saturday, April 12th, 2008
Time: 8:30 to 4:30
Location: Oakland City Hall, One Frank Ogawa Plaza, Hearing Room 3
Contact: John Fryer at 510/682-4908
Cost: $195 for AIA members and their guests
Click here to Register
For more information: John Fryer at 510/682-4908 or Click here
Sustainable building and remodeling practices are no longer just trendy, they're increasingly more vital to clients, and therefore the survival of your business.
Join us for the Green Building Symposium to learn:
What green remodeling means and what it really costs.
How to assess and communicate the value of green building projects with your clients.
How local government and utilities support, influence and impact green building initiatives.
How New Code changes may affect the way our homes are built and what we should look out for.
Date: Saturday, April 12th, 2008
Time: 8:30 to 4:30
Location: Oakland City Hall, One Frank Ogawa Plaza, Hearing Room 3
Contact: John Fryer at 510/682-4908
Cost: $195 for AIA members and their guests
Click here to Register
For more information: John Fryer at 510/682-4908 or Click here
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
2008 Survey for California Architectural Firms
Management Design, Bay Area-based business consultants specializing in architecture and design firms, extends an open invitation to participate in the 2008 Survey for California Architectural Firms. The AIACC endorses this research and encourages participation. The annual survey is the most comprehensive study of regional compensation and operational statistics available to California architectural firms, providing up-to-date operations, compensation, benefit and billing rate information. Nearly 1,000 California design firms will receive questionnaires during the first week in May.
The impact of this survey depends on timely information. Results are provided free of charge to participants who respond to the survey by the deadline date of June 2008. Non-responding AIA members may purchase the survey at a discounted rate of $130. Results are available to non-AIA members for $150.
If your firm would like to participate, and you have not previously received a questionnaire or have moved within the last year, go to www.managementdesign.com and fill out a participation form or contact Marcella Canori marcella@managementdesign.com . Thank you for your time and participation as we successfully produce the 31st annual Survey for California Architectural Firms.
For more information: marcella@managementdesign.com
The impact of this survey depends on timely information. Results are provided free of charge to participants who respond to the survey by the deadline date of June 2008. Non-responding AIA members may purchase the survey at a discounted rate of $130. Results are available to non-AIA members for $150.
If your firm would like to participate, and you have not previously received a questionnaire or have moved within the last year, go to www.managementdesign.com and fill out a participation form or contact Marcella Canori marcella@managementdesign.com . Thank you for your time and participation as we successfully produce the 31st annual Survey for California Architectural Firms.
For more information: marcella@managementdesign.com
Less Expensive Ways to Make Better Housing
From Berkeley Design Advocates:
Less Expensive Ways to Make Better Housing
SPUR’s Affordable by Design Proposals
Please join us for breakfast on Wednesday April 2 at 730 AM at The Vault to hear a presentation on the revolutionary idea that we can build middle income housing without public subsidy. The San Francisco Planning and Urban Research Association has recently issued its Affordable by Design proposal that advocates changes in both planning criteria and building codes that together can drastically reduce the cost to produce new multifamily housing. Perhaps Berkeley can consider these thoughtful recommendations; they certainly differ from the proposals advocated by the Density Bonus Joint Subcommittee.
Our presenters will be SPUR Task Force members George Williams, BDA member and Anne Torney, AIA of WRT Solomon ETC.
The SPUR report makes six key recommendation:
1. Regulate building density by height, bulk and setback requirements, not by limits on the number of units allowed.
2. Stop requiring new parking in new buildings.
3. Stop regulating bedroom counts.
4. Allow flexibility in the code to facilitate an additional story of housing in wood-frame buildings – suggesting five stories of wood frame above a concrete podium level with a 65-foot height limit – 15 feet on the ground floor, and five 10-foot high stories. SPUR notes that San Diego and Seattle have both adopted code standards to make such construction possible, and in Oakland the Forest City Uptown Development is building five stories of wood frame.
5. Allow developers to fulfill their on-site inclusionary housing requirements by providing more units at middle-income price points, rather than fewer units at moderate-income price points.
6. Modify requirements for courtyard widths and rear-yard setbacks to allow for greater design flexibility in locating common open space.
The full report is available on the SPUR website at:
http://www.spur.org/documents/2008.01Interiors_FINAL.pdf
This is sure to be an exciting topic for BDA members, and has great applicability to Berkeley’s current debates on downtown development (where the fringes of downtown are proposed for 65 foot heights), as well as the on-going density bonus discussions.
George Williams is the former deputy Director of the San Francisco Department of City Planning and a longtime SPUR and BDA member. Anne Torney AIA is Principal and Director of Housing at WRT/Solomon E.T.C., an architecture, urban design, planning and landscape architecture firm, and designers of both the Fine Arts building and the David Brower Center/Oxford Plaza, now under construction. Her 20 years' experience as an architect have focused on urban and mixed-use projects, and, in particular, affordable housing for non-profit clients and City agencies.
All breakfast presentations at The Vault, 3250 Adeline St, near Alcatraz.
For more information: berkeleydesignadvocates@yahoo.com
Less Expensive Ways to Make Better Housing
SPUR’s Affordable by Design Proposals
Please join us for breakfast on Wednesday April 2 at 730 AM at The Vault to hear a presentation on the revolutionary idea that we can build middle income housing without public subsidy. The San Francisco Planning and Urban Research Association has recently issued its Affordable by Design proposal that advocates changes in both planning criteria and building codes that together can drastically reduce the cost to produce new multifamily housing. Perhaps Berkeley can consider these thoughtful recommendations; they certainly differ from the proposals advocated by the Density Bonus Joint Subcommittee.
Our presenters will be SPUR Task Force members George Williams, BDA member and Anne Torney, AIA of WRT Solomon ETC.
The SPUR report makes six key recommendation:
1. Regulate building density by height, bulk and setback requirements, not by limits on the number of units allowed.
2. Stop requiring new parking in new buildings.
3. Stop regulating bedroom counts.
4. Allow flexibility in the code to facilitate an additional story of housing in wood-frame buildings – suggesting five stories of wood frame above a concrete podium level with a 65-foot height limit – 15 feet on the ground floor, and five 10-foot high stories. SPUR notes that San Diego and Seattle have both adopted code standards to make such construction possible, and in Oakland the Forest City Uptown Development is building five stories of wood frame.
5. Allow developers to fulfill their on-site inclusionary housing requirements by providing more units at middle-income price points, rather than fewer units at moderate-income price points.
6. Modify requirements for courtyard widths and rear-yard setbacks to allow for greater design flexibility in locating common open space.
The full report is available on the SPUR website at:
http://www.spur.org/documents/2008.01Interiors_FINAL.pdf
This is sure to be an exciting topic for BDA members, and has great applicability to Berkeley’s current debates on downtown development (where the fringes of downtown are proposed for 65 foot heights), as well as the on-going density bonus discussions.
George Williams is the former deputy Director of the San Francisco Department of City Planning and a longtime SPUR and BDA member. Anne Torney AIA is Principal and Director of Housing at WRT/Solomon E.T.C., an architecture, urban design, planning and landscape architecture firm, and designers of both the Fine Arts building and the David Brower Center/Oxford Plaza, now under construction. Her 20 years' experience as an architect have focused on urban and mixed-use projects, and, in particular, affordable housing for non-profit clients and City agencies.
All breakfast presentations at The Vault, 3250 Adeline St, near Alcatraz.
For more information: berkeleydesignadvocates@yahoo.com
Monday, March 17, 2008
Managing Your Business
On Tuesday, March 25 at 6:00pm the Young Architects Forum presents Managing Your Business.
Rich Pipkin will discuss starting and growing your firm. What are the tools Young Architects need to manage their firms well and prepare for the future. i.e growth, partnerships, etc.
Time: 6:00-7:30pm
Location: AIA East Bay Chapter Office, 1405 Clay Street , Oakland
Contact: Kellie Hewlett at 510/464-3600 or Gerard Lee, AIA
Cost: None; this program open to all. Cocktails provided. Please RSVP.
1.5 HSW CES/LU
For more information: Kellie Hewlett, Program Coordinator, 510/464-3600
Rich Pipkin will discuss starting and growing your firm. What are the tools Young Architects need to manage their firms well and prepare for the future. i.e growth, partnerships, etc.
Time: 6:00-7:30pm
Location: AIA East Bay Chapter Office, 1405 Clay Street , Oakland
Contact: Kellie Hewlett at 510/464-3600 or Gerard Lee, AIA
Cost: None; this program open to all. Cocktails provided. Please RSVP.
1.5 HSW CES/LU
For more information: Kellie Hewlett, Program Coordinator, 510/464-3600
Revit User Group: Can Revit be Customized?
Tuesday, March 18 at 11:30am
If you're seeking an answer to this question or have a few good customization tips to share with colleagues, be sure to catch the next Revit User Group. Our meeting will begin with an open discussion about ways to customize and back-up your Revit work environment. We will be sure to touch on shortcuts, scripts, and the revit.ini file. Bring your best tips!
The second half of this meeting will be presented by Ben Bishoff, Software Developer with Ideate, Inc., who will discuss the Revit Application Program Interface (API) and demonstrate Ideate's free Revit Explorer tool. The Revit Explorer can be used to create detailed selection sets, find hidden DWGs, and audit family standards.
Time: 11:30am-1:30pm
Location: AIA East Bay Chapter Office, 1405 Clay Street, Oakland
Contact: Freddy Vasquez at 415.814.5539
Cost: None; Lunch will be provided by Ideate, Inc.
Click Here for Registration
1.5 CES/LU
For more information: Freddy Vasquez at 415.814.5539
If you're seeking an answer to this question or have a few good customization tips to share with colleagues, be sure to catch the next Revit User Group. Our meeting will begin with an open discussion about ways to customize and back-up your Revit work environment. We will be sure to touch on shortcuts, scripts, and the revit.ini file. Bring your best tips!
The second half of this meeting will be presented by Ben Bishoff, Software Developer with Ideate, Inc., who will discuss the Revit Application Program Interface (API) and demonstrate Ideate's free Revit Explorer tool. The Revit Explorer can be used to create detailed selection sets, find hidden DWGs, and audit family standards.
Time: 11:30am-1:30pm
Location: AIA East Bay Chapter Office, 1405 Clay Street, Oakland
Contact: Freddy Vasquez at 415.814.5539
Cost: None; Lunch will be provided by Ideate, Inc.
Click Here for Registration
1.5 CES/LU
For more information: Freddy Vasquez at 415.814.5539
Red Marking and Revising Developing Designs in the Digital Age; Pencils Down!
On Thursday, March 20, at noon the Professional Practice Forum tackles the electronic age. The focus will be the new challenges to the Quality Assurance of Documents that are issued by an architect.
New tools are available to assist the architect in communicating corrections to Construction Documents. The Professional Practice Forum will showcase and explore tools being used by current architects to work with their staff and to coordinate with consultants in an electronic medium.
Time: Noon-1:00 pm
Location: AIA East Bay Chapter Office, 1405 Clay Street , Oakland.
Contact: Kellie Hewlett at 510/464-3600 or Tim Craig, AIA
Cost: None; this program open to all.
1 CES/LU
For more information: Kellie Hewlett, Program Coordinator, 510/464-3600
New tools are available to assist the architect in communicating corrections to Construction Documents. The Professional Practice Forum will showcase and explore tools being used by current architects to work with their staff and to coordinate with consultants in an electronic medium.
Time: Noon-1:00 pm
Location: AIA East Bay Chapter Office, 1405 Clay Street , Oakland.
Contact: Kellie Hewlett at 510/464-3600 or Tim Craig, AIA
Cost: None; this program open to all.
1 CES/LU
For more information: Kellie Hewlett, Program Coordinator, 510/464-3600
Monday, March 10, 2008
Public Meetings about Central Business District Rezoning in Oakland
The City of Oakland is going through a rezoning of the Central Business District as part of the Citywide zoning update. The proposed zoning includes a Height/Intensity Map that restricts heights of buildings as well as requires the buildings to get more narrow above a certain height. There are various regulations that effect how a building is designed. Information on proposals can be found here.
The next two meetings are:
Community Workshop: To discuss allowed uses and development regulations for proposed new zoning districts for Central Business District (CBD) area
Monday, March 17, 2008
6:30 - 9:00pm
Lake Merritt Sailboat House (Inside Lakeside Park at Lake Merritt), 568 Bellevue Avenue, Oakland CA
Zoning Update Committee: Introduction of the process and approach for rezoning the City's downtown area or "Central Business District" (CBD).
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
4:00pm
Hearing Room 1, City Hall
For more information: Laura B. Kaminski , AICP, City of Oakland, (510)238-6809
Opening: Berkeley Design Review Board
From David Snippen, Assoc. AIA:
The Berkeley Design Review Committee has an open position for a California licensed Architect to serve a term of up to eight years in service to the community. Candidates must be a resident of Berkeley, although he or she may work outside of the city. Applications and resumes must be received by the City Clerk no later than Friday, 28 March 2008.
Check the City's website for specific information regarding the DRC and for the general application form at, www.ci.berkeley.ca.us. Go to Quick Links/ Boards and Commissions/ Commission Index & Information to find the General Application form. Applications should be mailed to the City Clerk, with a copy of the applicant's resume and appropriate attachments, to 2180 Milvia Street, Berkeley, CA 94704, attention Rose Johnson.
Interviews of selected candidates will be held during April, and the appointment of the finalist candidate will be confirmed by the Zoning Adjustments Board.
For more information: Ann Burns, Secretary to the Design Review Committee, at 981-7415.
The Berkeley Design Review Committee has an open position for a California licensed Architect to serve a term of up to eight years in service to the community. Candidates must be a resident of Berkeley, although he or she may work outside of the city. Applications and resumes must be received by the City Clerk no later than Friday, 28 March 2008.
Check the City's website for specific information regarding the DRC and for the general application form at, www.ci.berkeley.ca.us. Go to Quick Links/ Boards and Commissions/ Commission Index & Information to find the General Application form. Applications should be mailed to the City Clerk, with a copy of the applicant's resume and appropriate attachments, to 2180 Milvia Street, Berkeley, CA 94704, attention Rose Johnson.
Interviews of selected candidates will be held during April, and the appointment of the finalist candidate will be confirmed by the Zoning Adjustments Board.
For more information: Ann Burns, Secretary to the Design Review Committee, at 981-7415.
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