Breaking News regarding the New California Energy Standards

From John Britton, AIA:

"The effective date for the 2008 Building Energy Efficiency Standards (Title 24, Parts 1 and 6) has been changed to January 1, 2010.

The California Energy Commission adopted the 2008 Standards on April 23, 2008, and the Building Standards Commission approved them on September 11, 2008. The Standards were scheduled to become effective on August 1, 2009.

The Energy Commission has experienced delays in completing the public domain compliance software. The Energy Commission had anticipated that these software programs would be available earlier, however the software required further programming attention before the programs could be released. The Energy Commission is resolving those problems, and will provide the programs in the near future.

This delay provides the industry and building officials more time to prepare for the new Standards. The Energy Commission will use this additional time to provide more information for the Standards and work with the California utilities, building industry and the California Building Officials to provide training on the new Standards."

Curtain Wall Forum

All Curtain Wall aficionados and detractors should take part in this moderated discussion regarding this powerful tool and how it meets (or doesn't meet) reality. Shruti Harve, AEC Application Specialist from Ideate wills tart the meeting off with a few intriguing uses of the curtain wall tool and then moderate and open discussion with the audience.

Shruti Harve holds a Mater of Science degree in Architectural Computing from University of Strathclyde, United Kingdom and is a LEED accredited professional. Her experience includes working in architecture and construction firms in India and the United Kingdom as well as structural engineering firms in the Bay Area providing design, 3D modeling and drafting services.

7/21/09

Revit User Group: Curtain Wall Forum

All Curtain Wall aficionados and detractors should take part in this moderated discussion regarding this powerful tool and how it meets (or doesn't meet) reality.

Time: 11:30am-1:30pm

Location: AIA East Bay Chapter Office, 1405 Clay Street, Oakland.

Contact: To register click here

Cost: None; this program is open to all. Lunch provided by Ideate, Inc.

For more information: 510/464-3600

Creating Custom Profiles for Walls, Beams and Columns

At this user group we will review the ArchiCAD Profile Manager which allows you to create complex profiles for walls, beams and columns. This tool is used to define building component profiles which contain 2D plan and sectional details which are linked to the 3D model information. The tool can be used to create foundations, custom walls, structural components and more.

7/1/09

Creating Custom Profiles for Walls, Beams & Columns

Time: 6:00pm - 7:00pm

Location: AIA East Bay Chapter Office, 1405 Clay Street, Oakland.

Contact: 510/464-3600

Cost: None; this program is open to everyone.

1 CES/LU

For more information: 510/464-3600

Drafting Table - $85

Large drafting table, nice condition.

Buyer to disassemble and move (bring someone with you, we do not have anyone to assist you).

Priced to Move!

Conference Table - $575

Custom Conference Room table and eight coordinating chairs.

This is a high quality conference table that was custom designed for an architectural engineering office. There is a professional grommet opening in the middle to accommodate a conference phone (or other electronics if preferred).

Unfortunately, it won't fit at our new office location and we must sell.

This is a great set, in excellent condition!

The table cost us $2100.00. Added to the custom table is 8 adjustable chairs purchased from IKEA. They are black and grey and are very comfortable.

Won't last long at this price. First to inquire will be given preference.

Buyer to move.

Kari Jung

Office Manager

T 925.275.0110, Ext. 101

F 925.275.0126

Tour: The Green Patient Lab 3.0

The Green Patient Lab 3.0 is the first full-scale idea and research demonstration of Green materials and technologies that are economically viable, readily available and appropriate for use in intensive health care settings. The Green Patient Lab 3.0 shows how to create a healing environment that improves the quality of life for patients, staff and family by utilizing best practices and evidence-based design concepts.

This tour will be lead by Suzanne Drake, IIDA, LEED AP, Senior Associate at Anshen + Allen Architects in San Francisco. Suzanne is the GPL Project Manager, with more than 14 years of interior design experience built around a depth of health care interiors, Suzanne has led efforts incorporating Evidence Based Design features into her projects along with sustainable practices for the patient and provider environment.

Suzanne has been with the Green Patient Lab since its conception, when she was part of the original team in November of 2006 that planned and designed what then was an exhibit of a patient room designed to demonstrate green products. She continues to source new products and work with the GPL Partners to keep the pressure on developing sustainable products. This focus on the "patient experience" includes providing the care-givers the tools they need for maximum efficiency through planning and technology.

This presentation is an in-depth look at each of the "Greening the Patient Experience" exhibit concepts. You will learn about readily available sustainable products, how to apply "evidence based" design, what constitutes a "healing environment" and much more.


7/9/09
Women in Architecture: The Green Patient Lab 3.0
Time: 6:00-7:30pm
Location: Anshen + Allen Architects, 901 Market Street, 6th Floor, San Francisco
Contact: 510/464-3600 or Laura de la Torre, Assoc. AIA
Cost: None; this program open to all. Please RSVP.
1 CES/LU HSW/SD

For more information: 510/464-3600

New Products that Inspire, Solve Problems, Save Energy & Make Life Easier

Linda Randolph, AIA will share the new products and construction materials that she has gleaned from the past year of her practice as well as hot new items form this years Pacific Coast Builders Conference. She will introduce ADA products, green construction materials and a multitude of innovative, useful and yes, even bizarre products for you to consider. Please bring your own discoveries to enlighten the group. Presented by the Small Firm Forum.

7/2/09

Small Firm Forum: New Products that Inspire, Solve Problems, Save Energy & Make Life Easier

Discover how you can use new products to increase your productivity and make everyday tasks easier. Presented by Linda Randolph, AIA.

Time: Noon - 1:30pm

Location: AIA East Bay Chapter Office, 1405 Clay Street, Oakland.

Contact: 510/464-3600

Cost: Free for AIA Members; $3 for non-members. This program is open to everyone. Bring your own lunch, soft drinks will be provided.

1 CES/LU

For more information: 510/464-3600

Statements of Qualifications Requested

The Solano County Department of General Services, Division of Architectural Services (DAS), is requesting Statements of Qualifications (SOQ) from qualified firms to provide architectural/engineering services on an as–needed basis to support a variety of existing and future projects primarily through General Services Job Order Contracting (JOC) Program for renovation and tenant improvement projects. The Division of Architectural Services is the primary agency, which provides in-house and/or out sources architectural/engineering services required to successfully deliver capital improvement projects that house County programs and services on behalf of Solano County.

These projects include a wide variety of new construction, renovation/rehabilitation, tenant improvement, and historic preservation projects. At times, the scale and scope of work assigned to DAS exceeds the capacity of the Division’s work force. Projects, which exceed staff capacity, that require an expedited delivery schedule and/or specialized expertise, are contracted to private consulting firms. The Division, which has eight full–time employees, currently manages over 50 separate projects/work efforts in 2009 with an estimated value in excess of $100 million.

For more information: Please visit http://www.solanocounty.com/depts/genserv/architect/notices.asp for further information and updates.

NCARB Raises ARE Fees Because of Leaks

Washington, DC—The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) will increase the fees for the Architect Registration Examination® (ARE®) by $40 per division effective 1 October 2009. The increase, which was announced today at the NCARB Annual Meeting and Conference in Chicago, is due to recent incidents of exam content disclosure by ARE candidates. The cost to develop and replace the exposed content and handle the administrative and legal costs related to these incidents totals an estimated $1.1 million.

The ARE is designed to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public by providing a psychometrically justifiable and legally defensible process that measures the level of competence necessary to practice architecture independently. In recent months, NCARB has had to turn off substantial amounts of content after several candidates posted detailed exam content on the internet.

These candidates have had their exam scores canceled and testing privileges suspended for up to five years. To ensure the integrity of the exam, NCARB has been forced to add two full-time staff members to monitor and investigate exam disclosures and copyright violations.

Replacing exam content is expensive and time consuming because each vignette or multiple-choice item must be written, reviewed, edited, and thoroughly pre-tested before it is added to the exam. The process of developing replacement content will take two years and the involvement of many volunteer professionals. The current six month waiting period between failed divisions is in effect to ensure that a candidate does not see the same question twice. If ARE candidates continue to breach the Confidentiality Agreement they accept to prior to taking each division and additional exam content is exposed, NCARB may be forced to extend the mandatory waiting period in order to prevent overexposure of content.

Since NCARB produced the first national exam for architects in 1965, the cost of delivering the test has been heavily subsidized by other NCARB programs. Since the ARE was computerized in 1997, NCARB has subsidized more than $15 million in exam-related expenses. While the new fee structure will help offset the costs incurred as a result of exam disclosure, it still falls short of the actual cost of developing and administering the exam and monitoring its security.

The current version of the ARE is comprised of seven divisions that test a candidate’s knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform many of the tasks an architect encounters in practice. To become licensed, candidates must fulfill education and experience requirements, as well as pass all divisions of the ARE.

The new rate of $210 per division will take effect on 1 October 2009. All exams scheduled on or after 1 October 2009 will be at the new rate. Prior to 1 October 2009, candidates can schedule future exam appointments through 31 December 2009 at the current rate of $170 per division.

For more information: Erica J. Brown, AIA Director, ARE 202/783-6500 ebrown@ncarb.org

2009 Unbuilt Awards Announced

AIA East Bay is pleased to announce the jury for the 2009 Unbuilt Awards:

Richard Thomson, FAIA
Anne Fougeron, AIA
Jeffrey Day, AIA

The jury and presentation of awards will be September 17, 2009. If you would like a Call for Entries sent to you please contact awards[at]aiaeb.org.

For more information: awards[at]aiaeb.org

Member Appreciation Party

Save this date! October 21, 2009

That's the date of this year's Member Appreciation Party, which will be at the Craneway Pavillion, in the award-winning historic Ford Assembly Building.

AIA East Bay 2009 recipient of a Citation for Architecture

Ford Assembly Building

Richmond, CA

Architect: Marcy Wong Donn Logan Architects

Owner: Orton Development, Inc.

Preservation Architects: Mark Hulbert

Structural Engineer: Patrick Crosby

Landscape Architect: SWA Group

General Contractor: Dalzell Corporation

Photographer: Billy Hustace

For more information: Call the chapter office 510/464-3600

Onerous Conditions & Indemnification Issues

Join the Professional Practice Forum to discuss what you need to watch out for in Owner/Architect agreements. Topics will include ownership of documents, indemnification, requirements to continue service during disputes with owners, attorneys fees and other onerous conditions that frequently find their way into Owner biased agreements that are becoming increasingly more difficult to change due to the threat of losing work.

6/18/09

Professional Practice Forum: Onerous Conditions & Indemnification Issues

Time: Noon - 1:00pm
Location: AIA East Bay Chapter Office, 1405 Clay Street, Oakland.

Contact: 510/464-3600 or Tim Craig, AIA

Cost: None; this program open to all.

1 CES/LU

For more information: 510/464-3600