We understand the dedication and effort required to study for and pass the ARE. Congratulations to the following members for passing their exams and gaining licensure. This is great news that thrills all of us and we are so proud to call you architects!
Isaiah S. Felton, AIA (Northern Virginia) Mert Kansu, AIA (Central Virginia) Ariel Westmark, AIA (Northern Virginia) Matthew Salzer, AIA (Northern Virginia) Anh Tran, AIA (Northern Virginia) Matthew P. Williston, AIA (Richmond)
Have you recently passed the ARE? Upgrade your membership to Architect using this AIA form. or send an email to your Member Services Director, Cathy Guske, cguske@aiava.org
Are you ready to get licensed? AIA Virginia has 60-day Amber Book subscriptions for $50 here>>
Have questions about licensure? Contact AIA Virginia’s State Licensing Advisor, Michael Hammon, AIA at mhammon@glaveandholmes.com
An amusement device is a device or structure open to the public by which persons are conveyed or moved in an unusual manner for diversion, but excluding snow tubing parks and rides, ski terrain parks, ski slopes and ski trails, and passenger tramways. The phrase “open to the public” means that the public has full access to a device or structure at an event, irrespective of whether a fee is charged. The use of devices or structures at private events is not considered to be open to the public. Inflatable amusement devices and zip lines, when open to the public, are considered amusement devices.
The Virginia Amusement Device Regulations (VADR) is the standard for the regulation, design, construction, maintenance, operation, and inspection of amusement devices within the Commonwealth of Virginia whether mobile or affixed to a site. Enforcement of the VADR is the responsibility of the local building inspections department in each locality throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia unless the permit applicant chooses to use a third-party inspector. The Virginia Department of General Services functions as the local building department for amusement devices located on state-owned property.
There are many devices that are exempt from VADR such as non-mechanized playground or recreational equipment such as swing sets, sliding boards, climbing bars, jungle gyms, skateboard ramps and similar equipment. Also exempt from the VADR are coin-operated rides designed to accommodate three or less passengers, water slides or similar equipment in community or organization swimming pools, mechanical bulls, and shopping mall trains.
Operators for amusement devices must notify the building official that they are setting up an amusement device in their locality and relay whether the device has previously been inspected within the required time. The operator must also apply for the required permits for their amusement devices, carry liability insurance and provide proof of insurance to the locality in which they are setting up their amusement devices. Fees for amusement device permits are specific and are established in the VADR. Inspection requirements for amusement devices are also established in the VADR.
Once an amusement device has been inspected and approved for operation, an inspection certificate (seal) is placed on the device. Amusement Device Seals are provided only to the Building Official and not to private third parties that may be utilized by the jurisdiction. Next time you are at an amusement park, fair, or other location in Virginia where a regulated device is set up, you can look for this sticker to verify that the device has been inspected and approved.
The Amusement Device Technical Advisory Committee (ADTAC) is a committee appointed by the Board of Housing and Community Development (Board), which assists the Board in the administration of the Virginia Amusement Device Regulations. The ADTAC consists of five members; two members represent the code enforcement community, two members represent the amusement park or private sector operators of amusement devices, and one member represents third-party amusement device inspectors.
The ADTAC recommends standards for the construction, maintenance, operation and inspection of amusement devices, including the qualifications of amusement device operators and the certification of inspectors, and otherwise performs advisory functions as the Board may require.
Additional information related to the amusement device program, including the VADR and ADTAC can be found here.
If you have questions about amusement devices in Virginia, please contact the State Building Codes Office at (804) 371-7150 or sbco@dhcd.virignia.gov.
Join us in person to hear about vital developments with your professional society, elect officers, and conduct other business at the AIA Virginia Annual Meeting of the Membership. Then, join us in a celebration of newly licensed architects and our Emerging Leaders in Architecture class of 2022. Earn 1.5 AIA LU|Elective. The meeting will be held during Architecture Exchange East Wednesday, Nov. 2 from 4:00-5:30 p.m. There is no charge to attend the Membership Meeting.
Mike is a native of Poquoson, Virginia, a small waterfront city on the western shore of the The Chesapeake Bay, locally known as “Bull Island”, is one of the oldest (1631) continuously named cities in Virginia, where he still resides.
He worked for several years in high school on construction sites during summers, and later while in college with architectural firms in Norfolk, Charlottesville, Newport News, and Scottsdale, AZ.
Mike Evans, FAIA
A few years out of the University of Virginia, School of Architecture (BARCH 1972) and with 5 years of firm practice, registration, and building a new home, he began a sole proprietorship in 1977, later expanding that firm in 1979. Shortly after having their Hampton office in the historic Roseland Manor House, on the shores of the Hampton Roads Harbor, was destroyed by fire, the the firm merged with John Paul Hanbury, FAIA and Company in 1985, relocating to downtown Norfolk.
Around that time, Hanbury Evans Wright Vlattas (HEWV) (now trading as Hanbury) embarked on a focused plan to embrace a smaller number of client market areas. Mike along with Jane Cady Rathbone, FAIA volunteered to lead the newly named Academic Studio.
With only a few previous college and university projects, the opportunities, challenges, and competition were formidable. With a shared appreciation of academic environments, and with high expectations about design and planning, the studio and firm began a 30+ year voyage of academic work across the United States, and occasionally beyond, that continues today.
Hanbury has now worked with over 175 higher education clients. Mike worked with many campuses, including the planning and initial design for an entirely new campus for the University of Macao, Guangdong province, mainland China, on land leased to the Macau SAR government. He was also involved in planning and design for what was a new student housing complex, and the 2002 Winter Olympic Village at the University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, along with work in Qatar, Uruguay, Mexico, Canada, and Great Britain.
He was a Design Principal and CEO of HEWV for a number of years, retiring from active practice in 2015.
Mike has also been active in the local and professional communities, including having served six years on the Poquoson City School Board. He served as a founder and Chairman of the Poquoson Education Foundation, Inc. and as Chairman of the Virginia Peninsula Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. He was President of the Hampton Roads AIA Chapter and Vice-President of AIA Virginia. He conducted numerous conference and collegiate speaking engagements, including in China and South Africa, Design Award Juries, and was for several years a presenting participant in the AIA Virginia’s Emerging Leaders in Architecture session in Norfolk.
What does it take to be an Architect? Passion for design and creative thinking, enjoyment of teamwork, constant learning, and hard work! Mike believes that investing in learning about the client community, their concerns and needs, and the design and firm environment you want to embrace, is one of the paths for a long and satisfying career. You should cherish your efforts that improve and impact people and places, as it is the very best career award. Learn to listen, lead, share, involve, and praise others. He also encourages the study of human behavior and systems thinking for a more expansive set of leadership skills and tools.
Who are the architects that inspired you? So many! Mitchell / Giurgola, Hugh Jacobson, Calatrava, Clark / Menefee, Kenzo Tange, and many partners, classmates, consultants, and professors…….and Carlton Abbott, FAIA.
What are you currently reading? Currently reading The Wizard and The Prophet, by Charles C. Mann, about dueling concepts of two early environmental scientists about the future. Will we simply embrace and rely on technological progress (Wizard), or rely on resource conservation (Prophet) to continue to have and feed an expanding world population? He prefers to focus on non-fiction reading topics.
What has been your best meal ever? His “best” meal was at a restaurant in Hong Kong with other firm members. The HUTONG Restaurant in Hong Kong was the best view and food! His most memorable meal(s) will always be from enjoying whole family lunches at his grandparents’ house each Sunday, and occasionally on his grandfather’s fishing boat.
Why volunteer with the AIA? AIA is our knowledge community and advocate. You get to share your thoughts and experiences and learn from the whole range of firms, individual architects, and issues. Every hour you serve AIA improves your skill and knowledge set and enhances your access to and relationships with others in the design and construction industry.
Currently, what are you doing? Having retired from active practice, he now spends more time trying to fix his golf game, doing occasional sketching, and enjoying time on the North Carolina OBX, in the mountains of Virginia, and with five amazing grandchildren!
At its June 2022 meeting, the AIA Virginia Board of Directors created an At-large Director position and seeks applicants to serve in this leadership role:
At-large Director Position
The At-large Director is a vital link in the two-way communication between constituents of the American Institute of Architects in Virginia and the state organization. Individuals will be elected to serve on the AIA Virginia board because of their experience, contributions to the profession, and understanding of the organization, all of which should be shared with other members of the Board of Directors.
An At-large Director should bring the viewpoints of their colleagues; moreover, they have a responsibility to advise the members and stimulate them to work for results on which AIA Virginia has chosen to focus. As a member of the Board of Directors, the At-large Director’s viewpoints should be statewide in scope while at the same time representing the unique interests of each chapter’s geographic region. The term of office for this director is two years.
Candidate Declaration
Any member-in-good-standing may declare their candidacy by informing the Secretary, through the Executive Vice President, of the individual’s intention to run for the At-large Director position.
Declarations by candidates are due August 15, 2022 by 5:00 p.m. EDT to Helene Combs Dreiling, FAIA | Interim Executive Vice President at hdreiling@aiava.org.
Candidate Certification
Once this declaration is complete, the candidate will have 30 days to provide the following information for the certification process:
A declaration indicating that the individual’s firm does not employ unpaid labor on projects (this will be provided to the candidate by AIA Virginia for completion).
A statement of acknowledgment from the local AIA component that the candidate will stand for election (this will be provided to the candidate by AIA Virginia for completion).
A letter of support from three different AIA Virginia members-in-good-standing.
A candidate resume, headshot, and statement of philosophy. The statement of philosophy is limited to 250 words.
Voting for Candidates
Any member-in-good-standing may participate in the election of the At-large Director. Voting will be performed electronically commencing October 11, 2022 and concluding November 4, 2022. Results of the election will be announced on November 8, 2022.
“I am pleased to announce this next roster of leaders,” said Governor Glenn Youngkin. “The Commonwealth is grateful for their dedication to serve. I know that their hard work will help make Virginia the best place to live, work and raise a family”.
Georgie Márquez-André, AIA, Partner at Andre + Marquez Architects, Inc. in Portsmouth has been appointed to the Secure and Resilient Commonwealth Panel.
Lynden Garland, AIA, NOMA, Associate and Studio Partner at Baskervill in Richmond has been appointed to the Art and Architectural Review Board.
In my brief time working in the architectural industry, I have seen the power of collaboration. Those in the industry reaching out and helping me become a better professional have been a key to my success. The powerful action of those that are in front of me in their careers is a gift and I am grateful to have their wisdom and advice as I grow professionally. To this end, I was inspired to give back to those coming into the industry behind and beside me. So, this year, I co-founded EmergeAEC (EmergeAEC.com), a platform that supports emerging professionals across architecture, engineering, and construction so that we can build stronger foundations of communication and education across AEC while supporting each other.
This edition of Associated Thoughts is dedicated to the students and emerging professionals looking for that real-world experience in an architecture office and how we, as professionals working in architecture, can better support these future architects through job shadow opportunities.
How to Professionally Prepare Yourself for Becoming an Architect Through Short-Term Job Shadowing Opportunities
Caitlin Morgan, Assoc. AIA, CSI-EP, CDT
Job shadowing, similar to interning, allows students and recent graduates to observe architecture offices and ask questions to figure out where their passion lies within the industry. Unlike internships, however, most job shadow opportunities are more informal consisting of a few meetings. During these encounters, it is important to have a clear learning objective and communicate with your mentor so that both of you can maximize your time in an architectural office.
The first step to finding a job shadowing opportunity is to reach out to architectural firms in your local area, either over email or with a phone call. Look for architects or project managers that you admire and explain that you are a student or recent graduate looking to learn more about architectural firms and day-to-day activities. They may invite you to their office or schedule a Zoom call, but they may also direct you to some online resources about architecture – both are valuable, and don’t be discouraged if you cannot find a mentor immediately.
If architectural firms in your area are scarce, widen your search range and reach out to firms by asking for virtual job shadow opportunities. A thirty-minute Zoom call to ask questions and hear from an architect is more valuable than giving up your search. Having experience with a diverse range of firms will give you a better idea of the kind of firm and the type of work you will enjoy.
Job shadowing allows you to gain experience in an architectural firm by seeing first-hand the typical pace and process for projects coming through the office. You may also have the opportunity to gain experience, such as schematic design, or learn about which software is being used and why, such as AutoCAD, Revit, or SketchUp. Every office and mentor will be different, so here are some benefits and tips for job shadowing that you can tailor to each opportunity.
Benefit 1: Portfolios & Resumes Take the opportunity to update your portfolio before reaching out to architectural firms so that the architect or project manager has an idea of your design experience. It also serves as a jumping-off point when you do meet with your mentor by discussing your projects and design process thinking. Throughout your time job shadowing, you and your mentor may also develop a practice project that can enhance your portfolio. Any skills or software you learn can also build your resume by showing you have firsthand experience in an office. Learning these skills and software through a short-term job shadow won’t be enough for resume proficiency, but they open the doors to spend time developing those skills on your own time and for future job shadow opportunities.
Benefit 2: Professional Development Reaching out to an architectural firm is step one to finding a job shadow opportunity, but that first step contains some of the most important lessons in professional development: Initiative and networking. Taking the initiative to develop your professional skills will open doors that others will not know exist because you are creating your own opportunities. When others see that you have the drive to succeed and learn, people will want to help you, and that is where networking comes in. Talk to your professors who may be able to connect you with fellow architecture professionals and take the initiative to reach out and continue building relationships. Once you have found a mentor to work with, brush up on your interviewing skills; Although job shadowing isn’t an internship or job, it’s a lower-stakes opportunity to develop a professional skill that will again benefit your future job searches.
Benefit 3: Sketching Future Plans Learn what kinds of architectural firms or projects are the best fit for you by experiencing them first-hand. Firms can range in size from one to thousands of employees, and many of these firms can have vastly different structures and work cultures. Other firms may also specialize in specific projects, such as hospitality, education, residential, etc. with different approaches to each type. Architecture has many branches and specializations, so by job shadowing in different office structures, you will not only be networking with experienced architects but also educating yourself on what office culture will best align with your future goals when you begin your job search.
Tip 1: Job shadowing is short-term. Plan to spend a few days a week maximum with your mentor. Because you are observing, asking questions, and learning, job shadowing is typically unpaid, unless you are working on a project where your time will be billed to a client. Unpaid internships are illegal, so stay aware of any projects you are putting work into by asking questions and having an end goal for your job-shadowing experience, such as a mentor-mentee project.
Tip 2: Develop a project with your mentor. Mentor-mentee projects are an excellent method for learning about the architectural development process because you are learning over a real-world, though the hypothetical, project. For example, your mentor may pose as a client with specific requirements for their project, and it will be your job to translate what is in their mind into a floorplan and eventually a virtual model. Having a project also serves as a medium for learning new software or applying new skills so that by the end of your job shadowing, you can highlight this project in your portfolio. To make the most of your meetings, try working on your project at home so that you and your mentor can spend more time in-person (or virtually) discussing your project, reviewing questions, and shadowing around the office.
Tip 3: Treat your job shadowing opportunity like a job. Establish consistency and effective communication with your mentor early on. Communicate your availability, arrive on time, and act professionally in the workplace. Not only is your mentor spending their work time to support you, but you are also building a relationship for future job references or ongoing mentorship opportunities. Job shadowing is not “your job,” but it is a professional development opportunity that is teaching you skills for your future career.
I started job shadowing in high school when I was enrolled in architectural classes at my local technical center. Those opportunities gave me the confidence to reach out to architectural firms in college and earn my first internship, which turned into a full-time designer position when I graduated from college. Not every job shadowing opportunity will turn into a long-term position, but you will learn more about the industry and develop professional skills that will benefit you for years to come.
If I can offer more guidance or connect you with architectural firms across Virginia, please do not hesitate to contact me. Shoot me an email, connect with me on LinkedIn, or DM me on Instagram through EmergeAEC so we can chat. My contact information is below. Additionally, if you are a practicing architecture professional, share this Associated Thoughts with your mentees or on social media so that we can support more students and emerging professionals.
As always, I’m here for you.
Caitlin Morgan, Assoc. AIA, CSI-EP, CDT Associate Director, AIA Virginia
We understand the dedication and effort required to study for and pass the ARE. Congratulations to the following member for passing their exams and gaining licensure. This is great news that thrills all of us and we are so proud to call you an architect!
Joseph A. Kraus, AIA (Northern Virginia)
Have you recently passed the ARE? Upgrade your membership to Architect using this AIA form. or send an email to your Member Services Director, Cathy Guske, cguske@aiava.org
Are you ready to get licensed? AIA Virginia has 60-day Amber Book subscriptions for $50 here>>
Have questions about licensure? Contact AIA Virginia’s State Licensing Advisor, Michael Hammon, AIA at mhammon@glaveandholmes.com
