Registration is now open for AIA Virginia’s second biennial Art of Practice. The day-long event, which takes place on March 22, is intended to cultivate connections between peers in a comfortable, relaxed atmosphere.
Both seasoned and emerging leaders will come together at the Winery at Bull Run in Northern Virginia to share and learn best practices, advance their business skills, and form a lasting network of peers.
Participants in the program will consider the following questions:
In the face of a changing economy, what are smart firms doing to prepare for the future?
What are the leading trends that will impact practice?
What role should the AIA play in supporting firm leaders?
As the Board of Directors developed the current Strategic Plan, it was clear from member feedback that there was a desire for programming, tools, and resources to help elevate the business skills of AIA Virginia members. In response to that need, the Art of Practice was launched in 2017 with the explicit purpose of providing current and aspiring firm leaders and with timely, relevant, actionable advice on how to grow and sustain their businesses.
Started in 2009, The Emerging Leaders in Architecture: An Honors Academy of the American Institute of Architects Virginia (ELA), develops future leaders in architecture firms, in communities, and in the profession. The goal is to accelerate the growth of emerging architects and provide the tools and experiences needed to advance their careers and serve society as leaders in the community.
The 2019 ELA Steering Committee are Christopher Kehde, AIA (Chair), Jennifer Stringer, AIA (Vice Chair), Gwyn Gilliam, AIA (Past Chair), Abigail Watson, AIA, Bruce Wardell, AIA, Scott Boyce, AIA, Spencer Lepler, AIA, and Taylor Clark, AIA.
The Emerging Leaders in Architecture program needs your support! Contact Cathy Guske, Member Services Director to discuss the various ways to show your support.
The AIA Virginia Prize design competition kicks off the new semester by offering students the opportunity to win a $3000 award. The competition is a design charrette that engages students at all of the accredited schools of architecture in Virginia.
Each school’s faculty reviews the submissions and sends up to 10 finalists to Richmond for final judging.
Development of the competition brief rotates between the four schools annually — the 2019 Prize challenge was developed by Virginia Tech.
Launched in 1980, the competition is intended to promote collaboration between the profession, students, and professors in Virginia. Historically, the charrette has taken place in January, however over the last several years, the competition has been hosted in September to accommodate an ongoing scheduling conflict at one of the schools. Now that the conflict has been resolved, the Prize weekend is shifting back to the spring semester to better align with the demands of the academic calendar.
Watch for announcement of the winner in the coming months. If you’d like to get involved, contact Rhea George at rgeorge@aiava.org.
AIA Virginia is proud to announce a partnership with the Young Architect’s Forum in Hampton Roads to present [yaf]CON.
[yaf]CON is a newly-curated micro conference for emerging design professionals held 2-5 p.m. on Nov. 9, 2018 during Architecture Exchange East.
[yaf]CON is open to the young and to the young- hearted. The goal is to have fun, to learn, and to discuss the power of design for our communities. This inaugural program was developed to create a platform for emerging professionals for years to come.
You can add [yaf]CON to your ArchEx agenda for no extra charge — or join us for [yaf]CON for only $50.
[yaf]CON is intentionally open to allied professions to encourage cross-pollination of ideas, skill sets, and networks to better activate and enrich our cities through the energy and passion of emerging professionals in the design and construction fields.
[yaf]CON is curated and hosted by the AIA Hampton Roads Chapter of the Young Architects Forum.
AIA Virginia announces the call for applications for the 2019 class of Emerging Leaders in Architecture (ELA): An Honors Academy of AIA Virginia.
ELA is an intensive program of educational sessions structured around presentations, discussions, team exploration, analysis, consensus-building, collaboration, and case study activities undertaken over the course of a year by a small cadre of participants selected for their potential to be outstanding contributors to the profession and the community. Facilitators and mentors who are established leaders in the building, finance, non-profit, development, university, legal, consulting, and design professions and in the community at large develop and deliver the sessions, designed to provide participants with advanced knowledge and skills related to specific areas of leadership and practice.
The program consists of seven, day-long seminars, several work sessions, culminating with a presentation at Architecture Exchange East.
The application is available here>> The application deadline is Nov. 16, 2018.
The seminars are interactive, drawing on real examples and actively involving participants. They rotate among sites in Roanoke, Charlottesville, Richmond, Alexandria and Norfolk in conjunction with the firms, schools, and the local AIA component in each area.
How to Apply
The committee seeks applicants from three categories:
Component Nominees: Each of the five Virginia AIA local component Boards may nominate one or more individuals for admission to the program. One participant will be selected from each chapter for a total of five.
Student Nominees: Each Virginia Architecture School (UVa, VT, Hampton, and WAAC) may nominate one or more students for admission to the program. One participant will be selected from each school for a total of four.
Open Applications: Applicants may apply on their own or be nominated by someone else. Seven participants will be selected from among these applicants.
ELA Sessions at a Glance
Inheritance and Inspiration
Historically, architecture as a profession comes from a long-standing tradition of patronage and apprenticeship. Today, the profession of architecture has evolved into one that is forward-thinking and fast changing. It requires creativity and leadership for the commerce and culture it serves. As such, we inherit a status and obligation as architects to lead.
Serving Communities
Architects have a social responsibility to strengthen communities. This session evaluates how architects can lead by serving whether it’s in elected office or on a board or commission. Architects need a seat at the table when important civic decisions are made and must be able to speak to the value we bring to a community. Participants will have a chance to experience how the power of architects and design are shaping a community first-hand
Practicing Professionalism
This session kicks off with participants discovering their CliftonStrengths. Understanding where one excels allows him/her to be more effective in a team-oriented profession such as architecture. Fun and experiential team exercises will allow participants to learn more about their classmate’s strengths which will be informative and productive when working on the class project. The session also covers the obligations architects have to the general public in terms of ethics, law, and codes.
Communicating Effectively
Communicating effectively is vital to the success of an architect. Participants learn how to craft appropriate business and professional communications that will be beneficial in public relations, presentations, and persuasive writing and speaking. Participants will be required to do oral presentations as well as undergo a writing critique.
Working Together
Architects are required to work with various stakeholders when executing a project. These parties include public and private owners, developers, contractors, consultants, financial institutions, and allied professionals. Participants will hear from these stakeholders about they view success with architects.
Firm Foundations
Architecture is a business. Businesses have leadership, ownership, and transitions. Participants will learn about these topics in addition to small business management, financial planning, and business/project financial management standards. Participants will learn through role-playing during part of the session.
Value of Good Design
Architects can have a substantial impact in shaping a community’s identity and expression. This can be accomplished through mentorship, education, economic development, and politics. This session brings participants together with community officials to discuss how architecture is essential to healthy community development. This covers the importance of the economics, implementation, and business interests that are associated with good design. The session concludes with a community presentation of the class project.
Conclusion
Participant presentation of the class project at Architecture Exchange East followed by a closing ceremony and reception. Complimentary registration to the conference is provided for the day of the presentation.
Online registration for Architecture Exchange East closes Nov. 2, 2018. Register today>>
This is the last chance for you to lock in your spot for our exciting conference. Here are a couple of sessions you might be interested in attending:
Designing Justice Facilities for Mental Health 3:15-5:15 p.m. Thursday, November 8th
Justice Architecture touches almost every citizen’s life, whether through a family member, colleague, or friend. As such, correctional facilities may have a more direct impact on a larger number of citizens than any other civic building type, and yet, they have changed relatively little in this country over the past half-century. Today’s criminal justice context acknowledges that individuals serving time will not return to society as improved citizens without treatment and/or better coping strategies. Rehabilitative programs in corrections target addictions, criminal thinking, anger management, parenting skills, and job skills, among others. Teaching inmates to make better, more informed decisions lies at the heart of most programs, with the ultimate goal of providing an improved framework for addressing life’s problems within the parameters of the law. At the same time programs deliver improved mechanisms for making better decisions, the secure correctional environment reduces the level of autonomy and individual decision-making to a minimum. The rigid structure imposed by the prototypical secure correctional environment delays much of the practice required to master new behaviors until after release. It is widely believed that this structure is necessary for security; yet other countries have achieved better results upon re-entry with a different structural approach. How do their populations differ? How are they the same? This session hopes to better define the relationship between rehabilitative programming and legacy U.S. institutional design, and to probe the extent to which more normalized housing and creative, new approaches to facility design (such as those used in other countries) might enhance programming success, without compromising security. Within this workshop, you will learn about where correctional architecture is going in terms of integrating innovative mental health, behavioral health, & re-entry programs into new, replacement, and renovated facilities. All are encouraged to attend – the solution to fewer correctional facilities and a more effective criminal justice system is in the hands of not only the design and health professionals but policy-makers and every community nation-wide.
Demystifying Security in Design: A Holistic Approach 3:30-5:30 p.m. Thursday, November 8th
In today’s America, sincere emotion and fear surrounds the conversation on security as we become more aware of incidents of mass shootings, sexual assault, cyber bullying, and terrorism. Responses by many have called for the “hardening,” of our schools, cultural centers, and civic spaces. Designers have the awesome responsibility of respectfully listening to end users, distilling concerns, and yet still meeting clients’ functional, aesthetic, and programmatic needs. Architects, administrators, and educators can begin demystifying security by using a more democratic, holistic, and well-informed approach. Join us for a round table discussion with a group of panelists who work in multiple arenas: architectural design, infrastructure and technology, governance and legislation, and socio-emotional development.
Tour of the Varina Area Library 3:15-5:15 p.m. Thursday, November 8th
Tour the Varina Area Library which was awarded a 2017 AIA/ALA Library Building Award. The Varina Area Library, which opened on June 1, 2016, is a brand new 43,000 square foot building located on a 22 acre parcel of land in the rural, eastern section of Henrico County. The new state-of-the art-library replaces a small 6,000 square foot branch that served the Varina community for over 40 years. Varina’s citizens wanted an active library that provided a “next generation” of library services. To create a hub for learning with sufficient quiet space, the library features several unique learning spaces and programmatic elements that facilitate project-based learning pedagogies. More casual learning spaces are integrated throughout the library in the form of private and group study rooms outfitted with mobile, adaptable furniture to promote various learning, working, and collaborating styles.
Tour of Capitol Square 3:15-5:15 p.m. Thursday, November 8th
Explore one of America’s most influential buildings. The Virginia Capitol, a living landmark and home to the oldest elected legislative body in North America, was designed by Thomas Jefferson and was the first public building in the New World constructed in the Monumental Classical style. It has served as a prototype for countless capitols, public buildings, churches, and residences for more than 200 years. This tour will include an overview of Capitol Square, a survey of the Capitol’s architectural history, and a tour of the public spaces and exhibits inside the Capitol.
We look forward to seeing you in November!
Online registration for Architecture Exchange East closes Nov. 2, 2018. Register today>>
Every three years or so, Virginia goes through a new code change cycle – and the time is nigh when the 2015 USBC edition will go into effect – currently scheduled for Sept. 4, 2018. AIA Virginia was instrumental in shepherding a number of proposed code changes that we authored or supported – that were approved – and a number of proposed changes that we did not support – that were disapproved.
Below is a summary of the more significant code changes that AIA Virginia submitted and were approved
Virginia Construction Code (VCC) which utilizes the International Building Code (IBC) as its model:
Streamlined provisions related to existing buildings: One section replaces five sections and ALL existing buildings and structures shall start in the VEBC, including R-5 (but the option to use the IBC/IRC remains).
Small buildings and spaces are now “permitted” to be classified as the main occupancy rather than be required to classify them as a ‘B’: This may help with avoiding mixed occupancies and/or reduce the amount of required plumbing fixtures.
There’s a new option for addressing higher education laboratories: If you wanted to avoid an ‘H’ occupancy, you were required to utilize “control areas.” However, they were very limiting (especially for higher stories). Now, there is an option to use “lab suites” to achieve a greater number of labs as well as greater quantities on higher stories.
Roof-supporting structural penetrations are now allowed into stairway and exit passageway enclosures if they meet certain criteria (no more than 2-stories, fully sprinkled, other than Group H).
Moved all reroofing and roof repairs to the VEBC.
All one-story buildings are exempt from the NFPA 285 test requirements if the exterior wall covering is noncombustible.
Virginia Existing Building Code (VEBC) which utilizes the International Existing Building Code (IEBC) as its model:
The entire VEBC was reformatted to accomplish a code that hopefully will be easier to: understand, apply, interpret, review, and enforce. The major changes include:
Deleted the “compliance methods.”
Simplified the “work area” definition by deleting the term “reconfigured spaces” and essentially involves walls – removing, moving, or adding – walls would be a work area. We also expanded what is not included in a work area.
Consolidated a lot of provisions. Did you know “accessibility” was in eight chapters and sixteen sections? It is now in one chapter (new Chapter 4) and four sections.
We simplified the old Chapter 10 – Change of Occupancy (is now Chapter 7) and allows an alternative to compliance with Chapter 7 – which was the old “Performance Compliance Method.”
Deleted unenforceable provisions throughout, including those involving: IFC, unsafe or dangerous conditions, and “subject to the approval of the code official.”
As a result, we deleted three chapters (14 in lieu of 17).
Any reference to the iCodes in the VEBC mean the iCodes with the Virginia amendments.
All classifications of work must now be identified on the construction documents (not just the work area) – there is an exception.
Revised the definition of “Change of occupancy” and “existing building.”
Consolidated the following into Chapter 3 – which applies to all work (rather than having multiple locations for the same provision): building materials and elements, fire escapes, seismic forces, glass replacement, and new provisions for higher education labs and reroofing.
All “repair” requirements were consolidated into one chapter (in lieu of three).
All “alteration” requirements were consolidated into one chapter(in lieu of five). We still have three levels, but rather than each being there own chapter, they are now each their own section.
An exception was added to the IECC requirements allowing “like” materials and thicknesses when replacing existing materials in the building’s exterior building envelope (e.g., walls and roofs).
Group R-5 was added to the hazard category tables in the Change of Occupancy chapter.
All “addition” requirements were consolidated into one chapter (in lieu of three).
All “historic building” requirements were consolidated into one chapter (in lieu of three).
All “moved building” requirements were consolidated into one chapter (in lieu of three).
Remember the VEBC mantras – “incentivize, don’t penalize” and “it is as safe or safer today than it was yesterday.”
Learn more about the entire 2015 VEBC and the 2015 VEBC significant changes at Architecture Exchange East this Nov. 7-9.
We’re seeking a limited number of individuals to serve as volunteers at Architecture Exchange East 2018. In gratitude for their service, volunteers are invited to attend ArchEx for free on the day(s) you help out.
We are looking for volunteers who are capable of completing a number of different tasks throughout the conference. Volunteers are expected to commit to a minimum of one full day in order to receive the complimentary conference registration. Volunteer positions are open to all AIA Virginia members or students at Virginia’s accredited schools of architecture.
While we try to accommodate all requests, volunteers are assigned to positions where we have the need. (Volunteers must fulfill their entire commitment to receive complimentary conference registration.)
If you are interested, please complete the Volunteer Interest Form. We’ll be in touch later to confirm the details of your participation.
Registration for Architecture Exchange East held Nov. 7-9, 2018, in historic Richmond, will open on September 4, 2018. The conference and expo features countless educational sessions, spectacular behind-the-scenes architectural tours, engaging special events, and more than 60+ vendors in the ArchEx Exhibit Hall. Francis Kéré, Hon. FAIA, is this year’s Keynote Speaker. Discover more about his work>>
The first Architecture Exchange East Taskforce work session was held on June 29. The task force reviewed the format, content, and financials of ArchEx, and began exploring ways to maximize the annual conference’s success. A follow-up meeting will be held on October 5, 2018. The task force is also exploring the possibility for members to give live, in-person feedback at ArchEx 2018.
![Announcing [yaf]CON](https://www.aiava.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/yafCON-slider.jpg)
