In part at the urging of Commonwealth Architects in Richmond, the national AIA Government Advocacy team has been working with the Small Business Administration (SBA) to revise its definition of an architecture small business.
The agency’s latest proposal will move the definition to $19 million annual gross receipts from the current $4.5 million. As of 2009, a majority of firms qualified for SBA business status based on their billings. Should this change go through, 97.7 percent of the firms responding to the 2009 AIA firm survey would fall within the architecture small business category.
At risk are the special set-asides included within federal contracts for firms within the small business category. With the change, more firms will qualify for such set asides and more large contractors may qualify for contracts through the greater number of small business sub-contractors.
More information can be found on the AIA website: http://www.aia.org/advocacy/federal/AIAB088628?dvid=&recspec=AIAB088628. Included are links to discussion groups on the topic and a request to send comments, stories and empirical data to be used by the AIA to strengthen its discussions with the agency and congressional leaders.
Delegates attending the National Convention in New Orleans elected Mickey Jacob, FAIA (AIA Tampa Bay), to serve as the 2012 AIA first vice president/president-elect and 2013 Institute president; Russell A. Davidson, AIA, and Debra S. Kunce, FAIA, each to serve as vice president from 2012 through 2013; and Gabriel Durand-Hollis, FAIA, as the Institute’s treasurer from 2012 through 2013.
Jacob, managing principal at Urban Studio Architects, a seven-person firm in Tampa, has more than 25 years of AIA participation holding numerous leadership positions with AIA Tampa Bay, AIA Florida, and AIA National. Following his term as president of AIA Florida in 2004-2005, he served as the 2007-2009 AIA Florida/Caribbean Regional Director on the AIA National Board of Directors. In 2009, he was elected to a two-year term as an AIA vice president.
“The AIA is standing at the threshold of exciting new opportunities,” Jacob said. “The AIA brand is a respected one, but it is much stronger when we speak with a unified voice. By building a foundation of knowledge and trust with a collective commitment to leadership, advocacy, and communication, the AIA will continue to evolve into an influential professional organization that takes opportunity and turns it into reality.”
Jacob also has been active in government advocacy, including serving as chair of the Florida Architects Political Action Committee, of ArchiPAC, and of the AIA Board Advocacy Committee. Participating in the development of several advocacy initiatives, including as a cofounder of the AIA Breakfast of Champions program, Jacob has helped raise the awareness of the importance of political engagement, and is a vocal advocate to position AIA members to attain leadership positions.
Davidson is former president of the AIA New York State (2007) and Westchester Hudson Valley (1999) chapters. He is president and managing partner at Kaeyer, Garment & Davidson Architects & Engineers PC, in Mount Kisco, NY, a 20-person architectural and engineering firm.
“I believe the best way to know the essential meaning of something is to take aspects of it away until all that is left is the single defining element that is most broadly understood,” Davidson says. “For the AIA, promoting the positive value of design and the contribution of architects is that core defining value. You cannot take that away from us. It is who we are and why the AIA is still vital to the profession for over 150 years.”
Davidson currently serves on the AIA National Board of Directors as the regional director from New York and is a member of the Board’s Communications Committee and Board Advocacy Committee, where he is chair of the Public Policies Subcommittee and former chair of the Public Engagement Subcommittee (2010).
Kunce is currently serving as Ohio Valley Regional Director on the AIA National Board of Directors. She is an associate with Schmidt Associates, Inc., in Indianapolis, a full-service architecture and engineering firm.
“My AIA service has centered on strategically planning an AIA future that nurtures emerging professionals, advances our legislative agenda, and promotes the AIA brand,” said Kunce. “Design is the new currency, and it is our time to demonstrate the strength of our organization and our members’ ‘can do’ attitude.”
Kunce’s national experience also includes board representative to the Strategic Directions Group and Board Community Committee; chair of the Integrated Media Task Force (2009-2010); AIAS Honor Awards Jury (2009); and member of the Young Architect’s Forum Advisory Committee (2003-2005). Kunce has been active in the AIA for more than 15 years, including service to AIA Indianapolis as the associate director (1995-1996), public relations director (1998-1999), secretary (2002), treasurer (2003), vice president (2004), and president in 2005. For AIA Indiana, she served as the treasurer (2006-2007), vice president (2008), and president in 2009.
Durand-Hollis, former president of the Texas Society of Architects, has been the regional director from Texas on the AIA National Board of Directors since 2009 and is also a member of the Board Finance and Audit Committee. He is president of Durand-Hollis Rupe, Inc. (DHR), a San Antonio firm.
“I believe it is time to examine some of the AIA practices to determine if change is necessary and challenge ourselves to do better by seeing how we can benefit from making those changes,” Durand-Hollis states. “I anticipate great things to come knowing that we have great leaders at the AIA. I am sure we will continue to make great strides together.”
Other national AIA experience includes member of the AIA International Committee (1997-2000); chair, Small Projects Professional Interest Area (1995); member, Firm Benefits Task Force (1995); and member, Small Projects Professional Interest Area (1993-1995).
The AIA recently announced the release of AIA Document D503™-2011, Guide for Sustainable Projects, including Agreement Amendments and Supplementary Conditions (“Guide”). The Guide is free and was developed to assist users in understanding contractual considerations unique to sustainable design and construction projects. The Guide also provides model language that can be used to amend or supplement key AIA Contract Documents in the A201 Family. Developed by the AIA’s Contract Documents Committee, with input from industry stakeholders, the Guide provides AIA Contract Documents users with a valuable tool for creating versions of AIA standard contract documents for sustainable projects.
“The AIA Contract Documents program continues to revise existing documents and develop new documents and guides, as necessary, to remain current with trends and changes in the industry and law,” said Ken Cobleigh, Managing Director and Counsel for AIA Contract Documents content. “The development of the Guide reflects the shifting landscape in the industry and addresses key issues of interest to all parties involved in these types of projects.”
The Guide addresses the current state of sustainable design and construction, discussing issues and concepts including:
Certification systems, codes and legislation affecting sustainable design and construction projects,
Risks and responsibilities faced by owners, contractors and architects on sustainable design and construction projects, and
Recommendations for model language to assist the architect in developing a scope of services and to assist all project participants in appropriately allocating risks and responsibilities.
In addition to providing model language that may be used to amend or supplement documents in the AIA Contract Documents A201 Family for design-bid-build projects, the Guide discusses the applicability of key concepts to other delivery models such as design-build, construction management and integrated project delivery.
Because the AIA believes the Guide is an important resource for the design and construction industry, it is available as a free download at www.aia.org/sustainableprojectsguide.
The Virginia Society of the American Institute of Architects calls architects, interior designers, and preservationists to submit to the 2011 Awards for Excellence in Architecture presented by Scott Long Construction.
Three categories, three juries:
ARCHITECTURE, INTERIOR DESIGN, and PRESERVATION will each be judged separately by a jury of esteemed professionals.
Winners will be honored at a special session during Architecture Exchange East and at Visions for Architecture, a gala event hosted by the Virginia Society AIA. Winning projects will also be the subject of the fourth annual Design Awards exhibition at the Virginia Center for Architecture, and featured inInform magazine’s annual directory.
The 2011 Design Awards are presented by Scott Long Construction and sponsored by Carolina Cast Stone Co., Inc.
No faxes or mail to send! The Virginia Society AIA continues to pursue a more sustainable model of operating and therefore is accepting only electronic registrations.
Eligibility
All entries must be the work of licensed architects who have an office in Virginia OR are members of the Virginia Society of the American Institute of Architects. This includes Associate Members of the VSAIA.
The location of projects is not restricted, but any built work submitted must have been completed after January 1, 2006.
Un-built work will also be considered, as long as it was commissioned by a client as opposed to hypothetical work completed in the mode of research or academic training.
Meet the Jury Chairs
ARCHITECTURE Paul Mankins, FAIA
Recipient of the 2003 AIA Young Architects Award, and elected to the AIA College of Fellows at only 40 years old, Mankins is a founder and principal of the nationally recognized collaborative design practice Substance. In addition to awards from Architecture, Architectural Record/Business Week, Contract, I.D. (International Design), Interior Design and Residential Architect magazines, his work has been recognized with more than 35 Honor and Merit Awards at the regional, state and local level. In 2002 he received an AIA National Honor Award for Architecture. He serves on the National Board of Directors of the AIA, and during his time as Editor-in-Chief of Iowa Architect, itwas recognized by the AIA as the outstanding component publication in the nation.
INTERIOR DESIGN Kevin J. Flynn, FAIA, IES Currently serving on the AIA National Board as a Regional Director from the Central States Region, Flynn has extensive experience in architecture, lighting design and theatrical design. Through his work as Executive Vice President of Kiku Obata & Company, he has been recognized for architecture, lighting, and retail design work by the AIA, Chain Store Age, the International Conference of Shopping Centers, Institute of Store Planners/Visual Merchandising & Store Design Magazine, and the International Illumination Design Awards. In addition to his service to the AIA, he has served as president of the Illuminating Engineers Society of North America.
He is the 2012 Chair of the AIA Institute Honor Awards for Collaborative and Professional Achievement.
PRESERVATION Eugene C. Hopkins, FAIA Principal and co-founder of HopkinsBurns Design Studio, Hopkins is a nationally-recognized leader in historic preservation architecture. He has extensive experience in the restoration and rehabilitation of hundreds of structures listed on the National Register of Historic Places including a number of National Historic Landmarks. As president of the American Institute of Architects in 2004, he led efforts to renew the AIA/National Park Service/Library of Congress partnership; save the Farnsworth House; advance the integration of Historic Preservation principles into the architectural curriculum of colleges and universities and excluded the historic tax credit from the JOBS/Tax bill. He has received numerous recognitions for his contribution to architecture, including the 2003 prestigious Gold Medal from AIA Michigan, 2006 Gold Medal from AIA Detroit, the 2002 Robert Hastings FAIA Award and the 1992 AIA Michigan Young Architect of the Year Award. His work on the Michigan State Capitol received a National Trust for Historic Preservation Honor Award in 1992 and an AIA Honor Award for Architecture in 1996. In 2008 he was appointed Architect of the Michigan State Capitol.
Students from Virginia’s architecture schools competed in January in the 2011 Virginia Society AIA Prize competition, sponsored by The Whiting-Turner Contracting Co.
Students were given one weekend to create a solution to a design problem: design a new Amtrak station in the town of Clifton Forge, Virginia. The current passenger train stop at this location is equipped with minimal facilities, consisting of a very small waiting room and bathroom, and is housed in a structure that is primarily a freight yard office building.
Program elements included a waiting room for approximately 25-30 people, a ticket counter with attached office, a small room for office and custodial storage, bathroom facilities, and onsite parking for 24 cars. There is a vacant one-story building on the site, which formerly housed a diner, but the competition assumed that it could be removed and/or replaced at the competitor’s discretion. Competitors could also alter or adjust the configuration of existing parking areas and driveways on the site.
The site is located along the main commercial street in downtown Clifton Forge, and competitors were encouraged to consider both pedestrian and vehicular connections to the street, such that the project could improve both the quality of passenger service as well as make a positive contribution to the town.
Each entry was required to be the work of one individual — no collaborative projects were allowed.
The jury was comprised of Timm Jamieson, FAIA (chair), Michel Ashe, FAIA, Joe Atkins, AIA, and Steven McCurdy of Norfolk Southern Railroad. They met March 30, 2011, to deliberate and select honorees. Those honorees and the jury’s comments follow.
All the honorees had clear and complete communication of the elements and the plan. Those honored had the strength of an idea, coupled with representation that lifted the idea up and made it clear.
Noteworthy original thought was characterized in a number of entries.
2011 VSAIA Prize Winner
Siim Tiisvelt, Virginia Tech Washington Alexandria Architecture Center
Said the jury:
Click to enlarge
This entry made an interesting pedestrian connection to the town, providing a view of the river and trains. A simple, straightforward, and elegant solution. One simple gesture provided a drop-off for people coming by car and a straightforward procession to the platform, with an extension of the street above for anyone to view trains and river beyond. Civic minded seat steps reflected back to the main street. This entry clearly understood the topography of the site well, as the whole sense of arrival seems more in scale than any other scheme. This was the best implementation of the concept of giving people a place to watch trains.
Best in School Virginia Tech Blacksburg
Garrett Reynolds
Said the jury:
There was good recognition of the topography. The site section at the bottom grabbed our attention. The civic scale canopy was reflected in the mountains and to the town, almost as Saarinen did with Dulles Airport. Tucking the parking under was nice solution to a tricky problem. This is almost too much architecture for the town, but the resolution of the design was strong. The double acting canopy is very nice, however, the sense of arrival is not very sophisticated.
Best in School Hampton University
Biyengo Lwandiko
Said the jury:
Nice neoclassical set of pieces. In scale with the site; the entrance addresses the street and allows entry from the sidewalk into the building and progresses nicely as you get onto the train. The town would love it. Very nice presentation. Complete…we fully understood all the parts. The jury wished the two building components had been better connected somehow.
Honorable Mention
Gui Talarico, Virginia Tech WAAC
Said the jury:
This is a wild and wonderful concept. We laughed out loud at “Why the hell are we stopping a 750-ton, 800 foot long train for 180 pound people?” In all seriousness, we like that someone devoted thought to ecology and saving fuel.
Michael Smyles, Virginia Tech Blacksburg
Said the jury:
Very nice portal, with good imagery of the procession from platform to train. A container that has an object — it’s a nice miniature version of larger train station a la Grand Central. Special note: the jury members all mentally moved the newer building to be in harmony with the old building.
Recognition for Artistic Merit
Natalie Mutchler, Virginia Tech Blacksburg
Said the jury:
Very nice graphic representation. We would have liked to see more addressing of the site plan. It is Hopper-esque, almost a frame-able poster.
The Society and the AIA national component offers 2010−2011 graduates from accredited schools of architecture complimentary membership at the Associate level for up to 18 months. Some local components charge a nominal membership fee. For questions regarding your local chapter, call 800-242-3837, option 2.
For young professionals, membership with the AIA is a critical choice at a time when it feels like there are so many life decisions to make. When you join the AIA, you immediately increase your professional network by almost 80,000 colleagues. These are people you can rely on for answers and assistance, or even just confirmation that you’re on the right track.
Member Benefits
As an Associate member, you’ll have access to these and other benefits:
Events, activities, support, and networking opportunities through your state and local AIA component
Intern Development Program (IDP) support, including help finding IDP coordinators and mentors
Architect Registration Examination (ARE) study resources to support you on the path to licensure
AIA Career Center assistance to find internship and professional opportunities
The Emerging Professional’s Companion, an online professional development tool though which you can gain credits towards IDP
AIA Transcript, to track the vast offerings of AIA CES Discovery and Continuing Education Providers
Subscriptions to AIArchitect, the bi-weekly newsletter of the AIA, and ARCHITECT, the magazine of the AIA.
National Associate Committee (NAC) programs, activities, and resources that ensure you have a strong voice within the AIA, including your subscription to the AIA AssociateNews and FORWARD email publications
AIA Knowledge Communities, which enable you to customize your membership and network with like-minded colleagues who share your specific interests
And if those are not reason enough to join, we’re offering you an additional incentive. Join now and get free membership through 2012. That’s up to 18 months of membership at no cost!
Joining the AIA
Some local and state AIA components charge a nominal membership fee. For questions regarding your local chapter, call 800-242-3837, option 2.
The AIA offers complimentary membership for 2011 graduates of accredited schools of architecture. Provide a copy of your diploma with your membership application, and you receive free membership with the AIA for up to 18 months. Note that this promotion begins upon date of graduation and not your join date (e.g., a June 2011 graduate receives complimentary membership through December 31, 2012).
Your membership will be at the associate level until you receive full licensure and have the opportunity to become an architect member. Please note that the AIA is a three-tiered organization. Although your membership is at the national, state, and local levels, this promotional offer applies only to dues for the national component.
Al Hansen, AIA accepts the 2010 PlanVirginia Citizen’s Award
Al Hansen, AIA, and the entire Loudon County Design Cabinet were honored with the 2010 PlanVirginia Citizen’s Award. This award is given to a group or individual who has made a notable and constructive contribution to the harmonious and orderly development of the community, region, state or nation. PlanVirginia, who sponsors this award, is a volunteer-based nonprofit organization dedicated to furthering, throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia, public understanding and awareness of the need for excellent community planning as a means of making our localities better places in which to live, work, and do business.
Since 2003, Hansen, who is Director of Architecture for DBI Architects, has served as cabinet chair of Loudoun County’s Design Cabinet. The Design Cabinet promotes high quality ecological, urban, architectural, and landscape design in Loudoun County. Design Cabinet members include engineers, architects, planners, and designers who have come together in a fusion of creative community problem solving. Collectively, Hansen and the Design Cabinet members have been actively involved by volunteering in the community, conducting design charettes and problem solving sessions, focusing on improving plans, and stimulating new ways to think about projects in Loudoun County.
The Virginia Society AIA is pleased to announce Michelle Kaufmann as the 2011 Architecture Exchange East Keynote Speaker. Her firm, Michelle Kaufmann Studio, recipient of the 2008 TOP FIRM AWARD by Residential Architect, specializes in sustainable design including single family homes, eco-luxury resorts, and multi-family communities. She is also a consultant for builders, developers and architecture firms on sustainability and prefabrication, and an advisor to Architecture for Humanity, and Cradle to Cradle Products Institute.
Her book, Prefab Green describes off-site construction and the green design principles of Kaufmann-designed homes such as the Glidehouse®, the Sunset® Breezehouse®, the mkLotus® and others. She has been called “the Henry Ford of green homes” by the Sierra Club and was named “2009 Green Advocate of the Year” by the National Association of Home Builders. She was also included in Business 2.0 magazine’s list of “100 People Who Matter Now,” and listed as one of the “The Green 50” by INC magazine. She has been featured on the Sundance channel, HGTV, Discovery, Planet Green and in numerous magazines including Town+Country, Dwell, Sunset, Time, and the Smithsonian.
Working to help extend education and awareness about the beauty of sustainable design, Michelle has had a number of her homes showcased in museums. A full-size replica of Michelle’s home, the Glidehouse® home was built at the National Building Museum as part of the exhibit The Green House, and a fully-functioning 3-story Smart home is on display at the Museum of Science and Industry. The home is the exhibit on green building called The Smart Home: Green + Wired. Her work has also been on display at MOCA, the Walker Art Center, the Vancouver Art Center, and the Virginia Center for Architecture.
Kaufmann received her undergraduate degree from Iowa State University, and her Master’s from Princeton University. A well-known and highly-acclaimed speaker, she has taught at Iowa State University and Woodbury University, and prior to founding Michelle Kaufmann Designs, she was an Associate with Frank O. Gehry.
The 2011 Architecture Exchange East Keynote Address is sponsored by MTFA Architecture, Inc. and Hourigan Construction.
Do you have a colleague that should be recognized for extraordinary work? The VSAIA Honors program is accepting nominations for Virginians who exemplify the professions highest ideals and who are committed to enriching the built environment.
In keeping with our commitment to sustainability, we are pleased to announce that the VSAIA Honors Awards program is continuing to use paperless submission! Use the handy tool found at on the Society Honors page to upload your nomination. We are accepting nominations, compiled into one PDF submission up to 30 MB.
If you have any questions, or if you are having trouble uploading your nomination, please contact rgeorge@aiava.org or (804) 644-3041, ext. 302. Nominations were due by 4 p.m. on Friday, July 29, 2011, and are now closed.
The submitter should be prepared to provide unrestricted high-resolution images to be used in connection with publicity of the program and the recognition of the honorees at Architecture Exchange East on Nov. 2–4, and at Visions for Architecture on Nov. 4.
The American Institute of Architects is bringing back the DesignVote program with new features, resources, and information for voters. DesignVote10 is a non-partisan effort to mobilize architects to vote while also providing opportunities to position AIA members front and center on public policy issues affecting the profession in the 2010 campaign.
For the first time, in an effort to inform members on the results of the Rebuild & Renew legislative campaign launched in 2008, the AIA has developed an online voter guide. The guide is intended to provide pertinent information to voters both within and outside of the Institute on legislation that impacts architects and the built environment.
The DesignVote10 site includes:
Key AIA Issues—the bills and votes in the 111th Congress pertinent to the AIA federal issues agenda and tracked by the AIA
Legislator Profiles—incumbent information, including official and campaign Web sites, the name and Web site for the district’s major party challengers, and how the incumbent voted or acted in regards to the key AIA issues
Resources—a directory of tools that will help you and your AIA chapter participate in the electoral process, including links to find polling locations, voter registration information, and toolkits to connect your AIA chapter with candidates and the media
As the general election approaches, the Institute hopes you will use the DesignVote site to make sure you are registered to vote, update your current voter registration, vote early by mail, find out where to vote on Election Day, and help inform your voting decisions. The links to the right will take you to your state election office’s Web site, which can process your voter registration and give you information on the absentee voting process in Virginia.
As a reminder, the deadline to register to vote in Virginia is Tuesday, Oct. 12. Please make sure your voter registration is current, and exercise your constitutional right to cast a ballot for the candidates and issues important to you on Nov. 2.
How you vote is a personal decision. DesignVote10 provides information to help you make the choice that is right for you.
