ArchEx 2019: Call for Tours

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Aren’t building tours the best? You get an insider’s perspective on design decisions. You learn about construction processes, explore different building typologies, and discover innovative solutions and technologies. Best of all, you get to check out new work.

Walking tours and history tours are pretty great too. You uncover the rich history of communities and landmarks. You take a peek behind the scenes — sometimes you even learn a few secrets. And, who doesn’t love a juicy architecture secret?

Tours are usually the first sessions to sell out at ArchEx. Our attendees love ‘em. If you’ve got a new project you want to show off or if you’re a great tour guide, please submit your tour proposal below. We recommend that the tour destination be no more than about 30 minutes away from downtown Richmond.  

About Architecture Exchange East
ArchEx is AIA Virginia’s annual conference and expo. This year, it takes place at the Greater Richmond Convention Center from Nov. 6–8, 2019. We’ll be bringing together the brightest minds and most engaging speakers to explore the theme of culture. We hope you’ll be a part of this vibrant

Submit your tour proposal below. [Deadline June 28, 2019]

The Call for Tours is now closed.

Tell Your Story. But Do it Fast.

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Got 6 minutes and 40 seconds to tell us about the best d@mn thing you’ve ever done as a designer? Come share your story at Architecture Exchange East this November. We’re seeking up to 6 presenters for a Pecha Kucha (PK)-style session at ArchEx. (What the heck is a PK?)

With our focus on developing sessions that encourage conversation, connections, and collaborative learning, we figured it was about time we brought the PK back to ArchEx.  A good PK is creative, tells a great story, and shares something inspiring (with a little dash of humor mixed in).

It’s a format made for designers by designers. We know you’ve done some pretty incredible things in your professional life and we want to hear about them — whether you’re sharing your favorite project, a brilliant marketing idea, or an innovative office layout. Be as creative as you want. If you can weave in our theme, re:culture, even better!

We’ve only got time for 5-6 speakers, so pitch us your best idea by June 28 and we’ll get back with you in July.

This form is now closed.

What the heck is a PK?

From ArchEx 2018. Photo by Jay Paul.
From ArchEx 2018. Photo by Jay Paul.

Pecha Kucha (Japanese for chit-chat) is a concise presentation format where speakers tell their story using only 20 slides — usually with a single image. The slides automatically advance each 20 seconds while you talk.  

This format was conceived of by Astrid Klein and Mark Dytham of Klein Dytham architecture as a way to showcase creative design work through quick informative presentations.

Ann Beha Announced as 2019 Design Awards Jury Chair

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AIA Virginia is pleased to announce that Ann Beha, FAIA will chair the 2019 Design Awards jury.

Beha is Principal of Ann Beha Architects, a Boston practice known for its exploration of heritage in dialogue with contemporary design. She founded ABA to focus on preservation and adaptive re-use, and has led ABA to honors for new design and construction and planning, extending its reach nationally and internationally.

She has been Design Principal at the University of Chicago, Princeton University, Cornell University Law School, Yale University, and MIT. Her civic projects include the United States Embassy in Athens, Greece, and projects at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History, Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts, and at the Newberry Library in Chicago.

Beha received a Master of Architecture from MIT, an undergraduate degree from Wellesley, was a Loeb Fellow at the Graduate School of Design at Harvard University, and Distinguished Visiting Professor of Design at the City College of New York. She is a member of Harvard University’s Design Advisory Council, received the 2018 Award of Honor from the Boston Society of Architects and the 2019 Honor Award from the State Department’s Bureau of Overseas Building Operations Industry Advisory Group.

The Design Awards program recognizes outstanding design — both built and unbuilt — from the past eight years. All entries must be the work of licensed architects who have an office in Virginia OR are members of AIA Virginia. The deadline is June 17, 2019. Learn more about the Call for Entries or submit your entry online.

ArchEx Suggest-A-Session

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Each November, at Architecture Exchange East, a community of nearly 1,000 professionals comes together to be inspired, make connections, and learn about the latest innovations in the industry. We believe community-driven content is the cornerstone of a great conference — which is why we want you to have a voice in the programming at ArchEx.

You don’t need to be a speaker or do a lot of heavy lifting to help shape ArchEx. Simply let us know what you want to discover.

Is there a topic you’ve been wanting to explore or experts you want to hear from? Maybe you have a panel discussion idea that has been percolating in your head for a while. Or a project you’ve always want to tour. Or a workshop concept that just needs to become a reality.

The idea can be rough around the edges, but we’re looking for something a bit more refined than “sessions for emerging professionals” or “historic preservation.” (Don’t get us wrong. We’ll definitely be curating content on those topics.)

Suggest a session and we’ll help make your vision come alive. Plus, if your idea is selected, you’ll receive a discount code for 25% off your registration. Remember: Our theme this year is re: culture. Submit your ideas before May 31, 2019.

This form is now closed. We hope you'll suggest a session next year!

Call for Nominations: 2019 Honors Awards

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Do you have a colleague who deserves recognition? Is there a firm that consistently produces incredible work? Is there a building that has captured your heart? Consider nominating them for AIA Virginia’s Honors Awards program.  

The Honors program recognizes the best efforts of Virginians who — by profession or avocation — have made creating, preserving, and enhancing Virginia’s communities an important life commitment. Honorees will be recognized at the Annual Meeting of the Membership at Architecture Exchange East (Nov. 7, 2019) and Visions for Architecture (Nov. 8, 2019).

Nominations

Nominations must be submitted online. Nominations should be submitted as a single PDF up to 20 pages (not including letters of support) and no larger than 30 MB. Letters of support can be combined into a single PDF and uploaded on the nomination form.

Nominations for all AIA Virginia honors may be made by individual members, by chapter honors committees, by AIA Virginia committees, or by the Board of Directors itself.

Current AIA Virginia Board members and Honors Committee members are not eligible for any award. No member of the Honors Committee may be used as a reference or adviser or be solicited by the candidate or the candidate’s advisor.

The deadline is Thursday, July 11, 2019 at 5 p.m.

Eligibility

Eligibility criteria and submission requirements vary by award. Click on the awards listed below for additional details and to review past recipients.

Award Categories

The William C. Noland Medal, as the highest award bestowed on a member architect, is intended to honor a distinguished body of accomplishments, sustained over time, that spans a broad spectrum of the profession and that transcends the scope of normal professional activities. Only one medal may be bestowed each year.

The Architecture Medal for Virginia Service is AIA Virginia’s most prestigious public award, honoring an individual or organization that has made an unusually significant contribution to Virginia’s built environment or to the public’s understanding and awareness of the built environment. Only one medal may be bestowed each year but may be given simultaneously to more than one person.

The T. David Fitz-Gibbon Virginia Architecture Firm Award, as the highest honor bestowed by AIA Virginia to a Virginia-based architecture firm, recognizes a firm that has consistently produced distinguished architecture for at least ten years.

The Virginia Emerging Professional Award is intended to recognize the accomplishments of emerging leaders in Virginia for their contributions to the profession in one or more of the following categories: design, research, education, or discourse; service to the profession; mentorship; or service to the community.

The Award for Distinguished Achievement signals distinguished achievement by an architect in any one of the following categories: design, practice, education, service as “citizen architect”, and service to the profession; and thus may serve as an accolade for the work of an entire career or recognize the current accomplishments of a younger leader. Up to three awards may be bestowed each year.

Honorary Membership is bestowed upon a person of esteemed character who is not eligible for membership in the AIA Virginia but who has rendered distinguished and exemplary service, over a sustained period of time, to architecture and the built environment within the domain of AIA Virginia.

AIA Virginia Honors may be bestowed on non-member individuals or organizations that have inspired, influenced, or complemented the architecture profession in Virginia through practice of an allied profession, research, education, planning, legislation, architectural writing, the arts, or crafts. An individual who has previously been elected an Honorary Member of AIA Virginia is ineligible to receive AIA Virginia Honors.

The Test of Time Award recognizes architectural design of enduring significance. The structure should be in Virginia and must be no less than 25 years old. Building use may change over time if the overall design is cherished as a significant contribution to the community and the built environment.

CALL for ENTRIES: Design Awards 2019

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AIA Virginia’s Awards for Excellence in Architecture recognize outstanding design, built and unbuilt, from the past eight years. Also known as the Design Awards, the program is juried by a team of esteemed practitioners. No specific number of awards is set, and the program is open to all categories of building as well as interiors projects. The location of projects is not restricted, but any built works submitted for consideration must have been completed after January 1, 2011. Enter online.

There are five categories in the Awards for Excellence:
Architecture
Historic Preservation
Interiors
Contextual Design; and
Residential Design.

Please see complete descriptions of the awards categories, and review the regulations, eligibility requirements, and frequently asked questions for more information.

Entries are due by 5 p.m. on Monday, June 17, 2019. Note: You should be prepared to submit your concealed ID and project submission upon entry.

Awards certificates are presented each November at Architecture Exchange East (ArchEx). Designers and projects are also honored during the Visions for Architecture gala.

Entry fees
AIA Virginia members: $190 for first project; $160 for additional projects
AIA Virginia Associate members: $85 for each project
Non-member w/ office in Virginia: $245 for first project; $220 for additional projects

Note that you must be a member or associate member of the AIA Virginia to receive a member discount. Only members of AIA Virginia are eligible for the discounted member rate, regardless of your national AIA member status.

Not an AIA Virginia member? Apply for unassigned membership.

Entry Form