ELA Project Helps Win Grant

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Congratulations to AIA Virginia’s 2015 Emerging Leaders in Architecture!  Their project, “Porous City,” helped the Commonwealth of Virginia land a $120,549,000 grant from the National Disaster Resilience Competition (NDRC), sponsored by the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The grant, announced recently in Norfolk by HUD Secretary Julian Castro, Governor Terry McAuliffe, and Michael Berkowitz from the Rockefeller Foundation’s 100 Resilient Cities, will be used to address sea level rise in the Hampton Roads region.

The 2015 ELA project, “Porous City – a digital test lab of current + future resiliency strategies for the City of Norfolk,” focused on the Chesterfield Heights neighborhood in Norfolk. The results included a website they created (www.porouscity.com) and an education program as well as design concepts applicable to coastal flooding areas throughout the region. ELA’s project supported the NDRC application by demonstrating ongoing and innovative research into scalable and repeatable strategies for flood-prone communities.

Each year, ELA participants complete a real-world project where they experiment with practical application of the principles discussed in the ELA sessions. Communities selected for the projects actively participate in the process and benefit not only from the creative, innovative problem-solving ideas developed by these young architects, but also from the ELA recommendations for implementation. Great work, AIA ELA 2015!

AIA ELA website:
http://www.porouscity.com/

Winning application:
http://www.dhcd.virginia.gov/index.php/virginias-resiliency-plan.html

ODU news:
http://www.odu.edu/news/2016/1/hud_grant#.VqZJvVKTr5d

100 Resilient Cities:
https://www.rockefellerfoundation.org/our-work/initiatives/100-resilient-cities/

Thank you to Brian Frickie, AIA and Mel Price for contributing this article.

Design Forum XII Registration Open

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This year’s Design Forum focuses on how the locale, diverse community, and geography present a compelling opportunity to explore DESIGN TRANSFORMATION – how design itself is transformed in the wake of a changing climate, and, equally important, how meaningful changes are enacted by design.595x423design_forum-WEB_PR

In response, The Design Forum XII two-day conference will present thinkers and practitioners who are committed to solving tomorrow’s most pressing challenges. Lead by a dynamic moderator, Z Smith of Eskew Dumez Ripple, presentations from OMA, Playlab, and Kieran Timberlake, among others, will explore the intersection of design and transformation. These speakers offer a shift in thinking about how we work, what we build, how we affect change.

The venue in Norfolk, The Slover Library, is an absolute jewel of a building designed by the partnership of Newman Architects and Tymoff and Moss Architects,  and will offer an intimate and, no doubt, inspiring setting.

Online Registration is now closed. You can register onsite, Friday, April 1, at the Slover Library.

Read more about Design Forum XII

2016 Emerging Leaders In Architecture

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Friday, January 8th marked the kickoff for 2016’s Emerging Leaders in Architecture (ELA) program. Sixteen of Virginia’s best and brightest young architects met at The Branch Museum of Architecture and Design to get started on this year’s project, learn a little bit more about each other and hear from two excellent speakers about the past of the profession and the future of creativity.

In this session, the students learned about the history of the profession from Bryan Clark Green, Ph. D., who has done extensive research about the preservation of Virginia’s historical architecture. Green received honorary membership in AIA Virginia at the 2014 Visions for Architecture gala for his efforts. Kelly O’Keefe, who has won Entrepreneur of the Year and Ad Person of the Year, spoke to the students about how the responsibilities of leaders and industries have changed over the years, and how the students need to set themselves up to meet the future changes head on.

The students will apply these insights while working on their annual project. This year is structured differently than previous years as the students will be selecting a project from a select group of options chosen by the ELA Steering Committee. The students will soon choose which brief they would like to focus on, and will tour the location in March. They will work on solutions to this program brief and present their solutions in November at Architecture Exchange East 2016.

The ELA program began in 2009 and now has over 80 alumni — many of which have assumed leadership positions in their respective firms and AIA components. Currently, there is an ELA alum or current participant on the board of every AIA component in Virginia.

Follow ELA on Facebook

Please contact Marshall Dreiling, mdreiling@aiava.org, (804) 237-1769 with any questions about this program.

A Path to Leadership

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A Path to Leadership

Do you ever wonder, “What is the next step?” or “What can I do to be more involved in the industry I serve?”

In partnership with AIA, your state component has responded to these questions by adding additional support as well including a new resource called “A Path to Leadership.” We hope this document helps emerging professionals see the journey from joining as an AIA associate member clear through to fellowship.

If you have any questions about this new resource, please contact Shanelle Calvin, Membership Manager at scalvin@aiava.org or (804) 237-1772.

ELA Class of 2016 Announced

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We are excited to announce the individuals who will be a part of the 2016 class of Emerging Leaders in Architecture (ELA).

Alexander Cheng of Virginia Tech

Alyssa Tope of Washington-Alexandria Architecture Center

Asher McGlothlin of VMDO Architects

Braden Field of MTFA Architecture

Brian Gurczynski of Clark Nexsen, Inc.

Chris Warren of Cox, Kliewer & Co.

Donna Ryu of University of Virginia

Janine Stewart of Hampton University

Kelsey Oesmann of Antunovich Associates

Kevin Svensen of Glavé and Holmes Architecture

Kyle Springer of Moseley Architects

Lauren McQuistion of VMDO Architects

Luke Stearns of AECOM

Michael Chapa of Parsons Brinckerhoff

Robert Crawshaw of Hanbury Evans Wright Vlattas + Company

Simone Saidel of LKH Architects

Watch AIA Virginia NEWS for updates after each class meeting (first one is January 8, 2016) and for more information on their class project in Richmond this year!

Save the Date: Design Forum XII

Posted on by cguske

design_forum_slides-ArchEx-oma

Design Forum is a biannual conference founded in 1994 to “foreground important debates about design and the built environment.” Next spring, The Forum will take place in Norfolk, VA –the heart of Virginia’s largest metro area,  and an important site for the discussion of rising sea levels and climate change.

The locale, diverse community, and geography present a compelling opportunity to explore DESIGN TRANSFORMATION – how design itself is transformed in the wake of a changing climate, and, equally important, how meaningful changes are enacted by design.

In response, The Design Forum XII two-day conference will present thinkers and practitioners who are committed to solving tomorrow’s most pressing challenges. Lead by a dynamic moderator, Z Smith of Eskew Dumez Ripple, presentations from OMA, Playlab, and Kieran Timberlake, among others, will explore the intersection of design and transformation. These speakers offer a shift in thinking about how we work, what we build, how we affect change.

The venue in Norfolk, The Slover Library, is an absolute jewel of a building designed by the partnership of Newman Architects and Tymoff and Moss Architects,  and will offer an intimate and, no doubt, inspiring setting.

Save April 1-2, 2016 for this transformational event.
Watch for more information and registration early in 2016!

NCARB Announces IDP Overhaul Details

Posted on by cguske

On Nov. 3, 2015, NCARB announced details on its IDP Overhaul. The new IDP will allow up to 20 hours of AIA CEUs in each experience area (up to 120 total), but they all must be HSW. You can see the complete description of the overhaul on NCARB’s website at http://www.ncarb.org/Experience-Through-Internships/IDP2-Experience-Categories-Areas/Overhauled-IDP.aspx

NCARB has also created a visual map of the transition. In the coming months, be on the lookout on the NCARB site for video webinars, blog articles, social media updates, and more.

Also note: when the overhauled IDP launches, the following opportunities will no longer be eligible for IDP or additional jurisdictional experience:

  • Emerging Professional’s Companion (EPC)
  • GBCI LEED AP Certification
  • Advanced Degrees
  • AIA Continuing Education LUs
  • CSI Certificate Program: CDT
  • Teaching or Research in a NAAB-accredited program

Specific questions should be directed to NCARB Customer Service at (202) 879-0520 or customerservice@ncarb.org.

AIA Virginia Prize Awarded To Tommy Kim

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On Friday, September 11, at 5 p.m., over 300 students from Hampton University, Virginia Tech-Blacksburg, Virginia Tech-Washington Alexandria Architecture Center and the University of Virginia were given a challenge to design a response to a problem created by faculty from one of Virginia’s architecture schools. They had one weekend to consider as a work of art, the design of the Rocky Forge Wind Farm, now being developed in Botetourt County. They were told their submissions should not only meet the pragmatic demands of the turbine array, but also engage the inherent aesthetic potential in a large-scale human intervention within the natural landscape.

“Faculty from each school reviewed the submissions and sent their top 10 for final judging,” says AIA Virginia Executive Vice President/CEO Helene Combs Dreiling, FAIA. “From these a four-judge panel selected one Prize winner, four best of school awards and five honorable mentions.

The Honorees

2015 AIA Virginia Prize

Jim Clark, FAIA awarding 2015 AIA Virginia Prize to Tommy Kim of Virginia Tech
Jim Clark, FAIA awarding 2015 AIA Virginia Prize to Tommy Kim of Virginia Tech. Photo by Jay Paul.

Tommy Kim is now in his final year of a five-year program at Virginia Tech-Blacksburg. Kim, who came to Virginia Tech following graduation from Stone Bridge High School in Ashburn, Va., spent one year of his architecture program at the university’s Washington-Alexandria Architecture Center.

The judges were most complimentary. “The building is almost completely hidden which adds to the intriguing experience,” says Jury Chair Jim Clark, FAIA. “The consistency in design and the sequence of events is very strong. Loved the vista image, especially how it balances the plan. Enjoyed that it was unique to the location.”

Best of School

Vaughn James, now in his last year at Hampton University

Lauren Scott, in her senior year at University of Virginia

Forrest Bibeau, in his final year at Virginia Tech, Blacksburg

Matthew Duncan, a graduate student at Virginia Tech-Washington Alexandria Architecture Center

Honorable Mention

Matthew Young, Virginia Tech

James Wood, Virginia Tech

Zeph Ruggles, University of Virginia

Seema Samudre, Virginia Tech

Min Hyoung Choe, Virginia Tech

The AIA Virginia Prize, a student competition held annually, is awarded following a weekend charrette at the four Virginia architecture schools.

Business of Architecture Summit

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Small Firm Roundtable (SFRT) Co-sponsors Business of Architecture Summit 2015
October 29-30, 2015

Is your firm ready for the next 5 years?

Are you jumping at every opportunity that comes your way, or are you taking a long-term, sustainable approach that is based on a winning strategy?

As the economy heats up, don’t let the ‘urgent’ get in the way of that which is most important.

business-of-architecture-summit-2015-aiaThis October 29th-30th, the Small Firm Roundtable is co-sponsoring a 2-day live, virtual event with Business of Architecture focused on preparing your firm for the next 5 years. Better yet, the SFRT leadership has negotiated half-off the registration cost for SFRT members.

Over the 2-day tele-broadcast Summit, you’ll hear from some of the leading thinkers on creating a sustainable practice with a focus on long-term strategy, success, and financial security.

Here are a few comments about last year’s event: “Attending…the Summit will be one of the most important things I do for my practice this year, if not this decade!” (architect Cary Westerbeck) and “The Business of Architecture Summit was the most ‘profitable’ 2 days I have spent in a long time,” (architect Frank Heitzman).

During this event, you’ll get over 10 AIA LU’s and, as an AIA Small Firm Roundtable member, you can get 50% off by using the special coupon code “sfrt-summit-2015” as you register.

You won’t want to miss this event created specifically for small firm owners.

Go here to reserve your seat: The Business of Architecture Summit 

This is an online broadcast event – no travel is required. When you register you’ll also get access to all the session recordings so that you can watch them on-demand at your leisure.

Call for Applications – ELA Class of 2016

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Application deadline extended to Nov. 30, 2015. Apply today! 

AIA Virginia announces a call for applications for the 2016 class of Emerging Leaders in Architecture: An Honors Academy of AIA Virginia (ELA).

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. Download the program outline and application. 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.

Find out more information by downloading the program outline and application (hyperlink to the same file as above) or by contacting Marshall Dreiling (hyperlinked to my email). The application deadline is Nov. 15, 2015.

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.

Find out more information by downloading the program outline and application or by contacting Marshall Dreiling.