Women and Women Architects in the 1890s
Architects Louise B. Bethune and Sophia G. Hayden, and the likes of Mrs. Potter Palmer
At the 1892-93 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago, something that had not been done before at any world’s fair was planned. There would be a building devoted solely to women. All buildings were to be designed by architects, and Daniel Burnham, the exposition’s chief of construction, sought the best known American architects as designers. He would have known Louise Bethune, FAIA, a woman architect, and member of the AIA. Yet Bethune didn’t design the building. The task fell by competition to a 22-year-old architect, and the results included a beautiful building and, unfortunately, a Gilded Age brouhaha.

Dr. Sharon Sutton, FAIA: Diversity Matters
Grassroots keynote speaker asks AIA leaders to “relentlessly question” diversity practices
Diversity in architecture can be achieved, Sharon Sutton, PhD, FAIA, told 2006 Grassroots Leadership and Legislative Conference attendees in her February 9 keynote address. But despite many steps forward, she said it is clear that the profession and the society that it serves have not realized that potential. “Only through a candid and honest examination of the structural inequities embedded in our past and present can we move toward a brighter and more inclusive future,” Sutton said. “Our 150-year celebration demands no less than a fundamental metamorphosis.”

AIA Elevates 82 to Fellow; 13 to Honorary Fellow
The AIA congratulates the 95 individuals who were selected as Fellows and Honorary Fellows of the Institute in 2006. The categories of nomination are:

1. To promote the aesthetic, scientific, and practical efficiency of the profession
2. To advance the science and art of planning and building by advancing the standards of architecture education, training, and practice
3. To coordinate the building industry and the profession of architecture
4. To ensure the advancement of the living standards of people through their improved environment
5. To make the profession of ever-increasing service to society.

from the president’s office
Notes from the Most Successful Grassroots Ever
AIA President Kate Schwennsen, FAIA, shares highlights of the most important events, their outcomes, plus her impressions of “the most successful Grassroots ever,” which she spent with nearly 850 of the AIA’s local, state, national, and knowledge community leaders.

Thanks for the Memories
The brain, the mind, and creation of memories
Despite a commitment to be a designer of “contemporary” churches when he graduated from architecture school in 1952, John P. Eberhard, FAIA, founding president, Academy of Neuroscience for Architecture, found that clients all wanted either Gothic or Colonial churches. Through his neuroscience studies, he understands now how significant it was that the clients had no previous experience—no memories—of so-called Modern church design. Join Eberhard as he explores how the brain and the mind work together to create such memories, and how memories affect people’s responses to architecture.

NCARB to Vote on Allowing Portions of ARE Before Total Completion of IDP
In a February 22 release, the National Council of Architecture Registration Boards (NCARB), after much study and debate, concluded that “there is no evidence of increased risk to the health, safety and welfare of the public if a candidate with an accredited professional degree and who is actively engaged in IDP [Intern Development Program] is permitted to begin to start taking divisions of the ARE.” Commencing with adoption of an appropriate resolution at one of its annual meetings, NCARB will allow candidates to begin taking the Architect Registration Examination when they have completed 250 Intern Development Program Training Units (which is about a year’s worth of work). Some divisions of the ARE—likely no more than three—will only be able to be taken following completion of all IDP Training Units. NCARB expects to propose a model law amendment to this effect at its 2006 annual meeting in June. The resolution itself, with appropriate grandfathering and transition provisions, likely will be presented at its 2007 annual meeting. (In September 2005, the AIA Board of Directors adopted a position statement advocating that state architecture registration boards allow interns—following their graduation from an NAAB-accredited degree program and concurrent with enrollment in the IDP—to be candidates for licensure. The AIA plans to distribute educational materials on this topic in early March.)

Past, Pleasant, and Future
137th R/UDAT completed in Pleasant Grove, Utah
The AIA Center for Communities by Design is proud to announce the completion of the 137th Regional/Urban Design Assistance Team visit. Led by Jerry Ernst, FAIA, a team of eight professionals volunteered their time and expertise to provide the town of Pleasant Grove, Utah, with recommendations to help shape the future of the community. The mission of the team was twofold: Help develop a long-range plan for the development of a key gateway area leading into Pleasant Grove and generate suggestions for the revitalization of the waning historic downtown.

AIA Nevada Presents “Excellence in Design” Award Honors
AIA Las Vegas hosted a celebration of the unique architecture of Nevada and honored the design excellence of the projects and the architects who created them. The distinguished jurors for this year’s awards, presented last November at the AIA Nevada “Excellence in Design Awards” presentation ceremony, were Lawrence Scarpa, AIA, Pugh + Scarpa, Santa Monica, Calif.; David Paul Brems, FAIA, GSBS Architecture, Salt Lake City; and David Daniel, AIA, David Owen Tryba Architects, Denver.

Project watch
AIA’s Own Has Renovation Licked
Midwest Landmark Hotels Get Makeovers to Restore Grandeur
What do architecture and Al Capone have in common? Besides both beginning with the letter a, they were once found in abundance in the early 20th century at the historic French Lick Springs Resort Hotel and nearby landmark West Baden Springs Hotel, both in Orange County, Ind., in the towns of French Lick and West Baden, respectively. Orange County is at the southern end of the state and is about a two-hour drive from Indianapolis. And although Mr. Capone will not be returning, the elegant architecture is, thanks to a $320 million joint makeover that will restore both hotels to their earlier turn-of-the-century splendor.

Your Kiplinger Connection (members only, AIA.org login required)
Housing: As the housing market cools, commercial and institutional pick up the slack. The economy: Prime rate will hit 8 percent this summer, but inflation still looms—get your inflation shields in place. Energy: The next five years will see a 13 percent rise in the cost of electricity.
AIArchitect offers AIA members exclusive access to three stories a week to help them manage their practices and plan for the coming year. Nonmembers may subscribe to The Kiplinger Letter.

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No Place Like Home: Creating a New Old House: Yesterday's Character for Today's Home, Taunton Press’s new book by residential architect Russell Versaci, AIA, features 17 new “old-style” houses and the author’s “Eight Pillars of Traditional Design.” The 224-page booklists for $39.95; AIA members may purchase Creating a New Old House for $34.95. Order online or phone 800-242-3837, option #4.

Delve Into Documents: In the eClassroom course, “AIA 2007 Documents: Addressing Our Changing Profession,” Instructors Suzanne Harness Esq., AIA, and Barbara Golter Heller, FAIA, discuss the proposed changes to 2007 AIA Contract Documents and new approaches to dispute resolution. This course is available through March 3 at a 10-percent-off discounted price of $89.05 AIA members/$121.95 nonmembers (regular price: $98.95 AIA members/$134.95 nonmembers) and offers 1.5 HSW LU-hours.

New AIA Members—Attend the AIA National Convention for free! Join the AIA and attend the 2006 convention at no cost. All new architect and associate members (including members whose status has changed from Assoc. AIA to AIA) who join between May 22, 2005, and March 31, 2006, are invited to attend the 2006 annual convention free of charge. This value (up to $675) will give you the opportunity to spend time with your colleagues and peers and experience the full benefit of your membership.

Early Warning: The 2005 CES Audits will be emailed in late February/early March. To update your email address, call the AIA Membership Department, 202-626-7565. Questions about the status of your Learning Units (LUs)? Contact Maria Sigillito, CES program manager, msigillito@aia.org. By the way, AIA Kentucky’s March 2006 calendar includes a Justice Facility Design Seminar.

New ads: The AIA has developed a new creative approach for our 2006 advertising campaign. The next series of network radio advertisements runs February 20–June 5. For details on all aspects of the AIA’s advertising campaign, visit the Members Section of AIA.org.

AIA Members Save with United Parcel Service (UPS): Save up to 20 percent on U.S. and international overnight air shipping with UPS, the world’s largest package-distribution company.
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Free Continuing Education: After reading the standards and other information on environmental issues and products, references, and more in each MASTERSPEC topic, licensed users can access online tests to earn AIA/CES learning-unit hours.

Save Time! AIA.org now features a trouble-shooting Knowledge Base to address your AIA Contract Documents software questions quickly and efficiently.

Integrated Practice: Technological change is one catalyst accelerating radical improvement through the entire construction industry, from owner to architect to contractor to facility manager, through the full length of the project and building lifecycle. Learn more about how this change will transform architectural practice into Integrated Practice at www.aia.org/ip.

Press Tap News Service: Reporters from The Wall Street Journal to Michigan Construction News have signed on to get full access to AIA’s news service. Post your news today.

Cover Personal and Business Expenses if Disability Strikes: The AIA Trust Personal and Business Overhead Disability Plans will cover all your expenses while you recuperate. Find out more about this program. For more information about all AIA Trust programs, go to their site.