AIA Vermont Honors Six Projects
Late last year, AIA Vermont presented six Excellence in Architecture awards at the chapter’s annual meeting and design awards presentations. Among them, the projects received three Honor Awards, one Citation, and two Honorable Mentions. Gossens Bachman Architects of Montpelier pulled off a hat trick this year: The firm captured one award in each category. The distinguished jury—Rab McClure, AIA; Lori Garrett, AIA; and John Adam Hugo III, AIA—hail from Richmond, Va.

BOOK REVIEW
The World Is Flat:
A Brief History of the Twenty-First Century,
by Thomas L. Friedman (Farrar, Straus, Giroux, New York City, 2005)
Flat. Flat. Flat. Go to any lecture these days, and the speaker undoubtedly will weave The World Is Flat into the talk. The World Is Flat pops up in all kinds of specialty bookstores, including those dealing with something seemingly unrelated as, say, architecture. Your sister read it; your niece gave it to you for Christmas; your engineer loved it (okay—he didn’t read it; he listened to the audiobook). After almost a year on the New York Times and Washington Post best-sellers lists, The World Is Flat has reached the tipping point of popularity reached by Malcolm Gladwell’s The Tipping Point a few years back. Why is everyone reading and talking about The World Is Flat, a book about globalization?

CEO McEntee Promises to Listen to the Members
Town hall meeting kicks off grassroots dialogue
At the recent Grassroots Leadership Conference, the AIA’s new EVP/CEO, Chris McEntee, introduced herself to the Institute’s component and knowledge leadership. The medium was an open mike Town Forum during which McEntee fielded a wide range of questions and concerns. Part One of this two-part article offers a brief introduction written by McEntee; the questions that were asked, organized by topic; and an edited summary of notes taken during her live response.

Spinning a Golden Webb
First AIA Gold Medal recipient a highly regarded British architect
As part of its 50th anniversary celebration, the AIA bestowed its first Gold Medal on English architect Sir Aston Webb in 1907. Webb, known for his Beaux Arts and Victorian works, humbly thanked the reception crowd, saying, “The memory of this evening will remain with me all my life. I shall take the medal home and keep it amongst my most treasured possessions.”

Spotlight
Balancing Act: Community Service and Architecture Practice
Jorge Garcia, AIA, earns awards for both
Jorge Garcia, AIA, is a man with a mission. He balances significant community involvement, holding numerous board positions with various professional and charitable organizations throughout South Florida, all the while nurturing Garcia Stromberg, a nearly 20-year-old award-winning multi-disciplinary architecture practice. For his endeavors, the Sun-Sentinel Co. honored Garcia with the 2005 Excalibur Award, presented to leaders in South Florida who have distinguished themselves in business and who have made a difference in the community. AIArchitect spoke with Garcia to find out how he does it all.

Heads Up: National Award for Smart Growth Achievement 2006 Call for Entries
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is now accepting applications for the fifth annual National Award for Smart Growth Achievement, open to local or state governments and other public-sector entities that have used the principles of smart growth to create better places. Applications are due May 1. This year, applications will be accepted in five categories—Built Projects, Policies and Regulations, Small Communities, Equitable Development, and Overall Excellence in Smart Growth—for smart-growth efforts that have shown significant activity between May 1, 2001, and May 1, 2006. Successful applicants will have incorporated smart-growth principles to create places that respect community culture and the environment, foster economic development, and enhance quality of life and public health. Up to five winners will be recognized at a ceremony in Washington, D.C., in November. For details, visit the EPA’s Web site.

Project watch
Grain Belt Brew House Receives National Preservation Award
The redevelopment of the picturesque Grain Belt Brew House in Minneapolis, with its eclectic blend of architectural styles and unique four-tower roofline, was recently selected to receive a 2005 National Preservation Honor Award by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Minneapolis-based RSP Architects led the Grain Belt Brew House redesign and is also the primary tenant.

Your Kiplinger Connection (members only, AIA.org login required)
Mideast war: With civil war looming, U.S. troops will stay in Iraq, oil may spike.
The economy: Condo market is flagging in high-price areas.
Data security: E-file management is more important than ever—put policies in place.
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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Last Word in Security Design: Building Security: Handbook for Architectural Planning and Design, edited by Barbara Nadel, FAIA (McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 2004), offers the definitive 21st-century reference on security design, technology, building operations, and disaster planning. The book lists for $89.95; AIA members may purchase it for $80.95. Order online or phone 800-242-3837, option #4.

Course of the Week: “The Legal Pitfalls of Design-Build” eClassroom course, taught by Katherine D. Enos, Assoc. AIA, and Richard M. Preston, discusses claims and litigation plus the management issues that will help you make informed decisions about their participation in design-build project delivery. This course is available through March 24 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.

Do You Know Where Your Transcript Is? Access your transcript on the AIA Web site. Also, enjoy the spring at AIA New York State’s April 2006 Annual Symposium, April 5.

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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.

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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.