National Trust Names This Year’s “Distinctive Destinations”
So, where are you going on vacation this year? The National Trust for Historic Preservation announced on March 7 the selection of its 2006 Dozen Distinctive Destinations, “an annual list of unique and lovingly preserved communities in the U.S.” America offers alternative vacation destinations that symbolize an increasing dedication to historic preservation. The 12 winning communities met the criteria of: well-managed growth, a commitment to historic preservation with a protected historic core and meaningful context, interesting and attractive architecture, cultural diversity, activities for families with children, an economic base of locally owned small businesses, and walkability for residents and visitors.

“I’m Listening”
Grassroots Town Hall Part 2
In her second installment of a two-part recap of the Town Hall Forum held at the AIA Grassroots Leadership and Legislative Forum in Washington, D.C., AIA EVP/CEO Chris McEntee (right, pictured here listening to AIA Team Vice President Helene Dreiling, FAIA) addresses topics raised by AIA component leaders. Topics covered this week include diversity, knowledge communities, and public outreach.

spotlight
French Connection: Richard M. Hunt Fellow Shares Experiences
Restoration architect Mary B. Brush, AIA, enjoys a “magical” professional exchange
Mary Brush, AIA, director of the Preservation Group at Klein and Hoffman, Chicago, spent six months in France as the 2005 laureate of the Richard Morris Hunt Fellowship, a professional honor for which one American architect is chosen every two years to meet and work with restoration architects and professionals throughout France. The $25,000 fellowship is an exchange of information, techniques, and professional practices of architects and practitioners in the preservation fields of each country. Brush focused her inquiries on building envelope restoration as practiced in France to study substantive differences between the professional practices in the U.S. and France.

AIA NATIONAL CONVENTION AND DESIGN EXPO
New for 2006: 60@6!
You know how there never seems to be enough time to take in all the continuing-ed classes you want at the AIA national convention? This year, in Los Angeles June 8–10, you can extend your learning day by 60 minutes, earn additional CES LUs, and still have plenty of time for evening and social networking. New one-hour seminars offered on Thursday and Friday, 6–7 p.m., provide additional learning opportunities on topics of special interest. Eighteen new seminars range in topic from “100 Years Since the San Francisco Earthquake,” and “The Hispanic Market: Understanding Acculturation,” to “Running a Design-Focused Practice Like You Mean It” and “MasterFormat™ 2004 Edition: Making the Transition.” See seminars TH61–TH69 and FR61–FR69 in the convention guide and on the Web site for the complete list. And register now. (Advance registration open through May 3, will save AIA members $65 off the full registration price.)

Mayo Clinic’s New Wellness Center Breaks Ground
Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., broke ground March 7 on a new 110,000-square-foot, three-level wellness and fitness center on its downtown campus. The goal of the new wellness center, to be named the Dan Abraham Healthy Living Center, is to offer an expanded range of activities designed to help Mayo Clinic’s 28,000 employees and their families improve their health and fitness, reduce stress, and implement beneficial lifestyle changes. St. Paul-based BWBR Architects and Chicago-based PSA-Dewberry Inc., co-authored the design of the center. PSA-Dewberry led the programming and planning of the facility based on its expertise in wellness centers while BWBR led the charge of the building’s design and had a relationship with Mayo Clinic, although the center is jointly designed by both firms. Completion of the center is expected in 2007.

Project watch
West Point Gets Ball Rolling on Rugby Complex
The very nature of rugby—teamwork, sacrifice, physical endurance, and ground maneuvering—resonates strongly among Army cadets. Perhaps this is why the Rugby Club at the United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point has been a popular sport since its inception in 1961, despite not having an official place to play other than nondescript patches of campus grass. West Point has joined with Tampa-based Baker Barrios Architects Inc. to remedy this problem with a new 14,000-square-foot, $12 million rugby complex—knowing that if they build it, the Rugby Club will definitely come.

Your Kiplinger Connection (members only, AIA.org login required)
State spending: Pension obligations for baby boomers loom large.
The economy: Home sales on the down slope.
Financial services: Small banks face tougher competition.
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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Go Green! The HOK Guidebook to Sustainable Design (John Wiley and Sons) by Sandra F. Mendler, AIA, and William O’Dell, AIA, offers a comprehensive guide toward integrating sustainable design strategies and features 24 case studies of a variety of international HOK projects. The book lists for $80; AIA members may purchase it for $72. Order online or phone 800-242-3837, option #4.

Get Up to Code: The AIA eClassroom distance learning course, “The IBC: A Step-by-Step Process,” taught by Carroll Lee Pruitt, AIA, and William J. Rakatansky, AIA, sets out a step-by-step procedure to apply the International Building Code to any project. This course is available through April 7 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.

Take a byte out of your continuing ed requirements: Attend “Bytes and Beeps” at AIA San Diego, April 28.

Watch Your Budget: Budget offers AIA members up to a 25 percent discount every day. Use your coupons to save even more. Call 800-455-2848.

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.

Consider Long Term Care for You and Your Spouse: The AIA Trust Long Term Care Quote plan offers you competitive quotes from the leading national carriers for extended care. Click here for specific information about this program. For more information about all AIA Trust programs, visit their Web site.