Architecture Students Build to Learn in Sri Lanka
Twenty-one Ball State University students returned March 20 from a two-week rebuilding project in a fishing village in southern Sri Lanka that had been devastated by last December’s tsunami. The students are part of a program called “CapAsia,” a 10-week field study program offered by the College of Architecture and Planning at Ball State that provides both graduate and undergraduate architecture students with experience in world architecture, urbanism, and planning.

D.C. Firm Honors Fallen American Soldiers
When the Faces of the Fallen exhibit opened March 22 at the Women in Military Service for America Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery, the entire staff of Washington, D.C.-based CORE architecture + design was there to witness the gathering of families, military personnel, and artists. As the exhibit designers and installation coordinators, they were also there to make sure everything went off without a hitch.

AIA Orlando Celebrates 10 Outstanding Buildings
AIA Orlando held its 2005 Awards for Design Excellence Presentation and Gala March 5 in honor of 10 projects recognized with Awards for Design Excellence. From a field of 33 entries, the jury selected three honor awards and seven awards of merit in categories that include government, institution, education, health-care, residential, interior, and industrial. Additionally, the chapter presented four awards to companies and those who have contributed significantly to the community and the profession.

Theme Speakers to Light Up AIA National Convention and Design Exposition
The AIA 2005 National Convention and Design Exposition, to be held May 19–21, at Las Vegas’ Mandalay Bay Convention Center will play host to three particularly captivating theme sessions.

NIBS, FGI to Work Together on Health Guidelines
David A. Harris, FAIA (left), president of the National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS) and Joseph G. Sprague, FAIA, president of the Facility Guidelines Institute (FGI) shake hands after signing a memorandum of understanding between the two organizations at an April 1 meeting of the FGI at the AIA national component headquarters in Washington, D.C. The memorandum represents a much-anticipated step to provide research in support of the Guidelines for Design and Construction of Hospital and Health Care Facilities. FGI and NIBS pledged to “work together to conduct needed research related to the Health Guidelines” and “work cooperatively to develop proposals for research to provide a sound factual basis for revisions to the Health Guidelines and to seek the funding needed to conduct such research as professionally as possible.”

Top 10 Bestsellers in March 2005
AIArchitect is pleased to provide you with a list of the top 10 best-selling publications in the AIA Store for the month of March.

project watch
Emc2Group Designs First LEED High School
Desert Edge High School, Phase II, in Arizona’s Agua Fria Union High School District, will soon become Arizona’s first LEED™ certified high school. Designed by Emc2 Group Architects Planners in Mesa, Ariz., the $9.7 million, 84,200-square-foot building will be ready when school starts in August. The project incorporates many sustainable features, from an improved envelope with high-performance glass to xeriscaping.

Your Kiplinger Connection (members only, AIA.org login required)
Health costs: Health-affirming policies can save companies money.
The economy: Business spending and commercial construction are robust.
Tech: All-in-one wireless communicators will do it all.
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.

Need to catch up on recent editions of AIArchitect This Week?
March 14 | March 21 | March 28 | April 4

best practices
Risk Management
To Document, or Not to Document
Many architects think of documentation as an irritation that encroaches on their design efforts. They view documentation as a task of drudgery forced on them by the “technical guys” or the “lawyers.” Actually, documentation is as integral to architecture as are sketchbooks, renderings, construction drawings, and change orders. The AIA Risk Management Committee’s Grant A. Simpson, FAIA, and James B. Atkins, FAIA, explain why and offer tips on successful documentation.

Two Programs Recognize Successful Community Design
The Center for Communities by Design encourages AIA members to take advantage of opportunities to work with local government officials and others to promote the importance of design and recognize examples of successful projects or policies. For instance, consider becoming involved in the Models of Livable Communities Competition or the EPA’s National Award for Smart Growth Achievement program.

Web Site Celebrating Pro Bono Architecture Launched
Public Architecture, a San Francisco-based nonprofit group, announced on April 1 the launch of its “1% Solution” program and Web site, www.theonepercent.org. Supported by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, the 1% Solution challenges architecture firms to pledge one percent of their billable hours to the public good through pro bono or public interest work. Phase One, now under way, will establish a baseline for existing pro bono and public interest efforts in the architecture profession. Phase Two, to launch later this year, will establish an online forum to match clients with architecture firms. For more information, visit the new Web site.

AIA CAREER CENTER
Here Are This Week’s Featured Opportunities

Secure that Site!
Security and Site Design: A Landscape Architectural Approach to Analysis, Assessment, and Design Implementation, by Leonard J. Hopper and Martha J. Droge, (John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2005) offers basics concepts and techniques for design professionals.
Security and Site Design is available now to AIA members for the special price of $52 ($65 retail). To learn more or purchase, visit the AIA Store or call 800-242-3837, opt. #4.

Hurry: Register for the Convention Before April 15 and Save! Register for the full convention by April 15 to save $45 and increase your chances of getting the workshops, tours, special events, programs, and travel and hotel accommodations you want.

Check Out These New Programs—with Transcripts: AIA eClassroom now has available 12 of the most popular programs from the 2004 AIA national convention with full transcripts.

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.
Call 800-325-7000, ext. 7600. Reference No. C-000-070-0037.

AIA Government Advocacy News: Join the list to receive the biweekly e-mail newsletter, a member benefit offering the latest local, state, and federal government actions impacting architects.

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.

Two Years of Continuing-Education Credits? Under the AIA Commended Professional Liability Insurance Program, insureds can satisfy continuing-ed requirements through self-study. Get more information about Design One, the AIA Trust’s comprehensive insurance program for AIA firms, and the continuing-ed program.
For more information about all AIA Trust programs, go to their site.