All-Star AIA Convention Speakers Will Open Your Eyes to Booming Market Opportunities
Hispanic media pioneer Chiqui Cartagena, a leading U.S. expert on the red-hot Hispanic market, and Paco Underhill, the acknowledged founder of the “science of shopping,” will be revealing their marketing secrets at the upcoming AIA National Convention and Design Exposition in Los Angeles, June 8–10. Both presentations promise to be among the most important practice-oriented seminars on this year’s agenda.

A Decade of Depression and Perseverance
In the abrupt transition from Roaring Twenties boom to Great Depression bust, the AIA maintained a forward-thinking approach to ensuring and celebrating design excellence with the establishment of national design awards, commitment to community planning, and creation of works projects to keep architects creatively productive. For some, notes architectural historian Tony Wrenn, Hon. AIA, there was also time for a bit of tomfoolery.

This Weekend, Be on the Lookout For...
. . . The New York Times’ “LH&E,” a new advertorial featuring luxury housing, to be launched in the newspaper’s Sunday magazine on May 7. The new publication features “Defining Luxury”—an essay on how architects work with clients to do just that—by AIA Small Projects Practitioners Knowledge Community member Kevin Harris, AIA. The AIA national media relations staff worked with the Times editors to select case-study projects by AIA members that show how luxury means different things to different clients.

One New York State: Urban Policy and Regional Design
As rekindled interest in inner-city living steps on the heels of flight to the suburbs, how should we allocate resources—for urban renewal, suburban initiatives, or both? Taking on this question, AIA New York State President Terrence E. O’Neal, AIA, reports how the “One New York State: Urban Policy and Regional Design” symposium addressed the ambitious goal of unifying the state while attempting to foster relationships between architects and elected officials statewide. Although design is not always the answer, the architects present reaffirmed that they have skills—as consensus-builders and synthesizers of information from varying sources—that will prove invaluable in the process.

Check Out These New Additions to the Convention Program
Due to popular demand, the AIA has added some exciting new continuing education opportunities to the roster of the AIA 2006 National Convention in Los Angeles, June 8–10.“LA 4 Ideas” brings together three exciting young designers and a seasoned hand pursuing diverse forms of creative practice, while “Los Angeles—An Urban Law unto Itself” explores the re-imaging of the City of Angels. “Best Practices of Professional Development: CES 2006 Award of Excellence Large and Small Firm” brings this year’s awards recipients to the table to discuss what makes a great IDP program. “Deans Discuss Campus Architecture: Relationships, Representation, and Realities” brings together the heads of leading schools of architecture. And “Urban Next: LA and the Gulf Coast” compares development on two coasts. (Pictured, LA’s 2005 Museum of Design Art + Architecture by Zoltan E. Pali. Photo © Martin Schall.)

A Great Thinker Lost: Jane Jacobs, 1916–2006
Urban activist, prolific author, and insightful philosopher Jane Jacobs, 89, died in a Toronto hospital April 25 of an apparent stroke.

Stand and Be Counted
Component executives and presidents of unstaffed AIA components have just received the AIA 2006 National Convention and Design Exposition delegate cards. How delegates are selected is governed by each component itself—check with your executive or president. Delegates take on considerable responsibility as your representatives in selecting AIA leadership and establishing direction. Here are some details. Make sure your chapter’s votes count!

project watch
Bent-Glass Facade Will “Eternally Light” New Dubai Skyscraper
51-story landmark tower to anchor new business city
What happens when creative form and function meet searing 115 degree desert heat? “Architecture that is not routine or safe as we know it in our world,” says Behr Champana, AIA, vice president of Atlanta-based TVS Architects, International Division. TVS Architects was commissioned last month by Dubai Properties, the leading real estate developer in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), to design a landmark 650,000-square-foot, 51-story office skyscraper to be located at the main entrance of Business Bay, a 64-million-square-foot “city within a city” development in Dubai that will serve as the new central business district of the Emirate with 230 commercial and residential towers and $17 billion in investments. At its center will be Vision Tower, which will be “eternally lighted” as the Business Bay beacon.

Your Kiplinger Connection (members only, AIA.org login required)
The economy: Despite solid growth, there are good reasons for malaise.
Business travel: Travel-related taxes have businesses fighting back.
Interest rates: Have the rate hikes petered out?
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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Hot Off the Press: Feng Shui: A Practical Guide for Architects and Designers by Vincent M. Smith and Barbara Lyons Stewart, AIA (Kaplan AEC Education, 2006) is the very first such book geared specifically to the architecture and design disciplines. In the past few years, feng shui has crossed cultures to become an effective tool for the nation’s top architects and designers and their clients. This useful guide equips architects and designers with the tools to create well-designed, comfortable environments that enhance clients' lives. The book lists for $39.95; AIA members may purchase for $32.95. Order online or phone 800-242-3837, option #4.

Delivering the product: Join instructors Steven M. Davis, FAIA; Theodore Liebman, FAIA; Clifford Pearson; and L. Bradford Perkins, FAIA, for eClassroom’s “The Production of Architecture” distance-learning course that discusses scopes of work, standards of documentation, codes, and delivery systems. This course, which offers 1.5 HSW CES credits, is available through May 12 at a 10-percent-off discounted price, $89.05 AIA members/$121.95 nonmembers (regular price: $98.95 AIA members/$134.95 nonmembers).

Free Summer Job Postings: Are you looking for extra help in your office this summer? The AIA Career Center again allows firms to post limited-time summer job offers for free on its popular job board. Click “Post Jobs” on the Employers page; log in if you are a regular user, or register if you are new to the service; then enter all relevant information. When you get to “Type” option, be sure to check “Summer Job.” You will not be charged for the listing. Offer runs through July 31. The AIA is working with the American Institute of Architecture Students to get the word out to candidates.

New AIA Members—Attend the AIA National Convention 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.

Look here! Another chance to earn 1 HSW Learning Unit through AIA Santa Clara Valley.

They Try Harder: Avis gives you your choice of five bonus offers good for savings over and above your AIA discount. Call 800-698-5685.

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.

Answers to Your AIA Contract Documents Questions “24-7”: The online Knowledge Base for AIA Contract Documents has been expanded to include information about the documents’ content as well as how to use AIA Contract Documents software. Available on the Contract Documents page on the AIA’s Web site, the Knowledge Base now provides you with concise answers to nearly 250 frequently asked questions (FAQs). You can find what you need to know via multilevel Table of Contents, or, with key words, go directly to the FAQs.

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.

Free Condo Risk Management Tools: The AIA Trust commissioned attorney-architect Bill Quatman, FAIA, to develop “Risk Management Ideas for Condominium Projects,” a white paper now available on the AIA Trust Web site along with contract clauses, risk management tools, sample letters, statutes and an overview of the high risk condo market. The AIA Trust is also cosponsoring a seminar on “Aggressive Condominium Risk Management” at the upcoming AIA Convention in Los Angeles on June 10, 8:15–9:45 AM. Visit the AIA Trust site for more information.