Save this page for AIA 2006 National Convention and Exposition coverage from Los Angeles. This link will continue to be updated as the convention progresses.

Stay tuned for convention news and speaker reports.

Election Results
• Purnell Elected 2008 President.
• Miller, Rodriguez to serve as AIA vice presidents.
• Proffitt elected AIA Secretary.

Architecture on the Edge: Day One Celebrates “Innovation”
“On this day in 1867, Frank Lloyd Wright was born; on this day in 1887, Herman Hollerith received a patent for his punch card calculator; on this day in 1948, Milton Berle hosted the debut of “The Texaco Star Theater”; on this day in 1959, the USS Barbero, and the United States Postal Service attempted the delivery of letters via Missile Mail. And on this date, here in Los Angeles, it’s my privilege to welcome you to the opening of the 137th National Convention of The American Institute of Architects,” said AIA Executive Vice President/CEO Chris McEntee, as she set the tone for Day One of the convention, themed “Innovation.” Above, AIA President Kate Schwennsen, FAIA, begins proceedings.

Architecture On The Edge: Innovation
LA matures by blending icons with far-flung communities
Turning away from a legacy of car-centric sprawl, Los Angeles is at the cusp of becoming a mature, connected city, agreed theme panelists on day one of the AIA 2006 National Convention in that city. Keeping with the “Innovation,” as the theme of the first day of the convention, June 8, “We’ve brought together three trend setters who work at the edge, declared AIA President Kate Schwennsen, FAIA. “Their thinking about this city is matched by their extraordinary contributions as catalysts of change.”

Friday General Session Engages Architects in “Engagement”
Participants of the AIA Convention Friday general session began practicing its theme of “engagement” from the moment attendees walked in: Seating was arranged alphabetically by schools of architecture so that alumni could sit together and reconnect. AIA President Kate Schwennsen, FAIA, explained, “Since our focus today is engagement, we thought: Why not use this time to become better acquainted? Our national conventions should be a time of sharing not only knowledge, but fellowship.”

Architecture on the Edge: Engagement
Speakers define new roles, new thinking in infrastructure design
At the Friday June 9 general session of the AIA national convention, McGraw-Hill Construction President and American Architectural Foundation Board of Regents Chair Norbert W. Young Jr., FAIA, introduced a terrific trio of speakers who tackled “Engagement,” that day’s topical theme. “Today’s focus, engagement, brings creativity down to earth. It brings our profession’s visions and dreams to the busy intersection where ideas meet the complex reality of politics. How to negotiate this intersection without a costly backup or, worse, a flaming wreck?” Young asked. “This morning’s theme presentations respond to the fact that increasingly we as architects are playing a vital and visible role in shaping our nation’s public infrastructure.”

College of Fellows Inducts 2006 Class
Walt Disney Concert Hall is venue for investiture
The AIA College of Fellows inducted 82 members of the Institute and 13 distinguished architects from other nations into their ranks at a ceremony June 9 at Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles. The celebratory event honors the inductees for their significant contributions to architecture and society nationally, and for consistently achieving excellence in the profession.”

Delegates Vote to Extend Associate Member, CACE Representative Voting Rights on the Board
Resolution passes for study of AIA electronic documents use by small firms
After an introduction on the morning of June 10 to the newly elected officers of the AIA—2008 President Marshall Purnell, FAIA; Vice Presidents George Miller, FAIA, and Mike Rodriguez, AIA; and Secretary David Proffitt, AIA—the delegates to the AIA National Convention in Los Angeles voted affirmatively on two Bylaws Amendments and a Resolution that will study the use of AIA electronic documents by small firm practitioners.

Members Voice from the Convention Floor
AIA members and guests seek out the latest and greatest for their architecture practices as they peruse the products and services of more than 800 exhibiting companies at Expo 2006 at the AIA Convention in Los Angeles June 8–10. AIArchitect asked members about the exhibits they plan on seeing and what caught their attention first among the exciting innovations offered by the design and construction industry vendors and Cornerstone Partners. Several members identified the many new and improved technology applications, an increase they perceived from prior years.

A Contract with Our Future
Robert Kennedy Jr. urges greener material, design with nature
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is a lifelong environmentalist. As a young boy, he bred homing pigeons and pheasants in his backyard and learned to train hawks. Today, Kennedy is widely recognized as the country's most prominent environmental attorney, working tirelessly to safeguard the environment. Kennedy addressed his environmental concerns to AIA attendees on Thursday, June 8 in his session, “A Contract with Our Future.”

What’s That? They’re Hired?!?
Say, are those the new “apprentices” conferring with their boss, Donald Trump? Have no fear—College of Fellows Vice Chancellor Frank E. Lucas, FAIA, and Chancellor Ted P. Pappas, FAIA, are abandoning neither their COF duties nor their architecture practices. They merely paused for a pose on June 7 with “The Donald” at the 10th annual Chancellor’s Cup Golf Open at the Trump National Golf Club, Ranchos Palos Verdes, where a good time was had by all.

Inspiration Rules Day Three at the Convention
A glimpse of the 2007 convention in San Antonio; awarding of the Presidential medal to five outstanding international leaders; a rousing address from Whitney Young Award recipient Ted Landsmark, Associate AIA—all capped with dynamic words of wisdom from Topaz Medallion recipient William McGInn, FAIA—set the tone for the last day of the convention’s culminating theme of “Inspiration.”

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