Your AIA National Convention Connection
Complete coverage: Read the AIArchitect special convention section. Election results: Schwennsen elected 2006 AIA President; Kraus, Mathison, Stewart named 2005 VPs; Senhauser elected secretary. Annual business meeting: Members approve four bylaws changes; vote for dues increase to fund ad campaign; pledge increased support for diversity, IDP programs.

work-on-the-boards
Business Conditions Trend Up in May
Expanding economy sparks price increases in construction commodities
May business conditions at architecture firms showed steady improvement, according to AIA Chief Economist Baker, PhD, Hon. AIA. Billings increased over April levels, and inquiries for new work again showed a solid increase. Firms in all regions reported improvement in billings, and business conditions are beginning to equalize across the country. Earlier this year, growth was heavily concentrated at firms in a few areas.

AIA Austin Honors 10 Projects
The AIA Austin Chapter 2004 Design Awards program honored 10 outstanding local projects, chosen from a field of 76 entries. The projects were announced and winning architects received their awards at the chapter’s annual Design Awards Celebration at the Lester E. Palmer Events Center in May. The distinguished jurors were Adèle Naudé Santos, FAIA, dean of the School of Architecture and Planning at MIT and principal of Santos Prescott and Associates, San Francisco; Steven Ehrlich, FAIA, design principal of Steven Ehrlich Architects, Culver City, Calif.; and Tim Blonkvist, FAIA, founding principal and chairman of the board of Overland Partners, San Antonio. AIA Austin Design Awards Committee Chair Michelle Rossomando, AIA, was moderator.

project watch
Historic Richmond Train Station Restored to Former Glory
Gensler leads team that transformed Main Street building into transportation hub and revitalization catalyst
The historic Main Street Station in Richmond, Va., reopened June 9 as a mixed-use transportation hub, following an extensive renovation and restoration program by Gensler. The architect’s design reversed the building’s 28 years of vacancy, restoring the five-story, 103-year-old landmark head house and creating a new elevated Amtrak platform. Gensler provided the project’s historic preservation and renovation design, architecture, interior design, and urban planning services; HC YU and Associates provided MEP engineering services; Snead Associates was civil engineer; Daniels & Associates, P.C. was structural engineer; and Sorg and Associates served as historic preservation consultant.

Your Kiplinger Connection (members only)
Housing: Continued home-price gains, modest interest hikes, and strong remodeling demand keep the housing market strong. Tech: Wal-Mart is challenging Yahoo with Sam’s Club Web-site deals for small businesses. Trade: China is beginning to work on cooling its potentially overheating economy.
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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