February 2, 2007
  Team Building for Architects: Myths, Strategies, and Tips
Team building is an essential competence for architects, yet many architects struggle to build teams effectively. In fact, some architects see an inherent conflict between teamwork and architecture, notes William Ronco, PhD. Evoking the nightmares of design by committee, some architects resist any attempts to understand or work effectively with teams and team building. Even the more team-oriented architects often fall short in their ability to participate in and lead teams. Following are some common myths about team building as well as some tips for architects.

Boston, D.C., Adopt Green Building Rules for Private Development
Boston is the first major U.S. city to implement a green building zoning code. “Article 37” will require all major new and rehabilitation construction projects exceeding 50,000 square feet to earn 26 LEED®-New Construction (NC) points, and a proposed further 4 points reflecting city priorities, including transportation, energy, historic preservation, and groundwater recharge. The city will not require third-party certification; Boston officials will review and confirm developers’ certifications. Additionally, Washington, D.C., is poised to become the first U.S. city to mandate sustainability guidelines for privately owned real estate.

best practices
The Interiors Family of AIA Contract Documents®
As a busy architect providing architectural interior design services, you may not be aware that the AIA completely revised the Interiors Family of AIA Contract Documents in 2003, acknowledge Suzanne H. Harness, Esq., AIA, managing director and counsel, and Kenneth W. Cobleigh, Esq., senior director and associate counsel, of the AIA Documents team. The 2003 documents streamline the family from seven documents to five and clearly distinguish between architectural services for interior construction and those for the design and procurement of furniture, furnishings, and equipment (FF&E).

 

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This is the home of the weekly Best Practices column, news of tips and tools that you can use in your day-to-day practice and case studies illustrating “how-tos” and “lessons learned” for all stages of practice. The Practice Zone also features reports of research in architecture and related fields.