best practices
Innovation in Design for Aging Requires Shared Vision
In Design for Aging Post Occupancy Evaluations, a new book evaluating lessons learned from projects featured in the AIA’s last four Design for Aging Facilities Reviews, authors Jeffrey W. Anderzhon, Ingrid L. Fraley, and Mitch Green discuss the consensus planning process necessary for incorporating innovative design elements that will allow people to age in place gracefully.

AIA Northern Virginia Celebrates AIA150
The Blueprint for America is the cornerstone of the AIA’s 150th anniversary celebration. Comprising 156 community service projects funded by the AIA, Blueprint for America brings architects and the public together to address community needs related to design and livability. Two of those projects are taking place in the Washington, D.C., suburbs, where AIA Northern Virginia hosted a series of special events and exhibitions, two of which are official AIA150 Blueprint projects: Women Creating Community and the Architecture School Charrette.

JLG Architects Lives, Works, and Plays Green to Celebrate Earth Week
Community outreach, office events highlight firm’s green commitment
JLG Architects practiced what they preach about green design by holding an office-wide sustainable program filled with eco-friendly events during Earth Week this year. From April 23–27, employees in JLG's four offices—in Grand Forks and Fargo, N.D., and Minneapolis and Alexandria, Minn.—participated in local community outreach that included talking to third graders about green design, performing park and highway cleanup, and operating a sustainable wellness university booth. Each office also held in-house staff activities involving organic lunches, sustainability-themed movies, eco-emails, walks, carpooling, and biking to work.

Publish Your Projects to Google Earth
Google Earth, through its 3D Warehouse Web site, has made it possible to publish 3D buildings to one of the most heavily used applications on the Internet. “The Internet is the great equalizer,” says Google Product Manager Bruce Polderman, of the Web’s potential for giving marketing power to smaller firms. “You can promote your design skills and showcase your work using the 3D Warehouse and Google Earth where more than 200 million people can experience it—virtually.”

Be the CHANGE You Want to See in the Profession
Want to know more about Integrated Practice and Building Information Modeling? McGraw-Hill Construction and the AIA California Council invite you to the CHANGE Conference in San Francisco, June 25–26. Whatever your definition of Integrated Practice or your understanding of Building Information Modeling, it is undeniable that there are forces at work that are changing the way the world gets built. How these affect those involved in design and construction, and those who occupy, use, and are responsible for the operations of the built world is yet to be seen. However, changes are at work that are and will continue to challenge traditional and standard approaches to the design, construction, and occupancy of buildings. At this moment in time, join with a variety of talented, concerned, and involved individuals who, as both participants and observers, have a stake and a say in shaping the world in which we live. Join the CHANGE: for more information or to register, visit the conference Web site.