Summary: This week, several readers expressed concern about the notice of the AIA Code of Ethics violation story in the November 30 issue. We also heard from Paul Tonti, AIA, vice president of the SmithGroup, who believes the background on Detroit in our November 16 story about the Motor City’s new MGM Hotel was unfairly presented. We have presented Tonti’s letter in full to offer another view of Detroit. Some readers also sounded off this week about teaching architecture students about global warming as well as on our poll on retiring.

Re: Member Suspended for Violating AIA Code of Ethics

[This article] is laughable—and further shows how little the AIA understands, supports, and is able to lead the architectural profession.

—Rada Doytcheva, PhD, ALA, LEED-AP
Principal, RADA Architects Ltd.
Chicago

I would like to know why the Roman T. Holowka story made "front page" of the News Headlines for the AIArchitect. Perhaps I have never noticed such stories in the past, but it seems to me that this person has been singled-out to be ridiculed by the newsletter. By the way—I don't know this person...nor do I know anyone who does know him. Out of the thousands of members, is he the sole violator of the standards? Are there not others? Seems to me that it is unfair to make one person the headline if there are others who could have shared the spotlight. If it was intended to be informational (to illustrate what not to do) the person's name could have been omitted. In my opinion, this was an unnecessary story. How about keeping with headlines that provide benefit to members.

—Leanne N. Lawrence, AIA
Associate, LS3P Associates Ltd.
Wilmington, N.C.

Mr. Holowka’s punishment seems disproportionately severe for the alleged infraction. Essentially the Institute has ruined his career because he didn’t return a phone call to what could easily have been a completely unreasonable client. The story does not mention whether Mr. Holowka was allowed to present his side of the story to the Ethics Council. Based on the little information presented I feel very uneasy and extremely disappointed with the AIA as an advocate for the profession and its members. From the information given it does not seem unreasonable to conclude that any client that has made up their mind to ruin an architect’s reputation can find the minutia to do so in the “Institute’s Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct” and a willing accomplice in the National Ethics Council.

Let he who has not sinned cast the first stone!

—John P. Sparano, AIA, Principal/Architect
Sparano + Mooney Architecture Inc.
Los Angeles

As chair of the Texas Board of Architectural Examiners, I fully understand the difference and separation between regulatory bodies and the AIA and its state components. I am often asked why our Board does not “beat the drum” for our profession. That, of course, is the job of the lobbying groups such as the AIA. The regulatory board’s duty is to ensure a safe built environment for the citizens of the state in which that board serves by regulating its design professionals.

I wonder if it might be pertinent for articles such as this one to do some follow-up with information such as: 1) Is Mr. Holowka being disciplined by his home state’s regulatory board and 2) is there a follow-up action to verify Mr. Holowka’s corrective actions in the future? My concern is that your readers may misunderstand or not fully comprehend the severity of his actions and think, “He acted this way, and all he got was the inability to use ‘AIA’ after his name for two years?” One could interpret this article as “end of story.”

Again, I understand the separation of our two groups and their functions, but it might be wise to link the action of Mr. Holowka (and others) to the entire depth of the repercussions attached to those actions. Thanks for reporting the bad along with the good. The story needs to be told.

—Gordon E. Landreth, AIA, TBAE Chair
Cotton Landreth Kramer, CorpusChristi, Tex.

The AIA Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct, the Institute’s Bylaws, and the National Ethics Council’s Rules of Procedure are available on the AIA’s Web site.

Re: MGM Grand Bets on Detroit

I appreciate your comments and review of the MGM Detroit project in AIArchitect. While it is a great project and certainly a multi-million dollar investment in the City of Detroit, I find it disheartening that you chose to focus on the negative aspects of our great city. Admittedly, we are a city in transition with its share of problems. But maybe the reason a corporation like MGM is willing to invest $800 million in Detroit is that they see the positive energy that is surrounding us with new investments, such as Compuware’s World Headquarters, and the recent announcement made by Quicken Loans to relocate its headquarters to downtown Detroit, along with 4,000 employees.

As you mentioned, billions of dollars have been spent on new world-class sport venues like Comerica Park and Ford Field, as well as the McNamara Terminal at Metropolitan Airport, which was recently named “the best airport terminal convenience retail program in North America,” by Airports Council International-North America. The city has finally taken hold of its best asset, the riverfront, and developed a three-mile pedestrian walkway and park system called the RiverWalk, which is thriving with activity that will only increase as the project nears completion. This development, in addition to others around it, has spurred numerous development projects with thousands of residential units, lofts, condominiums, and businesses. Other major developments from outside investors include the $176 million renovation of the historic Book Cadillac Hotel (“Book-Cadillac condos: Hot, hot, hot,” Detroit News).

Let us not forget that in 2006, Detroit hosted Super Bowl XL and received tremendous positive press such as “Detroit character embodies Ford Field,” Associated Press, 1/06, and “Getting revved up about the Motor City,” The Boston Globe, 1/06. There was also the 2005 Major League Baseball All-Star Game and the International Grand Prix, all of which have led up to our most recent crowning as “North America’s #1 sports city” in the Sporting News 2007 annual ranking.

All these accolades would not be given to a “battered and impoverished city,” as you described. It is hard to attain such a title as “North America’s #1 sports city” if a city is too “battered” and wrought with “urban decay” for there to be any positive activity occurring. Although we know that there will always be critics who will dwell on the negative, we’re disappointed that the voice of the AIA decided to “jump on that bandwagon” and spread misconceptions about our city.

In a year that the AIA is celebrating its 150th anniversary with a theme of Communities by Design, I am surprised that AIArchitect wouldn’t instead choose to write about Detroit as a city that is truly in a state of rebirth. The AIA should support and encourage those who have never been to Detroit to come and see the many changes we’ve made, and why more and more leading national corporations are moving their headquarters downtown, why outside investors are spending millions on historically renovated condos that are quick to sell out, and why fans from all over the country come to see our championship national sports teams at their best.

—Paul D. Tonti, AIA, LEED AP
Vice President, SmithGroup, Inc.
Detroit

Re: Preparing for the “Inconvenient Truth”

Is the way for U.S. architecture students to prepare for a warmer globe to study architecture in Florida or Arizona?

—R. Heinrich, AIA
Madison, N.J.

I read Michael Crosbie’s article just now. He is claiming that the, “dire global circumstances” we face, “are the result of poor building design, engineering, and construction.” This is a total crock and a statement unworthy of a PhD. First of all, I contest that we are facing “dire” global circumstances. That is just alarmist political rhetoric and has no place in a profession such as ours. He also stated that, “Flooding worldwide is hampering human settlements.” The implication is that this flooding is caused by recent global warming which is the result of poor building design, engineering, and construction. I’ve got news for Mr. Crosbie, human settlements have been hampered by flooding worldwide for all of recorded history.

Can we do a better job of stewarding the Earth’s resources? Of course we can. Can we be more environmentally sensitive with our design and production efforts? Of course we can. Should we be better? Yes! But not by buying into the hysteria of political discourse which is designed primarily as a power struggle. Our profession needs to lead by measured and studied solutions to steadily and methodically improve our results while mitigating the impact on our world to the greatest extent feasible. Shame on Mr. Crosbie for succumbing to the hysteria.

—Chris Rizzuti, AIA
San Diego

How interesting that you do not include a category about retiring early that assumes an architect could have the option financially to retire early. Your possible responses just reinforce the idea that architecture is a "practice" not a profession, and that there is not even the option that one would retire early because they have the money, or "I have enough money to retire, but I love my work and want to stay as long as it is still fun." So many baby boomers are planning to retire from their primary jobs early, and launch some kind of different second career—teaching, consulting, running their own business. I know of several architects who have done this: One purchased and is running an inn, another leaving a large firm and designing houses "for fun" as a solo practitioner, another is moving to a warmer climate and running a plant nursery. Shouldn't this be a consideration?

—Suzan Lami, AIA
Lami Grubb Architects LP
Pittsburgh

I have been retired for about 15 years, and I'm enjoying it !! Since retirement, I was able to help the Monterey Chapter as their executive director, a member of the City of Monterey Planning Commission, and an unpaid consultant for the County of Monterey. Upon moving to the San Diego Chapter, for my health, I have provided complimentary services for my community, and the county. At age 80, it's extremely rewarding to give and to help your community.

—Frank Jon Messina, AIA Emeritus
(formerly of the Messina Architectural Group, San Carlos, Calif.)