best practices (members only)
A Loss Cause (Part I)
There is a growing tendency among owners and contractors to believe that all discrepancies, errors, and omissions committed by a design professional are actionable offenses. As The Architect’s Handbook of Professional Practice states, however, “It is important that all parties understand that construction documents are not intended to be a complete set of instructions on how to construct a building.”

Room for Thought
New Jersey high-school students explore all facets of architecture
With names like “Perigeum,” “Tree House,” “Toy Blocks,” and “Excelsior,” eight student-conceived and -constructed “learning modules” soared to the rafters of the Montclair Art Museum (MAM) last fall in an exhibition entitled “Room for Thought.” In a nine-session crash course on architecture, sponsored by MAM and taught by Montclair, N.J., architect Barry Yanku, eight area high-school students learned the nuts and bolts of design from idea formation through construction and parlayed that experience into a public exhibition.

Scholarships Available for Italian Stone Fair
Application deadline: July 15
Veronafiere is accepting applications for its “Designing With Natural Stone” course held in conjunction with MARMOMACC in Verona, Italy, October 6–9, 2004. The course carries 20 AIA/CES learning units. AIA architects are eligible to compete for scholarships covering tuition, meals, accommodations, and local transportation. Persons selected will be responsible for their travel to and from Verona and for a $300 administrative fee. The course runs from the evening of October 5 through the evening of October 9. To apply, send a curriculum vitae and cover letter specifying why you are interested in attending to Melissa Petersen, The Consultants International Group, info@cig-dc.com, fax 202-393-4655.

The AIA Angle
The AIA Angle, the AIA members’ source for government news, offers these stories in the latest edition. Permitting Survey Indicates Lack of Technology Use: AIA commissions survey of current state and local government use of online plan submittal and electronic review, tracking, and storage. AIA Advocates Community Enhancement Amendment to Transportation Bill: AIA Government Advocacy urges members to contact conferees on legislation to probe transportation’s role in promoting community economic development and quality of life. Chicago Mayor Outlines Sustainability Push: Mayor Richard M. Daley told thousands of members at the AIA’s national convention June 10 that his city “takes its architecture very seriously.”

Explore “Safe Spaces: Designing for Security & Civic Values”
Multidisciplinary conference takes place in Chicago July 25–27
The “Safe Spaces: Designing for Security and Civic Values” conference will focus on risk assessment, practices, techniques, and materials. Join colleagues from the American Society of Landscape Architects, the National Institute of Building Sciences, the American Planning Association, and other organizations in Chicago July 25–27. Learn how leading experts design buildings that protect the public in a manner that preserves the integrity of our buildings, public spaces, and communities while demonstrating the values of an open and accessible society. For the agenda and registration information, visit the conference Web site.

AIA CAREER CENTER
Here Are This Week’s Featured Opportunities

Get IBC’s ABCs: Architectural Applications of the IBC for Designers now available.
Based on the 2003 International Building Code, this training document familiarizes building designers with choices in
building classification, materials, fire resistance, fire protection and means of egress so that they may design basic projects that are code compliant. Retail $22.00/ AIA members $19.80.

Detailing the Steel Pricing Dilemma: Fresh from the AIA 2004 National Convention is the first of the on-line offerings, Steel Prices: Helping Your Clients Cope, which includes details from the contractor’s and steel fabricator’s viewpoints, with results from a recent poll of AIA members on how the situation affects client relations.

AIA Members Save With United Parcel Service (UPS): Save up to 20 percent on U.S. and international overnight air shipping with UPS, the world’s largest package-distribution company. Call 800 325-7000, ext. 7600. Reference No. C-000-070-0037.

Special Sale on MASTERSPEC Licenses: July 8–10 only. Contact MASTERSPEC for more information, 800-424-5080 or request information on the Arcom Web site.

Save Time! AIA.org now features a trouble-shooting Knowledge Base to address your AIA Contract Documents software questions quickly and efficiently.

Consider Accident Coverage for accidental injuries: The AIA Trust High Limit Accident Plan protects you financially for accidents occurring at home, at the office, on vacation, or in your car or a taxi. Insurance just in case! Click here for specific information about this program.
For more information about all AIA Trust programs, go to their site.