World Monuments Fund Releases Biennial Watch List of 100 Most Endangered Sites
The World Monuments Fund (WMF), a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the historic, artistic, and architectural heritage worldwide, released on June 23 its 2006 World Monuments Watch list of 100 Most Endangered Sites. The biennial list calls for action on behalf of threatened monuments. By bringing the sites to international attention, the list helps to raise the funds needed for their rescue and often spurs local governments and communities to take an active role in protecting cultural icons in their regions. For many landmarks, the WMF reports, inclusion on the list is the best—and perhaps the only—hope for survival.

2006 Projected to Be a Breakout Year for Nonresidential Construction
AIA Consensus Forecast Panel foresees stable economy and low interest rates
After a reasonably strong performance during the second half of this year, 2006 looks to be easily the best year for nonresidential construction since 1998. Overall nonresidential construction activity is expected to increase 7.9 percent next year after adjusting for inflation, on top of a 3.7 percent increase this year. Commercial construction activity is anticipated to grow by over 9 percent next year, with double-digit gains in office and hotel facilities. Increases in institutional construction activity are expected to be a more modest 4.4 percent next year, with gains of 6 percent or more in the education and health-care facilities sectors. All members of the panel expect to see significant gains in nonresidential construction activity this year, although the current consensus for growth has eased somewhat from the optimism of our last survey in late 2004.

Sixteen Architecture Group Presidents Sign Environmental Declaration
Document calls for resource management and reduction of atmospheric pollution
In May, presidents of 16 of the world’s architecture institutions, including the AIA, signed the “Las Vegas Declaration” during the International Presidents’ Forum, a meeting held annually during the AIA national convention, held this year in Las Vegas. The declaration recognizes the great responsibility placed on the architecture profession to do all it can to influence a major reduction in the level of carbon emissions that result from the creation and life-cycle of the built environment.

New AIA Chapter Born on Long Island
Welcome to AIA Peconic, the newest component of the AIA, which gained chapter status on May 31. Formerly known as the East End Section of the Long Island Chapter, the group was established in 1990 with a membership of 30 architects, and has since grown to over 100 members. The Peconic chapter’s area includes the five East End Towns of Suffolk County, N.Y.: Riverhead, Southold, Shelter Island, Southampton, and East Hampton. One of the missions of the Peconic Chapter—named for the bay that splits the east end of the island into two forks—is to offer help to communities of the north and south forks with planning and design issues and their impact on the quality of life. Douglas Moyer, AIA, Douglas Moyer AIA Architect PC, East Hampton, is serving as the chapter’s first president.

Spotlight
Member Appreciation:
Charles I. Bryant, FAIA
Charles I. Bryant, FAIA, a leading figure in Washington, D.C., architecture for four decades, passed away June 7 of a brain aneurysm at his office. The older half of the two-brother Bryant & Bryant architecture team, Charles was the surviving principal in the firm the siblings established in 1969, now Bryant Bryant Williams PC, one of the oldest U.S. African American firms.

AIA Promotes Affordable Health-care Coverage
The AIA is advocating for relief from high costs of health insurance as part of a coalition that includes the major engineering and construction societies working to pass H.R. 525, the Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2005. The U.S. House of Representatives is expected to vote later this month on the act, which would establish association health plans (AHPs). AHPs allow trade, industry, professional, chambers of commerce, or similar business associations to establish health plans for their members. The bill currently has 135 cosponsors. Also, share how your firm has been affected by health insurance costs.

project watch
Compact Community College Is “Calling Card” for Rural Area
The Camden Center satellite campus of the Coastal Georgia Community College—situated next to wetlands on property donated by the City of Kingsland—is designed to serve as a catalyst to promote growth in a previously undeveloped area, says Lord Aeck & Sargent (LAS) Principal Joe Greco, AIA. The distinctive 89,000-square-foot, $14.9-million single-building educational facility designed by LAS with architect of record John A. Tuten & Associates Architects has become a “calling card” for the entire surrounding area.

Your Kiplinger Connection (members only, AIA.org login required)
Inflation: Inflation is rising faster than official reports indicate. The economy: A healthy job market means higher wage increases. Supreme Court: Congress will put controls on the recent eminent domain ruling.
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.

Need to catch up on recent editions of AIArchitect This Week?
June 20 | June 27 | July 4 | July 11

BEST PRACTICES
How Much Is Your Firm Really Worth?
Want to know what your firm is worth? There are plenty of good resources about how to value architecture, engineering, or design firms, including several consulting firms that specialize in ownership transitions. These consultants use a handful of factors to develop a fair market value. The mystery is how to narrow this range to gain a more precise indication of the value of your firm. Read on!

Heads Up: AIA Honor Award for Architecture, Twenty-five Year Award Nominations Due September 2
Honor Award for Architecture entry fees due August 5
Don’t let summer slip by without turning in your entry fees for the 2006 AIA Honor Award submissions, which are due August 5. Submissions for the Honor Awards for Architecture—as well as for the Twenty-five Year Award—are due September 2. AIA Honor Awards for Architecture are open to all architects licensed in the U.S. for new and restored projects of all building types located anywhere in the world. The Twenty-five Year Award honors projects, designed by U.S.-licensed architects, which have stood the test of time for 25-35 years. For details, visit the awards section of the AIA’s Web site. (Pictured is Jubilee Church, Rome, by Richard Meier & Partners Architects, LLP, a 2005 AIA Honor Award for Architecture recipient. Photo © Scott Frances/ESTO Photographics.)

We’re Going on V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N
AIArchitect will not be published on Friday, July 22, to give the staff a little time to rest, recoup, and reconnect. Join us again on July 29 when we return with our monthly Work-on-the-Boards column, a new “Members’ Voice” feature, and much more news of the profession. Happy Summer!

AIA CAREER CENTER
Here Are This Week’s Featured Opportunities

The Soaring Twenties: Higher: A Historic Race to the Sky and the Making of a City by Neal Bascomb (Broadway Books, 2004) chronicles the race between William Van Alen (Chrysler Building) and H. Craig Severance (40 Wall Street) to build New York’s tallest skyscraper. Higher is available now to AIA members for the special price of $12.76 ($15.95 retail). To learn more or purchase, visit the AIA Store or call 800-242-3837, opt. #4.

RFP: The city of Richmond, Calif., has issued a request for proposals for a consultant to develop design review guidelines through an interactive, community-based process. Read more on AIA’s online news service.

See Calatrava from the Convention: You now can see the keynote address by 2005 AIA Gold Medal recipient Santiago Calatrava that won him three standing ovations, and can earn 1 CES credit to boot. AIA members may take the “Santiago Calatrava Works his Magic,” course for $29.95 ($59.95 nonmembers).

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

Free Continuing Education: After reading the standards and other information on environmental issues and products, references, and more in each MASTERSPEC topic, licensed users can access online tests to earn AIA/CES learning-unit hours.

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

Gain protection for your architecture office and property with Business Owners Protection insurance. Ensure general liability protection with options to add business auto, workers comp, umbrella, and employment practices liability. Click here for specific information about this program. For information about all AIA Trust programs, visit their Web site.