USGBC Offers Additional $1 Million in Building Research Grants; School Facilities Top List

AIA Elevates 116 to Fellow
The AIA congratulates the 116 individuals who were selected as Fellows of the Institute in 2008. The categories of nomination (as indicated by each name) are:

1. To promote the aesthetic, scientific, and practical efficiency of the profession
2. To advance the science and art of planning and building by advancing the standards of architecture education, training, and practice
3. To coordinate the building industry and the profession of architecture
4. To ensure the advancement of the living standards of people through their improved environment
5. To make the profession of ever-increasing service to society.

The 2008 Fellows will be honored at an investiture ceremony at Boston’s Old South Church (pictured) on Friday, May 16, 4-6 p.m., during the 2008 AIA National Convention. Photo from virtualtourist.com.

Trust Announces 2008 List of America’s Dozen Distinctive Destinations
The National Trust for Historic Preservation® on February 7 announced the selection of its 2008 Dozen Distinctive Destinations®. Each year since 2000, the Trust has selected 12 vacation destinations across the U.S. that offer an authentic visitor experience by combining dynamic downtowns, cultural diversity, attractive architecture, cultural landscapes, and a strong commitment to historic preservation and revitalization. The destinations selected in 2008 range from a French colonial village along the banks of the Mississippi River that captures the pioneer spirit of the early settlers, to a small Texas town that serves as a gateway to the unspoiled terrain of the 19th-century Western frontier, to a gorgeous Southern city with roots three centuries deep, and a coastal town renowned for its seafood and historic buildings.