Re: CAE Honors 11 Projects with 2008 Design Awards

Correction: VMDO Architects should have been identified as architect of the Averett University Student Center, Danville, Va., and LPA Inc. should have been identified as architect of the Santiago Canyon College Library, Orange, Calif.

Our apologies to both firms for the mix up.

Re: New Nationals Park Opens in Washington, D.C.

I am writing to clarify a point. It is true that the Nationals Ballpark is the first LEED®-certified major league ballpark. However, you should be aware the first professional ballpark ever to be designated LEED-certified is Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, on the campus of Penn State University, a shared facility for the PSU ballclub and the Single-A franchise the State College Spikes.

—Christopher R. Haupt, AIA
Senior Vice President, L. Robert Kimball & Associates
Pittsburgh

Ed note: Mr. Haupt is indeed correct. Medlar Field received its LEED certification in July 2007.

Clarification: The National Ballpark was a joint venture between HOK Sport and Devrouax + Purnell Architects and Planners PC.

Re: The Design Oasis of Cincinnati

"Remote Midwestern metropolis"?? We are Midwestern, but remote? Remote from what? Your office?

It's just an hour from where you are. Actually, we consider ourselves in the right in the middle of it. You know, the Heartland.

Otherwise, excellent article. Thank you.

—David Tsevat
CIncinnati

Ed note: Point taken. Remote you’re not—my mistake for not correcting that characterization. But get this: Zach Mortice, the story’s very capable creator, is from Iowa!

Re: Are CEOs Violating the Code of Ethics & Professional Conduct?

It would have been a good idea to define what is meant by "proper credit." Is credit given to the entire team, every time the project is mentioned in marketing materials? Are only AIA members or licensed architects given credit? Can only the project architect and principal in charge be given credit? What happens if the firm is organized as a large studio where everyone contributes to every project—does the entire staff have to get credit for each project?

If this issue is important to the National Ethics Committee, it should be simplified and disseminated to all members as a clarification of the verbiage in the official code of ethics. In my opinion, this issue is important to most people's ego, but in the big picture is a very petty nuance of the practice of architecture.

—Bill Kortsch, AIA
San Diego

Ed note: The NEC has also published Guidelines for the Attribution of Credit that provide further information on this topic.

Specialization and the Future of Architecture Practice

Right on! Great article.

I have always said the best practice of architecture would involve working entirely for a single client that built a variety of projects. Our firm came close to that goal with our medical design work. Over a 10-year period we had 165 projects for a single client. No interviews for work. No building trust relationships with many clients. Understanding the client’s long-range goals and producing the best solutions became pure pleasure.

We also combined construction management and design-build with our architecture design practice, which made the process very profitable besides the high satisfaction achieved by both client and architect.

I spent about 10 years "preaching" to architects about the value of specialization in a distinct field while adding CM and design-build to a practice. I found many skeptics (I think they were general practice types) in my workshops and seminars. We enjoyed a net profitability of 5 percent for our design-CM services and an amazing 10 percent net on the design-build projects. I think most of my workshop attendees thought I must be making up those kind of numbers.

Anyway, good article. Please pass on my thanks for speaking out to Mr. Miologos.

—Robert C. Mutchler, FAIA (retired)
Fargo, N.D.