October 10, 2008
  PROJECT WATCH
WWCOT-Designed Indio Teen Center Displays Youthful Spirit
The $7 million, 12,500-square-foot Indio Teen Center, designed by WWCOT Architects as the first of two new facilities on the California community’s first intergenerational campus, opened in September. Designed to be a fun, safe place where local teens can socialize with their friends and learn new skills, the teen center sits right across the street from the local high school. It offers a lobby reception area, Internet café/library with a small kitchen, game room, TV lounge, recording studio, classroom/conference room, and two multipurpose rooms connected via moveable walls, plus a basketball court, grass activity fields, and barbecue pit outside. The teen center project began with several surveys asking local teens what they wanted to see included in their center. Based on these findings, WWCOT created a fresh, modern space—sporting turquoise, deep red and orange, and lime green interiors. The architects angled the building’s columns to represent “the teenagers’ forward-thinking, youthful spirit” and employed exposed ceilings “to set a casual, studio-like tone.” The campus’ second phase, the 16,000-square-foot Indio Senior Center, also designed by WWCOT, is now under construction and will serve similar functions for seniors. Designed to connect visually with the teen center, the senior center is slated for completion in mid-2009. Photo © Mark Davidson.

Sustainable Design Becomes a Mandatory Continuing Education Requirement for AIA Membership in 2009
Beginning January 1, 2009, 4 of the total 18 AIA CES Learning Units (LUs) required in a given calendar year must focus on sustainable design in a way that meets the established guidelines for sustainable design mandatory continuing education (MCE). The AIA Board of Directors voted to modify the continuing education requirements to demonstrate the Institute’s commitment to sustainable design. The sustainable design requirement [LINK?] goes into effect in calendar year 2009 and extends through 2012. The sustainable design MCE does not replace the original requirement for 18 total hours, 8 of which must be in Health, Safety and Welfare (HSW) subjects. (As HSW is a subset of total Learning Units, sustainable design may be a subset of the HSW learning units.)

A FRIENDLY REMINDER
AIA/ACSA Topaz Medallion Nominations Due Oct. 24
Nominations for the 2009 AIA/ACSA Topaz Medallion for Excellence in Architectural Education must be postmarked by October 24. The annual honor, awarded jointly by the AIA and the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA), pays homage to a living individual who has made outstanding contributions to architecture education—primarily in North America—for at least 10 years and whose teaching has influenced a broad range of students. Any colleague, student, or former student may nominate candidates for the Topaz Medallion. New this year: All submissions must be provided on a disk, not in a binder. For more information, contact the AIA Honors and Awards department, or visit the AIA Honors and Awards Web site. (Pictured is Stanley Tigerman, FAIA, the 2008 Topaz Medallion recipient.)

MEMBER TO MEMBER: FROM THE CHAIR OF DESIGNVOTE08
Too Busy to Hit Your Polling Place on November 4? Consider Options for Voting by Mail If you are like many busy architects, balancing the demands of your career and your life takes 25 hours a day, 8 days a week. If getting to the polls on November 4 seems iffy or impossible to fit into your schedule, here’s a tip from DesignVote08 Chair Mickey Jacob, AIA: Consider applying for an absentee ballot or participating in early vote or for other vote by mail. Jacobs reports that many states offer this program or something similar to it, and you are not required to provide a reason for doing so.

 

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This is where you will find the latest happenings in the Institute, the profession, and the wider world of building design and construction. The News Zone also carries commentary from AIA elected representatives as well as major new commissions, completions, and openings.