Oakland Uptown Promises Transit-Oriented, Sustainable Building in Downtown
Developer looks to architect to build efficiently, now more than ever
The architects at MVE & Partners are working in their own backyard of Oakland to help redevelop a once prominent area of the city back to its roots as a thriving residential, arts, and commercial district. The community offers 665 apartment units (25 percent affordable), 9,000 square feet of street-level retail, and a new public park. Now, more than ever, this developer relies on the architect to help build efficiently.

HOK Service Project Targets its 2,600 Worldwide Employees
San Francisco project creates outdoor classroom for urban school
As part of a firm-wide community service effort across its 26 offices in the U.S. and abroad, HOK in San Francisco helped transform an unused back lot of an urban elementary school into an outdoor classroom for learning and investigation. The office, as with all of the HOK volunteer projects, selected a cause that provides a neighborhood benefit. They also chose a program that demonstrates sustainable strategies, and which shows the firm “walks the walk” in all aspects of practice.

ADVENTURES IN ARCHITECTURE: THE SERIES
Il Duomo: Brunelleschi and the Dome of Santa Maria del Fiore
Episode 11—The Passing of Filippo
Filippo Brunelleschi died in 1446, years before the immense lantern adorning his magnificent Duomo was completed in Florence. Though mourned and honored on his passing, amazingly, even while his work became a symbol of the emerging Renaissance, Brunelleschi eventually faded into the background of history for almost five centuries. Join author Jim Atkins, FAIA, HKIA, on the penultimate voyage in his Duomo series.

Abstracts for Walter Wagner Forum Due December 12
Students, educators, and practitioners are invited to submit abstracts for the Walter Wagner Forum on architecture education, which takes place at the 2009 AIA national convention in San Francisco in May. The theme for next year’s forum is “Architectural Education in a Complex World: How Diversity Is Preparing our Future Practitioners.” Abstract submissions—no longer than 500 words—are due by December 12. Accepted authors will be invited to participate in the forum and receive complimentary registration for the convention and a $500 stipend. The Walter Wagner Forum—currently sponsored by the AIA Educator/Practitioner Network, the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture, and the American Institute of Architecture Students—was created in 1986 by the AIA and Architectural Record as a tribute to the late Record Editor in Chief Walter Wagner Jr., FAIA, who was particularly committed to the education of young architects and the education of the public about architecture and architects. For details and to apply, visit the ACSA Web site.