architectural billings index
Hot Weather Heats Up Firms’ Workloads
International projects small share of the load; not most desired work type
Billings at architecture firms typically dip a bit in July, but firms reported strong gains nationally last month as the nonresidential construction expansion continued to pick up steam, according to AIA Chief Economist Kermit Baker, PhD, Hon. AIA. There are no signs of a slowdown on the horizon. All told, it is shaping up to be a strong fall for design firms. Baker also reports on the general lack of enthusiasm for international projects; 70% of firms prefer projects based in the U.S.

Congress Passes Alternative Energy, Sustainability Measures
With his signature August 8, President George W. Bush authorized the first national energy plan in a decade. The final legislation contains several wins for architects and their clients, including tax breaks for energy-efficient and sustainable technologies, an AIA-backed photovoltaic commercialization program, and funding for the AIA-sponsored “Sun Wall” project.

Lofty Ideals in L.A.
Three very different loft projects aim at increasing density in the City of Angels
Los Angeles may finally be attempting to give sprawl the boot by encouraging high-density urban growth. Aleks Istanbullu Architects is working on three very different loft projects that will bring nearly 200 new residences to downtown Los Angeles and West Hollywood. The former National Biscuit Company (Nabisco) cookie factory, located in the arts district and built in 1925, soon will be renovated to accommodate Biscuit Lofts, 104 live/work units that will build on the factory’s historic character. Bixel Lofts will be a new rental property organized around an interior courtyard and offering a broad mix of loft size and layout. And, located in West Hollywood, Curson Lofts will offer four units of simply designed and minimally finished lofts totaling 6,700 square feet.

members’ voices
AIA Academy of Health Members Speak Up About Conferences
Are you contemplating attending a knowledge community conference in the near future? The AIA knowledge communities have assembled a slate of fall programs that is sure to appeal to any architectural inclination. Let AIA Academy of Architecture for Health members tell you why they look forward to the fall programs.

AIA Component Executives Elevate Awareness
The Council of Architectural Component Executives (CACE) elected 2006 officers, shared knowledge on providing the best service to AIA members, and recognized executive excellence August 10–13 in Portland, Ore., the City of Roses. “CACE in Bloom” brought more than 150 AIA component staff leaders together to learn more about human resources, membership, accounting, finance, and available tools to help make their work more effective.

AIA/ACSA Topaz Medallion Nominations Due October 28
Who was your best teacher?
Nominations are due October 28 for the AIA/ACSA Topaz Medallion for Excellence in Architectural Education. 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. The 2005 Topaz recipient is Edward Allen, FAIA, Pietro Belluschi Distinguished Professor of Architectural Design at the University of Oregon (pictured). Any individual who has spent at least a decade primarily involved in architecture education is eligible and can be nominated by any colleague, student, or former student. For more information, contact Kathy Daileda, Hon. AIA, in the AIA Honors and Awards department, kdaileda@aia.org 202-626-7390, or visit the AIA Honors and Awards Web site.

project watch
Whimsy Still Reigns in Coney Island
di Domenico + Partners new transit building plays on amusement’s past
Coney Island’s new subway portal building brings renewed life to its surrounding entertainment community, reinvigorating a playful architectural heritage. Designed by New York City-based di Domenico + Partners, the Stillwell Avenue Portal Building links the NYC Transit Coney Island Terminal and Surf Avenue, a major thoroughfare in the world-famous beach and amusement neighborhood. Replacing an outdated, one-story arcade and transit connector, the new 33,000-square-foot building will bring one story of vibrant year-round and seasonal retail and restaurants, two stories devoted to housing the New York Police Department’s District 34 offices, and additional office space for affiliated transit groups such as signal maintainers.

Your Kiplinger Connection (members only, AIA.org login required)
The economy: Construction job increases are at the vanguard of a stronger economy. Air travel: Airports are building. Energy: Gas has peaked, but won’t go much lower, either.
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?
August 1 | August 8 | August 15 | August 22

BEST PRACTICES
Understanding Intellectual Property Laws
Control over the ownership and use of intellectual property is being increasingly challenged by the accelerating pace of digital practice. Projects on which the design is delegated to or assigned through those responsible for construction blur the lines of responsibility and confuse the ability to copyright information and designs and the responsibility for complying with patents and trademarks. The Schinnerer Guidelines newsletter explains protection of intellectual property and how to file for a copyright.

Heads Up! Honor Award for Interiors Submissions Due September 16
Just a friendly reminder that submissions for the 2006 AIA Honor Awards for Interiors submissions must be postmarked by September 16. The AIA also will continue to accept entry fees for Honor Award submissions until this date. For more information, contact Kelly Pickard, kpickard@aia.org or 202-626-7563. (Pictured is 2005 AIA Honor Award for Interior recipient Jigsaw, Los Angeles, by Pugh + Scarpa Architects, a film-editing facility created from the interior of a rough, 1940s bow-truss warehouse. Photo © Marvin Rand.)

Get Going on Transportation Design!
Join this multi-knowledge community conference in the nation’s capital
The AIA Regional and Urban Design Committee, the AIA Housing and Residential Design Committee, and the AIA Center for Communities by Design will cohost the “Communities on the Line: Transit and the Design of 21st Century Communities” conference in Washington, D.C., October 7–9, to reinforce the need for excellent design when planning transit-oriented development. The agenda will include tours that illustrate state-of-the-art practice for transit-oriented development and the role of transit in community building, concurrent breakout sessions, and a mini-charrette. For more information, visit the RUDC Committee’s Web site. (For a comprehensive list of conferences and events sponsored by the AIA national, regional, state, and local components, check out the calendar on the AIA Web site.)

Subaru Plant Is First to Produce Zero Landfill Waste
Subaru of Lafayette, Ind., is the first auto assembly plant in the U.S. to achieve zero landfill status. The factory recycles or reuses 97 percent of all waste products, including paint sludge that is dried on-site and sent to a plastics manufacturer for use in guardrail safety blocks and parking-lot bumpers. The remaining 3 percent is incinerated to generate steam for the city of Indianapolis. Specialized and strategically located recycling containers make collection of metal, plastic, paper, wood, glass, and other materials both easy and efficient. Reaching zero landfill status is one in a series of firsts achieved by Subaru of Indiana Automotive. The factory was the first auto assembly plant to become smoke-free in 1994, become ISO 9000-certified in ’95 and ISO 14001-certified in ’98, have its own on-site solvent recovery system in 2002, and be designated a “Backyard Wildlife Habitat” by the National Wildlife Federation in 2003. (Photo reprinted with permission from Drive, the magazine from Subaru of America.)

AIA CAREER CENTER
Here Are This Week’s Featured Opportunities

Cover Up! Fabrics & Wallpapers for Historic Buildings by Jane C. Nylander (John Wiley and Sons, 2005) details more than 1,000 patterns of authentically reproduced designs and offers advice and tips for choosing, buying, and installing appropriate refurbishings. Fabrics & Wallpapers is available now to AIA members for the special price of $36 ($45 retail). To learn more or purchase, visit the AIA Store or call 800-242-3837, opt. #4.

Implement the Dream: Collaboration Is Required: October 26–28, 2005, Hartford, Conn. The Committee on Architecture for Education will focus on how state and local education policy shapes education design. Discounted registration is available until October 7. Visit the CAE conference Web site.

It’s All About Federal Procurement: Check out the new Guide to Federal Procurement Web site, a one-stop shop where AIA members can get updated information on how to apply for and win government contracts.

Celebrating Second Lives: Mitchell/Giurgola Architects, LLP, announces the publication of Boomer Buildings: Mid-Century Architecture Reborn, edited by Michael J. Crosbie, AIA, PhD.

Check out the new Learning Management System: The site offers 140 courses; 10 of them brand new, fresh from the AIA 2005 National Convention in Las Vegas.

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.

Cover Personal and Business Expenses if Disability Strikes: The AIA Trust Personal and Business Overhead Disability Plans will cover all your expenses while you recuperate. Find out more about this program. For more information about all AIA Trust programs, go to their site.