In a Shrinking Economy. HDA Architects Grows and Takes on New HQ Office Space
With an optimistic view about the future of the economy in general, and for their practice in particular, HDA Architects just moved into larger headquarters, and in the last six months has added another staff member. The firm, which has designed many office buildings along the Highway 40 (I-64) corridor in St. Louis/St Charles County, is taking 7,600 square feet of space in that area and is changing their set-up to an open studio environment. The update correlates with much of their business right now whereby companies are rethinking their business models to bring them into the 21st century and poise them for future growth.

AIA Announces Recipients of the Continuing Education Award for Excellence
The AIA Continuing Education System (CES) announced the four winners of its 2009 Award for Excellence on February 9. The Award for Excellence, which was established 11 years ago, recognizes superior educational providers for offering an overall program with an exceptional commitment to developing and maintaining high quality education for architects.

Dealing with Resistance: The 4 + 2 Method
We’ve all lived this before. Sally, the manager, asks her employee Gary to prepare an environmental report for next week. Gary moans and says he doesn’t think he can do it by then ... too much work, and, besides, why not give it to Sherry. who has an environmental design background. The manager detects the “I don’t wanna” whine and feels the heavy inertia of Gary’s heels digging in. At that moment, what Sally really wants to do is to respond in the old style of leadership, with both barrels blazing: “I don’t want any excuses, Gary, just see that you have that on my desk by Tuesday!” or the much more subtle “There you go again, Gary. Don’t you think it’s about time you showed some initiative around here?”