1877–1886—Westward and Upward
The Institute’s third decade saw leadership transition as Richard Morris Hunt took on the mantle of president from Thomas U. Walter. This month, architectural historian Tony P. Wrenn, Hon. AIA, tells “the rest of the story” for several of the founders and follows the AIA’s move westward, noting that this is the decade of the skyscraper.

Business Conditions Seen as Strong and Improving Across AIA Regions
AIA component leaders report healthy conditions for all major construction sectors, and a growing need for architect positions
Business conditions are very favorable for architecture firms, with leaders in every AIA region rating them as at least reasonably strong, and most rating them very strong, reports AIA Chief Economist Kermit Baker, PhD, Hon. AIA, in the 2005 AIA Component Survey of Business Conditions. For every region except two, Baker says, business conditions are viewed as having improved since last year, and in most cases the improvements have been quite substantial. Additionally, survey participants tell us that experienced architects (with 8–10 years of experience) as well as moderately experienced architects (3–6 years) are in fairly strong demand, while there is moderate demand for managers and senior managers, as well as interns.

AIA Maryland Bestows 2005 Design Awards
AIA Maryland honored 26 projects at its 2005 Design Awards celebration September 28, at the Music Center at Strathmore in North Bethesda, Md. The awards program celebrates the design accomplishments of architects in Maryland and is open to individual members and firms whose principals are members of the chapter. The 2005 AIA Maryland Design Awards recognize and encourage distinguished architectural achievement and focus public attention on the architect’s role in shaping the quality of life through design excellence.

FROM THE PRESIDENT’S OFFICE
The Value of Values
In his penultimate column, AIA President Douglas L Steidl, FAIA, MRAIC, ponders the question of why AIA membership is at an all-time high, and our core values as a professional society.

SpotLight
DC Chapter Honors George Hartman for Lifetime of Service
George E. Hartman Jr., FAIA, received The Centennial Award, AIA/DC’s highest service honor, at a dinner for the Washington Architectural Foundation October 21. The award is a tribute to Hartman’s distinguished record of public and professional service over four decades at the national and local levels.

Five Projects Lauded for Smart Growth Achievement
On November 15, the Environmental Protection Agency announced five winners of the 2005 National Awards for Smart Growth Achievement at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C. Now in its fourth year, the award recognizes outstanding achievement in smart growth by tribal, local, or regional governments in five categories: overall excellence, built projects, policies and regulations, small communities, and military base redevelopment. The 2005 call for entries drew 63 applications from 26 states and the District of Columbia. The awards honor projects that clean and reuse previously developed land; provide more housing and transportation choices; preserve critical natural areas; and develop vibrant places to live, work, shop, and play.

Residential Design Awards Entries Due December 16
Housing Awards: Submissions for the 2006 AIA Housing Awards are due December 16. This program emphasizes the importance of housing as a necessity for life, sanctuary for the human spirit, and valuable national resource. Awards are presented in four categories: single family, multifamily, design innovation, and community design. For more information, visit the AIA Housing Awards Web site. Submissions for the 2006 AIA/HUD Secretary’s Awards also are due December 16. This program of the AIA Housing Committee Knowledge Community and the Office of the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development recognizes excellence in housing and community design. Program categories are mixed-use/mixed-income development, community building by design, and the Alan J. Rothman Housing Accessibility Award. For more information, visit the AIA/HUD Secretary’s Award Web site. (Pictured is The Garlands of Barrington, Barrington, Ill., by Torti Gallas and Partners Inc., a 2005 AIA Housing Award recipient. Photo © Steve Hall/Hedrich Blessing.)

PRoject WAtch
Jewish Museum Design Symbolically Integrates with Landscape
Westlake Reed Leskosky, architect of the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage in the suburb of Beachwood, Ohio, near the architect’s hometown of Cleveland, references both antiquity and contemporary design to answer the questions, “How do you achieve monumentality without bigness? How can something be quiet and significant?” says Paul Westlake, FAIA, WRL’s principal in charge. The feel and texture of the geometric, iconic Modern building, clad in golden Jerusalem limestone, evokes the rich symbolism of the Jewish experience and links past to present to future, bolstered by the contributions of landscape architect Hargreaves & Associates.

Your Kiplinger Connection (members only, AIA.org login required)
Land use: New EPA regulation offers brownfield-development liability protection.
Current forecasts: Interest rates up in ’06, housing sales easing.
Taxes: IRS will increase small-business audits this season.
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?
October 31 | November 7 | November 14 | November 21

best practices
Lemons to Lemonade: Benefiting from Mistakes
“I've said this before, but I just have to say it again: The “Best Practices” series articles by James Atkins and Grant Simpson included in the AIArchitect are terrific! I will certainly make sure that everyone in our organization is encouraged to [read] and use them as a continuing resource. This is a great service to those AIA members who are paying attention.”—William M. Dikis, FAIA, Principal, RDG Planning & Design. In their last two installments for 2005, James Atkins, FAIA, and Grant Simpson, FAIA, discuss the value of gathering and evaluating lessons learned from each project this week and case studies next.

December 15 Web Presentation Highlights MasterFormat ’04 Changes
“MasterFormat ’04: Making the Transition,” a Web presentation by independent specifications consultant Susan B. McClymonds, AIA, is slated for December 15, 12:30–2:00 p.m. EST, to give AIA members insight into the CSI MasterFormat system’s sweeping changes as it expands from 16 to 50 divisions. This program addresses the implications of the changes for architecture practice. The cost for AIA members is $195 per site (others, $235.00 per site), which allows you to invite as many people to participate as your conference room can accommodate for no extra charge. It is possible to use an LCD projector and a speakerphone to allow all to participate; for specific information on equipment requirements, click here. All AIA members participating may earn 1.5 AIA/CES learning units. If you have questions or need further information, e-mail CD Pangallo, EdD, cpangallo@aia.org, or visit the AIA Continuing Education Web site.

Rochester Requests Redevelopment Projects
The Rochester Regional Community Design Center and AIA Rochester are calling for display boards of successful redevelopment projects that demonstrate excellent public realm design. The projects will be featured in a traveling exhibit as part of a six-month program for Rochester’s “Visioning for the Public Realm,” focusing on the importance of public realm design in urban planning and downtown revitalization. Final displays (two 36-inch by 36-inch boards per project are requested) must be received by December 31. Click here for a PDF displaying details.

Call for Entries: Small Projects Awards Program
Entries are due December 16 for the second annual AIA Small Project Practitioners’ Small Projects Award Program. The program raises the awareness of the value that architects bring to all projects, regardless of scope. The three categories are based on construction cost: less than $300,000; less than $25,000; and, for architect-led design-build projects, less than $500,000. Award recipients will be announced at a reception to be held in conjunction with the AIA national convention in Los Angeles, June 8–10, 2006. For more information, visit the Small Practitioners’ Web site. (Pictured is St. Peter’s Parish Hall, Millbrook, N.Y., by Crisp Architects, a 2004 Small Project Award recipient.) Visit the knowledge community’s newsletter to see the other winners.

Emerging Professionals Announce Several Calls for Entries Plus IDP Coordinators Conference
Early next year marks the deadlines for calls for entries for: Mentoring Best Practices (January 16), IDP Outstanding Firm Award (February 6), Emerging Professionals Awards (March 1), plus an IDP Coordinators Conference, which now is open to all AIA members (February 11-12).

AIA CAREER CENTER
Here Are This Week’s Featured Opportunities

Down on the Farm: The Farmhouse: New Inspiration for the American Home, by Jean Rehkamp Larson (Taunton Press, 2004), reinvents the “quintessential American house style for the 21st-century family.” The Farmhouse is available now to AIA members for the special price of $28.80 ($32 retail). To learn more or purchase, visit the AIA Store or call 800-242-3837, opt. #4.

Integrated Practice: Technological change is one catalyst accelerating radical improvement through the entire construction industry, from owner to architect to contractor to facility manager, through the full length of the project and building lifecycle. Learn more about how this change will transform architectural practice into Integrated Practice at www.aia.org/ip.

Free Postings Through Year-end: You can post your project, firm, award, and other news free on the AIA’s online news service through the end of 2005.

Class of the Week: The just-posted “Marketing and Business Development for Dummies (or the not so dumb)” is available for the week of December 2-8 at the 10-percent discounted price of 59.35 AIA members/$80.95 nonmembers (regular price:$65.95 AIA members/$89.95 nonmembers). The course offers 1 LU-hour.

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.

Consider Disability Coverage for Your Office: If you become disabled and cannot work, the AIA Trust Business Overhead Expense Plan helps pay your office expenses while you recuperate. Click here for specific information about this program.
For more information about all AIA Trust programs, go to their site.