People Are Talking . . . About Architecture!
The AIA’s “America’s Favorite Architecture” poll, the results of which were released on February 7, has drawn an avalanche of comment and debate about the public’s choice of the 150 best works of architecture in this country. Newspaper articles and editorials have blossomed from Boston to the Bay Area, sparking interest in the poll as well as other activities planned by the AIA’s national, state, and local components to celebrate the Institute’s sesquicentennial this year. Arguably most interesting are the blogs on the AIA 150 Web site, in particular the “What’s Missing?” blog, which to date has drawn close to 200 comments from architects and members of the public alike. If you haven’t seen the list yet, visit the Web site and tell us what you think. (Pictured is the public’s choice for the Number One Building: New York City’s Empire State Building, designed by Shreve Lamb, & Harmon in 1931.)

It’s Alive: Holl’s Knut Hamsun Center Back on Track
New York City’s Steven Holl Architects was commissioned back in 1994 to design a center for Knut Hamsun, Norway's most inventive 20th-century writer. The building, mired in years of controversy, recently came back to life as approvals have been granted, and funding is almost complete. Located above the Arctic Circle near Presteid of Hamarose, where the writer grew up, the center includes exhibition areas, library and reading room, café, and auditorium. On the green roof, a garden with long grass refers to traditional Norwegian sod roofs in a modern way, and the tarred black wood facade is characteristic of the great wooden stave Norse churches. The rough white-painted concrete interiors are characterized by diagonal rays of light changing throughout the year. The design won the 1996 Progressive Architecture Award and a model of the building was purchased by the Museum of Modern Art. To open the building on Hamsun’s 150th birthday in August 2009, the project will break ground in Spring 2008. (Sketch courtesy of Steven Holl Architects.)

“On the Water” Proposal Wins 2007 Latrobe Prize
Study of New York Harbor serves as model for bay development
New to this year’s Accent on Architecture gala during last month’s Grassroots conference was the announcement and awarding of the Latrobe Prize, a biennial $100,000 award to support a two-year program of research selected by jury review for its promise to advance professional knowledge in architecture. The 2007 Latrobe Prize was awarded for the proposal, “On the Water, A Model for the Future: A Study of New York and Jersey Upper Bay,” which focuses on New York City’s harbor but can be a model for any waterfront area. College of Fellows Chancellor Frank Lucas, FAIA, presented the award to principal investigator Guy Nordenson.

Meet the 2007 Candidates for AIA National Office
Candidates for 2008 office delivered their initial campaign statements at the 2007 Grassroots and Legislative Conference on February 8. From the left, the candidates are:

Marvin J. Malecha, FAIA (First Vice President)
Peter Arsenault, AIA (Vice President)
Clark Manus, FAIA (Vice President)
Hal P. Munger, FAIA (Treasurer)
David Brotman, FAIA (Vice President)
Michael Broshar, FAIA (First Vice President).