2019 | Second Quarter Edition
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MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
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Summer is always an exciting time in Arkansas. With the multitude of outdoor activities and community events, it’s easy to stay busy in the Natural State, and AIA Arkansas is no different. The year has been packed full of fun engagements including the statewide Baggo tournament, Northwest Arkansas Women Build with Habitat for Humanity, and a design competition to address homelessness (go to nomaddesignchallenge.com for more information).
But the work of the AIA Arkansas officers continues behind the scenes, planning continuing education seminars, developing exciting new ideas for the state convention and representing our members at the national conference in Las Vegas. We hope you all are taking full advantage of all the programs your state component and local sections are offering. To learn more about events in your area, visit the calendar website at
https://www.aiaar.org/events/.
AIA Arkansas had seven delegates from across the state represent the component at the AIA Conference on Architecture in Las Vegas this June. The week was packed full of tours, workshops and engaging speakers that explored the many facets of the profession of architecture and the good work being done by the Institute. The delegates were asked to vote on matters pertaining to climate change (and the role architecture plays), financial matters affecting the organization and the 2020 officers.
AIA is currently focused on what is being dubbed “The Big Move.” The intention is to focus resources and influence for deeper impact on economically viable climate action through buildings’ operational and embodied carbon. Buildings account for 80% of carbon emissions. Architects have the potential of being leaders in mitigating this issue.
The National Conference is a great reminder of all the passionate individuals across the world who want to affect positive change – not just in their communities, but globally. It’s an honor to be part of such a well-informed group of “beautiful nerds.” (This year’s emcee was Roman Mars from “99% Invisible,” a podcast on design worth checking out.)
The National Conference is also a great opportunity to celebrate the talented members in our state. AIA Arkansas members received regional and national awards in several different categories. Patty Opitz from Polk, Stanley, Wilcox was one of 22 people from across the country to receive a Young Architect Award. MAHG Architecture received a Gulf States Merit Award for the Sue Walk Burnette Journalism and Student Media Center, while DEMX received a Gulf States Honor Citation for the Sutcliffe House.
Gulf States Honor Awards winners include Polk, Stanley, Wilcox with the Skylight Cinema and the Robinson Center Renovation & Expansion, as well as Modus Studio for The Evans Tree House at Garvan Woodland Gardens, which also received a National AIA Small Projects Award.
Congratulations to all our winners! See the complete list of winners
here. AIA Arkansas encourages all our members to continue entering awards programs. There is a lot of fantastic work being done in the state.
In an effort to increase the prominence of design professionals in our communities, the American Institute of Architects working with AIA Arkansas has elevated two of our members to the roles of state disaster co-coordinators. These members will work to identify community architect volunteers in Arkansas willing to assemble when and where natural disasters occur.
Walter Jennings of Jennings + Santa-Rita Architects and Jim Gallagher of PB2 will be taking on these important positions. The group of volunteers will be tasked with assessing building damage and assisting in the execution of the State of Arkansas’ emergency management plans. If you are interested in being part of the emergency response team, please contact AIA Arkansas at
info@aiaar.org.
In addition to the volunteer emergency response team, there are many ways you can get involved with AIA Arkansas. We have several committees that assist the organization and oversee issues with legislation, membership, inclusion and emerging professionals to name a few. We encourage you to make a difference and get involved! If you’d like more information, visit
aiaar.org.
Best wishes and enjoy the summer!
Lori Yazwinski Santa-Rita
President
AIA Arkansas
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Photo: courtesy of Michael Lejong
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Williams & Dean Firm Wins At ASID Design Summit
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Williams & Dean Architecture | Interior Design took home several awards at the ASID Design Summit Conference and Awards Gala in March at Jackson, Miss. The ASID South Central Chapter includes Arkansas, Mississippi and Louisiana.
The firm’s awards:
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The Fitzroy Chenal, Party Veranda, Little Rock – Single Space: Gold
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The Fitzroy Chenal, Clubhouse, Little Rock – Hospitality Living: Silver
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Sauce(d), Little Rock – Hospitality Service: Silver
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Huffman & Co., Little Rock – Corporate | Small: Silver
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La Frontera, Little Rock – Hospitality Service: Bronze
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Model Unit, Little Rock – Model Home: Bronze
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Banks, Adams Join WER Architects
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WER Architects has hired Ernest Banks and Kyle Adams.
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Banks joined the WER Architects team in spring 2019 as an intern architect. As someone with deep respect for the natural and built environment, Ernest sees architecture as the keystone of communities across the world. He believes, by having a diverse set of experiences, a collaborative spirit and a curious mind that designers can bring people together like no one else can.
Born and raised in Little Rock, he grew up admiring the arts and design. He wanted to be an architect since middle school, when he placed first in an E.A.S.T Conference Architecture competition for designing a community outreach building.
Before pursuing a career in architecture, Ernest worked toward becoming a civil engineer. After reflecting on his career path, he knew that the world of design was for him, but the experiences he gained by working in the engineering profession still impact his design thinking. While in school at the Fay Jones School of Architecture at the University of Arkansas, Ernest worked with his local NOMA (National Organization of Minority Architects) Chapter to raise awareness for the issues of inclusion, opportunity and diversity within the architecture community at large.
This acted as a launching pad for his desire to return to his hometown, and get involved with local government as well as the design communities, such as studioMAIN. He hopes to make long lasting connections that can impact the growth and development of Little Rock in the years to come. In addition to architecture, Ernest has a deep love for animation. From the classic Zoetrope to CGI and all things in between, he is fascinated with how animation and architecture can be used to understand the built environment more fully.
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Adams joined the WER NWA team as an intern architect in spring 2019 after graduating with his B.Arch and music minor from the University of Arkansas. He is originally from Dallas and loves living in Fayetteville.
He married his high school sweetheart recently after graduation. His interest in design and architecture was always encouraged and came from a love to explore nature and the urban landscape around him in Dallas. Kyle’s passion for people, nature and the city aligns him with WER’s values in Northwest Arkansas. In his free time, you’ll find Kyle being a nature photographer, hiker, musician or reading with his wife.
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Alex Foundation Provides Exposure to Architecture
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Several members of AIA Arkansas attended a fundraiser for the Alex Foundation June 15, including (pictured) AIA Arkansas President Lori Santa-Rita and Diversity Committee Chair Patricia Opitz. The Alex Foundation is a 501(c)3 Arkansas-based non-profit organization established in 2010 that gives limited-access youth exposure to architecture and design.
The foundation partners with the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design to give students a summer learning experience on campus in Fayetteville, in addition to hosting two architecture and design summer camps in the Arkansas Delta. It has recently been recognized for its work with under-privileged youth by the National AIA Diversity Program. If you are interested in donating to the organization or volunteering for one of the design camps, you can visit the foundation’s
website
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Design Excellence Program Welcomes New Members
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Eighteen new design firms have been selected to join the Northwest Arkansas Design Excellence Program. Earlier this spring, the Walton Family Foundation held an open application cycle for design professionals, with a focus on landscape architecture and urban design in small communities.
The Northwest Arkansas Design Excellence Program was created in 2015 to promote the highest level of design in the development of future public buildings and spaces in Benton and Washington counties. It selects design professionals and projects based on four key principles: a commitment to strengthening public life; elevating standards of sustainability and resilience; celebrating local cultures and place; and building regional capacity.
The program welcomed these firms:
CIVITAS - Denver, Colorado
Coen+Partners - Minneapolis, Minnesota
Dig Studio - Denver, Colorado
Ecological Design Group - Little Rock, Arkansas
Ground Control - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Halff Associates - Dallas, Texas
Hoerr Schaudt Landscapes - Chicago, Illinois
James Corner Field Operations - New York City, New York
Janet Rosenberg and Studio - Ontario, Canada
La Quatra Bonci - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Port - Chicago, Illinois
Rundell Ernstberger Associates - Indianapolis, Indiana
Studio One Eleven - Long Beach, California
Studio Outside - Dallas, Texas
Studio Bryan Hanes - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
SWA Architects - Pasadena, California
Travis Van Liere - Minneapolis, Minnesota
Unknown Studio - Baltimore, Maryland
With these additions, nearly 70 architecture and landscape architecture firms representing 15 states, the District of Columbia, Canada and Denmark have been admitted to the program.
Since its launch, the Design Excellence Program has supported 11 projects across the region’s five largest downtowns. Its design professionals have completed Memorial Park in Siloam Springs, the Rogers Historical Museum and the Helen Walton Children’s Enrichment Center in Bentonville, with TheatreSquared in Fayetteville and a portion of Thaden School’s campus in Bentonville set to open this summer.
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July is Time to Renew Your State Architectural License
The time for your Arkansas Architectural License Renewal is quickly approaching. License renewal notices will be sent to the email address on file with the board in July. ALL Arkansas architectural licenses expire on July 31st! If you have...
Read more
www.aiaar.org
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Potential Career Paths
Within Architecture
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In an article entitled 10 Potential Career Paths Within Architecture, architect Brandon Hubbard points out that o
ne of the many perks of pursuing a career in architecture is that you are not restricted to a particular role.
He lists and explains these 10 specializations: technical architect, design architect, BIM manager, spec manager, project manager, interior designer, workplace consultant, sustainability consultant, urban designer and sole proprietor.
Click
here
to read the full article.
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Vote for the Members' Choice Award
As an AIA Arkansas member, you can utilize the online voting system to vote for the 2019 Member Choice Award. This will allow more members the opportunity to vote on their favorite project. Take some time to view all of entries below. These are...
Read more
www.aiaar.org
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Vote for the People's Choice Award
AIA Arkansas launched it's inaugural People's Choice Award in 2015 to increase public awareness of the level of design excellence produced by Arkansas architects. We encourage AIA members to share this voting opportunity with their families,...
Read more
www.aiaar.org
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Architectural Works Copyright Act
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In 1990, Congress enacted the Architectural Works Copyright Protection Act (AWCPA), which afforded “architectural works” special status under the law. While copyright protection attaches at the time an author creates an original work, it is enforceable only after the author complies with the formalities of registration.
If you have questions about AWCPA, check the article
here
by Jason J. Campbell, managing partner at Anderson, Murphy & Hopkins, L.L.P.
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NFPA 285 and Insulated
Metal Wall Panels (IMPs)
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As required by the International Building Code (IBC), the 30-minute NFPA 285 test predicts how an assembly will perform in a real-world multi-story application and, most critically, whether or not building occupants will have enough time to safely exit a building in a fire event. Andy Mays with Mays Maune McWard provides information
here that summarizes: NFPA 285 pass/fail test parameters; how NFPA 285 compliant insulated metal wall panels provide architects and owners with design flexibility; and why NFPA 285 compliance is important to the life safety of building occupants.
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NTMA Announces 2019 Terrazzo Job of the Year, Honor Awards
The National Terrazzo & Mosaic Association announced this year's Honor Awards and Job of the Year at its annual convention in Amelia Island, Fla., on May 1. The Job of the Year is in Salesforce Transit Center in San Francisco. The transportation...
Read more
www.aiaar.org
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A Look Into the Dilemma of Damaged Glass
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In an article entitled “A Look Into the Dilemma of Damaged Glass,” Chris Little with Ace Glass addresses a problem both architects and GC's are having in the field when it comes to concrete splatter or other elements damaging glass that was specified and is sometimes costly to replace. You can see it
here
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Basic Marketing for Busy AEC Professionals
By Joan McQuaid
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Did you know that putting a little time and energy toward some basic marketing communication efforts could shine a professional spotlight on you? Expand the awareness of your organization to a wider audience? Further your career? Ideally, bring dollars to your business?
It’s true.
The good news is that anyone – architects, engineers, contractors, manufacturer’s reps – can create some fundamental marketing communication pieces and garner positive results. Whether a seasoned professional or new to the AEC industry, you can write, give a presentation, or post on social media with topics that are informative for your clients to spur connections that could ultimately benefit your bottom line.
If you’re new to marketing, choose an approach that is manageable for you, and at least somewhat
close to your comfort zone – so you can begin marketing without becoming overwhelmed while doing it. Click
HERE to view whole article.
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UA Fay Jones School of Architecture
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Community Design Center
Wins National Award
The University of Arkansas Community Design Center has received a national award for an architectural design studio that rethinks public housing in Fayetteville. The center, an outreach program of the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design, worked with architecture students and the U of A Resiliency Center.
Architecture studio is a class in a professional architecture program in which students receive hands-on instruction in architectural design. Architecture students working in the design studio explored design strategies for revitalizing Willow Heights, a housing complex on the east edge of downtown Fayetteville.
The spring 2018 studio, “Saving Downtown Public Housing: Towards a Blended-Income Community,” won a 2018-19 Housing Design Education Award from the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture/American Institute of Architects. The award recognizes the importance of good education in housing design. Winners were selected based on the positive impact on students, the university or the community.
Student work completed in the design studio contributed to the “Livability Improvement Plan for Willow Heights,” a Community Design Center planning study adopted by the Fayetteville Housing Authority and the Fayetteville City Council in 2018. The plan proposes development of a blended-income neighborhood through rehabilitation of existing units and construction of additional market-rate and subsidized units. The studio also addressed issues of stormwater management on the hillside site.
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Folan Named Head Of Department of Architecture
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Effective July 1, John Folan is the head of the Department of Architecture for the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design at the University of Arkansas. He was the T. David Fitz-Gibbon Professor of Architecture and founder and director of the Urban Design Build Studio at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pa. He has done extensive work in design-build, housing design and community engagement. Folan is a registered architect and a LEED Accredited Professional.
"John Folan arrives to the region, the university, the Fay Jones School and the Department of Architecture at a propitious moment," said Peter MacKeith, dean of the school. "His skill and accomplishments in public interest design of high educational and community impact match precisely the ambitions and initiatives of the school, the land-grant mission of the university and the needs of the region, particularly in housing design along the entire income spectrum. His nationally recognized commitment to professional education and professional practice will build upon and expand the legacy of the department, and his passion for the materiality and constructed quality of architecture will enhance our students' advancement into their careers and further the reputation of the department and school."
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American Institute of Architects
Arkansas Chapter
318 S. Pulaski Street
Little Rock, AR 72201
501.661.1111
info@aiaar.org
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