AIArchitect

Friday, May 1, 2009
8:15 a.m.

Presented by: Ron Altoon, FAIA, of Altoon + Porter Architects, and past president of the AIA.

What people want to learn: “At this point, we’re all looking to redefine ourselves.” Toni Lewis, AIA, of Lewis/Schoeplein Architects in Los Angeles. 

Friday, May 1, 2009
12:00 p.m.

Presented by: Andrew Goldberg, Assoc. AIA, director of federal relations at the AIA, Charles Matta, FAIA, Director of federal buildings and modernizations at the General Services Administration (GSA), Larry Speck, FAIA, principal of Page Southerland Page, and David Daileda, FAIA, AIA DC president.

What people want to learn: “I do a lot of public sector work, and I’m looking for reinforcement as to how we do it.” Joel Davidson,

Friday, May 1, 2009
2:00 p.m.

Presented by: Cameron Sinclair, Assoc. AIA, of Architecture for Humanity in San Francisco and Teddy Cruz of Estudio Cruz in San Diego. Moderated by Steven Lewis, AIA.

What people want to learn: “If we know we want to do something more with architecture, should we be on a different career path? If we’re interested in activism, is or is not architecture a potent way to get there?” Anthony Laney, Assoc. AIA, of Rockefeller Partners Architects in El Segundo, Calif.

Friday, May 1, 2009
4:00 p.m.

Presented by: Drury Crawley of the Department of Energy (DOE) and Dan Brown.

What people want to learn: “I’m interested in getting into some energy modeling activities, and this seemed like an accessible way for an architect to do it.” Anne Roderer, AIA, of Abelow Sherman Architects in Brooklyn, New York.

Saturday, May 2, 2009
8:15 a.m.

Presented by: Peter Morris and Will Wilson of the construction industry consultants Davis Langdon. 

What people want to learn: “Architecture is shifting away more from the traditional design-bid-build. I think everyone knows how to do the old risk management--what to look for, what to be aware of--but as you move into new deliverables and new delivery processes, what are some of the new pitfalls?” Sean Twomey, AIA, of HOK in St. Louis.

by Zigmund Rubel, AIA

On Saturday, May 2, 2009, the AIA wrapped up its business meeting. Like many of the business meetings I have attended in the past, it was populated by those of us who would consider ourselves AIA junkies. We junkies choose to be delegates and shape what we want the AIA to be.

Any AIA member (full AIA member or Associate) can become an accredited delegate, based on the practices of the individual's component. Few members, in terms of percentage, are delegates. The delegates who attend the business meeting make their “My AIA, Our AIA.”

The gripes about the architecture of the District of Columbia and San Francisco are pretty much the same: Too many Neo-Classical and Beaux Arts sacred cows. All the mid-century Modernist buildings are boring, glassy boxes.  And what passes for contemporary design seldom goes far enough.

I’ve had some of these thoughts about my adopted city of Washington, D.C., and as I scanned clips about San Francisco’s architectural scene, host city to the AIA’s 2009 Convention, I girded myself for the same impressions, even though it seemed absurd that there could be much at all in common between the Left Coast capital of social experimentation and progressivism and the stodgily proficient Federal Washington. And after spending a few days walking the streets and talking with architects and critics, each snap judgment of architectural conservatism contained a nugget of truth. But what was most impressive was how these places have such different architectural identities.

It’s a decidedly lighthearted way to pay tribute to an architect who always took himself quite seriously, but what’s not to love about the new Frank Lloyd Wright Lego sets?

To honor the 50th anniversary of the opening of his Guggenheim Museum in New York, Lego has unleashed a miniature kit of the iconic circular museum. This summer, the Danish toy company will release a Fallingwater Lego set in conjunction with the 75th anniversary of the house, complete with a clear plastic waterfall and blocky, forest green foliage. (Though the world-famous cantilever doesn’t look as striking or proportionally bold in Lego-form).  Both sets were designed by Lego architecture guru Adam Reed Tucker of Brickstructures, Inc., and you can order them at Brickstructure’s online store.

How about Lego cut a deal with the AIA and hands over a model of each gold medal laureate's most well-known building with their prize!?!