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AIA Pennsylvania
Phone: (717) 236-4055
Fax: (717) 236-5407
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2008 Architects Day & Architectural Excellence Awards:
Congratulations to all of the award winners this year! To view all of this year's winners, go to 2008 Award Winners
Memories of this year's events...
Elmer B. Burger, II, AIA; AIA PA President with Rebecca Bagley,
Deputy Secretary, PA Department of Community & Economic Development
Post Election Analysis Panel: James Lee, President, Susquehanna Polling & Research; Pete DeCoursey, Bureau Chief, Capitolwire; Mathew Steck, Partner & Lobbyist, Greenlee Partners
Greg Papay, FAIA of Lake/Flato, Jury Chair
Peter Q. Bohlin, FAIA, Recipient of the Medal of Distinction;
Frank E. Dittenhafer, II, FAIA, Awards Committee Chair (in the background) |
| Pennsylvania Architects PAC
Thank you for your support of the PA PAC this year! It has been a banner year.
The PA PAC Management Committee in the process of making decisions on contributions to candidates.
Between the Primary and the General Election, we contributed a total of $42,750 to candidates for state office. $31,000 went to candidates for the House of Representatives and $11,750 for Senate seats. Democrats received $20,250 and Republicans received $21,500. 100% of the candidates we supported in the Senate were elected or reelected and in the House we had 97% success rate. We are very careful in our analysis of who to make contributions to. We analyze each race, looking at the history of the candidates on our issues and what roles that person plays in the legislature.
As of December 5, we have raised $25,175, just slightly above our goal of $25,000. We also received corporate contributions of $1,575 which will assist with administrative support for the PAC since Pennsylvania does not permit corporate contributions to PACs. This brings the total amount raised to $26,750.
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Breakfast of Champions
This year we started a new program called the Breakfast of Champions. The Breakfast of Champions was developed by AIA Florida and the Florida Architects PAC as an effective means to build relationships with elected representatives and raise money for the PAC. These are small breakfast events where we honor a legislator, present him or her with a campaign contribution, and give AIA members the opportunity for significant interaction with legislators to discuss state and local issues.
Take a proactive part in the process and become a member of PA PAC. To contribute online or for more information on the PAC, please visit our website at www.aiapa.org.
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Legislative Victories in 2008
Uniform Construction Code
AIA Pennsylvania has succeeded in passing House Bill 1096. Now Act 106, it establishes the UCC Review & Advisory Council. The Council will evaluate proposed revisions to the UCC and make recommendations to the Department of Labor & Industry and the Legislature. It will also review new and amended provisions contained in triennial revisions of the codes issued by the International Code Council to any of its codes.
AIA Pennsylvania succeeded in amending House Bill 2629 before it passed in October. It amends the Health Care Facilities Act and will require the Pennsylvania Department of Health to promulgate regulations that define a "small residential hospice" as a facility licensed for 22 or fewer beds (larger institutions would be required to meet the institutional health-care facility standards). This bill would have permitted a small residential hospice facility to comply with the National Fire Protection Association's "Life Safety Code" standards for residential and boarding care rather than the Health Care Facility standards. AIA Pennsylvania engaged Senator Pat Vance to amend the bill to ensure that it would comply with the Uniform Construction Code.
Green Building Legislation
As we reported in July, green building legislation was passed in Special Session House Bill 1, now Act 1, after being signed by Governor Rendell on July 9. The Act incorporates high-performance building incentives allocating $25,000,000 for loans or grants, as well as, several other energy related programs. Homeowners and small businesses will be eligible for incentives to build energy efficient structures or renovate existing buildings to improve energy efficiency. The regulations for this program are currently being developed with implementation taking place sometime in 2009.
Professional Practice
AIA Pennsylvania successfully opposed several legislative initiatives that would have compromised the practice of architecture in Pennsylvania. They included bills to license interior designers (HB807); mandate the use of prototypical school designs (HB1889); and the expansion of the sales tax to architectural design services.
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NEW! Sustainable Design Becomes a Mandatory Continuing Education Requirement for AIA Membership
 Sustainability has been a focus of architectural practice for over thirty years, and the AIA has provided resources and tools to assist its members in better serving their clients and communities through environmentally responsible projects. The AIA Board of Directors recognized the need to again help prepare their colleagues and fellow practitioners to respond to the latest challenge and opportunity facing the profession. The issue of climate change and the impact of buildings on carbon emissions created a new expectation among clients and the public to look to the expertise of architects for solutions that can help them leave a greener footprint. The AIA is responding to this growing demand for our members to assume greater leadership in addressing the challenges facing our planet.
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2009 Pennsylvania Board Members
As the new year approaches, we would like to thank the following outgoing board members for their hard work and dedication to the association:
Richard DeYoung, AIA - Transitioning from Pittsburgh Regional Rep to Regional Director
Seth H. Wentz, AIA - Transitioning from Associate Director to Regional Associate Director Dallas L. Miller, AIA
Joseph A. Castner, AIA, RIBA
Felix G. Fukui, AIA
John R. Hill, AIA
Welcome to the following new board members:
Frederick J. Fernsler, AIA - Middle Chapter Board Rep
C. Allen Mullins, AIA - Northeastern Chapter Board Rep
Paula R. Maynes, AIA - Pittsburgh Chapter Board Rep
P. Richard Rittelmann, FAIA - Pittsburgh Chapter Board Rep
Daniel E. Bosin, AIA - Philadelphia Chapter Board Rep
To see the entire AIA Pennsylvania Board:
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AIA National -
IDP Outstanding Firm Award Call For Entries
Find and keep the best talent for your firm by being recognized as a leading firm in aiding interns on their path to licensure! Recipients of the IDP Outstanding Firm Awards program are listed on www.aia.org, recognized at the AIA National Convention, provided with a virtual medallion for their website, and formally announced by a press release from AIA National. Your firm will stand out to interns as an ideal place to work.
The program was expanded in 2008, resulting in the creation of two categories of honorees: the IDP Firm Award, which recognizes firms employing interns who meet 12 essential criteria, and the IDP Outstanding Firm Award, which recognizes firms that not only meet the 12 criteria, but demonstrate excellence in at least three of these categories.
The program is now accepting submissions for the January 15, 2009 deadline. Submitting for the award is free and fast via an online form. Recipients are honored for three years. Contact Steph Burns if you have any questions.
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Hold the date, you won't want to miss this... September 21-23, 2009
Next year's Architects Day and Design Awards program will be celebrated with the 100th birthday of AIA Pennsylvania!
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