Troubleshooting the Building Envelope: Problem Solving and Problem Prevention-Tuesday, April 8, White Plains and Wednesday, April 9, New York City

In cooperation with the New York State Society of Professional Engineers and in conjunction with the AIA New York Chapter and the AIA Westchester/Mid-Hudson Chapters, AIANYS will co-sponsor "Troubleshooting the Building Envelope: Problem Solving and Problem Prevention." Topics include: troubleshooting EIFS cladding, troubleshooting cavity wall and single wythe construction, sealant applications in wall systems and troubleshooting masonry construction. 
This session is approved for 5 LUs/HSW and runs from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Registration opens at 7:30 AM.  For complete program and registration information, go to http://www.aianys.org/images/whtplns.ny.08.pdf.

2008 AIANYS Convention

The 2008 AIANYS Convention Committee has unveiled the convention logo. It incorporates the theme of this year's convention Practice, Practice, Practice: Future, Integrated, Small Practitioner. The 2008 convention will be held September 25-27 in White Plains. This year the events will be held in two locations: on Thursday the 25 and Saturday the 27, it will be held at the Crowne Plaza and on Friday the 26 the convention, including continuing education seminars and the product showcase, will be held at the Westchester County Center. Be sure to check out www.aianys.org for convention updates.

Governor Spitzer included reforming the Wicks Law as one of the initiatives he proposed in the Executive Budget to help reduce the financial burden facing local governments.

Reforming the Wicks Law would help reduce property taxes through the lowering of construction costs. Under an agreement between the Governor and legislative leaders, thresholds for the application of Wicks Law regulations would rise from $50,000 to $3 million in New York City, $1.5 million in Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester counties, and $500,000 in the remainder of New York State. The AIANYS Board of Directors opposes this proposal as insufficient to address the problem and will be advancing an alternative.

During his State of the State address, Governor Spitzer announced the historic $400 million Housing Opportunity Fund. The proposal is part of a $1.5 billion infrastructure and economic development plan to enhance economic growth and opportunity across the state, and part of Governor Spitzer's plan to ensure New York is the best place to live, work, raise a family and run a business.

AIANYS Members Receive AIA Institute Honor Awards

AIA recently announced the 2008 recipients of the AIA Institute Honor Awards, the profession's highest recognition of works that exemplify excellence in architecture, interior architecture and urban design. AIANYS members are among the 28 recipients of these awards who will be honored in May at the AIA 2008 National Convention and Design Exposition in Boston. Steven Holl Architects, New York City, is the recipient of the 2008 Institute Honor Award for Architecture for the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City, Missouri; Gwathmey Siegel & Associates Architects, New York City, is the recipient of the 2008 Institute Honor Award for Interior Architecture for Central Park South Apartment in New York City and Cooper Robertson & Partners, New York City, is the recipient of the 2008 Institute Honor Award for Regional and Urban Design for Zuccotti Park in New York City. Congratulations to all of the recipients! 

Update Your Contact Information Through the AIA Website

Did you know that as a member you can update your contact information for both AIANYS and AIA all at once online through the AIA website www.aia.org? This is especially important this time of year, as we begin to put together the 2008 AIANYS Architect's Desk Reference and other publications. It's quick and easy and only takes a few minutes. On the AIA website, go to the About AIA section, then select Member Services, then to Update Your Membership Profile, then follow the instructions from there.

Firm Profile Information for 2008 Architect's Desk Reference

Dawson Publications, the company that compiles the AIANYS Architect's Desk Reference, is sending out letters to all AIANYS members this week for your opportunity to purchase a firm profile in the 2008 AIANYS Architect's Desk Reference. The firm profiles are located at the front of the publication and include detailed information on firms throughout New York State.  The fee to purchase a firm profile is $150, with the payment and all of the information sent directly to Dawson Publications. The deadline to purchase a firm profile is February 25, 2008. If you do not receive a letter and are interested in having your firm included in the desk reference, please contact Dawson Publications at 1-800-322-3448, ext. 110.

2008 AIA Compensation Survey Report

Invitations to participate in the 2008 AIA Compensation Survey Report were sent out this week. This report provides compensation data for 40 positions at architecture firms from all nine regions of the country, plus many states and metro areas. All respondents will receive a complimentary PDF copy of the survey report when it is released. If you have received an invitation, please submit your response by the deadline. If you are a firm leader who did not receive an invitation and would like to participate, please email Dick Rogers at aiahelp@readexresearch.com.

Boston Society of Architects Offering Scholarships to Young Professionals to Attend AIA Convention

Boston Society of Architects (BSA) has created a new scholarship program for young professionals to attend the AIA 2008 National Convention and Design Exposition in Boston May 15 through 17. Travel scholarships of up to $500 may be awarded to 100 or more individuals who otherwise would not be able to attend. Anyone who receives a travel scholarship will also receive free convention registration. The application form is due by February 22, 2008. For more information, go to www.architects.org/2008 and click on "scholarships."

License Renewal Now Available Online

The Office of the Professions is now offering on-line registration for licensees renewing their registrations.  When registering on-line, the registration fees can be paid using a credit card, and no additional charge will be added for this convenience.

In order to register on-line, an individual must be licensed and have a current registration that expires on or after December 31, 2007, receive the renewal notification and PIN in the mail, and use a valid Visa or MasterCard to pay the fees. Licensees will not be eligible to participate in on-line renewal until they are notified and given a PIN. For more information, go to http://www.op.nysed.gov/renewalinfo.htm.

Architecture 2030 to Host National Webcast on Solutions to Global Warming

Architecture 2030 will host a nationwide webcast on www.architecture2030.org called Face It on January 30, 2008 starting at 9 AM. This webcast will focus on the solution to global warming and will be a continuation on what was presented during Architecture 2030's previous webcast, The 2010 Imperative Global Emergency Teach-In, broadcast last February. The Teach-In focused on the role of design education in global warming.

The Face It webcast will focus on what needs to be done to stop global warming, including implementing the 2030 Challenge, the global initiative calling for all new buildings and renovations to reduce fossil fuel greenhouse gas emitting consumption by 50% by 2010 and that all new buildings be carbon neutral by 2030.