Tri-State Convention September 21-23, 2011 in Atlantic City!

     AIANYS is joining with AIA New Jersey and AIA Pennsylvania for the first-ever Tri-State Convention September 21-23, 2011 at Bally's in Atlantic City, NJ. This design conference will feature continuing education classes, tours, two keynote sessions, an ice-breaker reception, the AIANYS Honor and Design Awards Dinner & Presentation, a one day Product Showcase, and a Tri-State Design Awards reception. All of the events will take place at Bally's, located right on the boardwalk in Atlantic City.

     You can reserve your room now at Bally's! There is a special room rate of $99 per night! Go to:

http://www.harrahs.com/CheckGroupAvailability.do?propCode=BAC&groupCode=GBTRI.

     Special thanks to the Tri-State Convention Sponsors: Hubbell Galvanizing, Prosurance Redeker Group Ltd. and Shen Milsom Wilke, LLC.

     Be sure to check www.aianys.org for updates on the Tri-State Convention!

Call for Nominations for AIANYS Officers and Associate Director

     One of the most important functions of a local chapter is its participation in the AIA New York State's nomination process. Each year, the Nominating Committee requests chapters to consider the names of qualified individuals for the following AIANYS offices:President-Elect, Secretary, Treasurer (elected in odd number years for a two year term), Vice President of Government Advocacy,Vice President of Public Advocacy, and Associate Member Director.Nominations are due by Friday, June 17, 2011. Elections are held at Annual Meeting held in conjunction with the AIANYS convention (this year the Tri-State Convention).

AIANYS Officers

     The following offices will be filled with a one year term in 2011: President-Elect, Secretary, Vice President, Government Advocacy and Vice President, Public Advocacy. (The AIANYS Treasurer serves for a two year term and will also be elected in 2011). With the exceptions of the President-Elect and the Treasurer, officers may be eligible for re-election the following year for the same office for a maximum of two consecutive terms. All elected Officers take office at the inaugural meeting of the board (January).
 Eligibility, Nominations and Nomination Form

     Candidates for the Office of President-Elect must be members in good standing. Candidates for Secretary, Treasurer, Vice President, Government Advocacy and Vice President, Public Advocacy must be members in good standing and be either currently serving or past members of the Board of Directors of AIANYS.  A Chapter may nominate a candidate for only one office in any given year. (From the AIANYS Bylaws - Article 5.03c)

A Chapter may not nominate an individual for any office in the same year in which it submits a nominating petition on behalf of the same individual as a candidate for Regional Director. (From the AIANYS Bylaws - Article 5.03e)

Election of the Associate Director

     In 2011 AIANYS will elect an Associate Director. The AIANYS Associate Director will be elected for a one year term at the Annual Meeting.  The Associate Director is a Director at Large, and the nomination is not covered by the constraints of Article 5.03c.

 Nomination Forms

     Nomination forms have already been sent to the chapters and are due by the close of business on or before June 17, 2011 at the AIANYS Office accompanied by a brief statement of qualifications from the Chapter. Please be sure the form is signed both by the Chapter Secretary and President. Please send to: AIANYS, 52 South Pearl Street, Albany, NY 12207 or email: efarrell@aianys.org.

     Candidates must send to AIANYS, a photo and brief "Statement of Philosophy"

about why he/she would like to serve in the position. These must be sent to AIANYS on or before June 17, 2011. Candidates may send hard copy of the photo and the Statement of Philosophy, but must also send each digitally via e-mail to Stephanie Quirini at squirini@aianys.org  -- photo in JPEG format or TIFF and the Statement as a Word document.

Note:

     A Constituent Organization that has nominated a candidate for an AIANYS office (President-Elect, Vice President Government Advocacy, Vice President Public Advocacy, Secretary, or Treasurer) may not in the same year submit a nominating petition on behalf of the same individual as a candidate for the office of Regional Director.

Chapter Representatives to the AIANYS Board of Directors

     Directors and Alternate Directors are elected to the AIANYS Board of Directors by the chapters, each chapter being assigned one each, except the New York Chapter which may appoint three. Under separate cover, in October, you will be notified to elect your Director (if applicable) for the 2012-2013 term; in the meantime we encourage chapters to begin evaluating the best candidates to be appointed to serve as their chapter's representative(s).

New York Regional Director

     Nomination information has previously been sent to the chapters for this position, currently filled by Russell A. Davidson, AIA

     For questions or more information please contact Edward Farrell, Executive Director, AIANYS at 518-449-3334 or efarrell@aianys.org, or in his absence Georgi Ann Bailey, Hon AIANYS, Director of Programs and Operations at gabailey@aianys.org.

AIANYS Co-Sponsors Statewide Preservation League Code Green Workshops

     AIANYS is co-sponsoring, along with the USGBC NY Upstate Chapter, the Preservation League of NYS's New York State Energy Research and Development Authority energy codes training, Code Green Workshops. This series of regional workshops, held throughout NYS, will focus on energy conservation issues relevant to historic buildings. The workshops are: Syracuse, June 16-17; Plattsburgh, June 23-24; Buffalo, July 14-15; Hempstead, August 4-5 and Elmira, August 18-19.You can earn 12 LU/HSW/SD credit (6 each day). This two day workshop costs $75 and includes lunch.

     For more information and to register, go to http://www.preservenys.org/CodeGreen/.

     AIANYS has just added a new tool specifically for chapters to advertise their upcoming events to AIA members across NYS and also serve as a reminder to Chapter members.

You can access the calendar software by clicking on: http://aianys.org/members/index.php?m=1&p=1.

     Then click to submit your event. When using the calendar, check your event dates for accuracy. In the copy area, you may want to put where the session is located, registration information and who to contact. Use the link option found at the top of the copy screen to link to your chapter website or registration form. Information not related to the program such as a company website will not be accepted. By using the notification software, you are accepting responsibility for all content.

     Once you have submitted your program, please allow 48 hours for it to appear or receive notification of required changes to the copy. Although not required, you may wish to send an email to Georgi Ann Bailey at gabailey@aianys.org to notify is you have submitted a program for upload. 

AIANYS Receives AIA Component Matching Grant

     AIANYS has received a 2011 AIA Component Matching Grant for the Student Awards Program.

     The AIA National Component supports local and state Components or their affiliated foundations in their efforts to provide and develop scholarship programs. Offering matching grants to augment existing Component programs reinforces the significance of the AIA in the lives of architects, aspiring students, and their communities, and stimulates interest in the formation of new scholarship programs.

     The AIANYS Student Award Program was created in 2007 to serve as a way of engaging and recognizing students enrolled in the ten NAAB-accredited schools in New York State. This program allows them to share ideas on design concepts which improve upon natural and built environments, while positioning them to assist in advancing both the profession and community at large.

     AIANYS recently published the Schools of Architecture in NYS Book. It contains a description of the architecture program and admission information for the NAAB-accredited and non-accredited schools throughout NYS. This publication was mailed out in early May to the guidance offices at all of the high schools in NYS, both public and private. The book was also sent out to all of the Chapters. It is also available on the AIANYS website at www.aianys.org.

     If you are interested in receiving a copy, please contact Stephanie Quirini at squirini@aianys.org.

Architects in Albany Lobby Day

     2011 Architects in Albany Lobby Day was held on May 3, 2011. The day began at the Hampton Inn with a continental breakfast followed by a legislative briefing from Rich Leckerling, Hon. AIA, Legislative Counsel and Edward Farrell, Executive Director. Following the briefing, the chapters went to their scheduled meetings with legislators. AIANYS leadership met with Assembly Majority Leader Ron Canestrari (with members of AIA Eastern NY and AIA New York); Assemblymember Donna Lupardo (with members of AIA Southern NY), Senator Kemp Hannon, and Senator Joseph Griffo (with members of AIA Central NY). They also met with the staff of Senator David Valesky, Senator Kenneth LaValle, Senator Liz Krueger, Assemblymember Deborah Glick and Assemblymember Sam Hoyt.

      Over 50 AIANYS members, representing 11 chapters, attended Lobby Day.

All of the 2010 AIANYS Design Award recipients design boards were displayed in Legislative Office Building during Lobby Day. To view the 2011 AIANYS Legislative agenda, go to: http://www.aianys.org/main/government_advocacy.shtml.

     AIANYS encourages members who attended Lobby Day to follow up with the legislators they met with and for all members to meet with their legislators in district throughout the year.

Photo 1: Pictured left to right: Kelly Hayes McAlonie, AIA, President-Elect, Senator Joseph Griffo, and Edward Farrell, Executive Director.

Photo 2: Pictured left to right: Daniel Wilson, AIA, President-Elect, AIA Eastern NY; David Businelli, AIA, President; Assemblyman Ronald Canestrari, James Condon, AIA, President, AIA Eastern NY; Eric Goshow, AIA, Vice President, Government Advocacy, AIANYS; Margaret  Castillo, AIA, President, AIA New York; Jeff Mural, AIA, Board Member, AIANYS.

Photo 3: Pictured: Senator Kemp Hannon and Edward Farrell

Photo 4: Pictured left to right: Assemblymember Donna Lupardo with members of AIA Southern NY-Jeff Smith, AIA, Board Member, AIANYS, Gail Gerard, AIA, President, AIA Southern NY and John Barradas, AIA.

     AIA Trust has sponsored a new grants program entitled Component Relief Fund. The program will run through September 2011. The purpose is to provide some immediate relief for the AIA members affected by this economic crisis and for the components that support them.

     Grants will be awarded to AIA components starting at $300 up to $800 per request, based on the need and purpose for the funds as described by the component. Components may apply for the grant by completing a grant application form to explain their current situation and need.

     For more information, go to: http://www.theaiatrust.com/components/comp_members.php.

AIA Convention Wrap Up

-Russell Davidson, AIA, Elected as AIA Vice President

-AIANYS-Sponsored Resolution Passed

-Nicolette Felder, Assoc. AIA, Receives Pettigrew Scholarship

-Hutton Receives AIA Associates Award

-Richards Receives Honorary AIA Membership

     The 2011 AIA National Convention and Design Exposition was held in New Orleans May 12-14 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. The theme was Regional Design Revolution: ecology matters.

     AIA members could attend over 200 programs and tours. The Design Exposition held over three days had over 800 exhibitors, including demos right in the booth. New York Times columnist and Pulitzer Prize winner, Thomas Friedman was the opening keynote speaker. He spoke on the need for Americans to embrace a green global ecosystem or be prepared to face a cataclysmic future. After his speech, he signed copies of his latest book Hot, Flat and Crowded.

     The other featured keynote speaker was Jeb Brugmann author of Welcome to the Urban Revolution: How Cities are Changing the World. He spoke on how to use strategic design to optimize your market advantage.

     AIANYS held a luncheon at the Hilton Riverside on Thursday, May 12 to discuss the candidates running for AIA office, especially Russell Davidson, AIA, Regional Director, who was running for AIA Vice President.

     AIA New York State held a reception on Thursday night at Latrobe's in the French Quarter celebrating all of our AIA honorees and award recipients. The evening featured New Orleans specialties including a crawfish boil with corn on the cob and potatoes, passed hot and cold hors d'ouevres, a signature martini, a pasta station and a great New Orleans band that got the crowd on the dance floor. Attendees went home with a commemorative jar of Cajun spices. Special thanks goes to IBEX Construction, the prime sponsor, (Andy Frankl, CEO and the staff) for once again sponsoring this great event. Additional sponsors included: The Architect's Newspaper, YKK AP, the Italian Trade Commission and Ceramic Tiles of Italy.

     The elections for AIA office were held during convention and the officers were announced on Friday night. Russell Davidson, AIA, Regional Director and Past President, AIANYS and member of AIA Westchester + Hudson Valley was elected as 2012-2013 AIA Vice President. Debra Kunce, FAIA of AIA Indianapolis was also elected as 2012-13 AIA Vice President. Mickey Jacob, FAIA, of AIA Tampa Bay was elected as 2012 AIA First Vice President/2013 President. Gabriel Durand-Hollis, FAIA, of AIA San Antonio, was elected 2012-13 AIA Treasurer. Congratulations to Russ and all of the elected officers!

     A bylaw amendment sponsored by AIANYS was passed on Saturday at the AIA Business Meeting. This amendment dealt with proxy voting at meetings of the Institute. The Institute's bylaws stated that a delegate could only represent one component in addition to his or her own.  The amendment AIANYS wrote would permit a state delegate to represent by proxy more than one of the chapters in his/her state at a meeting of the Institute or permit the president of a state component to designate a member delegate from his/her state to represent by proxy more than one chapter in that state.

     In sponsoring this resolution, AIANYS noted that a number of components are unable to send delegates to attend the annual convention. The proxy system may be the only way to ensure an absent chapter (and its members) will be properly represented there.

     Winners of the 2011 Jason Pettigrew Memorial ARE Scholarship were announced at a joint National Associates Committee and Young Architects Forum reception at the AIA National Convention. Nicolette Feldser, Assoc. AIA, Associate Director, AIANYS and member of AIA Central NY, was one of the five recipients. The scholarship provides study guides (from Kaplan Construction Education) for the seven Architecture Registration Exams, as well as the fees for taking the exams. 

     Ernest Hutton Jr., Assoc. AIA, AIA New York, received the 2011 Associates Award. Hutton is principal of Hutton Associates, Inc., a personal services and planning advisory practice. The AIA Associates Award is the highest award given to individual associate AIA members who best exemplify the highest qualities of leadership and have demonstrated an unparalleled commitment to their component or region's membership, in the community, in professional organizations, and/or in the design and construction industries.

     Kristen Richards, Hon. ASLA has been bestowed Honorary AIA Membership. She is the editor-in-chief of Oculus, the quarterly magazine published by the AIA New York Chapter.Honorary membership is one of the highest honors that The American Institute of Architects can bestow upon a person outside the profession of architecture. Election to honorary membership may be granted to any person of esteemed character who is otherwise ineligible for membership in the Institute, but who has rendered distinguished service to the profession of architecture or to the arts and sciences allied therewith.

     AIA also celebrated the 100^th anniversary of contract documents and provided demonstrations of the new documents which will be available in early 2012.

Photo 1: Russell Davidson, AIA spoke at the AIANYS luncheon at the Hilton Riverside during the AIA Convention.

Photo 2: David Businelli, AIA, President and Kelly Hayes McAlonie, AIA, President-Elect attended the AIANYS reception at Latrobe's sponsored by IBEX on May 12.

     The 2011 AIA National Convention featured the official launch of Barbie I Can Be...Architect. Mattel worked with two AIANYS members, Kelly Hayes McAlonie, AIA, President-Elect, AIANYS and Interim Assistant Vice President of Capital Planning Group at the University at Buffalo, and Despina Stratigakos, Assoc. AIA and Professor of Architectural History at UB, to create the latest in a series of career-focused Barbies.  Hayes McAlonie and Stratigakos sent a letter to Mattel last spring advocating for an architect-themed doll. Mattel responded positively and after months of work the idea has been fully realized.

     As part of the launch, Hayes McAlonie and Stratigakos led workshops at Mattel's specially-designed Barbie booth on the Expo floor over three days at the convention. More than 400 girls from local schools, Girl Scout troops and Boys & Girls Clubs took part in a hands-on workshop that included an overview of famous female architects and their work. The girls also got their chance to design their own dream house. The materials used during the workshop are now available online on the right side of the hompage on www.aianys.org. Please download these free materials and help girls and boys in your area express their creativity and learn more about architecture!

     "The Architect Barbie project embodies many of the issues that I have worked on throughout my career, specifically providing opportunities to teach children about the importance of design in the built environment and promoting women in the architectural profession.  I am personally touched by the positive response that the project has received from the architectural community," said Kelly Hayes McAlonie, AIA.

     "For me, Architect Barbie is a tool to interest little girls in the world of architecture.  Kelly and I had for years been developing ways to reach out to both girls and boys through offering architectural programs in public schools.  By working with Mattel to create the doll, we hoped to expand that audience by tapping into the power of a cultural icon.  The fact is that Barbie appeals to little girls like no other toy.  They are proprietary about her-they know the doll is just for them.  And whatever Barbie does, she brings it into the sphere of women.  We hope that these little girls will come to think of hard hats and construction sites as just another part of their everyday world," said Despina Stratigakos, Assoc. AIA.

     Mattel worked with AIA to not only officially unveil the Architect Barbie at the AIA National Convention, but also make the doll available for purchase in the Convention Book Store. You can pre-order the doll at: http://shop.mattel.com/search/index.jsp?kwCatId=&kw=architect&origkw=architect&sr=1

(will ship in August). The doll will be available in stores nationwide starting in August.

     "The AIA has been a tremendous partner in this project.  By hosting the launch at the AIA National Convention, the AIA was able to facilitate an interesting conversation on the role of women in architecture with the general public and the architectural community.  The workshops were the highlight of this 'conversation.'  400 little girls from New Orleans learned what architects do, the history of women in the architectural profession and gained a basic understanding of the design process.  Countless people approached me to express their gratitude for the project and to say that the workshops crystallized for them the reason for the project in the first place.  Providing little girls with a vehicle to imagine that they too can be an architect- that is everything to me!  We couldn't have done that without the help of the AIA and our many volunteer members," said Hayes McAlonie.

     Now you have a chance to design Barbie's Dream House! AIA National has paired with Mattel to bring you the Architect Barbie Dream House Design Competition.  Entries are due by June 27, 2011. Five finalists will be chosen and announced on July 12, 2011. The public will then vote and the final winner will be announced on August 2, 2011. For more information on the competition, go to: http://www.aia.org/practicing/AIAB089214dvid=&recspec=AIAB089214.

Photo 1: Pictured left to right: Kelly Hayes McAlonie, AIA, President-Elect, AIANYS and Despina Stratigakos, Assoc. AIA unveiled Architect Barbie at the AIA National Convention on May 12.

Photo 2: Kelly Hayes McAlonie, AIA, led a workshop on women and architecture for girls from a school in Louisiana.

     David Businelli, AIA, President, AIANYS was the guest speaker for the launch of ARCHIVE's International Traveling Exhibition which was held on May 26 at the Center for Architecture in New York City.

     ARCHIVE Institute (Architecture for Health In Vulnerable Environments), is an international non-profit organization headquartered in NY which prioritizes the use of housing design to prevent diseases among the world's poor. 

     In July 2010, ARCHIVE launched Kay e Sante nan Ayiti (creole for 'Health and Housing in Haiti'), a global design competition that saw hundreds of participants from around the world focus their efforts on using architecture to fight disease in Haiti. Five designs, were selected and are now being used to construct houses in St. Marc, Haiti. The design of these houses will minimize the transmission of tuberculosis (TB) and serve as transitional living facilities for people with TB and HIV/AIDS.

     The Center for Architecture in New York City will host the launch of the International Traveling Exhibition, showcasing 150 of the entries that have been submitted to the competition. The event also aims to raise the balance of funds needed to construct the housing community and train locals.

     Dennis A. Andrejko, FAIA, a longtime professor of architecture at the University at Buffalo and AIA Vice President, has been appointed program chair of Rochester Institute of Technology's architecture program, starting July 1.

     RIT's master's curriculum focuses on the areas of sustainability, urbanism and integrated practice such as energy efficiency. The university launches a Master of Architecture this fall.

     "I'm honored to be selected to take a lead role at RIT in this ambitious undertaking-a relevant and important undertaking-because the future for us as humans is to live, work and play in a way that is more sustainable and harmonious with the environment," says Andrejko. "As designers, we all have to take a more active role in shaping that future."

     Andrejko has worked as a teacher and an administrator for more than 20 years at UB's School of Architecture and Planning. His research and teaching focus is on energy-conscious design and sustainability with a special focus in solar design.

     AIA Rochester worked with RIT to develop the master's program and will play an important role in the professional degree offering. The Master of Architecture program is a collaboration between RIT's Golisano Institute for Sustainability and RIT's College of Imaging Arts and Sciences. Applications to the program are still being accepted.

     Andrejko says that RIT has uniquely positioned itself among other architecture schools. "RIT is an institute of technology and this architecture programs fuses the technology side and the art side," adds Andrejko. "This cross-disciplinary blending combined with the thrust in sustainability is critical for not only the architecture profession, but also the discipline of architecture. It's the students who are the next generation of professionals to assume vital leadership roles in this sustainable direction."

     AIA has released AIA Document D503™-2011, Guide for Sustainable Projects, including Agreement Amendments and Supplementary Conditions ("Guide"). The Guide is free and was developed to assist users of AIA Contract Documents in understanding contractual considerations unique to sustainable design and construction projects.

     The Guide also provides model language that can be used to amend or supplement key AIA Contract Documents in the A201 Family for use in these types of projects. Developed by the AIA's Contract Documents Committee, with input from industry stakeholders, the Guide provides AIA Contract Documents users with a valuable tool for creating versions of AIA standard contract documents for sustainable projects.
     Download now at: http://info.aia.org/aia/sustainabilityguide.cfm.

     AIA recently launched a 2011 New Graduate recruitment campaign. This includes a New Graduate Home Web page: http://www.aia.org/about/memberservices/AIAS077102. Here is the "To Join" webpage: http://www.aia.org/join_categories/index.htm.

NYS Geospatial Summit to Be Held in Skaneateles June 16, 2011

     The NYS Geospatial Summit is an event designed to bring together national leaders to discuss the latest events and directions that are shaping the geospatial industry. It will be held on June 16, 2011 from 8 AM to 5 PM at the Welsh-Allyn Lodge in Skaneateles. Select individuals from around the country will speak in the morning and afternoon on cutting edge topics.  At the end of the session, a panel discussion allows attendees to engage each of the speakers to answer questions they may have or open discussions on new areas of interest.  There is also an evening reception on June 15, 2011 from 6:30 PM to 9:30 PM.

     This is an opportunity to step back and assess how geospatial technology in particular is advancing in support of research and business, and its impact on day to day life. The event is typically attended by decision makers and organizational leaders looking to better understand how to leverage this rapidly changing field in their respective disciplines and programs. Registration by June 1, 2011 is $85 for summit, $30 for reception. For more information, go to: www.nygeosummit.org

AIANYS PAC Events

     By donating to the NYS Architects Political Action Committee (NYSAPAC), you have helped to fund the opportunity for AIANYS to support the following event in May: Citizens for Senator Joseph Robach and Friends of Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver. Events in district included: Citizens for Senator William Larkin, Citizens to ReElect Senator Kenneth LaValle, People for Assemblymember William Magnarelli, Friends of Assemblymember Amy Paulin, Assemblymember Michelle Schimel, and Senator David Valesky.

Photo 1: (Pictured left to right): Marcus Marino, AIA, President, AIA Staten Island, Senator Andrew Lanza and David Businelli, AIA, President, AIANYS at a fundraiser for Senator Lanza in March.

Photo 2: (Pictured left to right): Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Marcus Marino, AIA, and David Businelli, AIA all attended the Lanza fundraiser.