July 2008

A Chapter of The American
Institute of Architects

AIA Central New York
109 South Warren Street Store 11
Syracuse, New York 13202
Ph 315-475-8563 fax 315-475-8563

aiacny@verizon.net

AIA CNY
www.aiacny.org

OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

HOURS FOR RESOURCE CENTER

8am-1p.m. Monday - Thursday

AIACNY Resource Center Director…
Wendy Odom
Email:  aiacny@verizon.net

NEWSLETTER STAFF

Editor.................Richard T.Lafferty
Coordinating Editor....NeelGarofano
Publisher..................Scott Soules
Electronic Newsletter .. Scott Soules

ARTICLE SUBMISSION DEADLINE IS THE 15TH OF EACH MONTH. If you would like to submit an article or announcement to the newsletter please send your information via email to: ncg@dalpos.com attn: Neel Garofano or call 422-0201. All information should be checked for spelling and grammar prior to submitting. 

WWW.AIACNY.ORG

AIA Documents

The Architecture Resource Center has discontinued AIA document sales as of May 1st of 2006.  The AIA Documents may be purchased from the Rochester chapter of the American Institute of Architects.  To obtain copies of AIA documents from the Rochester chapter please contact:
 
Linda Hewitt, Hon. AIA.
Phone: 585-232-7650
Fax: 585-262-2525
E-mail: aia@aiaroch.org
Website: www.aiaroch.org

• This month in The Leading Edge

• The Design Awards

• The Presidents Message

• A Voice in the Wilderness

• You Come A Long Way Arch!

• Codes Corner

• The Meeting Minutes

• Global Warming and the Architect

• Announcements

Featured Project

2007 Design Merit Award 

Onondoga Community College 
Gordon Student Center

Category: Institutional

Designed by  King & King Architects

The Gordon Student Center is located in the eastern portion of Onondaga Community College ’s (OCC) campus on one of the campus’ major pedestrian corridors. Philosophically, it is located at the institution’s heart, existing to serve the needs of the students.  

In order to better serve the students, the campus decided to reshape the way it provided student services by consolidating the majority of them into one building, and the existing Gordon Student Center was the clear choice. The new philosophy of student services was translated into a transformation of the existing building’s aesthetic. The existing structure was a dark, uninviting 1970’s building. The college wanted the new facility to speak to its student focus and quality of education, providing a positive gateway into OCC for prospective and new students, as well as the larger community.

This new focus is developed through the large semi-circular help desk and the adjacent great room addition that is immediately noticed when entering from the east entrance’s rotunda. The rotundas form the rest of the design’s primary elements, linked by a long “alumni gallery” that is informed by, as well as a subsidiary of, the pedestrian artery that it parallels. These rotundas also help to respond to the triangular projections on the Whitney building, which draw students in from the same pathway as well as provide much needed articulation to the long space of the pedestrian corridor.

The great room provides a dramatic focal point to an often nondescript campus, as well as one which can continually change according to the needs of the school and its students. A sign of its success in this capacity is that it is now known on campus as Student Central. It is situated on a hill overlooking the city of Syracuse and Onondaga Lake ; on a clear day the view extends all the way to the shores of Lake Ontario . A large curved glass wall frames this panorama with horizontal banding throughout the space emphasizing this gaze to the horizon. The curve of this surface is mirrored on the interior by a nautilus-shaped wall terminating in the help desk structure and perforated with public computer terminals. The extensive glazing provides a warm and bright space in the day and a glowing beacon to the surrounding community at night.

The support office space for the collective services provided in the building are found in the renovated, pre-existing portion of the building. They are open in plan and utilize raised access flooring and displacement ventilation, ensuring the flexibility to be reconfigured as the needs of the student services departments change.

Click Here for more Images

Jury's Comments: - - Detailing at the curved exterior wall with structure pulled away is simple and elegant.  The building responds to the axes of the pedestrian traffic of the campus making the student center an anchor on campus.  The locations of student gathering spaces are responsive to the site and neighboring views, addressing the view of the city beyond.  The project successfully tackles the renovation of a 1970’s building making it a product of its time.

The President's Message

Joseph Piraino, AIA

During this Independence Day festivities on the news and in my Time magazine our presidential candidates are talking about patriotism and what it means to be a good American. If you listen to both McCain and Obama they both agree that it takes more than just being a citizen, it is about getting involved and the willingness to serve and to make a difference. That could mean serving in the military or in the political arena or just to add your voice to support or even protest our government or to help other citizens in need and to stand up for the ideals of our country.

I started thinking about what it means to be a good Architect. Is it only about being a great designer? The great designers are certainly the ones that are published in the magazines and the architects we all remember. It really is a small percentage of architects that history will remember as great architects. But one of the ways we can be patriotic or devoted to the profession of architecture is to serve. There are many ways to serve your profession. An architect could volunteer to help your local community on planning and zoning boards, you could speak at school career days, you could be part of a disaster relief team, you could be a mentor to emerging professionals or you can get involved in your professional organization which is the A.I.A. So be a patriot and get involved.

On that note AIA national has started a campaign to increase membership from 50% of Architects to 70%. The new program is called The 2008 Local Component New Architect Member Incentive Program which rewards local components that maintain and recruits new architects above the components 2007 numbers. In 2007 our chapter had 158 members and 4 new members so we need to improve these numbers. If we maintain our 162 members and enroll more than 4 new members our chapter will receive $100 for each new member above 4. This is a great time to talk to those Architects in your office that are not members and ask them to get involved and to be patriot.

I will step off my soap box for a second to tell you about the AIA NYS Board Retreat that Julia Hafftka-Marshall our President Elect and my self went to. The Retreat was a two day event which was held a few weeks ago in Saratoga Springs . The retreat is held every two years and it brings together the state board as well as all the presidents, president-elects and or executive directors of the entire 13 local chapters through out the state to establish the states goals for the coming years. The retreat started on a Thursday morning listing what we felt was the primary objectives of AIA NYS and ended Friday with several clear SMART goals. Many times I have had members come up to me to say I understand what National does because I use the AIA documents and I know what the local chapter does because I get my CEU’s at the local level but what does the state do? I will answer that question and discuss what we did in Saratoga Springs in my next message when I can publish the full report from the retreat.

 I hope everyone enjoys their long weekend and have a very Happy and Patriotic 4^th of July!

Thank You,

Joseph Piraino, AIA

President, AIACNY

A VOICE IN THE WILDERNESS.....

by Dick Lafferty    

 TWO MAGNIFICENT THEATERS SURVIVE THE TEST OF TIME.

An award winner from Chicago and Liza Manelli both stated that Radio City Music Hall was awesome. While watching the Tony Awards, another theater came to mind. The Auditorium Theater by name of Louis Sullivan fame. The Chicago Auditorium Theatre was the forerunner, or in present day parlance, precedence for the Music Hall. These two buildings were built as live performing theaters not movie palaces.  

Sullivan’s masterpiece was completed in December 1889. Radio City Music Hall opened, I’d like to believe, in December 1932.  These enclosed theaters are modern day Greek and Roman amphitheaters. Their balconies form the tier seating of antiquity. Both are limited in use as are the ancient monuments. The reason is because of their capacity and their function. Radio City Music Hall seats 6,000 persons and The Auditorium Theatre seats 3,877. These are large gathering by any standard.  

Most of the landmark theaters were designed for motion pictures. Locally, the Stanley Theater in Utica has an addition to expand its stage house to be suitable for Broadway productions. Syracuse ’s Lowe’s (State) Landmark Theater is waiting for such a project. The silver screen design of the thirties provided not only limited back stage areas but limited dressing room facilities. Hollywood of the twenties has changed to Broadway, London and all the nationwide repertory theater guilds. Live performances are all the rage.  

The Auditorium Theater in Chicago has one additional feature that the old movie houses do not. Not just good acoustics but great natural acoustics. This was observed in a tour of the old house. Two stagehands were talking in less then normal tones and the visitor in the middle of the seating area could clearly hear every word. There is no need for the head microphone, speaker system or stereophonic sound in a house where a virtuoso’s voice can be clearly heard naturally. It is a wonderful experience to be in such a space.  

YOU CAME A LONG WAY ARCH!  
By Lafferty       

   click here for PDF image

CODES CORNER  

Robert C. Thompson, AIA Continuing Education Provider
Certified Professional Code Administrator, M.B.A.
rthomp2@twcny.rr.com  
315-446-7672 

   Contributing Writer

MAYOR BLOOMBERG SIGNS LEGISLATION ESTABLISHING A NEW FIRE CODE FOR THE CITY OF NEW YORK

Remarks by Mayor Bloomberg at a Public Hearing on Local Law Regarding First Comprehensive Revision of Fire Code Since its Adoption in 1913

"The first of four bills before me today is Introductory Number 732-A, sponsored at the request of my Administration by Council Members Martinez, Stewart, Dickens, Weprin, Sears and Mealy. Introductory Number 732-A establishes a new Fire Code for the City of New York , the first comprehensive revision since the City's Fire Code was adopted in 1913.  The Fire Code, enforced by the Fire Department , governs emergency preparedness and planning and more specifically the permit and inspection process for the use of building safety systems such as sprinklers, fire detectors and extinguishers.

"In 2004, the Fire Department established the Fire Code Revision Committee, comprised of technical experts within the Fire Department, senior representatives of the Buildings and City Planning Departments, elected officials, engineering and architectural professionals, real estate developers, building managers, manufacturers and labor officials.  This Committee worked tirelessly for four years to build consensus around a series of reforms.  Introductory Number 732-A is a product of these efforts. 

"Enactment of a new Fire Code will promote and enhance fire safety throughout the City by adopting more modern and comprehensive fire safety regulations.  The new Code is based on an International Model Code that has been adopted in hundreds of jurisdictions around the country.  The new Fire Code is also more transparent - a result of its improved organization, adoption of national standards, and extensive cross-referencing with the new Building Code and other construction codes.  This transparency will promote Code compliance and economic development in the City by making it easier for design professionals and affected property owners, businesses and other members of the public to understand their obligations under the law.

"Introductory Number 732-A improves public and emergency responder safety by establishing new permit requirements, requiring more detailed fire and safety evacuation plans, requiring a fire safety program and manager on construction sites, clarifying the existing requirement that fire safety systems in temporarily unoccupied buildings be maintained, providing for rooftop access and elimination of rooftop obstructions, and regulating toxic and other hazardous materials.  Finally the Code requires review every three years to ensure that it is continuously updated to reflect technological advancements and improved experience. 

"The new Fire Code will ensure the safety of the people that live, work, operate, and visit all of the buildings throughout New York City as well as those that are called to protect them in the event of an emergency. 

"I would like to thank Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta and his staff, the Fire Code Revision Committee and Massiel Garcia from my Office of Legislative Affairs for all of their hard work in undertaking this important task.  I would also like to thank the Council for approving this legislation."

MEETING MINUTES OF THE AIACNY CHAPTER BOARD MEETING:  May 8, 2008 

Opening of the Meeting:  This meeting of the Board of Directors of the American Institute of Architects Central New York Chapter was held Thursday, May 8, 2008 at the AIACNY Resource Center .  Joseph Piraino, AIA called the meeting to order at 12:15pm.

Click Here for Minutes

GLOBAL WARMING AND THE ARCHITECT  

Our series theme – “Architects can make a difference in the battle against Global Warming by the reduction of our buildings’ energy use and consumption.” This is our ninth in the series.

David Ashleys’ article in May gave everyone a metaphorical kick in the behind and we all needed it to help us get our minds around this overwhelming subject. I want to add to that jolt in a different way. I am going to use an old writers’ tool of a devils’ advocate and create for today’s article “John Doe Architect” or as the case may be “Jane Doe Architect.”   

Dave Ashley, AIA, LEED AP

THE NEW CNY CHAPTER WEB SITE

We are please to announce that the Central New York Chapter has posted a new web site at www.aiacny.org.  

In an effort to better serve and inform our membership, we have included information about the Chapter, the Officers and Committees, and contacts for Membership, Committee interests and new Chapter events.  

Many related links are also provided included the National and New York State AIA organizations, links to “Green or Sustainable” organizations and information, and links to Architectural education in the area and licensing.  

This newsletter will also be posted monthly on the website, and is accessible by clicking the “Newsletter” box on at the bottom of the page. We hope this website will provide another way of informing, serving and involving all those interested in the broad and important role of Architecture and Design in our world today.  

Please give it a try.  

Bob Haley

AIA New York Chapter Newsletter

The link to the AIA New York Chapter’s newsletter is: http://www.aiany.org/eOCULUS/newsletter/.

eOculus is issued through email every two weeks.

You may also search the archived issues of eOculus at: http://www.aiany.org/eOCULUS/pastissues.php

AIA New York Chapter’s public calendar is also a great place to promote both this Chapter’s events and other outside events: http://www.aiany.org/calendar/index.php

You may also self-list a program by submitting a form online at: http://www.aiany.org/calendar/submit.php.