March 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

• 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 

An Architectural Office

Category: Commercial

Designed by  Lake Architectural

The project is located on the foundations of a Civil War era wool mill accessory building in Marcellus , New York . It houses the standard architectural office programming, but does so inside of a 27’ by 27’ footprint. The first floor contains the reception area, administrative offices, kitchenette, conference room, mailing area, server room, utility room and restroom. The second floor, more commonly referred to as the design loft, accommodates nine design work stations, pin-up area with seating, and plotting area.  

The design focuses around the central curved stair constructed of wood reclaimed from the beams of the wool mill. In plan, this circle in the square dictates most of the programming, pushing it to the perimeter. The strategies of solid/closed spaces vs. void/open spaces delineate the programming, breaking it down into public and private. The public spaces – reception and conference areas – are open, appearing in plan as voids. This area is minimalist with respect to furnishings.  This diagonal void slices through the building allowing the occupants to visibly experience the depth of the building, making the collective whole larger than the reality of the individual spaces. The private spaces – administrative office, kitchenette, mailing area, restroom– are enclosed, appearing in plan as solids. These areas mimic the design nature of a ship, maximizing storage from floor to ceiling. The central core – the curved stair – cuts vertically through the building allowing the visitors to sense the height of the building as a whole, making the first floor seem higher than its mere 8’. On the second floor, the central core pushes the work areas to the perimeter where a continuous counter becomes the workstation for everyone, each at a window.  Several considerations are reflected in the design including the need to maximize the program in a minimal space, simplicity of detail, and sustainability.  The project is in the process of being LEED Certified silver, accomplished via geothermal, reuse of the original foundation, materials like brick and stone, healthy finishes, and energy efficient fixtures.  The design utilizes the latest green materials on the market including bamboo, recycled tile, Paperstone (recycled paper composite surface), Kirei (pressed sorghum board), low VOC paints, and high recycled content gypsum.  

Click Here for more Images

Jury's Comments: A complex program is peacefully nestled into a small box.  The design solution of a central core wrapped with office spaces and a generous amount of natural light is simple and elegant.  The interior and exterior complement each other.  The decisions to reuse the existing foundation and meet LEED certification are commendable.   Lastly, the drawings used in the submission were thorough in describing all aspects of the design solution.

The President's Message

Joseph Piraino, AIA

Well it is that time of year when the president’s message discusses the AIA Grassroots Leadership and Legislative Conference in Washington DC . Robert Johnson Ed Olley and I all went down for the three day conference. Grassroots is the one time the AIA leadership gets together to discuss how to make our chapter better for our members.

This year’s theme was “Walk the Walk - Architects Leading the Sustainable Evolution” and the conference was much greener then in the past. We still received a program but it was printed on recycled paper and there was much less paper than a typical conference all power point presentation are available on line instead of printing them out as hand outs. Also the AIA created Soloso to bring the most current architecture information directly to your desktop, including research, knowledge, community resources, e-journals, award-winning projects, image banks, third-party site links and more. Soloso is a great resource so please visit it today at aia.org.

The days at the convention are spent in seminars discussing such topic as “What makes a Good Leader” or the “12 Steps to a Better Board”. There are many inspirational Keynote speakers and awards presentations to components that have developed special programs or event. We typically visit our Senator and Congressmen on capital hill on Thursday to discuss our lobbying issues but this year was a little different since congress was not in session that week. The national leadership would like us to visit our congressmen in their local offices in March. I think it was just a scheduling blunder but this will force us to actually have a local lobby day which is something we have wanted to do for a long time.

Friday started with a breakfast with our AIA National regional directors to discuss the 2008 strategic plan which we all discussed and criticized. I have included the plan or should I say outline for your review. Grassroots is for your chapter leaders to learn how to be better leaders. It is an exciting conference, one that you can not help but to become inspired, motivated and proud to be an Architect.

This was my second Grassroots and both years I was struck by the common issues we all face. It seems all of the components of similar sizes all have the same issues of declining membership lack of volunteers and limited participation of it members. It is good to see what other chapters around the country are doing. Our board of directors will be discussing the new ideas and programs that were discussed at Grassroots to see what we can do this year. It truly is an exciting time to be an Architect.

I would be remiss if I did not say to everyone that we are always looking for volunteers. We recently found out that all the time spent volunteering for AIA as a Board or Committee member is time our emerging professionals can use towards the 80 hours required by IDP for “Professional and Community Service”, so if you need hours in that category please call anyone on the board and volunteer.

Thank You,

Joseph Piraino,

President, AIACNY

Click Here for PDF

A VOICE IN THE WILDERNESS.....

by Dick Lafferty    

The Towers of BABEL
(or How high the Moon?)

It all started when my Eye Doctor asked, “Are you doing any exciting projects?”. Before I could answer’ he tells me about a friend who graduated from Cornel in architecture and about his impressive work in New York City . He had designed the tallest building in Tokyo . He is designing a tall building in Dubai . Why is it that young doctors only want to talk and not listen? How would a Central New York architect answer the question?  

The first brochure to cross my desk was the 2007 AIA New York State Design Awards. Well Central New York was represented by a warehouse conversion, a historic preservation of a campus building and a Unified Science Center on another campus. Two out of the three prime design architects were out of NYC while the other was out of Albany . Much of the awards were in exotic places like Rome Italy , Shanghai China , Sao Paulo Brazil , Taipei Taiwan , Limoges France , Wageningen Netherlands , Laguna Jose Ignacio Uruguay , Riyadh Saudi Arabia, Keelug Taiwan , Mare La Vallee France and Location Withheld At Clients Request. I nodded in agreement with the Doctors statement, “ Tokyo and Dubai is were the money is today.  

Money brings tall buildings. Dubai is an example. A recent, “60 Minutes” program featured how Dubai is expanding. It is reclaiming land as the Dutch did but in an unfriendly method. They dredged the sea to create more shore property by creating islands. Summer (or winter) homes fill the new ocean communities. Snowbirds are snapping the houses for over a million dollars each. This boom has helped Dubai to build commercial centers. They have joined the race of tall buildings. It is difficult to imagine a 3900 feet building without snow on top. The lands of ziggurats shall venture to the sky as they did as good book records. The potential results won’t be confused language but the disaster could take many forms. In code vernacular flooding (isonomy), fire (sprinklers?), earthquake (seismic) and wind (all forms of missiles) could occur and these are only the natural causes of disaster.  

Central New York has enough shore frontage with all its lakes. All its tall buildings have snow on top of them. It shall never have a great infusion of money to spur growth. Its’ established cities having old buildings and a tired infrastructure can only offer security, not great adventures. Here come the codes. Now New York State codes allow unlimited height and unlimited area for buildings of construction Type 1A only. There are very few “fire proof” (as they were called in the 30’s) buildings existing in center city. Ah, there’s the rub.

What are the common construction types in center city? There are few pure bread construction types built in the early 1900’s. Steel frame became economical in the roaring 20’s. So the typical building stock of center city is commonly classified as Construction type IIIB. The basic Building Code of New York State (referred to here after as BCNYS) allows a basic height of 55’. This is not a tall building. In fact the basic Construction Type IB only allow 160’ in height and eleven stories. If you follow the code logic, 12.5’ is a story height and 11 x 12.5 = 137.5’. Who said codes were consistent or logical? We all know there are office buildings and there are apartment buildings. The basic code allows a business occupancy BCNYS class B, may be 4 (50’) stories in height and allows 4,750sf per floor. Compare Al Burj tower ( Dubai ) assumed stories of 312 +/- and floor area of 16,974sf per floor. The center city buildings are tiny. Tiny buildings become more complex when they become mixed occupancies.  

Tiny existing buildings are governed by the Existing Building Code of New York State (referred to here after as EBCNYS). The EBCNYS sets criteria for occupancies by tables for a maximum foot print of 3,500sf. This are may be stacked up 3 stories with out sprinkler protection. The table state permitted occupancy B, S2 or M. It does not say you can mix and match. A second table deals with R2 or R3 with the same criteria for no sprinklers and adds 4 dwelling unit per floor. Adding sprinklers gives little change to a 3 story building but it would allow a 4 and 5 story building to exist. Therefore 17,500sf 5 story building with 3,500sf per floor or 4 living unit may receive a C of O. One could say small minds solve tiny problems. Obvious templates will not solve existing conditions or improve the built environment.  

There was a tall building recently published that was designed by a noted firm that had only 1 stair. I wonder what code it met? As the code volumes increase, our knowledge increases but the truism “The more you learn the less you know”, becomes more evident. How does the green movement fit into our codes? Are we to face the problem of California that hundred year old trees that shade newly installed solar panels must be cut down. The long and the short (Tall or tiny) of this article is the advice to the person going into a building with one stair, look be for entering, for the last step you take maybe a long one.

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

 Effective Tuesday, February 19, 2008, the Division of Code Enforcement and Administration will be at its new location at:

One Commerce Plaza, 99 Washington Ave., Suite 1160, Albany, NY 12231.

All phone numbers will remain the same.

From February 15, 2008 through February 18, 2008 the Codes Division will be moving to its new location. During this transition period, the phone and fax phone numbers will remain the same.  DOS anticipates being fully operational at the new location by the 19^th of February.  Many of you may recall that this location is often referred to as the twin towers and was the Division’s previous location.

DRIVING DIRECTIONS:

FROM THE SOUTH: Take the NYS Thruway (I-87) North to exit 23. Proceed straight onto I-787 North to the Empire State Plaza exit (#3). Follow the exit ramp under the Empire State Plaza and turn right onto South Swan Street. Follow South Swan Street to the second traffic light, and then turn left onto Washington Avenue. One Commerce Plaza is on the right hand corner. Go straight, approximately 25 ft., and turn right into the parking garage.

FROM THE NORTH: Take the Adirondack Northway (I-87) South to exit 2, (I-90 East) to the I-787 South exit. Follow I-787 to the Empire State Plaza exit. Follow the exit under the Empire State Plaza and turn right onto South Swan Street. Take South Swan Street to the second traffic light, and then turn left onto Washington Avenue. One Commerce Plaza is on the right hand corner. Go straight, approximately 25 ft., and turn right into the parking garage.

FROM THE WEST: Take the NYS Thruway (I-90) East to exit 23. Proceed straight onto I-787 North to the Empire State Plaza exit. Follow exit under the Empire State Plaza and turn right onto South Swan Street. Follow South Swan Street to the second traffic light, and then turn left onto Washington Avenue. One Commerce Plaza is on the right hand corner. Go straight, approximately 25 ft., and turn right into the parking garage.

FROM THE EAST: Take I-90 East to I-787 South. Proceed on I-787 to the South Empire State Plaza exit. Follow exit under the Empire State Plaza and turn right onto South Swan Street. Follow South Swan Street to the second traffic light, and then turn left onto Washington Avenue. One Commerce Plaza is on the right hand corner. Go straight, approximately 25 ft., and turn right into the parking garage.

FROM ALBANY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT: Leave Airport parking area and take a left onto Albany-Shaker Road. Follow Albany-Shaker Road to the second traffic light. Turn right onto I-87 (Northway) South to Exit 1E (I-90 East). Take I-90 East to 787 South to the Empire State Plaza exit. Follow the exit under the Empire State Plaza and turn right onto South Swan Street. Follow South Swan Street to the second traffic light, and then turn left onto Washington Avenue. One Commerce Plaza is on the right hand corner. Go straight, approximately 25 ft., and turn right into the parking garage.

VISITOR PARKING INFORMATION:

Paid Visitor Parking is available in the OGS Managed Lot located on Elk Street behind One Commerce Plaza. Paid visitor parking is also available inside One Commerce Plaza on a limited basis.

Should you have any questions as to who to call for what specific expertise, call me at 315-446-7672, Robert C. Thompson, R.A.; Senior Building Construction Engineer—Code Development Unit.

MEETING MINUTES OF THE AIACNY CHAPTER BOARD MEETING:  January 10, 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, January 10, 2008 at the AIACNY Resource Center .  Joseph Piraino, AIA called the meeting to order.

Click Here for Minutes

GLOBAL WARMING AND THE ARCHITECT

By David C. Ashley, AIA, LEED AP Ashley McGraw Architects PC, ashley@ashleymcgraw.com

IT’S THE ARCHITECTS, STUPID, NOT THE SUVs!

 That’s the title of a PowerPoint that architect Edward Mazria has given and it relates to our (architects and engineers) responsibilities as architects in the causes of Global Warming. He has evidence that buildings use 48% of our total energy when you include construction and embedded energy. Some of you may have copies of Mazria’s book, Passive Solar Energy Book on your book shelf like I do. It was first published in 1979 and Mazria has been working tirelessly ever since promoting and education on the strategies and need to conserve energy and use renewable energy like the sun and daylighting.  

Mazria got AIA to take notice last year and AIA issued a policy statement which we should all be aware of as follows:  

http://www.aia.org/SiteObjects/files/sustain_ps.pdf  

And AIA wants us to all sign up for the 2030 Challenge..  

http://www.aia.org/SiteObjects/files/sustain_factsheet.pdf  

Please open these two web sites and print out material for your office if you have not done so already.  

Also, if you like horror movies, please view Mazria’s webcast from earlier this month.  

http://www.architecture2030.org/media/faceit_webcast_mt.html  

It’s time for us all to get going and undo some of the damage that we have done even if inadvertent.

Dave Ashley

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Cook Earns New York and Virginia Professional Engineer Certification and DeTomaso Joins Beardsley Design Associates

 
Allen Cook, PE

  Auburn , N.Y. - Beardsley Design Associates Architecture, Engineering & Landscape Architecture, P.C., is pleased to announce that Allen J. Cook, PE has earned his professional engineer license in the states of New York and Virginia .  Mr. Cook is also licensed in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Beth DeTomaso

Auburn , NY – Beardsley Design Associates, Architecture, Engineering & Landscape Architecture, P.C., is pleased to announce Beth DeTomaso has joined the firm as Receptionist.

For over 108 years, Beardsley Design Associates has provided comprehensive architectural and engineering design services, from concept to occupancy, for educational, government, medical, industrial, and commercial facilities. The staff consists of 98 professionals, with offices in Auburn , Syracuse , and Malone , New York .  For additional information on the firm’s services please visit the company’s website at www.beardsley.com.

Ashley McGraw Architects Adds Staff

Ashley McGraw Architects is pleased to announce the following new hires:

 
Shawn Clarke

Shawn Clarke , Billing and Procurement Manager. A graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University , Shawn brings a Bachelor of Science in Business with a Major in Finance. He is also an instructor and Staff Sargeant with the US Army Reserves.

Ramon Moll  

Ramon Moll, LEED AP, as Architectural Designer. Ramon has over 15 years’ experience as a project architect and worked at the Turning Stone Resort and Casino before joining Ashley McGraw.

Jason Coe

Jason Coe as Architectural Designer/Revit & CADD Manager. A graduate of Syracuse University , Jason has worked with several school districts in the Central NY area. 

Michael James

Change of Date for Architects In Albany Lobby  Day

Due to a change in the Legislative Calendar, Architects In Albany Lobby Day will be April 15^th. (The original date was April 29^th.)  We will be providing additional information to you and the general membership but we wanted you to be aware of this change as soon as it was confirmed. 

Thank you.     

Georgi Ann Bailey
Director of Programs
AIA New York State, Inc
52 South Pearl Street
Albany , New York 12207
518-449-3334
Fax: 518-426-8176

Thursday, March 27 and Friday, March 28 

Click Here for more Details and Registration

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.