AIACNY

To provide patients and visitors with a warm, welcoming, and comfortable environment as they enter the hospital. Create a positive first impression and portray the hospital’s brand, high quality standards and commitment to the community. Incorporate functionality, safety, durability and ease of maintenance along with aesthetics for the public and staff.

Provide a multi-purpose room flexible enough to accommodate conferences, board meetings and public events.

Consolidate registration and admitting functions and improve visual connection from main lobby.

Renovate existing lobby area to accommodate daily visitor traffic, provide ample seating, a central control desk, a multi purpose room as well as areas for respite and recognition.

Provide a design solution that funnels public to central information/security station.

Specify finishes that address the health, safety and welfare of the public as well as durability and ease of maintenance.

A 2,440 square foot renovation to the existing lobby included a two-story expansion to the main façade of the building providing a prominent main entrance for patients and visitors of the hospital. The lobby was designed to act as a central hub for entry and exit into the facility. The information desk serves as a central location for welcoming patients as well as a control center. The main design element for the lobby centers on a ripple motif. It establishes the entry/lobby as the central point of access to all other destinations in the hospital. This motif is carried through a number of design elements including the floor pattern, the curved glass curtain wall and donor wall, as well as the water feature. These elements together with the new signage system, seating layout and open floor plan easily help direct visitors towards the main destination areas.

Visitors entering through the main entry doors are greeted with a circular water feature and the control desk. Fiber optic lighting recessed at the top of the water feature creates an active display and provides a perfect area for highlighting seven key words from the hospitals mission statement. The open floor plan in the main waiting area provides direct visibility for primary destinations including admitting, the main hospital directory and visitor elevators. Off of the waiting area, an upscale entry door leads into a large, state-of-the-art conference room. Recessed alcoves with translucent countertops provide ample surface area for serving refreshments or display during events. The double-sided water feature acts as a dynamic backdrop for presentations and visually connects the conference room to the lobby using textured; diffuse glass panels, bringing in natural light while maintaining acoustical privacy.

Visitors parked in the adjacent parking garage conveniently enter the upper level of the hospital lobby via a covered pedestrian sky bridge and proceed through the gallery to the information desk. The glass curtain wall floods the two-story space with natural light and provides a connection to the exterior. Seating clusters along the curtain wall provide quite areas for respite and relaxation. The gallery also contains a feature wall dedicated to showcasing and recognizing major donors. A standard for donor signage was implemented to provide consistency and an upscale image. Way finding signage standards were also designed to complement interior finishes while complying with codes and way finding best practices. Warm colors, wood tones and interesting visual elements present a hotel-like atmosphere and help reduce stress levels for visitors. Finishes and furnishings were selected for their durability and ease of maintenance as well as addressing the health, safety and welfare of the public.

PROJECT PROGRAM: The $4.7 million, 15,160 square feet facility houses the community’s all volunteer fire department, auxiliary and “24/7” dispatch center. The facility was designed to maximize operational efficiency for the firefighters while complementing and contributing to the historic village character. The highly prominent corner site requires the civic structure to function as a gateway for visitors from both the west and the south. Winning over public support was essential to pass the bonding referendum in an atmosphere of strong local sentiment favoring traditional historic character and a history of voting prior proposals down. 18 years, 17 sites, 3 bond votes and a unique partnering between a town and a village later, the facility has quickly become beloved by the residents of the upscale, lakeside, quaint, resort community.

DESIGN INTENT: The challenge was to design an efficient and functional civic facility for essential public safety operations in an historic residential neighborhood on a highly visible and limited size corner site; the design needed to:

The President's Message

Although it has rained and the sky has opened up with the most wonderful displays of lighting and thunder enough to frighten most I still have managed to enjoy the rare days of sunshine in the beautiful hills of the Berkshires. I hope all of you are enjoying the days of summer too, but AIA National doesn’t stop working just because its summer. AIA National is working hard to develop a strategic plan for our future.

The AIA National board convened in July to discuss the first draft of a Strategic Plan for 2010-2015. The vision, mission, goals and strategies of the plan identified can be viewed in a power-point presentation which is entitled AIA Strategic Plan for 2010–2015 on the AIA website. The link is: www.aia.org/practicing/AIAB080693. This year, the strategic planning process is seeking feedback from the constituents on the draft goals and strategies.

The main goals as stated in the Strategic Plan:

“Increase member value
Serve as the credible voice
Be the Authoritative Source
Be a High Performing Organization”

The Strategic Plan 2010-1015 also identified 4 strategies to achieve the institutes stated goals. These strategies are identified as follows:

Advocacy
Community
Knowledge
One AIA

This is a preliminary first step and there will be an opportunity for you to discuss and provide feedback, so please visit the AIA website to read more. I encourage you to participate when the leadership creates opportunities to “listen” via conference calls or via a webinar regarding the Strategic Plan 2010-2015. Stay tuned.

SWINGING ON A STAR

“Would you like to swing on a star, carry moon beams home in a jar and be better off than you are.”

A new song, LEED us down the road to the fork!

Ye take the high road (Sustainable).

I’ll take the low road (Zero Energy).

I’ll get to Platinum before Ye!”

A plaintiff melody of the architect!

In the 1970’s and 80’s life cycle costing, value engineering and systems buildings were the buzz phrases. We now hear buzz phrases as LEED point systems, Zero Energy buildings, sustainable green buildings and building information modeling. The new integrated building systems with all their baggage shall be with us until 2030 according to AIA, ASHRAE and others.

Life cycle costing was from earth to back to earth material evaluation process like the green movement but, much less suffocated. Value engineering was as it implies a method and material evaluation of a project after construction documents but before project bidding. System buildings were system based modular units and systems that intermeshed to provide a coordinated, economical finished building.

There are many reasons why the solutions of the 70’s did not take hold. Life cycle costing fell on hard ground. The bottom line cost of a project was more important then what material went in to it. Value engineering fell in with weeds and was choked out. The concept of spending a week by the team (contractors, architects, engineers, and clients) in intently studying a finished product and the potential criticism to follow was too much to swallow by any design professional. The systems concept fell on wetland and sunk by its own weight. In New York the Wicks Law scuttled it. Other reasons were the modular concept and the preparatory systems used. The 4” module was not flexible enough and the 5 foot module became very limiting. Cubicals were in vogue and a 4 foot by 8 foot was too small and a 5 foot by 10 foot was too big. A five feet corridor was too wide and a 4 feet corridor did not fit in the concept to suit a growing white collar work force. The lack of competition and the inability to mix and match systems became frustrating to designers and building owners. Ten years down the road replacement parts only came from one source. What appeared to be flexible became static. By the 1990’s what look like a fertile evolution solution for quality, economics and function withered and died or became dormant.

A new century and along came LEED, Zero Energy, sustainable, green and building information modeling. This summer is one in which you cannot dodge raindrops and you cannot dodge the flood of information provided by AIA, ASHREA and all government agencies. These are the same group who were active in the 70’s. Will they provide the solutions or are they tilting at windmills. Or should I say tilting at solar panels on a rainy day. There is a movement to reconcile green, sustainable and zero energy in to the Family of Codes. Do you remember the formation of the Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code in the 80’s? It was a process of shuffling the One and Two Family Code, Multiple Dwelling Code, Building Code and Plumbing Code together like a deck of cards and the result was a bad deal.

If history repeats its self, ASHREA shall over power AIA, sustainable shall be overcome by greed, BIM shall be superseded by new technology, LEED shall be a blended code administered by inept bureaucrats and by 2030 the ice cap will be still melting and the water will be rising. Platinum shall be 110. On a rainy day in Syracuse , a architect shall be dodging raindrops and asking, “Why me God?”.

Here’s what’s coming in the new Energy Bill that’s going through congress right now. …a new energy/ sustainability code that’s supposedly 30% stricter than the current code. But it won’t hit the streets until 2010 or after. Interestingly enough, this initiative is through AIA, and ASHRAE is noticeably absent. ASHRAE is working on a competing code ASHRAE 189. WHEN are these folks going to start working together and stop giving us multiple and conflicting codes?

For Immediate Release Contact: Steve Daggers
June 29, 2009 1-888-ICC-SAFE (422-7233), ext. 4212
www.iccsafe.org (708) 351-8880 (cell)

Green Construction Code Expected to Increase Energy Efficiency, Reduce Carbon Footprint for Commercial Buildings

The International Code Council, American Institute of Architects and ASTM-International

The International Code Council launched its International Green Construction Code (IGCC) initiative today, which will reduce energy usage and the carbon footprint of commercial buildings. Entitled “IGCC: Safe and Sustainable By the Book,” the initiative is committed to develop a model code focused on new and existing commercial buildings. It will focus on building design and performance. Buildings consume approximately 40 percent of energy used and produce about the same amount of the nation’s carbon emissions.

The Code Council included a number of key organizations during its announcement, including noting special roles for the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and ASTM as cooperating sponsors for this important project. “We believe the time has come for us to develop a code that will stand as a useful and credible regulatory framework for creating a greener commercial building stock,” said Code Council Chief Executive Officer Richard P. Weiland. “We applaud and plan to utilize the good work of those who have developed systems, guidelines and standards to address green buildings.”

Weiland acknowledged the presence of many organizations that have developed “green tools” impacting the built environment and welcomed their support and assistance in crafting the new initiative. After recognizing the historic role of Code Council members in the development codes such as the International Energy Conservation Code and the rapid evolution of new systems and guidelines to address green technology, Weiland said it was time to move into a “new era of codes that specifically focus on green buildings and high performance. We are now at a place in the evolution of the sustainability movement that requires the specificity, the reliability, and the
enforceability that only a code can bring.”

Code Council Board President Adolf Zubia outlined the Code Council’s development timeline, which will include public meetings of the Sustainable Building Technology Committee (SBTC), a public comment period on the Committee’s initial draft, and a final draft that will be made available in 2010 as a resource document before it moves through the development hearing and final action hearing stages. The Code Council Board established the SBTC last year and finalized the Committee’s membership earlier this month.

The AIA and ASTM will have visible participation in the development process. Weiland referenced the compatibility of the AIA 2030 carbon neutrality goals with the green code initiative, and emphasized the importance of design, architects and architecture in creating a useful tool for AIA members as well as the Code Council membership. The cooperation of the ASTM “signals the collaboration behind this project and the science that will drive it,” Weiland said. “Their cooperation with us will ensure we pursue a development process that is based on recognized and verifiable approaches to standards.”

AIA Executive Vice President/CEO Christine McEntee and ASTM President James A. Thomas also made remarks at the launch event. “The AIA commends the leadership of ICC and is delighted to join with them and other stakeholders in working collaboratively toward the goal of a model green construction code,” said AIA Executive Vice President/CEO, Christine McEntee. “It is important for the private sector to be proactive and take a leadership position in the development of building codes and standards and this initiative makes a strong statement regarding the usefulness and necessity of the International Green Construction Code in fulfilling that goal. As the team leader in determining the performance of buildings, architects welcome the prospect of a reliable and quantifiable tool that will be a valuable resource in helping advance our steadfast commitment to achieving carbon neutrality by 2030.”

“ASTM International welcomes the opportunity to work hand in hand with the ICC, AIA and other stakeholders in the development of a new international code to improve the efficiency and sustainability attributes of buildings,” stated ASTM International President James A. Thomas. “Over 450 ASTM building and construction related standards are referenced by existing international codes and our members continue to develop innovative standards that will play an important role in meeting the objectives of this new green code initiative.”

Other attendees at the event included stakeholders from building safety and green organizations, government organizations and public interest groups. The first public meetings of the SBTC are scheduled for 8 a.m.–5 p.m. on July 28-29, and 8 a.m.–2 p.m. July 30, at the Wyndham O’Hare Hotel in Rosemont ( Ill. suburban Chicago). The meetings of the SBTC are open meetings with meeting dates posted on the Code Council website.

To visit the IGCC web page, go to www.iccsafe.org/IGCC. For more information on supporting publications and services for green activities, please review the Code Council’s green pages at www.iccsafe.org/green.

The International Code Council, a membership association dedicated to building safety, fire prevention and energy efficiency, develops the codes used to construct residential and commercial buildings, including homes and schools. Most

U.S.

cities, counties and states choose the International Codes, building safety codes developed by the International Code Council.

For over 150 years, members of the American Institute of Architects have worked with each other and their communities to create more valuable, healthy, secure, and sustainable buildings and cityscapes. By using sustainable design practices, materials, and techniques, AIA architects are uniquely poised to provide the leadership and guidance needed to provide solutions to address climate change. AIA architects walk the walk on sustainable design. Visit www.aia.org/walkthewalk.

Established in 1898, ASTM International is one of the largest international standards development and delivery systems in the world. ASTM International meets the World Trade Organization (WTO) principles for the development of international standards: coherence, consensus, development dimension, effectiveness, impartiality, openness, relevance and transparency. ASTM standards are accepted and used in research and development, product testing, quality systems and commercial transactions around the globe. For more information, please visit www.astm.org.

You may have missed the recent IDP Sign Up Day hosted by the AIA to help prepare interns for the implementation of the 6 Month Rule on July 1, 2009 or you may just be beginning on your path to becoming licensed. Either way, we offer these resources to aid you in the process

Opening of the Meeting: This meeting of the Board of Directors of the American Institute of Architects Central New York Chapter was held Thursday, June 11, 2009 at the AIACNY Resource Center . Pete Sorber, AIA called the meeting to order.

MID-ATLANTIC PRECAST ASSOCIATION NAMES JUDGES FOR DESIGN 09

( Hockessin , DE ) The Mid-Atlantic Precast Association (MAPA) has named a panel of judges for Design 09, its new awards competition. The industry group established Design 09 to showcase innovative and effective use of precast concrete in the mid-Atlantic region.

Design 09 includes two separate competitions: one for professional architects and one for students. Nominated projects must make significant use of precast concrete, must have been completed or conceived within the past five years and must be located in one of the states served by MAPA.

Anyone may nominate a project and there is no cost to make a nomination, but all nominations must be received by Friday, September 4, 2009. To learn more details, review a complete list of categories, or use the simple online nomination process, visit www.mapaprecast.org.

The Utica Rome Green Expo is part of our multi - year Green Local 175 program, which is an educational and economic development campaign to make our region's green economy come alive and thrive. The first URGE took place during September 2008. We rented a large arena and had 26 exhibitors and 42 speakers ( in 3 concurrent multi-media rooms ), over an entire weekend at our event. Thanks to our network of businesses, organizations, and individuals collaborating for the benefit of our region ; this unique and much needed event was achieved without any taxpayer money. Plans are already underway for the second URGE to take place in the fall of 2009.

Lake Architectural of 24 Maple Street in Marcellus is proud to announce that their architectural and designer teams have recently updated to Autodesk Revit 2010 and completed the training classes. These training classes will keep them at the top of their league with streamline designing and drafting. Lake embraces new technology while offering efficient and sustainable design solutions, and have been using Autodesk Revit products exclusively since 2004. For more information on Lake Architectural, please visit our website at www.lakearchitectural.com.

Lake Architectural located at 24 Maple Street in Marcellus is pleased to announce that Diane Tracy has been promoted to Office Manager. Diane joined the Lake Architectural team last August as an administrative assistant. Diane is a graduate of SUNY Cortland where she received a BA in Speech Communications with a minor in Journalism. She resides in Sennett with her daughter Kristen.

Members of The AIACNY Chapter of Central New York
now have access to WI-FI at The Resource Center
Monday-Friday- 8am- 12noon.

All AIA Members have access to all ARE Study Materials, There is no fee to use the ARE Study Material, but a Deposit (Check) will be required, which will vary.

The check for deposit is given to Wendy Odom at Resource Center on the date you want to borrow the material. You will receive your check for deposit on the return of the material to The Resource Center .

Minimum (5) years experience on commercial projects, with excellent CAD skills. Projects include commercial retail, office, mixed-use, and restaurants. Position entails all aspects of architecture, from schematic design through construction administration. Excellent opportunity for career advancement within design department of a National Design/Build Firm. Competitive salary, benefits. Please send resume to Director of Design.

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