AIACNY

Keuka College Ball Hall Renovation
Keuka Park, New York

Category: Historic Preservation

Ball Hall, the original campus building for Keuka College, was designed by Buffalo Architect Cyrus K. Porter, constructed by Corning contractor H.O. Dorman & completed in 1890. Keuka College was the brainchild of Dr. George Harvey Ball, who had a vision to provide an expanded education for the children of the local rural community. While the college & campus have expanded over the years, Ball Hall has always remained the focal point of campus life and the Ball Jar Company’s charitable foundation (another of George Harvey Ball’s legacies) was central to the College’s ability to fund the renovations.

Ball Hall serves as both a dormitory & administrative space; it needs to be functional for a variety of occupants twenty four hours a day. A series of renovations have occurred throughout its lifespan to attempt to accommodate these functional requirements, but often at the expense of the historic character.

Construction began in 2006 & has been completed in 2008; the building was occupied throughout the renovation. Specifically the work involved:

- Redesign of both the street and lakeside entrances and façade treatments to reclaim the building’s original integrity

- Addition of gabled roofs over both exit stair towers to better compliment the original building

- Complete reconfiguration/conversion of the Ground Floor from service/mechanical to office uses

- A variety of dormitory accommodations to improve the college’s competitive position

A simple project with a sensitive follow-through and adherence to the original design. The jury found this approach to preservation merits a citation award.

The President's Message

It’s June and although unfavorable business conditions unfortunately remain, according to AIA National, inquiries by potential clients and the number of RFQ’s continues to grow; so is it possible that we are seeing our economic situation improve? I choose to believe, perhaps naively, that a positive change may be upon us in the next several months. Every periodical I read or website I visit somehow relates our ailing economy to the business of architecture. Some interesting statistics that I relate to you below, comes from the AIA Economics & Market Research Group.

The Architectural Billings Index (ABI) established in 1995, is produced by the AIA Economics & Market Research Group and is the leading economic indicator of construction activity. Based on the architectural billings index, construction activity fell less than a full point in April and the AIA reported that the April ABI rating was 42.8, down from the 43.7 index score in March. “This was the first time since August and September 2008 that the index was above 40 for consecutive months.” You might think that although these scores still indicate an overall decline in demand for design services (scores above 50 indicates an increase in billings), the AIA has reported that a growing number of architecture firms have indicated that potential projects are on the rise due to the federal stimulus package. The ABI findings indicate that new project inquiries had a rating of 56.6. “This news should be viewed with cautious optimism,” says AIA Chief Economist Kermit Baker, Ph.D., Hon. AIA. “The fact that inquires for new projects increased is encouraging, but it will likely be a few months before we see an improvement in overall billings. Architects continue to report a diversity of business conditions, but the majority is still seeing weak activity levels.” If you would like to read more regarding the ABI, visit www.aia.org.

I hope you find this information informative, as did I. I think it would be interesting to begin a dialogue amongst our local firms (using the Principal’s Roundtable as the vehicle for discussion) to see if Central New York collectively is experiencing the same demand for design services (or decline) as the national findings.

Robert C. Thompson, A.I.A.

Continuing Education Provider
Certified Professional Code Administrator
Past C.N.Y.A.I.A. President 1986

On May 8^th, our Central New York Chapter lost a wonderful friend and fellow architect. Bob Thompson passed away from a fifteen year battle with brain cancer, leaving his wife Kathy, two sons – Brian and Scott, and a daughter Kelly.

Bob graduated from SU and worked in the area for most of his career, including several architectural firms, his own practice and eventually ended up at the New York State Department of State – Division of Codes.

Over the years he developed an expertise in Building Codes and was instrumental in assisting New York State ’s adoption of the current version of the International Building Code.

Bob was always willing to answer code questions and help out other design professionals with compliance questions. He was one of a handful of Code Instructors, certified by the State of New York , to teach other Code Instructors.

Bob’s funeral was a celebration of his life, his family and his work. Years ago, he secured his eternal salvation by accepting Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. So, for now my friend, we are all going to miss you. Someday though, we’ll see each other again.

SWINGING ON A STAR

Irv meet Arch

A jaunt to California and back again brings out how the East coast and West coast architecture effected history. San Diego ’s Irving Gill and Archimedes Russell may not be contemporaries but they had many things in common. Gill was a son of a carpenter and Russell’s father was a builder. Russell was born in Andover , Massachusetts while Gill was born in Tully, New York . They both went West. Russell being older only got to Onondaga Lake , while Gill made it to the Pacific Ocean . Russell came to Syracuse in 1862, 8 years before Gill was born. Both were trained by apprenticeship. By 1868 Russell opened his own practice. Gill apprenticed with Ellis G. Hall in Syracuse . Moving to Chicago , Gill worked for Joseph Lyman Silsbee and Dankmar Adler and Louis Sullivan. Gill met Frank Lloyd Wright at Adler and Sullivan. Gill moved to San Diego in 1893. Russell had a thriving practice as well as being an unpaid professor of architecture Syracuse University from 1873 to 1881.school.

We are familiar with Russell’s use of many architectural styles including High Victorian Gothic, Renaissance Revival, Romanesque Revival, Second Empire, Stick and Shingle, Queen Anne, Colonial Revival, Beaux-arts and even Mission . The First English Lutheran Church 1910-1911 showed the influence of Gustav Stickley and the Craftsman movement. This movement was alive and well in Gill’s California . The Green Brothers may have lead the way but Gill was not far behind. Irving ’s project the Bishop’s School, in La Jolla and the Oceanside Civic Center carry modern mission to its pinnacle.

Gill stripped the ornament from the classics and from the missions. He was more adventurous then Archimedes and experimented with construction systems. The Bishop’s School is an outstanding example of tilt up concrete panels. Gills work is well preserved due to the climate and financial conditions of Southern California .

Russell work has not faired as well. Gills Bishop School being privately funded and has changed with the times, while Central High School sits empty and deteriorating for lack of any support. Russell’s civic center the Onondaga County Court House shares a circle that can’t decide if it name is Columbus or Saint Mary. The City of Syracuse has never been able to focus on unity of civic functions because of political and financial divisionary forces pulling in all directions. To find some of Russell’s remaining 800 commissions, one must climb hill and traverse many streams. Churches are the most abundant of the remaining.

These men provide a rich heritage for the communities they touched. It is refreshing that today Irving Gill is recognized for his contributions. Where possible his creative buildings are well cared for and respected. By the way, they are used by the public as well as private owners. An example is the Bishops School . It originally was designed as a Girls Boarding School . In the forties it became a Girls day High School. It succumb to coeducation in the 80’s. Today it is expanding to 6 thru 12 grades.

Archimedes Russell Central High is a much different story. It was a public High School offering college entrance and business degrees. It was, until the 1960’s, the performing arts center with it’s Lincoln Auditorium.

It’s central location made it prime subject for the technical school addition. Education over a hundred years pressed hard on it’s interior. Lockers in the open hallways and the open stairs of 4 stories are not acceptable with modern standards. Three floors to transverse to the super gang toilets failed to work in the 50’s and obvious a determent to modern use. Accessibility was not an issue in 1900. Russell used exterior monumental stairs as a most expressive element. The elements have taken its toll; plaster falls on long empty seats in the auditorium and the pediments with balustrades slowly decay. So this school is the most neglected of all of Archimedes work. All passers by on their way to the University, Hospitals, Public Buildings etc. just shrug their shoulders or look way.

The East could take a lesson from the West. Pride in place is most important and impressions follow. Billings Park once had green trees and Central High had welcoming arms for the young and egger. Wide streets and gray open space to speed people by is not the answer. Respect for the Historic Institutions provide by an architect that has influenced the character of Central New York is all that is asked. Honor Russell as Southern California honors Gill.

Robert C. Thompson, A.I.A. Continuing Education Provider
Certified Professional Code Administrator
Past C.N.Y.A.I.A. President 1986
rthomp2@twcny.rr.com

THIS MONTH’S CODES COLUMN WILL NOT BE FOCUSED ON A PARTICULAR CODE ISSSUE NOR BE INFORMATIONAL REGARDING THE N.Y S.CODE DIVISION’S ACTVITIES RELATIVE TO PENDING ISSUES OF THE CODE COUNCIL’ S ACTIVITIES LIKE I HAVE DONE IN THE PAST . I AM USING THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK SOME INDIVIDUALS WHO MADE A DIFFERENCE IN MY CAREER AFTER YEARS OF CONTRIBUTING ARTICLES AND I TRUST YOU WILL UNDERSTAND WHY AS YOU READ ON.

If you or someone you knew did some thing for 30 years, you would assume they acquired a great deal of knowledge about that which they did. Many years ago I decided to study the legal side of what we as design professionals are required to comply with. More specifically, the knowledge of building codes and reference standards. This was not a skill of practicing architecture that I would have ever imagined having an interest in early in my career. I found much enjoyment, opportunity, and professional growth taking this path.

Year after year I provided Building Code and Reference Standards advice to A.I.A. Chapter members and firms (mostly on a pro-bono basis) and concurrently taught for many of the area colleges and other organizations that offer continuing education.

Lately, I have been trying to get my arms around learning that I have an inoperable brain tumor.

There is a great line from the 1994 movie Forest Gump staring Tom Hanks when Forest says, “Momma always used to say when you open a box of chocolates, you never know which one you’re going to get.”

I am very blessed to have a great wife [34+ years], three super children, friends inside and outside the field of architecture, and wonderful neighbors who have brought great joy to my life. For close to thirty years I have enjoyed teaching college students [many with whom I still stay in touch] and teaching full-time working professionals and who are members of the Syracuse Builders’ Exchange. For this opportunity I give special thanks to Earl Hall Sr., Earl Hall Jr., and Sandy Church.

One of the earliest people who played a pivotal role in my career was Narindar Bhandari of NK Bhandari, P.E. Early in my career, Mr. B., as he is affectionately referred to by his staff, and I were driving around Carrier Circle . I was providing code-consulting services to Mr. B’s firm. I vividly remember that I was so excited about telling Mr. B. that A&E firms who had command [meaning to be fluently able to understand and apply the building code) would be at a competitive advantage and would recognize much business opportunity. Understand that at that time, most design professionals, including myself, had absolutely no idea of the train that was heading down the road that would change regulations for the built environment, not only for New York State , but for the entire United States . Remember, it was not until 1994 that B.O.C.A., I.C.B.O., and S.B.C.C.I. entered into an agreement to write one model code.

Calmly Mr. B looked at me and said, “Bob, just become very, very good at what you do and everything else will follow.” I was pretty sure he was referring to self-fulfillment and compensation. From that day, I decided to specialize in the field of building codes and regulations having to do with the built environment. To this day, I believe that our Lord, Jesus Christ, wanted me to take this direction. Mr.B., I thank you for being GOD’s messenger.

There is a prayer told to me years ago that I pray when I face difficult decisions:

“I BELIEVE I AM ALWAYS DEVINELY GUIDED; I BELIEVE I WILL ALWAYS TAKE THE CORRECT TURN IN THE ROAD; I BELIEVE THAT GOD WILL ALWAYS MAKE A WAY WHERE THERE IS NO WAY .”

A special thanks to my friend, Ron Kenyon, R.A., Syracuse City School District, who was there for me when I needed a friend to remind me of God’s power.

Thank you to Ron Piester (Director for the Codes Division at the N.Y.S. Department of State ) who offered me a position to work with the Code Development Unit in February, 2000. I learned a great deal from his leadership, and treasured his friendship.

Thank you to Ray Andrews (Assistant Director for Code Development) for teaching me how to bleed orange for the Syracuse University football team.

Both Ron and Ray were former supervisors of mine, both are Syracuse University School of Architecture grads, and both have a clear understanding of the codes and their legislative origin.

Former and present chairpersons at each respective college offered me the opportunity to prepare students for “real world” code reviews and code issues relative to their projects. This list would include:

**Ken Bobis , R.A. & James Ruddock R.A., School of Architecture at Onondaga Community College .

**Dr. Robert Meyer, Dr. George Kyanka, and Dr. Susan Aganost, S.U.N.Y College of Environmental Science & Forestry

Thanks also go to Manfred Diflo whose friendship and artwork have graced our lives for many years.

Beyond those I’ve just mentioned, I need to give credit to my Dad who provided me with a sense of humor. He always taught me to treat others as I would like to be treated. He was a very generous man with deep-seeded Christian values. My dad took my illness pretty hard. He would remind me to take one day at a time.

My dad passed away in February, 2007 at the age of 90. As I teach college students, my respect for my dad and his strong work ethic continues to grow. I sense that many of today’s college students feel they are “entitled” to the education they receive. In contrast, my dad was brought into this world as an orphan and was raised by the Christian Brothers in Troy , N.Y. until he could support himself by working low-paying manual labor jobs. He was never offered the opportunity of a formal education. My dad talked proudly about working for the C.C.C. and W.P.A. (government-supported work programs). I think he saw it as his way of saying that he did what he had to do to support a family of four boys. At one point he worked as a regional stockroom clerk, as well as carrying other responsibilities for the N.Y.S. Highway Department. I vividly remember that he would have to get up at 3:30 A.M. on winter mornings to assist others plowing the roads. I suspect he did it for the over-time pay he could accrue. The bottom line is that he did it for my brothers and me. I feel very blessed to see many of my dad’s positive qualities in my children. So you see, I have much to be grateful for and perhaps a little less to feel sorry about.

Thank you for letting me share this information with you. Next time we talk, I trust that you will feel you know me better before asking code questions.

We shall miss being able to talk with you and your comments, but we shall forever remember your advice.

Opening of the Meeting: This meeting of the Board of Directors of the American Institute of Architects Central New York Chapter was held Thursday, April 09, 2009 at the AIACNY Resource Center . Julia Hafftka-Marshall, AIA called the meeting to order.

Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure... than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much, because they live in a gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat.
Theodore Roosevelt

By Dean A. Biancavilla, AIA, LEED AP, Holmes King Kallquist & Associates, Architects, Syracuse, NY dab@hkkarchitects.com

One of the things we have tried to do with this series is to cover some of the science which points to the global climate change we are facing. Climate change ‘skeptics’ have used many false and misleading arguments to downplay the science and contribute confusion, however there is one argument which has often been used that is particularly misleading and false. You may have heard this one already or read about it – it goes like this “…why should we believe these scientists about global warming when back in the ‘70s they were predicting a new Ice Age?” You may have even ‘googled’ this ice age story and gotten hits for stories in Newsweek or other mass media publications. But what is not stated is the misleading part of this story. It is that in peer-reviewed scientific journals at the time this so-called ‘prediction’ was absent. In fact there was a majority of scientific articles in those journals predicting global warming even though climatologists were stating that more research had to be done so that the scientific community could better understand the delicate nature and the complexities of the huge number of systems that were interrelated in the global climate machine.

DAVID ASHLEY IS NAMED GREEN BUILDING ADVOCATE OF THE YEAR

Syracuse , NY, April 2, 2009 - David Ashley , AIA, LEED AP, Director of Environmental Design at Ashley McGraw Architects, was selected as the 2009 Green Building Advocate of the Year by the Central New York Green Building Advisory Council. He was presented with the award at the Annual SUNY College of Environmental Science & Forestry (ESF) Green Building Conference in March.

Dave Ashley is the first person in Central New York to be certified by the U.S. Green Building Council as a LEED Accredited Professional. He has given many lectures and seminars on sustainable building principles and regularly conducts classes on becoming a LEED AP. He is also the founder of Greening USA, a local non-profit organization dedicated to community sustainability.

“The LEED rating system set the groundwork for sustainable design, but now we must look beyond LEED,” Ashley explains. “Everyone must consider alternative sources of energy. As architects we must rethink the way we design to reduce our buildings’ energy use.”

Ashley McGraw Architects, P.C. is pleased to announce that after 10 weeks of vigorous training, advanced building studio designers Ian Towle and Brandon Burd have become LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Accredited Professionals, bringing Ashley McGraw’s total number of LEED Accredited Professionals to 33. With this expertise in sustainable design, Ashley McGraw can provide a higher level of service to clients, resulting in buildings that are significantly less expensive to operate and healthier for the people that occupy them.

The U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED rating system is now the national standard for sustainable design. It includes 69 specific strategies regarding: sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources and indoor environmental quality. A building can be certified as “green” if it achieves 26 of the available 69 points.

Ashley McGraw Architects, based in Syracuse , New York since 1981, creates plans and designs for school and college and university clients. David Ashley, AIA, LEED AP, director of environmental design, was one of the first architects in the US to advocate green design, 35 years ago. Ed McGraw, AIA, LEED AP, is the president and chief executive officer. Ashley McGraw is proud to work within the framework of the 2030 Challenge – that is, to design buildings that operate with zero fossil fuel consumption by the year 2030.

Session I: Friday Noon – 7:00 pm
Session II: Saturday 8:00 am – 7:00 pm Session III: Sunday 8:00 am – 7:00 pm

The School Building Expo will be held June 2-4, 2009 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh . This the only event that truly brings together today's evolving Educational Institution marketplace. School Building Expo is host to the Spring meeting of AIA's Committee on Architecture for Education, a gathering of the most active thought leaders in educational facilities design. Learn about new trends, be inspired by exciting keynotes and discover the latest products and solutions. Come together with the decision makers and purchasers who plan, design, construct and maintain the public & private educational facilities of tomorrow.

As a member of the AIA NY chapters, we would like to offer you a 25% discount off the early registration to attend the show. You will have the opportunity to learn from the experts, and earn up to 16 of the 18 annually required AIA CEUs for under $300, attend and network at many special events and see all the latest products and services in our exhibit hall.

All attendees who register are invited to participate in the fun and excitement when the Pittsburgh Pirates take on the New York Mets on Wednesday June 3rd. Transportation, dinner and tickets are included to all attendees.

Please contact your representative the School Building Expo for more information on attending.

The program is scheduled for Wednesday, June 17^t^h from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM.

The tour will take about one hour and will start in our conference room with a discussion on safety. The highlights of the tour are the laboratory, storage areas, plant computer room, mold boxes, conveyor belt system, block machine, block splitter and cuber. We will also tour the fabrication plant to see the saws, spaller and grinder to show how our products get their shapes and textures.

Ø Everyone will need to bring a hard hat, safety glasses and boots (boots do not have to be steel toed).

Ø Park in the parking lot directly across the street from the plant – the parking lot entrance is a block down in front of River Valley Frozen Foods

Wendy Odom Office Consultant AIA Central New York 901 South Warren St. Suite, 11 Syracuse , New York 13202

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