AIACNY

Lake Architectural had the wonderful opportunity to design and oversee construction on the new Marcellus Free Library. This project, totaling $2,800,000 in construction costs, allowed the team at Lake to apply their exceptional design skills alongside their LEED techniques.

The recently completed Marcellus Free Library is an innovative space of 11,800 square feet designed to accommodate various users and diverse programs. Double the size of the existing library, the building is located along Nine Mile Creek on the Upper Crown Mills site in the Village of Marcellus. The project's concept was to link the old and the new.

Referencing the site's past, the form of the library is reminiscent of a foundry, but inside is a comfortable and inspiring space, with unique spatial considerations. The library will also be LEED certified, demonstrating both its social and ecological investment in the community.

#11 Marcellus Library – CITATION AWARD Jury felt this project was a good response to the context setting while clearly accommodating the functional requirements of the library. The sustainable design elements have been incorporated into this project in a sensitive, but simple manner.

Lake Architectural located in Marcellus, NY is pleased to announce that Pete Sorber AIA President-Elect and LEED accredited architect completed a three day course study at a Geothermal Installer Certification class on January 15^th, in Auburn. This class was offered through the International Ground Source Heat Pump Association (IGSHPA) and included a hands-on fusion certification training. Geothermal heating and cooling systems have experienced rapid growth in the building industry. Lake Architectural has experience designing these and other alternate energy systems into their architectural projects. Pete also attended the 2009 AIA Grassroots conference on February 5^th and 6^th in Washington, DC. Over these two days, Pete attended advocacy conferences concerning the economic recovery package, leadership and knowledge workshops and capital hill visits with congressional representatives.

Lake Architectural located on Maple Street in Marcellus is pleased to announce Partner Wayne La France AIA, NCARB, LEED AP has recently been appointed to the Marcellus Architectural Review Board. Wayne will be serving with other local business leaders to insure the current and expected future growth of the beautiful “pedestrian friendly” village of Marcellus retains its distinctive and historical beauty. Wayne is a long time avid supporter of healthy sustainable communities as reflected in Lake’s two most recent sustainable projects Lake Architectural Office Building and Marcellus Free Library both located in the Upper Crown Mill mixed use project off Maple Street. In February Wayne had the honor of lecturing on model centric design paradigm and the unfolding evolution of the building industry towards Integrated Project Delivery methods to students at ESF and OCC. Wayne challenged the students to seek out fluency in the use of Building information Modeling technology no matter where their future plans take them inside the building industy after graduation. He described for them the cultural shift that is required for the building industry to move from a closed protectionist environment to an open collaborative environment especially suited for design build situations.

Lake Architectural of 24 Maple Street in Marcellus is proud to announce they celebrated their 5th anniversary on April 1st. In its short history, Lake has worked on a variety of projects in many different markets and has made a strong name for themselves in the world of sustainability. Lake Architectural was founded by partners Wayne La France and Peter Sorber both with over twenty-five years experience serving a variety of clients. They are committed to providing their clients with responsive and cost effective service applying innovative solutions for efficient, quality environments. Their strong belief and drive to sustainable design concerns is evident by two recent submissions for LEED certification including the new Marcellus Free Library and Lake's own office building. Just over one year ago, Lake opened their second office in Charlotte, NC.

The President's Message

Spring is here, or at least I want to believe it is. I am also sure that many of you like me have gone to the range to hit some golf balls on those wonderful sunny afternoons. Gladly, I can say that I have had one golf lesson and played nine holes with my son this past weekend. The golf lesson was definitely worthwhile; the instructor pointed how much I need to adjust my posture so that I can get more consistent drives down the fairway. The nine holes on the other hand was somewhat discouraging when my eleven year old out drives me on his first day out this year. Although my game is not ready for the AIA golf league, I am working toward that goal and I encourage all who are novices or not to practice and participate in the upcoming CSI/AIA Golf Outing, May 27th. It is the 14annual CSI/AIA golf event at the Links at Sunset Ridge and it always proves to be a wonderful event whether you can play well or not. The camaraderie of our members is what makes this organization fantastic and the network of professionals can be particularly helpful to our members who unfortunately have been affected by the economic recession. There is not a day that goes by that an acquaintance doesn’t ask “How is the architectural profession in Central New York fairing?” The reality of the economic recession that we are all experiencing, some more than others is an issue that pre-occupies the entire architectural profession.

AIA National has heard the call from our membership and is proactively reacting to help our members. AIA National has developed a program for our members to allow us to defer membership dues over a period of months. If anyone needs more information or assistance regarding this well-received and timely program, please contact Steve Kapusniak, our membership board member for more information. I, personally, hope that the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 signed by President Obama to stimulate the economy and help us cope with the recession, really does stimulate the design and construction industries.

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, or would you rather be part of a Marketing Team?”

Would you like to be a Marketer?

Here are three quotes that show how some architects think today. Let us see if we can sell them in today’s market place.

“Hands-on problem solving is appealing to me.”

“Improvised music is the absolute essence of creativity.”

“There is magic that happens when concrete and steel become a home.”

It is difficult to market an architect without using Green. As Kermit the Frog would say it’s not easy being green. Not only are the comments without green but, the Energy Codes put a crimp in the expressions.

Take the climate zones in the Energy Code. There are Residential Zone 6 and Commercial Zone 15 or 14a. It is not clear why energy Zone 14a has no b; why isn’t it plain 14. Of course these energy climate zones have no relation to planting Zones 5 or 4 in our area. Flood Zones B, C or X can be found in our area and even Zone D that means not determined. Seismic zone were 1 or 2B but, the code writers got smart, before being zoned out, and change terminologies to categories and classes. Or did they get shook up? With March Madness behind us, the many forms of basketball zones 2-3, 2-1-2, 3-2 and the rarely seen 1-4 zone today come to mind. What does it all mean? The descriptive mind must quantify all things. The prescriptive mind leaves an open approach to problem solving.

To the rescue ResCheck and ComCheck! These computer programs are like throwing water on the code criteria to provide a green solution. A word of warning in marketing with these tools, it could have the same result as water thrown on the Wicked Witch of the West in the Wizard of OZ.

Lets see what works.

“Hands-on problem solving is appealing to me.” Followed by the desire of creating a zero-net energy home, make this idea marketable. The difficulty comes with the codes definition of occupied space. It was once called habitable space, a better term. It needs 8% natural light and 4% natural ventilation with 65 degree heating from October to May. The hands-on solution should include a life cycle cost analyses. It might sell.

“Improvised music is the absolute essence of creativity.” This envisions a symphony of grace, form and function. A structure singing to the sky. Improv is what green is all about. Examples are needed that meets code standards without adversely affecting the health, life safety and welfare of the occupants. It might sell.

“There is magic that happens when concrete and steel become a home.” Now this would take a hard sell. The cool velvet feel of stone and concrete makes one want to hug a concrete column. Feel the warmth of hand on steel beam 10 degrees below 0 F. Will a glass house warm your heart and soul? All the proposed senses must happen in the summer time. In winter the stone turns cold and must be heated by the fireplace or a hand could become stuck to the cold steel beam. The sun through the glazing cannot overcome the heat loss. We know Frank Lloyd Wright would advise a bucket of hot water to free the hand. Now the velvet sensation is not of the material but mold. It must be magic.

In today’s vernacular, “Back to the computer”.

A recent issue of the Journal of Building Enclosure Design had an important article on the true R values of our envelope construction standpoint. Not surprisingly they found that the true values are in many cases much less than the rated R values of the materials and insulation. In their study, they showed the effect of thermal bridging in some typical exterior wall. When you introduce a steel shelf angle in a brick wall, for example, you have decreased the R value of the overall wall.

Please see the attached for more information on starting your NCARB record on May 20, 2009 at 4:00pm at the AIACNY Resource Center.

Opening of the Meeting: This meeting of the Board of Directors of the American Institute of Architects Central New York Chapter was held Thursday, March 12, 2009 at the AIACNY Resource Center . Julia Hafftka-Marshall, AIA called the meeting to order.

Far and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.
Theodore Roosevelt

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

This month’s article highlights a spectacular LEED project in the Adirondacks by HOK, [Hellmuth, Obata, Kassabaum]. The following project description is drawn from their site under ‘Sustainability – case studies’:

Our Chapter is very excited to have Stephanie A. Wright, featured in the Leadership Profile of the AIA’s bimonthly publication; The YAF Connection (Young Architects Forum) April issue. Stephanie is a Project Architect with Dalpos Architects & Integrators, Syracuse, NY and secretary for the Central New York AIA Chapter. Click on the link below to see the article.

Peter Larson lays out six design strategies at the 7^th Annual Green Building Conference to make high-performing school buildings achievable and affordable

Syracuse, NY, March 20, 2009 – There’s a smarter way to design school buildings than what architects and engineers have been doing for the last 60 years, claims Peter Larson , head of the Advanced Building Studio at Ashley McGraw Architects.

125+ Attendees include Mayor Driscoll, Carol Coletta, President CEOs for Cities, and Other Dignitaries from Public and Private Sectors

SYRACUSE, NY - - - King & King Architects held a ribbon cutting ceremony, on March 26th, at its new 52,000 square foot downtown Syracuse building, adjacent to Armory Square at Jefferson and West Streets.

Ashley McGraw Architects, P.C. is pleased to announce that after 10 weeks of vigorous training the following employees have become LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Accredited Professionals, bringing Ashley McGraw’s total number of LEED Accredited Professionals to 31:

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.

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