June 2010

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

Monday thru Thursday 
8:30 am -12:30 pm

Tuesday 8:30 am -12:30 pm 
(Tues lunch and learns
 TBA : 12:00 -1:00 pm)

Friday – closed

AIACNY Resource Center Directors

Craig Polhamus, Susanne J. Gruening
 and Rebecca Scida
 
Email:  aiacny@verizon.net

NEWSLETTER STAFF

Editor.................Richard T. Lafferty
Coordinating Editor....Neel Garofano
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: ngaro@twcny.rr.com attn: Neel Garofano or call h: (315-468-2843) 
       cell: (315-729-2767). 

All information should be checked for spelling and grammar prior to submitting. 

WWW.AIACNY.ORG

Scheduled of Events Calendar

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

• Featured Project

• The Presidents Message

• A Voice in the Wilderness

• You Come A Long Way Arch!

• The IDP Corner

• Lobby Day

• The Meeting Minutes

• Famous Quotes and Quotations

• Announcements

Featured Project

2009 Honorable Mention

Southhampton Fresh Air Home
Southampton, Long Island

Category: Institutional

Designed by 

Ashley McGraw Architects

For over 108 years, the “old schoolhouse,” the original campus building at the Southampton Fresh Air Home, has watched over the 150 physically handicapped children who attend this summer camp every year. With the completion of this recent building project, the schoolhouse has once again become the ceremonial and emotional center of the campus.  

Completed in 2007, the project design goals were straight forward:  

• Redefine the site into two distinct areas (active and passive) while enhancing the residential scale of the campus.
• Develop new cabins with bunk rooms suitable for wheel chair bound children while improving their sense of independence.
• Implement sustainable design strategies beneficial to the health of the campers, as well as the community.
• Provide a health center intimate in scale and accessible. 

SITE

Much like the original chapels of collegiate campuses, the schoolhouse is now ringed by the cabins fronting two intimate, though distinct, quads. With the removal of the two non-handicapped accessible existing dormitories, the cabins provide a familiar and contextual residential elevation to these quads. The site’s wide walkways are sized for the wheelchair-bound children and accentuated with gathering spaces at the intersections and underneath the covered trellises. The trellises’ scale and detail replicate the traditional vernacular of the old schoolhouse. Site features are similarly residential in appearance.  

The two quads are differentiated by there respective programmatic uses.  The “active” quad and its adjacent wide walkway, supports a stage for theatrical performances and impromptu camp gatherings. The “passive” quad is distinguished by its relatively expansive and unencumbered lawn and a reduced adjacent cabin density.  

CABINS  

In contrast to the traditional shingle style exterior, the cabin’s rustic interiors are highlighted by the two large bunk rooms with high ceilings and exposed wood beams. The rough sawn wood wainscoting enhance the cabin interior while providing a maintenance free (and if required, easily replaceable) wall protection from the heavy motorized wheel chairs currently favored by the campers. Carved out of the roof and ceiling space, the counselor viewing balcony provides for the required supervision while at the same time giving the campers relief from intensive round-the-clock supervision. Staff quarters are also discretely located on the mezzanine and in the lower levels as the site’s sloping grade permitted.  

SUSTAINABLE DESIGN STRATEGIES  

At the onset of this building project, both the owner and the design team committed to implementing a number of beneficial health and sustainable strategies in the design of these four cabins and the health center. At the owner’s request, strategies were primarily selected and developed for their immediate benefit to the campers. Of secondary importance were their benefit to the local community and the global environment.  Though USGBC LEED certification process was not implemented, the strategies were developed in compliance with these requirements. The implemented strategies include:  

§         Improved indoor air quality.

§         High-efficient mechanical, plumbing and electrical systems and components.

§         Infrastructure reuse.

§         Recycled and rapidly renewable products.

HEALTH CENTER  

Accustomed to the antiseptic and hygienic appearance of hospitals and doctors offices, the children have found a visit to the health center to be a surprising and refreshing part of their camp day. With its low eaves and child like scale, the health center no longer symbolizes the dreaded doctor visit. Though perhaps unrecognized by most, three subtle design moves enhance this impression. Though located at an important corner on the site, the building is pulled back from its expected location, thereby removing the health center from the surrounding activities. The visual diagonal to the front door and its corner location mirror the individual attention that each camper receives at the health center and contrast with the cabins fronting the quads. Additionally, the copula, with the butterfly weathervane, provides a humorous, almost folly like, traditional design feature.

Click Here for More

Jury Comments:

Honorable Mention – Southampton Fresh Air Home – Ashley McGraw Architects

• Comfortable human scale and character
• Village arrangement and concept is welcoming
• Nice presentation

The President's Message

Peter Sorber, AIA 

The AIA National Convention is scheduled for June 10th and 11th which I will be attending as our chapter representative and will be voting on by-law changes, resolutions and new Secretary, Vice President and First Vice President ( President Elect) positions. At the May board meeting we discussed our preferences for candidates and other voting issues so that I could adequately represent our interest.

Additionally, at the May Board meeting we began the discussion of the much anticipated late Fall Celebration of Architecture dinner. This event for many is the premier event of the year and as you can imagine takes an enormous amount of planning and coordination to make it successful and enjoyable for all. I have been informed that I am not allowed to give out any of the fine details until its official notice but perhaps I can sneak clues into my next few messages that will leak all the gripping details.

We have invited our New York State president Frank Pitts to attend our June meeting that will give us an opportunity to discuss the States agenda and efforts and to present our interest.  If there are issues you would like us to present please feel free to contact me or any of your Board members so we can take your comments into consideration.

Lastly, by the time this newsletter is public the AIA/ CNY golf tournament will be a memory and the details of how I threw my clubs into the pond out of frustration and how John Goodman cheated me out of closest to the pin honors by moving my ball while I wasn’t looking will be folklore. For all of those that I forgot to yell “FORE” to I apologize. I really wasn’t trying to hit anyone and hope to see all of you there next year!

  Respectfully

  Peter Sorber , AIA

A VOICE IN THE WILDERNESS.....

by Dick Lafferty    

  LOVE OF ARCHITECTURE
(Lord the ravings of an old man)

As I attended a three hour COMcheck continuing education course and struggling with my new laptop computer, the question came to mind, Why a code maven?  This energy aid tool, took me with my computer three days to get the New York State Version 3.7.0 of the COMcheck to work.  Why after fifty years in the profession would anyone want to put up with this?   

My love affair with architecture was slow to develop.  My early education started at SU and the heart of Syracuse.  Doc (Dean) Sargent's phrases like "A thing of beauty and a joy forever" and “A man's home is his castle." With the practical phrase from Charlie Chrome, "You don't have to know it but, where the reference is to find it" had a profound influence on me. In the heart of Syracuse was my first experience with a practicing architect’s office.  Paul Sweeny and Rolly Burden, they graduated in 1929, opened the office and served the profession to life’s end.   

The affair grew with knowledge and the five years of Harley McKee slides on the history of architecture.  The evolution was not only about beauty of architecture but how it influenced human health, safety and welfare. Creating ones own environment brought meaning to pigeons in the cockloft, bats in the belfry and squirrels in the attic.  "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder", but does not stop a roof leak. Frank Lloyd Wright  saying "Put a bucket under it", does not make it dry up.  

Studying, observing and putting knowledge into practice is the basis motivation for young architects.  Solving problems small or large. New York has more small than large projects today.  The mature architect must love the people being served, the project and the profession.    

The evolution of architecture since before Egypt till tomorrow is awesome. "Being There” is a movie which was filmed at the Biltmore in the late fall and winter.  The Biltmore was studied at SU as one of the American castles.  Having the good fortune to visit it a few summers ago, I could appreciate the gardens in the fall and winter after seeing it in the summer alive and filled with visitors.  Peter Sellers character was a guardian angel for old men.  The filmmakers, knowing it or not, made a visual record of a warm and poignant Biltmore even in winter.   

There are many efforts to enhance the way of life in Central New York.  The revitalization of the Erie Canal has regenerated it and made communities aware of the historic value. The link corridor from SU to downtown in Syracuse, the gentrification the urban centers of Syracuse and Utica are other examples. These are efforts can only enhance the health, safety and welfare of our built environment.  The one main fact of history is that it repeats itself.   

How many American Castles are no more?  Urban renewal after WWII took many and the economy turned them into something else.  San Simeon, the Biltmore and Newport are unique not only on file but in reality. Williamsburg, Virginia is the 30's example of what is happening today around the country.   

I never liked to read.  I would rather express myself in pictures, as they are worth a thousand words.  We have heard of the starving artists. In a depressed economy, we hear of starving architects.  Not literally, but from the point of commissions, it is a true idiom.   

What shall keep, an architect active is participating in all types of projects. Restoration, renovation and new shall always be with us as the love of problem solving. Remember we are always practicing and the next commission shall be better than the previous.

One Guardian Angel to another.

YOU CAME A LONG WAY ARCH!  
By Lafferty       

   click here for PDF image

IDP Corner

By: Nicolette Feldser   Email: feldser@ashleymcgraw.com

IDP 2.0 PHASE THREE TAKES EFFECT JULY 1, 2010

We are nearing the deadline for the final phase of the NCARB transition to IDP 2.0 taking effect on July 1, 2010.  Some important items are included in this phase of the 2.0 transition that will affect all interns from this date on.

At 12:01 a.m. Eastern Time the Six-Month Rule goes into effect for ALL interns. This means that any previously unreported experiences beyond 6 months prior to this date must be recorded or you will lose those hours of experience.  For interns who registered with NCARB after July 1, 2009 the Six-Month Rule is already in effect.  It is important to note that you only have to submit your training hours to your IDP supervisor by the July 1 deadline; they do not need to be approved by this date.

Another important change is that the previously defined IDP Categories and Experience Areas will be redefined in this next phase to align more closely with the descriptions used in the profession.  For example, the category previously defined as “Building Cost Analysis” will now be split into two categories called “Project Cost and Feasibility” and “Construction Cost”.  Please note that any hours previously earned will be moved into their appropriate categories in 2.0 during Phase Three.  Previously recorded hours of experience will not be lost in the transition.

The final item to be changed in Phase Three involves clarifying what experience settings are deemed acceptable for earning IDP credit.  The previous program contained seven distinct work experience settings.  These will be simplified to three settings defined by NCARB as “A: Architectural Practice, O: Other Work Settings, and S: Supplemental Experience”.

For more information regarding the IDP 2.0: Phase Three transition please refer to NCARB’s recent article in the 2010 Volume 13 Issue 1 of Direct Connection attached below.  Information regarding the transition to Phase Three will also be briefly reviewed at the upcoming IDP e-EVR Seminar on May 21, 2010.

Click here for more on Phase Three

LOBBY DAY 2010

Save the date! This year’s Celebration of Architecture dinner and awards event will be held on November 13, 2010. Formal invitations will follow.

We look forward to seeing you all there!

MEETING MINUTES OF THE AIACNY CHAPTER BOARD MEETING:  
 April 08, 2010 

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 08, 2010 at the AIACNY Resource Center .  Pete Sorber, AIA called the meeting to order. 

Click Here for Minutes 

Famous Quotes and Quotations

By Neel C. Garofano, AIA  

Announcements   

The Architects Resource Center “Lunch and Learn” program presents:

Understanding, Designing and Using Small Duct High Velocity Systems

Presented by Dan Smith of The Unico System/ How Pumps

 Tuesday June 15nd, 12-1pm  

Presentation provides 1 HSW CEU  

Lunch will be provided  

Members:  Free

Non-Members:  $5

Tour of Barnes and Cone Block Plant

Presented by Barnes and Cone  

Friday, June 18,  2010, 1:30-3:30pm  

Presentation provides 1 HSW CEU  

Lunch will be provided  

Members:  Free

Projection Screens

 Presented by William Beckwith of Da-Lite Screen Company, Inc.

Tuesday June 22nd, 12-1pm  

Presentation provides 1 CEU  

Lunch will be provided  

Members:  Free

Non-Members:  $5

Historic State Tower Building I 109 S. Warren St. Store 11 I 
Syracuse, NY 13202

Telephone/Fax: (315) 475-8563 I Email: aiacny@verizon.net

FIGMENT, the Emerging New York Architect Committee (ENYA) announces Winner

FIGMENT, the Emerging New York Architect Committee (ENYA) of the American Institute of Architects
New York Chapter (AIANY), and the Structural Engineers Association of New York (SEAoNY) are pleased
to announce that their competition jury has selected Ann Ha and Behrang Behin’s “Living Pavilion” as
the winner of the first ever annual pavilion competition.

Click here for more

CANstruction Event

September 18-20, 2010 at the great Northern Mall

Kick-Off meeting is May 14, 2010

Click here for more information

Syracuse University School of Architecture Lectures

ARE Study Guides at the Resource Center

Dear Members,

Members of The AIACNY Chapter of Central New York  
now have access to WI-FI at The Resource Center 
Monday-Thursday- 8:30am- 12:30pm.

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 Resource Center will sign Study Materials out to you with a return date.  

The check for deposit is given to Susanne Gruening 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 .

Click Here for More

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.