AIACNY

The State University of New York sought new student housing for their campus which would provide an alternative for upperclassmen who typically moved to off-campus living arrangements. The site is situated on the southwest corner of the campus within a wooded area with a compelling view of Glimmerglass Lagoon. The program required accommodations for 350 students in 280,000 sq. ft., with a budget of $34 million.

We arranged the townhouse units to define two pedestrian “Main Street” spaces and a central common lawn. This strategy of anti-suburban density aims to encourage interaction between residents and promote a sense of community, as well as minimize disturbance to wetland areas. A Commons Building, developed in a Great Lodge aesthetic, provides for further interaction where students get their mail; enjoy the Lounge and Café, Recreation Room, and Study Lounge. The exterior design incorporates steeply pitched roofs with deep overhangs, roof dormers, and double-hung windows combined with lap siding and a stone base course - which responds to both the local pre-war residential architectural vernacular and the planning density. The typical two- or three-story units include a private entrance to each townhouse facing Main Street. Each townhouse includes either four or six single bedrooms, shared bathrooms, and a ground floor open plan common living/kitchen/dining area.

In January of 2008 the USGBC released LEED for Homes, which provided the opportunity for SUNY Oswego, to be one of the first projects to register under the new program. The original goal was to achieve LEED Silver certification. Through the continuing efforts of the Owner, Design Team, the LEED for Homes Green Rater, the Contractors and DASNY, the project was able to achieve additional credits during the construction phase. The project was Gold certified in January of 2011.

The Building shell components includes Structural Insulated Panels, Pre-cast concrete plank floors, and pre-fabricated wood trusses. A shallow footing foundation system was designed to reduce the depth of foundations and excavation in the project. The envelope was designed and constructed to achieve a high level of air-tightness. Each townhouse unit was blower door tested to verify its performance.

The central mechanical system design includes a heating and cooling valance system. It is hung from the exposed concrete plank ceiling. This eliminates ductwork and increases the amount of clear floor area available for the students. In addition, individual units have no fans or filters, thereby reducing the amount of periodic maintenance required within the students’ rooms, while providing a quieter system overall. The valance system is supplied by three high efficiency boiler/chillers. Two detached mechanical garages house the system. There are six building on each underground loop. Energy Recovery Ventilators provide ventilation air to each townhouse.

The President's Message

Thank you to those members who took the time to provide their perspective on the strengths and weaknesses of the chapter. Our identified strengths include planning efforts in the community, learning opportunities (seminars, vendor luncheons), chapter events, resource center, and communication. Weaknesses can be grouped in the key areas of engagement with emerging professionals, public/government advocacy, serving our outlying members, continuing education topics (need for more in-depth topics and a variety including sustainability), and recognition of other professional elements (leadership, technical, etc..).

The strengths/weaknesses information was extremely useful for our discussions at the strategic planning retreat that took place on January 20^th and 21^st. There were 17 past and present AIA CNY Board members who participated as well as Georgi Ann Bailey, from the AIA NYS, and our facilitator from the National AIA Pablo de la Llama. I would like to personally thank all participants for their energy and enthusiasm towards making the chapter stronger and formulating a clear vision for the future.

It was a highly interactive two days of dialogue focused on the main topics of Board Structure/Programs, Emerging Professionals, and Public Relations. The executive summary of this two-day planning retreat is:

A. We re-organized our internal structure and reduced the total number of committees from eight to four. The new committees will have Directors from the Board that will be responsible for their goals and overall leadership. Below is a quick summary of the committees with more detailed information to follow in the coming weeks:

1) Education Committee (Director Mike LaMontagne) – Provides direction for all education related activities including Lunch & Learns, Lectures, Project Visits, and the Emerging Professionals and Young Architects Forum.

2) Outreach Committee (Directors Nicole Newman and Steve Kapusniak) – Responsible for public relations/communication, resource center, website, membership, and AIA Partners (vendors, allied members, consultants).

3) Advocacy Committee (Director Tom Malinowski) – Proactive engagement of government agencies (Lobby Days, State/Local Interaction, Urban Design) and public advocacy (career days, recognition).

4) Community Committee (Director Jeff Palowski) – Oversight of all events including the Design Awards Gala, Social Hours, Golf Tournament, CANstruction, etc..

B. Focused on emerging professionals and how to continually engage them through the Young Architects Forum, IDP programs, chapter events, and ARE Study Sessions/Education. There is a “task-force” that will be responsible for defining a structured ARE study program and applying for a National AIA grant starting immediately. If interested in helping with this task-force please call or contact Mike LaMontagne.

C. Development of an overall communications strategy to better achieve continuity with all of our membership in the eleven counties that we serve as well as local and state governments, client groups, and the media (yes this includes social media as well).

In the next few months the Board will be prioritizing goals for the rest of this year and we will be communicating that to you. We will also be reaching out to membership to help with several initiatives that will require some focused attention for defined periods of time. We look forward to engaging more of our design community with the future of the chapter.

Please visit the AIA CNY website (http://www.aiacny.org) frequently to receive updates on our activities.

I am energized by the enthusiasm of the AIA CNY Board and excited about our newly formulated direction / organization that will guide us for many years to come.

Conclusion there is no difference between permit and construction documents!

We know this, Why this article? The reason is the public and many in the professions are not aware of it.

My recent experience has allowed me to view signed permit document by License Professional Engineers and Registered Architects that to say the least are incomplete, is a ridiculous under statement.

Office of the Professions: §7301. Definition of Practice of Architecture

The practice of the profession of architecture is defined as rendering or offering to render services which require the application of the art, science, and aesthetics of design and construction of buildings, groups of buildings, including their components and appurtenances and the spaces around them wherein the safeguarding of life, health, property, and public welfare is concerned. The services include, but are not limited to consultation, evaluation, planning, the provision of preliminary studies, designs, construction documents, construction management, and the administration of construction contracts.

Definition: Building permit: a document authorizing the holder to construct a building of a particular kind on a particular lot.

Application for Building Permit: (New York State Local Government Technical Series)

Documentation: at least two construction documents (drawings and/or specifications) that define the scope of the proposed work. Construction documents shall be not accepted as part of an application for a building permit unless such documents:

Construction documents that have been accepted as part of a permit application must be so marked in writing or by stamp. One set of accepted construction documents must be retained by the municipality, and one set must be returned to the applicant to be kept at the work site so as to be available for use by the code enforcement official.

Contents of Building Permit: A building permit must contain a statement directing that all work shall be performed in accordance with the construction documents submitted and accepted as part of the application. In addition, a building permit must include the directive that the local government shall be notified immediately in the event of changes during construction.

Working drawings: Surveying, topographic, architectural and engineering plans used in the field to construct improvements, and on which any changes are noted as the work is performed. At the end of the project, the working drawings are then submitted to the persons who originally created them in order to incorporate all changes into a final set of as-built drawings.

1. Code Enforcement is responsible for administration and enforcement of the Uniform Code.

4. Stop Work Orders are to be issued to halt work that is contrary to provisions of the Uniform Code, or is being conducted in a dangerous or unsafe manner, or is being performed without a permit.

(2) Whenever the general occupancy classification of the building is changed.

7. Unsafe Structures and Equipment CEO must identifying and address as required.

8. Operating Permits as required for certain specified activities or categories of buildings.

9. Fire Safety and Property Maintenance Inspections for all buildings containing public assembly and dormitories once a year and every 3 years for all other buildings.

12. Reports are required to be submitted annually to the Secretary of State.

It is time for the local member choir to start singing! In these hard times lowering the professional standards is not a solution. There are more pressing issues at present then long term saving of the planet. The existing building stock deserves as much attention and stewardship as new construction. The code enforcement requirements and the State Education Department are the sheet music for the choir to allow their song to be heard.

It is the time for the Chapter chorus to sing out in full voices on the services that are required in all aspects of new and renovated projects.

“Can an architect get CEU’s for the same service as a professional engineer? “

I wish that was the case. Unfortunately, the language in the Commissioner’s regulations for engineers in 68.11(c)(3)(ii)(b)(7) isn’t in Part 69 for architects. PE’s get some other passes that RA’s do not – engineers who work for the state are not required to maintain continuing education, but architects still have to.

www.appelosborne.com

Professional Development Corner

By: Nicolette Feldser Email: feldser@ashleymcgraw.com

Associate Updates:

-The National Associates Committee will host the Third Annual Emerging Professionals Exhibition this year. The submission deadline was January 20, but be sure to check out the selected entries at the AIA National Convention in Washington, D.C. on May 17-19! http://www.aia.org/professionals/AIAB091730 .

- The final phase of the upgrade to IDP 2.0 will occur on April 3 of this year! See their website at http://www.ncarb.org/Experience-Through-Internships/IDP-2.aspx for more information on the changes.

Also, NCARB has released the Beta version of their Practice Analysis of Architecture in order to get feedback on the effectiveness of the IDP process. A finalized version will be released in April 2012. To learn more about the Practice Analysis visit their website at http://www.ncarb.org/en/About-NCARB/Our-Work/2012-PA.aspx .

-David Thaddeus ARE Structures Seminars are coming to New York State! On June 8-10 Rochester will be hosting one seminar with registration open Feb 1st. See their Activities page at http://www.aiaroch.org/activities/ for more information. Also, coming up quickly, on March 3-5, the AIA NY Chapter Center for Architecture will also host a seminar. Registration is open online now for that seminar at http://cfa.aiany.org/index.php?section=are-prep

Upcoming Study Sessions

Please stay tuned for more information on upcoming study sessions following the holiday season! We look forward to you joining us for these lively and informative events at the AIA CNY Resource Center. Fliers announcing the study sessions will be sent to all members prior to each session and we encourage you to spread the word to your peers since everyone is welcome!

Opening of the Meeting: This meeting of the Board of Directors of the American Institute of Architects Central New York Chapter was held Thursday, December 08, 2011 at the Offices of King + King. Kirk Narburgh, AIA called the meeting to order.

“Borders I have never seen one. But I have heard they exist in the minds of some people.”

Component Executive News

On the National level, I have been informed, as your brand-new Component Executive, that the education requirements for AIA will be modified as of this month (January 2012). In short, they are realigning the National requirements to be more closely paralleled with the State requirements. The thinking is, per AIA, that by raising the level and quality of your continuing education and professional development, not only will you be considered the best, you will also “stand out from the competition” in the architectural profession as AIA members. They are also modifying the self-reporting option which may affect some of you.

In that case, our members are still allowed to self-report Learning Unit (LU) credits but HSW credits must be reported by the Vendor or Presenter from here on. Of these LU credits, the AIA has realized that their members need more than information about buildings and is pushing to have its members learn about things outside what is learned in school. AIA CNY members should feel very lucky because of the efforts of the AIA CNY board to bring you presentations such as Alternate Career Paths in September and all the Code classes. Did either of these have to do with buildings? Maybe, but more than that, it is the hope of the AIA and AIACNY’s board to educate its members in realistic terms beyond windows and roofs.

In closing, 2012 will have even more fun learning activities brought to you by your AIA of Central New York.

For more on Education requirements, please visit:

http://www.aia.org/education/ces/AIAB088935

And, for more from New York State’s Education requirements please see:

http://www.aia.org/education/ces/mcerequirements/AIAS074645

"The January 20th Happy Hour was held at PJ's in Armory Square immediately following the Strategic Planning Retreat.

Frank Lipari, Jr. - Plan & Print VP, Kirk Narburgh AIACNY President.and John Lipari - Plan & Print Pres.

Pablo de la Llama AIA Program Manager, Georgi Ann Bailey AIANYS Director of Programs and Operations and Kirk Narburgh AIACNY President.

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