"This dichotomy between school and practice is structural to
architecture and even a valuable resource." Dana Cuff
Toward a Unified Profession: Practitioners and Educators Develop
a Plan of Action
Thursday, October 3, 1996
Innova, Room 4
5:30 pm, Reception (cash bar)
6-7:30 pm, Forum
A level 2 seminar; 3 learning units.
Join a panel of distinguished educators and practitioners to discuss
ways through which architectural education and practice can become more
mutually supportive. Chuck Thomsen, FAIA, 3D/International, and
Jeff Ryan, AIA, Jackson Ryan Architects, head successful offices.
Bruce Webb, Acting Dean, University of Houston College of Architecture,
and Lars Lerup, Dean, Rice University School of Architecture, direct highly
regarded schools of architecture. Alan Fleishacker, Associate AIA,
an attorney specializing in construction law, will facilitate a discussion
of ideas that will move beyond the common complaints traded between school
and office.
Is integration of education and practice possible? Desirable? How can
the connection between design and technology be made clear to students?
Between design and business? How can the intellectual energy of the office
be stimulated? Does the internship period need re-examination? Is the studio
the place to put it all together? How can the firm influence the schools?
How can schools affect the firm?
Joining the panel are Suzanne Labarthe, AIA, Rogers + Labarthe
Architects, President of AIA Houston, Jan Blackmon, AIA, JPJ in
Dallas, President-Elect of the Texas Society of Architects, and Michael
Stanton, FAIA, Stanton Architecture, San Francisco, Vice President
of the American Institute of Architects. They will comment on ways that
the professional society can support and encourage the movement toward
a unified profession.
If we are, as Robert Gutman said in a recent issue of Architecture
Magazine, " . . . on the brink of a fundamental transformation of
the basic structure of architectural education. . . .", you will want
to be in on the planning. Don't miss this important event.
Call 622-6261 for reservations.
Reconstruction
of Beirut
This program will be rescheduled for the spring. The speakers are unable
to be in Houston this month because business has called them back to Beirut.
On
the Web Linked to the Chapter's Home Page
aiahoutx.org via AIAOnLine
City of Houston
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AIA/CES Member Transcripts
Any member with a registered AIAOnline account will be able to search
the database using the following procedures:
From the Services Menu Select CONTINUING EDUCATION
Select CES TRANSCRIPTS
In the QUERY: Enter your member number without the initial zeros.
Do a Keyword Search
(Note-for security design, you will not be able to receive the member
name and address. Transcripts are identified by membership number only.)
via TSALink
Laws and Regulations
Architectural Barriers Law
Architectural Barriers Administrative Rules
Brooks Act
HUB Rules
Indemnification
Professional Services Procurement Act
Prime Design Professional Fees
Statute of Repose
Texas Accessibility Standards
AIA
Works for You
ONE OF THE LEAST fascinating but perhaps most important
services offered members of the American Institute of Architects is provided
by insurance trusts on the state and national levels. Most of us are familiar
with the health care insurance programs available to members through TSA
and AIA Trusts. These plans have been in place for some time and continue
to serve thousands of AIA members.
The AIA Trust has other valuable programs.
In 1994 the Small Firm Professional Liability Program was introduced.
It's a professional liability insurance program specially designed for
small architecture firms by the CNA Insurance Companies and Victor O. Schinnerer
& Company, Inc., and sponsored by the AIA Trust. Today there are 3,259
small firms using the plan, 240 of them in Texas.
Last year the AIA Trust introduced LegaLine, a subscription service
that provides instant, unlimited access to legal information from experts
headed by Charles R. Heuer, FAIA, Esq. The service was created in
response to marketing feasibility studies of AIA members in which 60 percent
of respondents identified reliable practice-related legal information as
the most valuable membership benefit that the AIA Trust could offer. In
a recent follow-up study 95% of the current subscribers to LegaLine couldn't
be more satisfied with the service.
And just last month the AIA Trust announced availability of a Business
Owner Protection Program, featuring enhancements designed specifically
for architectural firms underwritten by ITT Hartford and providing nationwide
coverage for Business Liability, Workers Compensation, Auto, and General
Liability. The Business Insurance Program is designed to offer a dividend
to all participants, based on overall program loss experience. As this
is written there are 12 firms insured, including AIA/Houston. The new coverage
for the Chapter office saved over $800 in your dues dollars.
For information about the programs of the TSA Trust call: 1-800-854-0491.
For information about the programs of the AIA Trust call: 1-800-552-1093.
Chapter
Members Lead TSA
The 1997 TSA officers include Frank Douglas, FAIA, AIA Regional
Director, representing Texas on the National Board, David Watkins, AIA,
Vice President, and Darrell Fitzgerald, FAIA, Vice President. Other
officers are Jan Blackmon, AIA, President, from Dallas; President-Elect
David Richter, FAIA, Corpus Christi; Vice Presidents Rolando
Garcia, AIA, Lower Rio Grande Valley, and Martin Harms, AIA,
Lubbock; Secretary Dohn LaBiche, AIA, South East Texas; Treasurer
Bill Wilson, AIA, Corpus Christi; Educator Director, Julius Gribou,
AIA, Texas A&M University; Intern/Associate Director Jacqui
Dodson, Associate AIA, Austin; Public Member Eleanor Tinsley, Hon.
TSA, Houston; and Ronald Skaggs, FAIA, Senior AIA Director.
Architects
in Public Service
Service to Persons with Disabilities…A Blend of Architectural Practice
and Civic Involvemement
As is often the case with many of us, Mort Levy, FAIA, has, for
many years, found himself bouncing back and forth between what he does
in practice and how he relates it to civic involvement…in this instance,
accessibility for the disabled.
In 1969, he designed a series of buildings for the Houston Lighthouse
for the Blind. With Codes in their infancy, he had to develop his own standards
through interviews, observation, and research. With this background, he
became interested in the subject of accessibility codes and chaired the
committee which wrote the first accessibility provisions of the Houston
Building Code. His 1986 design for the Brith Shalom Synagogue in Bellaire
won the highest award of the Synagogue Council of America for "Access
and Concern for the Handicapped" and many of his other projects have
dealt, primarily, with accessibility…surveys and recommendations for commercial
and industrial buildings, sixteen City of Houston Health and Human Services
facilities, over two hundred Post Offices. And bouncing back to time spent
in public service, he has spoken on the subject of accessibility to conventions,
the Texas Legislature, radio and television audiences…and, most recently,
received a Mayoral appointment as Chair of the Houston Committee on Disabilities.
Of particular interest should be the fact that Levy first learned of
the Commission through an AIA Houston solicitation of interest by members
in the work of the whole array of Houston Commissions. He strongly advocates
AIA involvement and leadership in such endeavors and considers the opportunities
"boundless."
The Houston Commission on Disabilities was created by City Ordinance
in 1993, in conjunction with the growing awareness and applicability of
the Americans with Disabilities Act. It has twelve members, nine of whom
are required to be persons with disabilities. It is responsible for advising
and making recommendations to the Mayor, Council, and other facets of City
operations on issues pertaining to the full spectrum of needs, rights,
and privileges of people with disabilities…such as employment, accessibility,
housing, communications, transportation and mobility, alcoholism and drug
abuse, and various funding opportunities. It also works to help coordinate
the efforts of existing non-profit, governmental and advocacy groups.
Recent activities of the Commission have included participation in the
bi-annual Career Fair for People with Disabilities, reminding the Mayor
and Council of the importance of accessibility as a feature of the City’s
affordable housing program, holding an all day meeting to orient new Commissioners
and to create dialogue with the major providers of service to people with
disabilities, a public forum aimed at the Hispanic community, a fact-finding
tour of IAH conducted by the Department of Aviation, and input to various
arts and museum facilities regarding accessibility of their programs to
those with hearing and vision impairments.
We’ve all seen well-meaning, but misdirected efforts by building owners
to make their facilities accessible…often their "cure" has made
things worse or even unsafe. Incoming Chapter President Joe Webb, AIA,
has agreed to encourage members to provide pro-bono advice to those who
seek the often simple direction needed in their attempts to eliminate architectural
barriers. You’ll hear more about this!
In
Memoriam
Allen G. Weymouth, AIA, died on September 11, 1996, of cancer.
President of the Chapter in 1984, Al was deeply involved in education:
his firm specialized in school design; he initiated and supported programs
to educate the public about architecture and architects; he was a strong
participant in the Intern Development Program; he devoted hours to the
Houston Building Code, informing policy makers about the implications of
the codes, developing amendments, and explaining the code to fellow practitioners.
During his presidency of AIA Houston, he supported the publication of
Houston's Gallery of Architecture: A Walking Tour of Downtown Houston
and initiated or expanded efforts to reach the public, newly registered
architects, interns, clients, and related professions. He chaired the committee
that published the successful Houston Architectural Guide in 1990.
As recently as a week before his death, he participated in the task force
assisting in the revisions of Chapter 42 of Houston's Code of Ordinances.
His firm, Cavitt, McKnight, Weymouth, has won recognition for its school
designs from AIA Houston (a Design Award for HSPVA) and the Texas Association
of School Administrators and the Texas Association of School Boards. Kleb
Intermediate School in Klein ISD received a Design Excellence Honor Award
and more than two dozen schools received commendations from TASA/TASB,
the National School Boards Association, the American Association of School
Administrators, and Houston Lighting and Power.
A graduate of Rice University, Weymouth is survived by his wife, Evelyn,
his daughter Laura Middleton, AIA, and son-in-law, Perry Middleton.
Committee
Bulletin Board
AIA Committee on Architecture for Health (CAH)
To provide a forum for architects and allied professionals engaged
in health care facility work; to develop professional development programs
in that specialty.
Safety in the Surgery Environment
November 19
Registration and lunch begins at 11:30 am.
Seminar will begin at noon.
Level 2, 3 LUs Health and Safety.
Cost includes lunch; $7.00 interns, $10.00 members, $15.00 non-members.
RSVP, 622-6261 before 10 am.
Manufacturers are responding with products to improve safety for the
surgical staff. One new product, CVAC, a central smoke evacuation for laser
plumes and anesthesia evacuation is planned at St. Joseph Hospital. New
products for handling and transporting solids and liquids from the operating
room are on the market. Paul Pedersen, Director of Medical Equipment Planning
for Falick Klein Partnership Architects, Inc., (FKP) will be leading a
discussion of these products and how the facility design can respond. Consulting
engineers Smith Seckman Reid, Inc. will describe the central smoke evacuation
system designed for the new St. Joseph Hospital Ambulatory Services Facility.
Third Annual Design for Health Gala
December 10 , 1996
6-8 pm
Museum of Health and Medical Science
1515 Hermann Drive
The healthcare design professionals representing AIA, ASID, IIDA will
gather at the Museum of Health and Medical Science for the third annual
gala. Facility and department representatives from Houston’s medical community
and BOMA will be invited. Design entries for the gala will focus on interior
healthcare projects. Vendors will display products and literature of healthcare
related finishes, furniture, accessories and equipment. See the insert
in this newsletter for the Call to Exhibit Work. A seminar and tour of
the "Amazing Body Pavilion" will begin at 6 pm and will highlight
the design process and intricacies for building some of the museum’s exhibits.
Music, food, and beverage service will be provided. Mark your calendars
for this event! Call Gary Owens, AIA, or Lisa Charrin, AIA,
at FKP, 621-2100 for exhibit information or to add your name to the invitation
mailing list.
Tom Braud, AIA, Chair; Gary Owens, AIA, Vice-Chair, Gus Blanco,
AIA, Program Coordinator; Wayne Burford, AIA, Membership Coordinator; Lisa
Charrin, AIA, Newsletter/PR Coordinator
IDP Practice Seminar
To support the advisor/intern program; to develop seminars for interns.
Tuesday, October 15
Chapter office, 6-8 pm
Cost: $10 members, $5; member intern, $7.50 non-member intern, $15 non-member,
Students free with ID.
The changing relationship between Architects and the Construction Industry
will be the topic of the fifth and final seminar of the year: Contractors-Partners
or Adversaries?"
Several specialists in the area of design-build, arbitration, mediation
and partnering—from attorneys to owners, educators, builders, Architects—will
present a wide range of viewpoints at the seminar.
Seating is limited; reservations can be made with AIA, 622-6261.
Robert Burnham, AIA, Chair e-mail =
Residential Committee
To serve as a forum for those engaged in the practice of residential
architecture; to develop continuing education programs in that specialty.
Thursday, October 24
Chapter office, noon
Business meeting and program with catered lunch
1 Learning Unit
RSVP required, 622-6261
This month’s catered lunch and meeting will feature David Eastwood,
President of Geo Tech Engineering. His program will be on Houston area
soil conditions, foundation types, design and construction, foundation
failures and repair techniques. RSVP required.
No meeting in November because of Thanksgiving holidays. Our next meeting
is December 5 featuring The Lighting Group.
Rand Silverman, AIA, Chair
Announcements
Introducing SDA
Office Managers, Administrative Assistants, Executive Secretaries: This
is for you. An introductory meeting of the Houston Chapter of the Society
of Design Administration (SDA) will be held on Friday, October 11, noon,
in the Houston AIA Office, Suite 246 in the Innova Building, 20 Greenway
Plaza. Please phone 622-6261 to RSVP by October 4.
Thanks to architect volunteers who responded to HISD’s
call for facility survey:
Jeff Balliew, Page Southerland Page Dan Barnum, AIA, Hall/Barnum Architects Hormoz Bastani, AIA, Hormoz H. Bastani, AIA Ray Beets, AIA, Budd Beets Harden Kolflat Architecture
Michael Berger Tom Braud, AIA, Wilson Architectural Group Bob Brooks, AIA, Brooks/Collier
Reuben Brown, BW Architects Ray Castillon, AIA, MCCM Architects Dick Cate, AIA, MCCM Architects Richard Chambers, AIA, Morris Architects
Teresa Champion, Brooks/Collier Meyer Chaskin, AIA, DCW Architects Tarit Chaudhuri, AIA, Archion Services Sam Crawford, AIA, SJKB, Inc.
T. Leo Dawsey, Jr., Dawsey Associates Architects Ray de la Reza, AIA, Rey de la Reza AIA Architects Carlo DiNunzio, AIA, Synectics Group, Inc. Johnny Evans, AIA, Hellmuth, Obata, Kassabaum, Inc. Philip Ewald, AIA, Philip Ewald Architecture, Inc. John Farrell, AIA, Farrell Sundin + Partners, Inc.
Louis Frey, Frey Architects
Nancy Ganucheau, Pearson English Architects James Gleason. AIA Art Gower, CRSS Israel Grinberg, AIA, ArcTec Associates, Inc. Courtney Harper, AIA, Courtney Harper + Partners
Roy Harper, Roy Harper AIA and Associates Gary Hill, AIA, Hill & Frank, Inc. Ron Hollyhead, AIA, CRSS Wally Huerta, AIA, Huerta & Associates Architects Ben Hurst, AIA, Jackson & Ryan Architects, Inc.
Jeff Jefferson, PBK Architects Bob Jones, AIA, Hermes Reed Architects C. C. Lee, AIA, STOA International, Architects Mort Levy, FAIA, Levy Associates Architects, Inc. Conrad Lozano, AIA, ArcTec Associates, Inc. Dwayne Mollard, AIA, PDG Inc.
Norris Mosely, Moseley Associates Architects David Nemon, AIA, R & T Architects Bill Neuhaus, FAIA, W. O. Neuhaus Associates
Heather Neville, Bay Architects
Mark Ofield, Ray Bailey Architects
Donald Pederson, Donald E. Pederson Architects
Don Primosic, PGAL Architects Larry Pyle, AIA, PMP Inc. Architects Mike Rader, AIA, FKP Ted Richardson, AIA, RWS Architects
Steven Ritchey, Thompson Nelson Ritchey Matt Roesler, AIA, Roesler Associates /Architects Lyn Rosenberg-Johnson, AIA
Yancy Saunders, AIA, YLS Incorporated Martha Seng, AIA, Jackson & Ryan Architects Inc. Hal Sharp, AIA, Heights Venture Architects Mark Smith, AIA, Jackson & Ryan Architects
Mark Starr, Third Coast Architects Jerry Stuyck, AIA, SBWV Architects, Inc. Ivan Sue, AIA, Bartone Design Group Abe Sustaita, AIA, Sustaita Architects, AIA Dan Talley, AIA, MTA Architects/Planners
Gordon Taylor, Roy Harper AIA and Associates Ted Turk, AIA, Ted M. Turk Associates, Inc. Conrad Walton, AIA, DCW Architects George Watanabe, AIA, Watkins Carter Hamilton Architects, Inc. David Wheeler, AIA, The Durrant Group
Mike White, BW Architects
