President's Report: Suzanne LabartheIn an organization as diverse and large as AIA Houston, many people are responsible for success. Our decentralized, committee oriented management makes AIA Houston a member-based, member-directed organization. As president, I celebrate our diversity, our successes, and the talent and dedication of the 1996 Committee Chairs. Their report is my report. AIA/AGC Joint Committee, Meyer Chaskin, AIA The major work of this committee is to maintain and update the AIA ACG Recommended Practices Manual. Updates were issued in October. Three seminars were held in the spring, using the Manual as a training tool. Other issues that the committee is monitoring are: the implementation of Senate Bill 1 as it relates to school construction; HISD's review of their design and construction process; the review and update of A201. Architecture for Kids, Julia Nolte, AIA The committee hosted a workshop for teachers to implement Architecture Is Fun in public school classrooms and conducted the annual Michael G. Meyers High School Design Competition, won this year by Vanina Acosta of Stratford High. Members also participated in career days. The Committee received a President's Citation at the annual meeting for its work for "creative presentation of the concepts of architecture to elementary and secondary school students and teachers."Awards, James Thomas, FAIA The committee recommended recipients for Chapter Awards: Honorary Member, Marion McCollum; Citation of Honor, AGC; Artist, Janice Parsons; Craftsman, Marek Brothers Systems; Educator, Gabriella Guiterrez; and Chapter Citation, Charles Hubbard, FAIA. Business Practice, Walter Murphy, AIA New in 1996, this committee held monthly roundtable discussions on management issues important to medium sized firms. Codes and Standards, Hal Caton, AIA The committee completed the Houston Building Code Update review, recommending the Code's adoption by City Council, and planned a series of seminars based on the new code to be held as soon as Council takes action. Computers in Architecture, James Coit, AIA Seminars on the Internet, TSA Link, Cadvance 7.0, Building System Design; SpecLink; and Small Profit Margins were hosted by this committee. Continuing Education, Kurt Hull, AIA Promoting awareness of the AIA CES requirement was the chief goal of the committee in 1996. It also sponsored two DPIC Risk Management Seminars. Design, Mark Lange, AIA The annual Design Awards competition included both built and unrealized work. Submissions were up 20% over 1995. Jurors selected 8 projects for awards in the built work and 4 in On the Boards. The Mayer House (Barnstone) was selected as the 25 Year Award Winner. In addition to the awards competition, the committee sponsored monthly design talks. Environment, Stephen Jovicich, Associate AIA Over the past year the Environment Committee hosted a variety of seminars on indoor air quality, ecologically friendly building materials, alternative building methods, energy efficiency, and Permaculture; and conducted a workshop on construction waste recycling and management. We have continued a dialog with the Habitat for Humanity to incorporate energy efficient design strategies in current and future housing projects. Exhibitions, Richard Buday, AIA Two photographic exhibitions, curated by Gerald Moorhead, FAIA, were mounted in 1996: a retrospective on downtown Houston for FotoFest and 160 Years of Houston Architecture for the celebration of Houston's birthday, which honored the AIA. Fellowship Nominating, Kirk Hamilton, FAIA Two Chapter members were invested in the College of Fellows, Raymond Brochstein, FAIA, and Darrell Fitzgerald, FAIA. Health, Tom Braud, AIA Monthly seminars and/or tours of health care facilities provided continuing education units for health facility architects. The December Gala exhibited current work and the latest in products. Housing, Mike Griffin, AIA The major accomplishment of the Housing Committee was the creation of the Community Design Assistance Center, a separately chartered, non-profit corporation to provide recoverable grants to community based organization enabling them to acquire architectural services. Interior Architecture, Anissa Zickler, AIA The committee co-sponsored the Women of Design exhibition with IIDA and Steelcase. Intern Development Program, Robert Burnham, AIA Bi-monthly seminars provided information, experience, and IDP value units to interns preparing for the Architectural Registration Exam. Monthly Perspective columns provide additional information. International, Bonnie Boudreaux, Associate AIA The committee hosted periodic seminars on international work and arranged a tour of Houston for visiting Chinese architects and city planners. Micro-Firm Round Table, Betty Avary, AIA, and Hy Applebaum, AIA Monthly presentations and round table discussions on issues important to one and two person firms were the core of this committee's activity. Residential Architecture, Rand Silverman, AIA The Annual Spring Home Tour attracted a record number of visitors and was augmented by a seminar for home owners co-sponsored by West University National Bank. A number of firms exhibited in the 10th Annual Texas Home Show. Monthly meetings featured presentations by vendors and service providers. Sand Castle Competition, Bob Eudy, AIA A record number of teams and participants contributed to the success of this annual event. Winner of the Golden Bucket was Jackson & Ryan Architects, Inc.; Silver Shovel, Texas Four; Bronze Shovel, Haynes Whaley Associates, Inc. Steelcase and A&E Products. Were major underwriters and co-sponsors of the event. Tours, Henry Quian, AIA Monthly walking tours of downtown introduced architecture to more than 500 Houstonians and visitors. Urban Design, James Hill, AIA, and Rives Taylor, AIA Members of the committee assisted the City's Planning and Development Department in the formulation of a master plan for the 2nd Ward and nominated Joe Webb, AIA, to represent the Chapter on the revision of the Development Ordinance. Plans underway for completion in 1997 include a series of events to capitalize on the airing of a PBS documentary, Back from the Brink: Saving America's Cities by Design, produced by the American Architectural Foundation. Young Architects Forum, Reagan Miller, AIA The committee focused young architects' energy on public service projects: a Spark Park at Piney Point Elementary School and Bridge Over Troubled Waters shelter for abused women and children. They also initiated a Young Architect Salary and Responsibility Survey. |