Committe Bulletin Board

Architecture for Kids

Tuesday, July 1, Monthly Meeting, Chapter Office, Noon
Tuesday, August 5, Monthly Meeting, Chapter Office, Noon

In April, the Architecture for Kids Committee participated with the City of Houston Planning and Development Department and the ASLA in a new program developed for the American City Quality Month. This is an annual, nationally-designated month to focus public attention on improving the quality of our nation's cities. Cheryl Gajeske, AIA, Ralph Windle, Alan Sadeghpour, AIA, Antonio Flamenco, AIA, Robert Lay-Su, AIA, Joe Webb, AIA, and Michelle Carter, AIA, helped present the program to various H.I.S.D. elementary and middle schools.

The annual Architecture is Fun teacher workshop will take place in September. Volunteers are needed to help write the program and present the workshop. Contact a Committee Co-Chair, Juan Rodriguez (713-789-0395) or Marie Hoke, AIA (713-524-6131) if interested.

Environmental Committee

To enroll Houston Architects in environmental preservation and provide a resource structure to encourage environmentally sound design and construction practices.

Wednesday, July 9, Monthly Meeting, Chapter Office, Noon, LU's
Wednesday, August 13, Monthly Meeting, Chapter Office, Noon

The Environmental Committee is proud to report that the two-person structure erected during the Sandcastle Competition was a huge success - it withstood the winds of the beach, provided shade for our information booth, and created interest from the crowds. A special thanks to Mike Horvath, AIA, Stephen Jovicich, AIA, Michele Caruthers and Katherine King de Perio for all of their time given in the design and construction of the structure. The REUSE Competition will be held on November 15, 1997: Texas Recycling Day. We still need your help to keep the project moving. Please call Mike Horvath, AIA, 713-877-1192 or Duane Bradshaw, AIA, 281-568-6113 to get involved.

July 9: Stacy Wooten of Dupont's Partnership for Carpet Reclamation (PCR) will present the program. Stacy has insight into the issues of waste disposal today and how DuPont is addressing these issues. Information will be presented on how to write reclamation into specifications. This is the only program we know of for the reclaiming of any type of used carpet. This presentation provides learning units and a free lunch courtesy of DuPont. Please mark your calendar and call the AIA office by July 7 so that we can reserve a spot and lunch for you. All architects and students are invited to attend. Please come.

Committee on Architecture for Health

To provide a forum for architects and allied professionals engaged in health care facility work; to develop professional development programs in that area.

Tuesday, July 22, Monthly Meeting, Chapter Office, Noon
Tuesday, August 26, Monthly Meeting, Chapter Office, Noon

Plans are currently in the works to schedule a tour of an in-progress construction site. New ideas are encouraged to help plan these events.

Gary Owens, AIA, Chair; Greg Johnson, AIA, Vice-Chair; Lisa Charrin, AIA, Program Coordinator; Wayne Burford, AIA, Membership Coordinator; Mary Grace Marks, AIA, Newsletter/PR Coordinator.

Business Practice Committee

Thursday, July 17, Monthly Meeting, Chapter Office, Noon, LU's
Thursday, August 5, Monthly Meeting, Chapter Office, Noon

The topic for the July meeting is about your legal rights as an Architect for collecting fees. Hillary Brown, an attorney with Meyer, Orlando & Evans, will deliver a brief presentation covering the major points about this very relevant subject. The meeting will then be opened to general discussion. Please join us for our round table meeting.

International Committee

There are no committee meetings scheduled for the remainder of the summer (July, August). In September, the committee will meet to discuss future programming. Plan to join us.

Micro Firm Round Table

Provides a forum for one and two-person firms.
Monday, July 14, Monthly Meeting, Chapter Office, 11:30, LU's
Monday, August 11, Monthly Meeting, Chapter Office, 11:30

Office Form Exchange. July's meeting will be a in-house roundtable moderated by Louis Frye. Our aim is to share ideas about the paper work that an office utilizes to minimize the reinvention of the wheel. Louis will bring several documents that he has found beneficial. Please bring any of your own inter-office forms that you can share with the members.

Sandcastle Committee

Pam Vassallo, Chair

The 11th Annual AIA Sandcastle Competition was a huge success, thanks to perfect weather, larger than usual crowds, and terrific media coverage. Who would have ever guessed that at 6:15 am that morning the committee was greeted with hundreds of crumpled canopies floating in the Gulf of Mexico!! A perfect opportunity for thinking creatively and making decisions on the run.

This event would not happen without the hard work of the volunteer committee. Please take the opportunity to thank the following members:

Pat Gremillion, A&E Products
Rich Witmer, A&E Products
Bernice Reyes, Watkins Carter Hamilton
Derek Moore, AIA, 3D/International
Tom McCarthy, Kendall Heaton
Sydney LeNoir, Steelcase
Tom Hintz, Mannington
Karen Phelps, Wall Covering Industries
Paul Larson, Student, UH College of Architecture
Kem Casey, Quality Service Floor Company
Jay Tatum, AIA, HOK

We are already recruiting new members for next year. Please contact the AIA office to volunteer.

Urban Design Committee

Wednesday, July 16, Monthly Meeting, Noon, Chapter Office

In May, the Urban Design Committee met with the Design Committee to hear Leo Linbeck speak about the Cotswold project. Eugene Lee, Project Director, updated the group on progress and continuing development of the project with Houston Metro and interested downtown development groups.

John Walsh, President of the Houston Chamber of Commerce will speak at the June meeting. The July meeting is a business meeting to discuss future programs and projects, including the Houston's Mayoral race and the program, "Back from the Brink."

Young Architects Forum

Tuesday, July 22, Happy Hour, 6:00 p.m., Mesa Restaurant
Tuesday, August 22, Happy Hour, 6:00 p.m., Mesa Restaurant

We are seeking interns and recently registered architects to serve as advisors for a newly-proposed professional development service called ArchitectConnect. Contact ReNae Scott, AIA, 713-974-3565, for details. In June, 1998, Houston Habitat for Humanity will build 100 new homes. The Young Architects Forum will participate in this seven-day event. We hope you can help us. Currently, there is a need for programming, design, and documentation. Become involved! For more information regarding the Young Architects Forum, contact Reagan Miller, AIA, at 713-520-7180.