75th Anniversary Annual Meeting Recap
An almost capacity crowd of members and guests visited the exhibition, 75 That Made a Difference; elected officers and directors for 2000; honored talent and service, and heard a rousing jeremiad on the plight of cities and small towns at the close of the century from James Howard Kunstler, author and social critic. While not holding architects completely harmless for urban sprawl and growing placelessness, he looks to architects and their planning colleagues in the Congress of New Urbanism to lead the way out of the captivity of expanding freeways, big box stores, lagoons of parking and diminished community. It is ironic that on the day of the Annual Meeting, Houston surpassed Los Angeles in the count of days of non-attainment of acceptable ozone levels.
AIA Houston paid tribute to distinguished service and exceptional talent at the Annual Meeting on October 7. James Hill, AIA, President, presented citations to Gerald Moorhead, FAIA; Frank Douglas, FAIA, and the firm of D/G Houston; Richard Hand; Rafael Longoria; and Rachel Hecker.
Gerald Moorhead received the Chapter Citation for his extraordinary contributions to public awareness of architecture and the achievements of Houston architects. He is responsible for all photography in the Houston Architectural Guide (second edition, 1999, text by Stephen Fox), and with Yolita Schmidt, edited the book. As the curator of 75 That Made a Difference: From T-Square to High Tech, currently on view in Two Allen Center, he combed the archives of Houston Endowment, Rice University, and the Houston Metropolitan Research Center to find the excellent historical material included in the exhibition. He produced the firm timeline for the exhibition free hand to be sure it looked like the work of an architect instead of a word processor. In addition, he is a frequent contributor to Texas Architect and Architectural Record, an active participant in the Chapter's Design Committee and TSA's Publications Committee. Moorhead is a graduate of Rice University and is with Ray Bailey Architects, Inc.
Frank Douglas and his firm, D/G Houston, received a special citation for their generous support of the Chapter's graphic identity from the design of the 75th anniversary logo, to more than one Celebrate Architecture invitation, to the exhibition, 75 That Made a Difference. Douglas's creative influence and the enthusiastic participation of the firm in these projects are vital to their success. Juliana Marek, Dawn Diamond, James Wheat, Shanna Mucha, Paula Patrick, and Carol Devlin deserve special thanks for their support.
The Craftsman Award was presented to Richard Hood, L&R Welding and Fabricators, for his skill in the fabrication and installation of intricate metal work and for his commitment to realizing the design of the architect. His nominator described the unusual nature and intricate detailing of a structural cage and stairwell that called for the structural steel to be exposed as an interior finish. Hood's understanding of the intent of the design and attention to detail made the feature a highlight of the building.
Rafael Longoria, Professor at the University of Houston Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture, received the Educator Award for his work as founding co-editor of a new architectural magazine, AU.LA (Architecture and Urbanism of Latin America). This publication, printed in both English and Spanish, includes work from the entire hemisphere. AU.LA will educate the entire profession on the work of the hemisphere and enhance the global perspective of professionals and students alike.
Rachel Hecker received the Artist Award for exceptional skill in integration of public art into architectural and urban design projects. At George Bush Intercontinental Airport and in the downtown Transit Streetscape Improvement projects, her delightful art intervention complements the function of the architectural elements. In sidewalks, bus shelters, and elevators cores, her creativity and talent enliven the user's experience and enrich the architecture.
In addition to these Chapter Honors, Hill presented five President's Citations to individuals who have contributed significantly to the Chapter's success in 1999.
Those honors went to: Peter Brown, AIA, for Making Main Street Happen; Marie Hoke, AIA, for dedication to the education of future architects and clients and for leadership in the largest Box City event ever; Leonard Lane, AIA, for effectively presenting the work of architects to a wider public through the 75th anniversary home tour; Joe Webb, AIA, for continued leadership and dedication to the profession of architecture and for orchestrating a fitting 75th anniversary celebration; and Michael Gaertner, AIA, and Kathy Heard, AIA, for dedication to the fellowship of the profession in organizing the 60th Annual Texas Society of Architects Convention. Yolita Schmidt received a special citation for significant contributions to the publication of the Houston Architectural Guide.
Thanks to the Annual Meeting sponsors:
FKP
Gensler
Morris Architects
PageSoutherlandPage
Watkins Hamilton Ross
Associated General Contractors
Brand Allen Architects, Inc.
Brookstone Construction Corp.
D.E. Harvey Builders
Ferguson Enterprises
Haynes Whaley Associates
Kirksey and Partners
Ray Bailey Architects, Inc.
Spaw Maxwell Company
Swinerton-Walberg
Webb Architects
W.S. Bellows Construction Corp.
Sematex
Fisk
AIA. What's in it for me?
Information: publications, seminars, conferences
Access: to industry standard contracts, a network of job leads, civic and business leaders
Recognition: design and service awards, national television and radio advertising, appointments to public boards
Influence: on public and Institute policy
Mentoring: one-to-one, firm to firm, professional to student
Representation: before legislative bodies, regulatory agencies
Advocacy: for the health, safety and welfare of the public, qualification-based selection for public projects, comprehensive planning and design excellence
Fellowship: with architects, with colleagues in related fields, with industry and political leaders
Nominating Committee Recommends Officers and Directors for 2000
These candidates for office were presented to the membership for a vote at the Annual Meeting on October 7.
President Elect: Ray Leiker, AIA, Ray Bailey Architects
Treasurer: Martha Seng, AIA, Jackson & Ryan Architects
Director for Public Relations: Chris Hudson, AIA, Morris Architects
Director for Civic Affairs: Dan Brents, FAIA, Gensler
Director for Industry Affairs: Hal Caton, AIA, Caton Consulting
Director for Education: Marie Hoke, AIA, Ray and Hollington
Director for Practice: Dan Searight, AIA, Morris Architects
All terms are two years, except the President Elect.
Remaining on the Board are:
President: Ernesto Maldonado, AIA, Glassman-Shoemake Maldonado
Secretary: Tim Conroy, AIA, HOK
Director for Continuing Education: Pam Vassallo, AIA, Ray Bailey Architects
Director for Honors and Awards: John Farrell, AIA, FKP
Director for PIAs: C.C. Lee, AIA, STOA
Past President: James Hill, AIA, Ambrose and McEnany Architects
Ernesto Maldonado, AIA, chaired the Nominating Committee. Other members were: Bill Eide, AIA, Chris Hudson, AIA, Bonnie McLoud, AIA, Reagan Miller, AIA, Ken Ross, AIA, and Cynthia Walston AIA.
Home Tour Time Again
It's that time again. Home Tour time, that is. The Residential Committee is accepting suggestions for the 2000 AIA Houston Home Tour. The tour will be in late March. Houses can be new or remodeled, big or small: the only requirement is that an architect from the Houston Chapter be involved with the project. Please fax or e-mail your suggestions to Leonard Lane, AIA, at 713-621-5816 or llane@ flash.net.
Prairie View School of Architecture Introduces eMentor Program
Architects and interns are invited to mentor entering freshman using the Internet and email. With only fifteen to thirty minutes a week, mentors can provide advice and information. Call Professor Peter Wood at Prairie View, 409/857-2014, or send your email address to him at P Wood @ pvamu.ed.
AIA Salutes AIA Houston
Among other features at Celebrate Architecture, Ron Skaggs, FAIA, president elect of the American Institute of Architects, brought two Presidential Citations from Michael Stanton, FAIA, 1999 national president.
The first was a salute to the Chapter "to celebrate seventy five years of exemplary service to the profession, the citizens of Texas, and the nation. A dynamic force for the transformation of the profession from a learned society to a respected voice advocating an enhanced quality of life for all the citizens of Houston, through comprehensive planning and a vision of positive change, its members and leaders have nurtured the growth of a chapter that is second to none as a nursery of design excellence, inspired leadership, and lasting achievement."
The second was presented to Martha Murphree, Honorary AIA, Executive Director: "like the axle of a great wheel, she remains calm, but in that quiet, there is consistent force, supporting and enabling the architectural profession in Houston to grow and prosper. A vigorous advocate for design, a consummate professional and trusted friend, she wears her competency as a plant bears flowers: neither forced nor self-aware, but, rather, spontaneously beautiful and capable of perfuming an entire garden."
HAF Announces Spring Grants
At its meeting in May, the Board of the Houston Architecture Foundation approved three grants totaling $29,000, agreed to sponsor the publication of an architecture book, and agreed to begin to build an endowment to support future grants. Funding for its current grants comes from the proceeds of Celebrate Architecture.
The University of Houston College of Architecture's Summer Discovery Program received $3000. This six-week intensive program for high school students identifies and develops design talent. Drexel Turner is director of the program; Joe Mashburn, AIA, is Dean of the College.
The Community Design Assistance Center received $6000 for a redevelopment project in the Fondren/Southwest area. The Metropolitan Economic Community Development Corporation asked assistance from CDAC to redevelop a demolished apartment site for a job training/day care facility. Mike Griffin, AIA, is president of CDAC; John Spear, AIA, is executive director.
AIA Houston received $20,000 for the exhibition, 75 That Made a Difference. This review of 75 years of the AIA and architecture in Houston will open in Two Allen Center in September. Gerald Moorhead, FAIA, is curator of the exhibition, the finale of AIA Houston's Diamond Jubilee year. Walter P. Moore is a major underwriter.
Houston Architectural Ballade, a book of photographs exploring the architecture and civic art of Houston, is the work of Valentin Gertsman. Photographs include literal compositions as well as abstract composition based on architectural geometry. The full color 136 page book is scheduled for publication in the fall.
Taft Architects Receives AIA/Houston 1999 Firm Award
Taft Architects, a partnership of John Casbarian, FAIA, Danny Samuels, FAIA, and Robert Timme, FAIA, received the 1999 AIA Houston Firm Award at Celebrate Architecture on April 16.
A distinguished jury of James Gatton, FAIA, Kenneth Bentsen, FAIA, and Preston Bolton, FAIA, reviewed nominations and made the selection. They cited the firm's unique approach to partnership as well as the its record of design excellence and leadership in architectural education in choosing Taft for the award.
The AIA Houston Firm Award recognizes firms that have consistently produced distinguished architecture for a period of at least ten years. The jury considers design, firm organization, contributions to the profession and contributions to the community in its decision. The Award was presented at Celebrate Architecture on April 16.
Taft Architects, organized in 1972, is a small office with a unique philosophy. The three partners work equally on the design and execution of each project. They take a limited number of projects at any one time to ensure careful attention to each by the partners. Their work is internationally recognized, with a proven record of satisfied clients and design excellence. Projects have been diverse in both scale and type and include a bath house for the Southside Place swimming pool, a range of residential projects, country club houses, a processing plant in France, and several schools including one in Columbus, Indiana, and the Rice School in Houston Independent School District.
Each partner is committed to architectural education. Casbarian is Associate Dean of the School of Architecture at Rice University; Samuels is Visiting Professor at Rice and Director of the Rice Building Workshop; Timme, currently on sabbatical from the firm, is Dean of Architecture at the University of Southern California. They have held appointments as Distinguished Visiting Professor at Yale, the University of Illinois, the University of Pennsylvania and Clemson University and received the AIA Houston Educator Award in 1991.
The firm has won more than 60 awards, including three consecutive Honor Awards from the American Institute of Architects. The trio was elected to the AIA College of Fellows in 1991 and in 1985 were awarded the Advanced Fellowship in Architecture at the American Academy in Rome. Since 1981 they have served on 30 awards juries in the United States and Europe.
John J. Casbarian, FAIA, was born in Alexandria, Egypt. He holds a Master of Fine Arts degree from the California Institute of the Arts and a Bachelor of architecture degree from Rice University. He has worked for Guren Associates, in Los Angeles, with Cesar Pelli and at Works West with Craig Hodgetts. He is licensed to practice architecture in five states.
Danny M. Samuels, FAIA, was born in Memphis, Tennessee. He holds a Bachelor of Architecture degree from Rice University and has worked with Kevin Roche and Guillermo Julian de la Fuentes in Paris. An accomplished photographer, his work has been recognized in exhibitions and publications and is a part of the permanent collection of the Museum of Find Arts Houston.
Robert Timme, FAIA, was born in Houston and holds both a Bachelor and Master of Architecture degree from Rice University. He studied at the Institute of Architecture and Urban Studies in New York with Peter Eisenman and worked with I. M. Pei & Partners and with Paul Kennon at CRS.
Ken Bentsen Named to Honorary Membership
The Board of Directors of the AIA/Houston has elected U.S. Representative Ken Bentsen to Honorary Membership in the Chapter, according to James D. Hill, AIA, President. "His sponsorship and support of legislation for inner city revitalization, improvement and expansion of educational facilities, and construction of affordable housing as well as his accessibility to constituents made Bentsen an obvious choice," said Hill.
A third term Congressman representing the 25th Congressional District of Texas, Bentsen serves on the Budget Committee and the Banking and Financial Services Committee. His legislative priorities have included federal budget, health care, financial, and economic policy. He has been active in crafting legislation to modernize the nation's banking and securities laws and authored legislation to reform and strengthen federal export finance policy and federal mortgage finance policy.
This legislation as well as initiatives expanding the Houston Ship Channel, reforming federal flood control policy, and funding the Johnson Spacecraft Center not only bring economic benefit to Houston but also demonstrate sensitivity to the interdependence of all parts of the Houston region, including those outside of his district. AIA Houston sees this understanding as a necessary condition for an effective urban growth policy.
Bentsen is a graduate of the University of St. Thomas and holds a Masters of Public Administration in Finance and Economics from American University. Bentsen's father, Kenneth Bentsen, Sr., FAIA, is a member of AIA Houston.
Bentsen was honored at Celebrate Architecture on April 16, AIA/Houston's annual tribute to the inventive spirit and recognition of distinguished architecture, urban design, and community and public service.
Mark Wamble Named 1999 Young Architect
Mark Wamble, design coordinator at Willis Bricker & Cannady, was named AIA Houston's Young Architect for 1999. The jury was composed of Mark Francis, AIA, the 1998 winner; Ken Ross, AIA, Past President of AIA Houston, and Joe Mashburn, AIA, Dean of Architecture at the University of Houston. The award was announced at Celebrate Architecture on April 16.
The Young Architect Award was created to recognize excellence in ability and exceptional contributions by architects who are under 40 years of age or are in their first ten years of practice. This award is for accomplishment not promise and may be awarded for achievement in design, practice, education, project management, or research.
A graduate of Texas A&M University, Harvard Graduate School of Design and Cambridge University, Wamble combines design and architectural education in ways that enhance both. He has worked with Peter Eisenman, studied with Joseph Rykwerk and Catherine Cook and has been responsible for a variety of projects all over the world.
He was an excavation artist at an archeological site in Crete, participated in the design of a research center, a hotel, a line of textiles, office buildings, convention centers, master planning projects.
He joined the faculty at Rice University School of Architecture in 1991 and soon began Galleryworks, a collaboration of artists, architects and students that combined academic explorations with construction and hands-on experience. He was leader of one of the teams of professionals, community leaders, and architecture students from Rice and the University of Houston in AIA Houston's Main Street Study in 1991.
Wamble began Interloop Architects in 1994, bringing his academic explorations, particularly those on Houston urbanism, into his practice, and joined Willis Bricker & Cannady in 1997. He continues as a studio critic at Harvard GDS and shows his work in galleries in Houston, Austin, and New York.
In 1995 he was named to 40 Under 40 by Interiors Magazine and received the Young Architects Award from the Architectural League of New York. He has lectured at Pratt Institute, ohio State University, UCLA, Woodbury College, and Harvard University.
One of his current projects, the renovation of Jones Plaza in downtown Houston, won an On the Boards award in the 1999 Design Awards Competition.
Cultural Arts Council Receives Citation of Honor from AIA Houston
The Cultural Arts Council of Houston/Harris County (CACHH) was named the recipient of the 1999 Citation of Honor from the American Institute of Architects/Houston, according to James Hill, AIA, President. This award is reserved for an individual or organization that has inspired and influenced the architectural profession, or made outstanding contributions to the community in the fields of civic improvements, conservation, beautification, transportation, or social responsibility.
"CACHH has done all of those things," remarked Hill, "but their recent production of the Houston Framework with its base maps of natural systems, infrastructure, neighborhoods, gathering places, and treasurers is especially exemplary." The inclusion of artists and architects on infrastructure design teams and the commissioning of public art for Sesquicentennial Park and other prominent sites have enriched the city.
The CACHH was founded in 1977 to provide equitable support and services to artists and arts organizations, to enhance the physical environment through art and design, and to lead community cultural development. The Civic Art and Design program, responsible for the Houston Framework, initiates and manages civic enhancement projects in the region. The program serves as a community resource and works on a consulting basis with both public and private sector entities.
Luci Dabney is the Interim Executive Director of CACHH; Jessica Cusik is Director of the Civic Art and Design program.
The award was presented at Celebrate Architecture on April 16, AIA/Houston's annual tribute to the inventive spirit and recognition of distinguished architecture, urban design, and community and public service.
