President's Citations Focus on Continuing Education
1998 Chapter President Ken Ross, AIA, recognized a dozen individuals at the Annual Meeting on October 12 for their exemplary contributions to Chapter programs. One award highlighted the importance of nurturing the sense of community among architects. The others hailed the efforts of Chapter members to develop an outstanding and intense continuing education program. More than 80 programs generated 320 learning units and included more than 1000 participants.
Receiving the President's Citations:
Nolen Willis, AIA, for vision and commitment in fostering community among architects through Chapter luncheons.
The Contract Education Faculty:
Randall Burton, Esq.
Alan Fleishacker, Associate AIA
John Hawkins, AIA
Kirby Keahey, FAIA
Ray Leiker, AIA
Paul Lodholz, AIA
and the Codes Education Faculty:
Hal Caton, AIA
Teresa and Doug Darr
Henry Hermis, AIA
for dedicated service to the continuing education of architects.
David Arntsen, Commercial Insurance Concepts, Inc., for consistent enthusiastic support of the Chapter's continuing education program.
Peggy Fortner, for energy, talent, and a sense of humor in the implementation of Chapter programs.
Jane Stansfeld, FAIA, who moved to Austin during her President-Elect year, for valuable insight and clarity of purpose in the conduct of the Chapter's business.
Nominees Sought for Chapter Honors
Each year at Celebrate Architecture, the Chapter recognizes individuals and organizations that have made a significant contribution to the goals of the profession. The Awards are: Honorary Member, Chapter Citation, Citation of Honor, Artist Award, Craftsman Award, Educator Award. Detailed descriptions of the criteria and a list of past recipients are in your Professional Directory.
For more information and a nomination form, please call the Chapter office, 713/520-0155.
Members in the News
The Education Team of Kirksey and Partners Architects proudly announces the dedication of the Strake Jesuit Student Center, a 32,000 sf facility, will serve the music department and provide a gathering place for the campus and includes a 1000-seat auditorium.
Watkins Hamilton Ross Architects, Inc. is pleased to announce the elevation of Mark Vaughn, AIA, Anthony Haas, AIA, and Brian Riley, AIA, to Associate Principals in the firm.
Louis Skidmore, AIA, consultant to Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP, has moved to 3701 Kirby Drive, Suite 988, Houston, 77098-3923. The new phone is 713/529-2552; fax, 713/522-8892.
Worrell Design Group announces the completion of corporate dining facilities for GTE McArthur Ridge and GTE Westpoint in Irving. They are providing consulting services for a dining operation for Cabot Oil & Gas in Houston, and are working under the direction of Ken R. Harry Associates.
Harrell Architects, Inc. has relocated to 9601 Katy Freeway, Suite 270, Houston, TX 77024.
Vergel L. Gay, Jr., AIA, has accepted the position of Executive Director of Facilities for the University of Houston System.
Hellmuth, Obata + Kassabaum is pleased to announce the following promotions: Robert Mease, AIA, and Jamie Smith, AIA, to Senior Vice President; Timothy Conroy, AIA, to Vice President; Jay Tatum, AIA, to Senior Associate; and Martin Noltzon, AIA, Johnny Evans, AIA, Judith DeJong, and James Powell to Associate.
Ziegler Cooper Architects recently completed the redevelopment of 777 Post Oak Boulevard, a nine-story office building in uptown Houston. In the same area, the firm also announces the groundbreaking of Interfin's Villa d'Este, a 27-story luxury high-rise condominium.
Bay Architects, Inc. was recently awarded the design of Alief High School No. 4, a $45 million school in west Houston. Bay, along with associate architect Merriman/Holt, is designing Houston Christian High School, a 143,000 sf facility. New staff members at Bay are Scott Fendrick, Blair Hamilton, Tiffani Epperson, James Fauver, Kristi Wallace and Erica Johnson, Marketing Coordinator.
Marcelo Daniel Campus, AIA, PM Bolton Associates, received Honorable Award recognition for his entry, Williamson County Heritage Museum, in the BSA Unbuilt Architecture Design Awards Program.
The Commercial Teams of Kirksey and Partners Architects announce that Richard Aligo, Miriam Walker, Jing Sun, Vicky Sheng and Kevin Abram have joined the Firm. Julie Ferguson, Amy Hickox and Michele Woodward have joined the KPA Interior Architecture Team.
IRVINE is pleased to announce the addition of Phillip Bologna as a Project Manager to their commercial team.
Chapter Leadership
1999 AIA Houston leadership elected at the Annual Meeting:
President-Elect: Ernesto Maldonado, AIA, Glassman-Shoemake Maldonado;
Secretary/TSA Director: Tim Conroy, AIA, HOK;
Director for Design: Rey de la Reza, AIA, Rey de la Reza Architects;
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.
All, except President-Elect, are for two-year terms.
Remaining on the Board to complete a two-year term are:
Treasurer: Bill Eide, AIA, The Ward Group;
Director for Civic Affairs: Ray Leiker, AIA, Ray Bailey Architects;
Director for Education: Donna Kacmar, AIA, Natalye Appel Architects;
Director for Industry Affairs: Martha Seng, AIA, Jackson Ryan Architects;
Director for Practice: Michael Gaertner, AIA, Michael Gaertner Architects;
Director for Public Affairs: Louis Skidmore, AIA, SOM;
Ken Ross, AIA, Watkins Hamilton Ross, Past President.
Board Creates Affiliate Firm Designation
At its October meeting, the Chapter Board approved a recommendation to create a new category of relationship to the Chapter for firms that offer consulting services, products, or other services to architecture firms. The major benefit to an Affiliate Firm is a presence on the consumer side of the Chapter's Website, searchable by specialty. The goal is to create an electronic industry directory. The firm will also receive one Affiliate Membership for a designated individual.
A second category at a higher level, Diamond Affiliate, was also created. In addition to the Web presence, Diamond Affiliates may be a named sponsor of one of the Chapter's 75th Anniversary Events: Box City, the Birthday Party, the Annual Meeting, or Seventy-Five That Made A Difference, an exhibition planned for fall 1999. The Chapter welcomes Tribble & Stephens Co., General Contractors for the Restoration of the Rice, as our first Diamond Affiliate. Tribble & Stephens was the major sponsor of this year's annual meeting at the Rice.
Thanks to Annual Meeting Sponsors:
Diamond Affiliate: Tribble & Stephens Co., General Contractors for the Restoration of the Rice
and
Applied Finish Systems
Hargrave Electric
Ideal Engineering
National Terrazzo Tile & Marble
PageSoutherlandPage
Schildler Elevators
TD Industries
FMG Design, Inc. (graphic design)
Kennon Photography
More States Require Continuing Education for Architects
Starting next year, two additional states (Louisiana and North Carolina) will require architects to complete professional training in order to renew their architect licenses. This brings the total number of states requiring continuing education to eleven, with twelve additional states considering legislation for requiring continuing education. States requiring continuing education: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Kansas, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee and West Virginia. Check with the Chapter office for a state-by-state summary of required contact hours and frequency of license renewal.
Morris Honored by RDA
SI Morris, FAIA, winner of the Pitts Award from the Texas Society of Architects and President of the Chapter in 1961, will receive the Award for Design Excellence from the Rice Design Alliance at its annual gala on November 7.
From the Astrodome to Wortham Theater Center, Houston is dotted with landmarks bearing the Morris imprint. In addition to his contributions to the architectural heritage of Houston, Morris also brought those same gifts to the boards of numerous civic organizations, including the Houston Chamber of Commerce, the Museum of Fine Arts, Cultural Arts Council of Houston, and the Contemporary Arts Museum.
AIA Houston Referral System
More than 600 referrals have been made to AIA members participating in the Referral System this year. Expand your marketing efforts by registering to participate in the program. Check this month's newsletter for a registration form which should be returned to the Chapter office.
Leadership Conference
The 1998 AIA Leadership Conference is scheduled November 19-22 in Los Angeles. The seminar, led by the National Leadership Institute of the University of Maryland University College, covers leadership practices, evaluating your performance and effectiveness as a leader, improvement of individual leadership skills and enhancing the ability to influence others. Keynote speakers are Frances Hesselbein, 1998 recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and Joel Henning, author of The Future of Staff Groups: Daring to Distributei Power and Capacity. Program participants earn 36 LUs. Call 202/626-7445 to register or request additional information.
AIA Works for You
As a part of the national advertising campaign funded through dues and the $50 assessment for television adopted at the Convention in May, AIA has undertaken a Yellow Pages program. This program assures that all AIA chapters have a consistent yellow page listing in the 1999 directories and a consistent identity across the country. Finding an AIA architect will be easy for everyone.
This Tradename program includes a header, The American Institute of Architects; a caption, Referrals, contracts, tours; and the Chapter's name, address, telephone number and Web address. The Chapter's listing will be paid for by National. We have had a listing in the Houston Southwestern Bell Yellow Pages for years paid for by the Chapter's referral service revenue, but because of expense, have not listed in any of the suburban yellow pages. This national media buy will put us in more books at no expense and enable us to use the referral service funds for other avenues of advertising the service to potential clients.
Firms will soon receive in the mail information about how they can buy into the space under the American Institute of Architects banner. The Weightman Group is AIA's national yellow pages agency and will handle ad placement and billing for you. The listings will be at firm expense, as your current one is, but will put you in a more prominent position and may be less expensive because of the group buy.
So watch your mail to take advantage of this opportunity.
Free ADA Technical Assistance for AIA Members
Since the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), it has become necessary for business, state agencies and design professionals to have accurate information regarding compliance requirements. The BBB Consumer Education Foundation, Austin, and the Southwest Disability & Business Technical Assistance Center can answer your ADA questions; call 800-949-4232.
For ADA resources on the Internet, go to www.ilru.org, click on Southwest Disability & Business Center, Links and ADA Document Center. The site has a searchable database. For example, you can pull all references in the law and regulations on "reasonable accommodations."
The center publishes a series of informational booklets, including ones on accessible stadiums, alternatives to barrier removal, tax incentives for improving accessibility, and highlights of Title III. The books are available in the Chapter library or by calling BBB/CEF at 512/445-4698.
