Obituary for Harry Clay Hallenbeck, FAIA 1934 – 2016

Harry Clay Hallenbeck, FAIA, 81, died Tuesday, February 3, 2016 in Denton, Texas from stroke related complications.

He leaves his wife of 35 years, Donalee (Deffenbach) Hallenbeck; his three daughters, Aline Hallenbeck Caulley, Risa Hallenbeck Yuhas, and Kalyn Hallenbeck Baer, and his two stepchildren, Dawn Lee Dias and Donald Braverman.  He was preceded in death by his brother John Hallenbeck and his sister Betty Hallenbeck Spelman. He celebrated 17 grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren, and two on the way; and many other family members and friends.

Harry was born in 1934 and raised in the San Francisco bay area, the son of Helen and John Hallenbeck.  He attended Santa Clara University and University of California, Berkeley where he studied architecture.

Harry was the owner of his architectural practice with offices in Alameda and San Diego.  He was involved in many unique architectural projects from the America’s Cup masterplan in San Diego to the restoration of the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, in Sacramento.  He was the recipient of over 30 design awards and advanced in the practice of Virtual Design and Building Information Modeling (BIM) with the Sacramento construction management firm Vanir CM.

Harry served his profession as California State Architect, board members and officers of the American Institute of Architects, Oakland Chapter, California Council and National AIA.  He was awarded the honor of Fellow of the American Institute of Architects, California State Architect and the AIA Kemper Award for outstanding service to the public and the profession.

There will be a Memorial Mass honoring Harry on Monday, March 7^th at 2 p.m.  The Mass will be at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, 1017 11^th Street, Sacramento, CA.  The Mass celebrant will be Bishop Emeritus William K. Weigand with homilist Pastor Emeritus, Msgr. James T. Murphy.

The family welcomes all to attend this very special memorial for Harry.

Contact Person:  Donalee Hallenbeck, Wife – 916- 690-2714 / donalee.hallenbeck@gmail.com 11805 Southerland Drive, Denton Texas  76207

Bid Invitation: North Park Senior Apartments

Portrait Construction, Inc., General Contractor, is requesting Sub-Bids from qualified MBE/WBE/LBE/OBE and Section 3 Business Concerns (certified by San Diego Housing Commission) for the following project: North Park Senior Apartments, 4200 Texas Street, San Diego, CA 92103

We are reaching out to local Chambers and minority organizations for assistance in posting our invitation to bid so local subcontractors can be afforded the opportunity to bid.

View official bid notice: PCI Invitation to Bid

For Sale: Vintage Solid Oak Architectural Plan Drawers

Vintage Solid Oak Architectural Plan Drawers--two separate banks

• Each bank is 45.5" wide, 34.5" deep, 14.5" high(29" double stacked)
• Each stack is separate and has a polished travertine top

Available are TWO double stacked sets (i.e. 4 sets). If sold stacked, available with travertine tops.

$2500 per stack OR $4000 total or best offer.

Contact topbuck@pacbell.net or 858.792.5755

AIASD Member News: JCJ Architecture Invited to Become a Knowledge Partner in the American Architectural Foundation’s Design for Learning Program

JCJ Architecture Invited to Become a Knowledge Partner in the American Architectural Foundation’s Design for Learning Program Firm to Support Personalized Learning Efforts with 21^st Century Design Expertise

Hartford, Conn. – January 27, 2016 – JCJ Architecture has joined forces with the American Architectural Foundation’s (AAF) Center for the Advancement of Architecture to support its national Design for Learning initiative. The firm will serve as one of six Knowledge Partners that will help AAF achieve its goal of providing key stakeholders with a single place to turn for information, technical support and inspiration on school design.

Design for Learning, which builds upon the ten-year legacy of the Great Schools by Design program, encourages elected officials, superintendents, school boards and other civic leaders to enhance the relationship between student learning and the school environment through design innovation. Its personalized learning design initiative, recently launched with a generous grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, is currently working with six school districts to transform their existing schools.

JCJ will contribute the services of its experts to support design workshops with partner school districts. AAF design experts explore the role of design with local educators and administrators, encouraging thinking about design and change management in new ways to create spaces that more effectively support innovation and student-centered educational programs. The firm also participated in the recent AAF National Summit on School Design held at the landmark Crow Island School in Winnetka, IL.

“Educators nationwide are facing a challenging paradox: the need to cultivate skills for a creative 21^st century economy within school buildings that were often built during the industrial era to prepare students for factory jobs,” said James LaPosta, JCJ's Chief Architectural Officer and a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects. “Design for Learning’s platform for collaboration is fostering broader dialogue about the role school building design can play in transforming teaching and learning.”

JCJ’s role as a Design for Learning Knowledge Partner complements the firm’s vast project portfolio in STEM/STEAM education and 21^st Century Learning – including Fairchild-Wheeler Interdistrict Magnet Campus in Bridgeport, Conn.; Marine Science Magnet High School in Groton, Conn.; University High School of Science and Engineering in Hartford, Conn.; Regional Center for the Arts in Trumbull, Conn.; Portsmouth Middle School in Portsmouth, N.H., and Glover Elementary School in Marblehead, Mass., among others.

Other Design for Learning partners include Cuningham Group Architecture, DLR Group, FGM Architects, Perkins & Will and Steelcase.

About JCJ Architecture

Founded in 1936, JCJ is headquartered in Hartford with offices in Atlanta, Boston, New York City, Phoenix, San Diego and Stamford. The firm is recognized nationally as one of the country’s most respected architecture firms, providing clients with comprehensive planning, programming, architectural and interior design, project management and construction administration services. With a long standing reputation for creativity, excellence and business acumen, JCJ Architecture works across a broad range of building types including K-12 and higher education, civic and community, sports and recreation, mixed use, hospitality and entertainment. For more information, visit www.jcj.com.

RFQ: Batchelor Hall Interior Improvements and Building Systems Renewal

University of California, Riverside Request for QualificationsBatchelor Hall Interior Improvements and Building Systems Renewal

Phase 1 – Evaluation of the Existing Detailed Project Program and Campus Project Objectives; Assessment of the Existing Building Infrastructure Renewal and Integration with the Proposed Tenant Improvements

Phase 2 – Executive Architect Services for Preliminary Plans, Construction Documents, Bidding, and Construction Administration Phases

Project Number: 958038 (Study), 950464 (Project), 950531 (Project)

Contract Number: 958038-950464-950531-PSA-2016-73

View complete RFQ here.

T.B. Penick & Sons: Concrete Construction's 2016 Most Influential People

Congratulations to Byron and Chris Klemaske of T.B. Penick & Sons for being chosen as Concrete Construction's 2016 Most Influential People! View original article here.

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Making Decorative Concrete Professional: Byron and Chris Klemaske, T.B. Penick By William D. Palmer Jr.

Byron and Chris Klemaske see decorative concrete as real concrete that requires the same level of care. “We follow the installation rules for concrete when it comes to both curing and jointing,” says Byron. “We try to explain to our clients that decorative concrete is still concrete and that all the rules still apply. Many decorative concrete contractors lose sight of this and end up having issues on their projects. It’s our reputation on the line even if the customer signs off on the risk.”

What we call decorative concrete is still concrete, “it’s not magic concrete,” says Chris Klemaske, the marketing and customer relationship half of the team with husband Byron who runs the decorative concrete operations for T.B. Penick, San Diego.

“Here at Penick we follow the installation rules for concrete when it comes to both curing and jointing,” says Byron. “We try to explain to our clients that decorative concrete is still concrete and that all the rules still apply. Many decorative concrete contractors lose sight of this and end up having issues on their projects. It’s our reputation on the line even if the customer signs off on the risk.”

The Klemaskes have learned this from nearly a lifetime in the decorative concrete business. “I worked for a landscape company in the summers while in high school,” says Byron. “I loved being involved with the concrete aspects and eventually started running concrete crews right out of high school. I was involved on one of the first stamp jobs in Southern California. I’ve been working with decorative concrete since that day.”

Chris came at it from a different angle, first working with Byron’s company, then starting her own business in the late 1980s to do sealing of stamped concrete projects. “I realized that decorative contractors were paying really good money to clean, seal, and restore concrete. I spoke to a friend of mine and we started Classic Concrete Care. After five or six years, that business evolved into me working for another company, helping to design and sell residential concrete work and then commercial work.”

Today, Chris works with architects, owners, and builders while Byron runs the decorative concrete construction operations for T.B. Penick. In 1999, Penick asked if he would work with them and he brought his whole crew of 60 people with him. “We’ve been there since and it was the best move we ever made,” says Byron. Chris agrees and adds, “We never looked back.”

“Over the years,” Byron explains, “decorative contractors have not always been seen as serious contractors. But over the past few years I have seen that evolving quickly. Today there is at least one leading company in every city that is the go-to decorative concrete contractor for their area.”

“For a young decorative contractor,” Byron continues, “I would tell them to portray yourself as a professional, including working safely and providing quality. And follow the rules of concrete — it’s not magic concrete.” From her work with architects, Chris emphasizes the point, “Know when to say no and don’t try to do things you don’t know how to do. If you lose a project, that’s better than risking your reputation.”

“And finally,” Byron says, “get the right people in place. If not for the people we work with day in and day out here at Penick — and their families —none of this would be possible.”

Visit www.tbpenick.com for more information.

T.B. Penick submitted the project "Santee Town Center" for the 2016 Triad Award.

Architecture Billings Index Ends Year on Positive Note

While volatility persists, architecture firms reported healthy performance for 2015 Contact:  Scott Frank 202-626-7467 sfrank@aia.org http://twitter.com/AIA_Media

There were a few occasions where demand for design services decreased from a month-to-month basis in 2015, but the Architecture Billings Index (ABI) concluded the year in positive terrain and was so in eight of the twelve months of the year.  As a leading economic indicator of construction activity, the ABI reflects the approximate nine to twelve month lead time between architecture billings and construction spending. The American Institute of Architects (AIA) reported the December ABI score was 50.9, up from the mark of 49.3 in the previous month. This score reflects a slight increase in design services (any score above 50 indicates an increase in billings). The new projects inquiry index was 60.2, up from a reading of 58.6 the previous month.

“As has been the case for the past several years, there continues to be a mix of business conditions that architecture firms are experiencing,” said AIA Chief Economist Kermit Baker, Hon. AIA, PhD.  “Overall, however, ABI scores for 2015 averaged just below the strong showing in 2014, which points to another healthy year for construction this year.”

Key December ABI highlights:

• Regional averages: West (53.7), South (53.3), Northeast (46.7), Midwest (46.1),
• Sector index breakdown: multi-family residential (52.9), institutional (52.2), commercial / industrial (47.3), mixed practice (46.5)
• Project inquiries index: 60.2
• Design contracts index: 51.0

The regional and sector categories are calculated as a 3-month moving average, whereas the national index, design contracts and inquiries are monthly numbers.

About the AIA Architecture Billings Index The Architecture Billings Index (ABI), produced by the AIA Economics & Market Research Group, is a leading economic indicator that provides an approximately nine to twelve month glimpse into the future of nonresidential construction spending activity. The diffusion indexes contained in the full report are derived from a monthly “Work-on-the-Boards” survey that is sent to a panel of AIA member-owned firms. Participants are asked whether their billings increased, decreased, or stayed the same in the month that just ended as compared to the prior month, and the results are then compiled into the ABI.  These monthly results are also seasonally adjusted to allow for comparison to prior months. The monthly ABI index scores are centered around 50, with scores above 50 indicating an aggregate increase in billings, and scores below 50 indicating a decline. The regional and sector data are formulated using a three-month moving average. More information on the ABI and the analysis of its relationship to construction activity can be found in the recently released White Paper, Designing the Construction Future: Reviewing the Performance and Extending the Applications of the AIA’s Architecture Billings Index on the AIA web site

AIASD Member News: Silva Studios Architecture Awarded Best of Houzz 2016

Over 35 Million Monthly Unique Users Nominated Best Home Building, Remodeling and Design Professionals in North America and Around the World Silva Studios Architecture of San Diego has won “Best Of Design” on Houzz®, the leading platform for home remodeling and design. The 30-year old architecture firm was chosen by the more than 35 million monthly unique users that comprise the Houzz community from among more than one million active home building, remodeling and design industry professionals.

The Best Of Houzz is awarded annually in three categories: Design, Customer Service and Photography. Design award winners’ work was the most popular among the more than 35 million monthly users on Houzz. Customer Service honors are based on several factors, including the number and quality of client reviews a professional received in 2015. Architecture and interior design photographers whose images were most popular are recognized with the Photography award. A “Best Of Houzz 2016” badge will appear on winners’ profiles, as a sign of their commitment to excellence. These badges help homeowners identify popular and top-rated home professionals in every metro area on Houzz.

“Anyone building, remodeling or decorating looks to Houzz for the most talented and service-oriented professionals” said Liza Hausman, vice president of Industry Marketing for Houzz. “We’re so pleased to recognize Mark A Silva of Silva Studios Architecture, voted one of our “Best Of Houzz” professionals by our enormous community of homeowners and design enthusiasts actively remodeling and decorating their homes.”

Follow Silva Studios Architecture on Houzz http://www.houzz.com/pro/markitect

About Silva Studios Architecture Based in Southern California and founded in 1986, Silva Studios Architecture creates place as a direct reflection of you and your site. Award winning architect, Mark Silva makes your project a fusion of your dreams, the personality of the site, and the authenticity of architecture.

About Houzz Houzz is the leading platform for home remodeling and design, providing people with everything they need to improve their homes from start to finish – online or from a mobile device. From decorating a small room to building a custom home and everything in between, Houzz connects millions of homeowners, home design enthusiasts and home improvement professionals across the country and around the world. With the largest residential design database in the world and a vibrant community empowered by technology, Houzz is the easiest way for people to find inspiration, get advice, buy products and hire the professionals they need to help turn their ideas into reality.

Cavignac & Associates Expands Risk Control Department and Introduces Enhanced 2016 Service Model

NEWS FROM:  Cavignac & AssociatesCONTACT:  Bonnie Kutch, Kutch & Company (619) 299-1010, bkutch@kutchco.com

Cavignac & Associates Expands Risk Control Department and Introduces Enhanced 2016 Service Model

SAN DIEGO, CA -- (January 7, 2016) – Cavignac & Associates, a San Diego-based risk management and insurance brokerage firm, has expanded its Risk Control Department and related in-house services it can provide to clients to reduce the frequency and severity of their losses and lower their cost of risk.

Cavignac & Associates’ Workers Compensation Claims Management Advisor Meghan Dickerson, who joined the firm in 2007, has taken on leadership of the department as Director of Risk Control. Under Dickerson, Cavignac & Associates has brought on full-time advisors Heather Stone, Esq., and Joe Rojas to work with clients in the areas of human resources and safety. Additionally, Cavignac & Associates has hired Risk Control Coordinator Dan Smith to support the team administratively, and to ensure clients are maximizing the benefits provided by Cavignac & Associates’ risk control team.

“Typically, insurance brokers sell policies and provide reactive service,” said Jeff Cavignac, CPCU, ARM, RPLU, president and principal of Cavignac & Associates. “This does nothing to drive down clients’ costs.  Our model, which we have branded the “Total Risk Approach,” is different in that it’s designed to drive dollars to clients’ bottom lines.”

Cavignac said the firm’s “TotalRISK Approach” involves four steps:  Risk analysis, the systematic identification of loss exposures; risk control, strategically focusing on lowering claims frequency and severity; risk finance, determining the best way to finance the exposures an organization has to risk; and finally, risk review and refinement, staying in touch with its clients to make certain the firm is proactively managing its clients’ risk.

Stated Dickerson, “None of our competitors provide this level of expertise in the area of claims management, human resources, and safety -- they don’t have these people on their payroll.  We do, and that’s what differentiates us from other insurance firms.  We partner with our clients to help them improve their bottom-line results.”

Together with the expansion of its Risk Control Department, Cavignac & Associates has introduced an enhanced servicing model for 2016. The new model will allow clients to pick the level of service that suits their needs, while providing the best possible financial outcomes.

About Cavignac & Associates:

Founded in 1992, Cavignac & Associates is a leading risk management and commercial insurance brokerage firm providing a broad range of insurance and expertise to design and construction firms, as well as to law firms, real estate-related entities, manufacturing companies and the general business community. The firm offers commercial insurance, personal lines insurance, employee benefits, surety bonds, and complete in-house risk control management services.  Company principals are Jeffrey W. Cavignac, CPCU, ARM, RPLU, CRIS, MLIS; James P. Schabarum II, CPCU, AFSB; Scott A. Bedingfield, AAI, CIC, CRIS; Patrick Casinelli, RHU, REBC, CHRS; and Matthew Slakoff, CIC, CRIS. Cavignac & Associates employs a staff of 45 at offices located at 450 B Street, Suite 1800, San Diego, Calif., 92101.  More information about the company can be found on the Web at www.cavignac.com.

For Sale: HP DesignJet 1050c Plotter

Architects hanna gabriel wells is selling a HP DesignJet 1050c Plotter. The 36” large format plotter is in good, working condition. Prints both color and black & white. Asking $850 or best offer.

Plotter specifications can be found here:

http://h20564.www2.hp.com/hpsc/doc/public/display?docId=emr_na-bpp02457#N1000E

Interested buyers please contact Rachel at 619-523-8485 or rachel@architects-hgw.com

Gerald W. Shonkwiler, AIA Featured in Black & White Magazine

Congratulations to our colleague, Gerald W. Shonkwiler, AIAE for his work in photography! His work will be featured in the 2016 Annual International Photographic Contest sponsored by Black & White Magazine.

The image selected this year is the City of Arts & Sciences in Valencia, Spain by the famous Valencian “Starchitect”, Santiago Calatrava. The photo was taken fairly early in the morning before the crowds had started to arrive and there were no breezes to stir up the reflecting pools around the buildings.

Señor Calatrava has also designed many unique projects throughout the world, including The Milwaukee Art Museum and the new Transit Center soon to be completed at Ground Zero in New York City.

University of California, Riverside RFQ School of Medicine Research Building 1st Floor Buildout

Download the complete RFQ Phase 1 – Program Space Development Analysis: Detailed Project Program (DPP), Existing Building Systems Analysis, Code Analysis, Concept Design Study, and Cost Estimating

Phase 2 – Executive Architect Services for Schematic Design, Design Development, Construction

Documents, Bidding and Construction Phases The University of California, Riverside (UCR) is initiating a two phase contract to complete: Phase 1, Programming Services, Concept Design, and Cost Estimating and Phase 2 Option, to enter into a full service contract for Executive Design Professional Services for Schematic Design, Design Development, Construction Documents, Bidding and Construction Phases Services subsequent to completion of Phase 1 for the School of Medicine Research Building 1st Floor, and therefore invites qualified Architectural and/or Engineering (A&E) Consultants with relevant experience to submit written statements of qualifications.

• Phase 1 Services will be provided under the University’s Professional Services Agreement (PSA).
• Phase 2 Services will be provided under the University’s Executive Design Professional Agreement (EDPA).
• Exercise of Phase 2 Option will be at the sole discretion of the University.

The project delivery method has not yet been determined and as such may influence and or require the selected firm to work with the University on modifications to the contract, process, scope, schedule, or deliverables which may result in amendments to the PSA and/or EDPA for completing the work associated with this RFQ.

To receive an email copy of the RFQ Documents, email the RFQ Administrator listed below: Vilma Kern UCR Contracts Administration Email: vilma.kern@ucr.edu

You may also visit our website and download directly at: http://pdc.ucr.edu/business/consultants.html

Entities intending to submit Qualification Documents for this project, are asked to confirm their intent to do so, by emailing a written statement (Notice of Intent statement) to the RFQ Administrator by 3:00 PM on Tuesday, November 24, 2015.

Every effort will be made to ensure that all persons, regardless of race, religion, sex, color, ethnicity and national origin have equal access to contracts and other business opportunities with the University. Each candidate firm will be required to show evidence of its equal employment opportunity policy prior to entering into an agreement with the University.

Project Name: School of Medicine Research Building 1st Floor Buildout Project Number: 958017-954041 Contract Number: 958017-954041-EDPA-2016-49 UCR Rev 2012-09-14 RFQ/RFP

The University reserves the right to reject any or all responses to this RFQ and to waive non-material irregularities in any response received.

All information submitted for evaluation will be considered official information acquired in confidence, and the University will maintain its confidentiality to the extent permitted by law.

Harley Ellis Devereaux wins 2015 SMPS San Diego Award

Harley Ellis Devereaux has won a 2015 SMPS San Diego A/E/C Rockstar Award in the Project of the Year Public — Award of Merit category for its work on Solana Ranch Elementary School. Situated on a 10-acre site in the Pacific Highlands Ranch area of San Diego, Solana Ranch Elementary School serves approximately 650 students and is designed as a community-oriented school.

Organized as a series of small learning communities in the form of two-story houses arranged along an internal street, each house consists of eight classrooms grouped around a two-level shared resource area interconnected by an internal staircase as well as dedicated outdoor spaces.

Because of sustainable design strategies such as integrated photovoltaics, daylighting, discplacement ventilation and natural ventilation, the school is now achieving a 60% offset in energy use.

Learn more about the awards and the winners here.

RFQ: Pierce Hall Classroom Addition and Building Renovation

University of California, RiversideRequest for Qualifications Pierce Hall Classroom Addition and Building Renovation

Phase 1 – Classroom Building Concept Study, Existing Building Infrastructure Assessment, Program Space Redevelopment Analysis, Schematic Design, Design Development, and Cost Estimating

Phase 2 – Executive Architect Services for Construction Documents, Bidding, and Construction Phases

Contact Information and RFQ Details here

NewSchool of Architecture & Design and the American Institute of Architects San Diego Announce New Graduate Architecture Scholarship

 The AIA San Diego Graduate Architecture Scholarship will be awarded to those who embody the mission of the Center for Healthy Environments at NewSchool NewSchool of Architecture & Design (NewSchool) and the American Institute of Architects (AIA) San Diego have announced a collaboration to launch the AIA San Diego Graduate Architecture Scholarship. The annual scholarship of up to $20,000 is geared toward the top architecture candidates who are interested in pursuing a graduate degree at NewSchool and who express interest in supporting the mission of the Center for Healthy Environments at NewSchool -- which focuses on the fields of neuroscience in architecture, healthy urbanism and sustainable architecture.

The top AIA San Diego scholarship recipient each year will also be considered for a Research Assistant position with the Center for Healthy Environments, which will oversee NewSchool’s research activities as a member of the AIA Design and Health Research Consortium.

“We are pleased to collaborate with NewSchool of Architecture & Design for this graduate scholarship,” said Bastiaan Bouma

The national Design and Health Research Consortium, to which NewSchool was named a charter member, supports basic research on how design affects public health.

“This new scholarship, offered in conjunction with AIA San Diego, will further advance NewSchool’s commitment to encouraging the study of neuroscience for architecture and healthy urbanism,” said Kurt Hunker, Graduate Architecture Program Chair at NewSchool. “Courses and tracks on these topics prepare students to advise and act on policy change and architectural and design advancements for human and environmental health.”

NewSchool’s School of Architecture continues to be globally recognized for its forward-thinking professors, industry connections and inspiring campus community. NewSchool’s Master of Architecture program has been named one of the Top-30 graduate programs in architecture in the world by Frame magazine, one of the leading resources for graduate programs in the design fields.

The Scholarship Committee that will review submissions and make scholarship awards includes members of the leadership team of Center for Healthy Environments at NewSchool of Architecture & Design along with the Executive Director of the AIA San Diego.

The Committee is currently accepting submissions. For more information about applying, visit http://newschoolarch.edu/academics/school-of-architecture/aia-san-diego-graduate-architecture-scholarship/.

About NewSchool of Architecture & Design:

Located in downtown San Diego, NewSchool prepares students for career success in design fields through an emphasis on interdisciplinary and global design skills, industry collaborations and real-world projects. Programs of study include architecture, construction management, product design, media design, game art, and interior architecture & design. The school’s design environment provides inspiration for the school’s students and faculty, recognized for their work regionally and internationally. NewSchool is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) Senior College and University Commission. NewSchool’s Bachelor of Architecture, Master of Architecture and Executive Master of Architecture programs are accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB). NewSchool is a member of the Laureate International Universities network – a global network of more than 80 campus-based and online universities in 28 countries. Through this network, students at NewSchool are prepared to work in a global and diverse work environment through the school’s collaborations with sister institutions in the Laureate network, including award-winning schools such as Domus Academy in Milan, Italy and Media Design School in Auckland, New Zealand. For more information about Laureate International Universities, visit www.laureate.net.

San Diego Project Selected for 2015 Education Facility Design Awards

Nine Projects Selected for the 2015 Education Facility Design Awards

Best new learning centers showcase latest design trends in education

Contact:  MattTinder 202-626-7462 mtinder@aia.org http://twitter.com/AIA_Media

Washington, D.C. – August 10, 2015 –  The American Institute of Architects (AIA) Committee on Architecture for Education (CAE) has selected nine educational facilities for this year’s CAE Education Facility Design Awards.  The program honors educational facilities that the jury believes should serve as an example of a superb place in which to learn, furthering the client's mission, goals and educational program while demonstrating excellence in architectural design.

Learn more about the recipients below or here.  Contact Matt Tinder (mtinder@aia.org) for high resolution images.

Berklee Tower | Berklee College of Music; Boston Award of Excellence William Rawn Associates, Architects, Inc.

This 16-story mixed-use building creates a center of gravity and a strong identity for the Berklee College of Music campus.  Most prominent is a 40 foot high performance/dining space that fronts onto a major Boston thoroughfare, showcasing student performances nightly.  Twelve floors, housing 380 students plus a fitness center and music practice rooms, sit above the performance space.  Six double height lounges on the residential floors help build community by linking two floors of students.  In support of Berklee’s growing programs in music technology, two floors below grade house the largest recording studio complex in New England.

Health Sciences Education Building (HSEB), University of Arizona & Northern Arizona University; Phoenix, Arizona Award of Excellence CO Architects with Ayers Saint Gross

The most salient external design feature of the project is the striated copper cladding, which is a response to the harsh desert climate.  The design meets the two universities’ high aspirations for identity, sustainability and powerful new learning environments.  Many student-focused spaces encourage interaction between students and lecturers.  The instructional elements of the project are organized in east-west blocks to minimize the building’s exposure to the intense Arizona sun.  These blocks are located close together, creating a narrow, man-made “canyon”.  This self-shaded space is for outdoor gatherings and provides access to lecture halls and innovative learning studios.

University Center, The New School; New York City Award of Excellence Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP with SLCE Architects

This new multipurpose facility is the “heart” of The New School.  With its 230,000-square-foot, seven-story campus center and 130,000-square-foot residential tower, the University Center reimagines the organizing elements of a traditional campus, from quads to classrooms and living quarters.  Vertical, horizontal, and diagonal campus pathways work together to facilitate movement through the building, while increasing opportunities for interaction among students and faculty, reflective of the university’s interdisciplinary nature.  Academic spaces are flexible and easily adaptable, and can be renovated or reconfigured with minimal impact on power, data, or lighting to meet changing needs.

Vashon Island High School; Vashon Island, Washington Award of Excellence Integrus Architecture

Located on a small island in Puget Sound, the design team worked with the community to understand the close connection the students have to the landscape.  The design team sought to preserve this sense of connection by imparting a quality of porosity to the new building. The concept of porosity defines how the building supports spatial connections and how students move in and out of the building.  Shared areas are located adjacent to more formal teaching spaces, while a learning commons extends the library. A small group presentation room is perched within the commons and a central courtyard provides sheltered outdoor learning areas.

Carl Sandburg Elementary School; Kirkland, Washington Award of Merit NAC|Architecture

Preserving and enhancing the park-like feel of the northwest corner of Carl Sandburg Elementary School was central to the planning of the replacement school.  The majority of the classroom neighborhoods are focused on a grove of 70 year old Big Leaf maples, creating multiple outdoor learning spaces that enjoy the natural setting.  The school accommodates a capacity of 600 students in neighborhoods of either 3 or 4 classrooms. Each neighborhood is organized around an open shared learning area, small group rooms, and teacher planning areas. Transparency between spaces expands the classroom, allowing small and large group activities to occur in the adjacent shared areas.

Clough Undergraduate Learning Commons, Georgia Institute of Technology; Atlanta Award of Merit Bohlin Cywinski Jackson

The Clough Commons supports collaborative learning, scientific instruction and undergraduate life at the center of Georgia Tech’s campus.  The three dimensional grid of circulation and daylight frames large zones of flexible furnished common spaces supporting student study, interaction and experiential learning.  The building transforms its hillside site, anchoring campus circulation and framing Tech Green, the school’s central outdoor space.  Clough Commons has become the hub of academic activity on the Tech campus, while its landscaped roof garden is one of Tech’s most popular destination amenities.

Reed College Performing Arts Building; Portland, Oregon Award of Merit Opsis Architecture LLP

Reed College’s Performing Arts Building consolidates theatre, dance, and music programs, previously scattered across the 116-acre campus, into a vibrant and cross-disciplinary home for the arts.  The 78,000-square-foot building incorporates spaces specifically attuned to the technical needs of each program, yet adaptable to encourage teamwork, experimentation, and change.  The building functions as the public front door to the campus.  A variety of sustainable design strategies fully complement its numerous functions.  All performance and teaching spaces open to the three-level, light-filled, arts atrium merging informal and formal learning.

e3 Civic High School; San Diego Walter Taylor Award LPA, Inc.

From the entry park the central circulation provides students with more than just a path of travel.  The transparent connection between education and community is emphasized with the central steps and gallery space connecting the two floors.  Every gathering space has a pull out or quiet area and every learning cluster or village has a small team room in addition to the larger social space.  These informal environments support 21st century learning skills with areas for critical thinking, collaboration, and communication.  To encourage movement throughout e3, every space has multiple functions to give purpose and attract multiple users.

Nueva School at Bay Meadows; San Mateo, California Shirley Cooper Award Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects

The Nueva School presents high school students with an integrated “ecology of learning” that connects them to a complex changing world.  The new campus provides a landscape of innovative educational spaces that supports cross disciplinary engagement and project-based inquiry, fosters a strong community, and models healthy, low-carbon living and learning.  Adaptively reusing space at a former horse racing venue, the school is an integral new part of its budding community.

The jury for the 2015 Educational Facility Design Awards includes:  J. Stuart Pettitt, AIA (Chair), Straub Pettitt Yaste Architects, William C. Ayers, education advocate; Victoria S. Bergsagel, Architects of Achievement; Mark Kranz, AIA, SmithGroup JJR and Robert Miklos, FAIA, designLAB architects.

About The American Institute of Architects Founded in 1857, the American Institute of Architects consistently works to create more valuable, healthy, secure, and sustainable buildings, neighborhoods, and communities. Through nearly 300 state and local chapters, the AIA advocates for public policies that promote economic vitality and public wellbeing. Members adhere to a code of ethics and conduct to ensure the highest professional standards. The AIA provides members with tools and resources to assist them in their careers and business as well as engaging civic and government leaders and the public to find solutions to pressing issues facing our communities, institutions, nation and world. Visit www.aia.org.

CDC Releases New Built Environment Assessment Tool

http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dch/built-environment-assessment/ A wide array of tools exists for measuring different features of the built environment, many of them well validated. These existing tools fall into three categories: 1) interview or self-administered questionnaires which primarily measure perceptions, 2) tools that collect archival (existing) data, often using GIS, and 3) systematic observation or audit tools. It is often difficult for local program staff and evaluators to know which features of the built environment are most important to measure on the basis of the health behaviors and outcomes they are trying to affect. It is also difficult to know which tool(s) to choose to most accurately and feasibly assess those features.

The Built Environment Assessment Tool (BE Tool) (an adaptation of MAPS) was designed to alleviate some of the challenges posed by the significant number of narrowly focused tools aimed at only one activity (walking), one subpopulation (older adults), or one public health area (inactivity). It was created as a collaborative enterprise across multiple areas of public health - health promotion, injury prevention, environmental health, etc. It is a direct systematic observation data collection instrument for measuring the core features and quality of the built environment related to behaviors that affect health, especially behaviors such as walking, biking, and other types of physical activity. There are many aspects of the built environment. The built environment includes the buildings, roads, sidewalks, utilities, homes, transit, fixtures, parks and all other man-made entities that form the physical characteristics of a community. The built environment can impact human health by affecting rates of physical activity, air pollutants such as ozone and particulate matter that can exacerbate asthma and respiratory disease, and emissions of carbon dioxide that contributes to climate change.

The BE Tool was not designed to assess every aspect of the built environment. Rather the tool assesses a core set of features agreed upon by subject matter experts to be most relevant. The core features assessed in the BE Tool include: built environment infrastructure (e.g., road type, curb cuts/ramps, intersections/crosswalks, traffic control, transportation), walkability (e.g. sidewalk/path features, walking safety, aesthetics & amenities), bikeability (e.g., bicycle lane/path features), recreational sites and structures, and the food environment (e.g., access to grocery stores, convenience stores, farmers markets, etc.). Additional questions or modules could be added by users if more detail about an aspect of the built environment, such as the nutrition environment or pedestrian environment, is desired.

Request for Design Professional Qualifications FOR MULTIDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH BUILDING 1

Request for Design Professional Qualifications for Project #958025 Multidisciplinary Research Building 1 from the University of California, Riverside. Download the RFQ below: 958025 RFQ DesignProfessional_MRB1_2015-07-20

RFQ Addendum 1: 958025 RFQ MRB_DesignProfessional_Addendum1_2015-07-23

RFQ Addendum 2: 958025 RFQ MRB_DesignProfessional_Addendum2_2015-07-28

Little Italy Commercial Office Space Available

COMMERCIAL OFFICE SPACE - Former architects' office in 1887 Victorian, Little Italy area. Lower unit, slightly funky, good creative vibe. Separate entrance, fenced yard (bring your dog to work). Private bath and kitchenette, detached small bright studio office. Non-metered street parking in neighborhood. Tenant pays: phone, internet & cable Owner pays: gas, electric, water, trash. Equipment Available: microwave & small frig (as is). Laundry Utilities: none.

Residential use not allowed.

Located on 2442 State Street, San Diego, CA 92101. Learn more about the listing here.

For more information/questions, contact Jeff Tyler: jefftyler@leemather.com 619.865.7153 mobile

AVRP Studios Team Up To Invest In The Community

Hensel Phelps, SmithGroupJJR, AVRP Studios Team Up To Invest In The Community CHULA VISTA, Calif., July 2, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The Hensel Phelps/SmithGroupJJR/AVRP Studios team joined with various groups of the Chula Vista community to remove clump grass from playing areas in Voyager Park. The clump grass was causing safety issues for those who call Voyager Park home. This small investment in time and effort will make a tremendous difference to organized sports teams, picnickers, and families.

Hugo Martinez, parks supervisor for the city of Chula Vista, was thrilled with the turnout and stated, "It was excellent for your companies to come down to Chula Vista to make a difference in the community. There was a tremendous impact made today at one of the parks used for the community and the Youth Sports Council members of the City of Chula Vista. Thank you, Team Clump Grass!"

A special thanks to all those for making this a successful community event. In attendance were volunteers from the City of Chula Vista Parks and Recreation Department, students and parents from Sweetwater School District, the Otay Ranch youth football and cheerleading teams, the Chula Vista National Little League, the Rebels soccer team, and many other local groups.

"Today's service project at Voyager Park in Chula Vista was a huge success! With the exceptional turnout of our team and their families, we were able to accomplish the task in half the time. In addition to making both playing fields a safer place for children, we were also able to grow closer as a team and create some lasting memories as well," said Hensel Phelps Operations Manager Damian Buessing.

Hensel Phelps, a large national construction firm established in 1937, is represented locally by more than 300 employees in the Southern California District Office. SmithGroupJJR is the oldest continuously operating architectural firm in the U.S., with 900 employees in 10 offices around the globe. AVRP Studios' rich tradition began in 1975 in San Diego, and it has completed projects for major non-profit, educational, community, and religious institutions.

Contact: Andrew Millar, General Contractor Hensel Phelps amillar@henselphelps.com 18850 Von Karman Avenue, Suite 100 Irvine, CA 92612 949-852-0111