San Diego Union Tribune: 2016 Design Awards Coverage

Qualcomm, Photo museum, Segal win design awards

The annual design awards from the local chapter of the American Institute of Architects produced three honor recipients Thursday, fewer than the usual number granted during the past 56 years.

But the non-local jury heaped praise on them all as models for other architects and developers to follow.

Steve Shinn, chairman of the awards committee, said the winning projects generally reflect a design approach that tells passersby what a project was made of  — wood, concrete, metal — instead of trying to hide the “bones” behind fake walls or using manmade rather than natural materials.

“What I saw from the jury in terms of projects selected was a focus on clean, contemporary architecture with a strong focus on the use of authentic materials and an expression of materials and a focus on craft and detail,” said Shinn, an architect at the architectural firm Gensler, which won two awards.

He said while the jury judged from afar using photographs and floor plans, it also looked at how architects approach energy and water sustainability and incorporate features that promote health and wellness.

The institute’s executive board also granted a legacy award to Qualcomm Stadium in a continuing campaign to speak out against razing the 49-year-old facility if either of the two stadium-convention center ballot measures passes on Nov. 8.

“The AIA San Diego board felt it was important to acknowledge a San Diego landmark that is at risk of demolition,” the board said. “The stadium design has received local and national recognition, and it has been instrumental in placing San Diego on the national map. It is important to recognize buildings that have contributed to the legacy of our city.”

Shinn noted that institute members have expressed a preference for keeping the proposed East Village stadium site available for commercial and residential uses and renovating and adapting Qualcomm to the modern needs of NFL game venues.

“It is a gem within a desolate field of asphalt,” he added, “and if there is a way to change that, I think it could become a much more urban, engaging, mixed-use environment around it.”

The Chargers and other proponents of the ballot measures said East Village development would be hastened by a new stadium-convention facility and that Qualcomm Stadium cannot be easily renovated to meet current NFL standards.

Winners of the Honor Awards were:

  • Qualcomm’s redeveloped Pacific Center Campus in Sorrento Mesa, designed by BNIM.
  • The Museum of  Photographic Arts’ redesigned lobby area in Balboa Park, envisioned by Gensler.
  • Mr. Robinson, a 36-unit apartment building in Hillcrest, by architect-developer Jonathan Segal.

The jury, chaired by architect Andy Rockmore of Denver-based Shears Adkins Rockmore, also selected five merit awards.Ten other awards went to individuals, projects and firms.

More than 200 people attended the awards ceremony at the Scripps Research Institute auditorium on Torrey Pines Mesa.

Besides Rockmore, the other jurors, all from the Denver area, were Andrew Nielsen of Anderson Mason Dale Architects, Sarah Semple Brown of Semple Brown Architects and Designers, Tom Hootman of MKK Consulting Engineers and Erick Sommerfeld  from the University of Colorado Denver’s College of Architecture and Planning.

Here are some of the comments the jurors made about the Honor Award winners:

Mr. Robinson: “The elegant concrete and glass forms create a provocative and exciting sense of community anchored to the urban fabric. This building successfully leverages the many benefits of the San Diego climate with a simple and bold execution.”

Pacific Center Campus’s research and development building: “This project displays beautiful integration of passive strategies, such as shading, daylight, natural ventilation and thermal mass, with well-crafted details throughout.”

Museum of Photographic Arts: “This project is an exercise in sublime simplicity. Contrasting the richly complex historic exterior (a reconstruction of the original 1915 exposition building) is a stark white modern interior, superbly detailed and beautiful yet minimal enough for the exhibits to take center stage.”

The other award categories and winners were:

  • Merit awards went to Bee Squared Apiaries in Colorado by Rinehart Herbst; Central Plant Club (a fitness facility) by DES Architects + Engineers in Rancho Bernardo; Los Angeles Valley Monarch Student Center by LPA;  and  The Press in Costa Mesa by LPA; and LPA’s architectural firm office by LPA.
  • Divine Details: Mission Beach Boardwalk reconstruction by IS Architecture; and the Museum of Photographic Arts in Balboa Park by Gensler architects.
  • Energy Efficiency Integration Awards: Petco National Service Center by Smith Consulting Architects, and the Poway Unified School District’s Design39Campus in Del Sur by Nowicki Design Studio.
  • Legacy awards (over 25 years old): Salomon Apartments at 3200 Sixth Ave. in Hillcrest by architect Henry Hester and Qualcomm Stadium by Frank Hope Jr. and Gary Allen.
  • President’s awards: San Diego Unified Port District integrated planning effort by HKS and architect Christian Rice for his sole-practitioner work and service on Coronado’s Design Review Commission.
  • Young Architect of the Year Award: Matthew Geaman.
  • Patron of the Year (for developer’s hiring of AIA architects): Alexandria Real Estate Equities.

Earlier this month, Pacific Center and Mr. Robinson received Orchids recognition at the Orchids & Onions event, which was sponsored by the separately run San Diego Architectural Foundation. Unlike the Orchids & Onions program, which awards Onions for what judges see as bad design, the institute only praises what it deems to be outstanding work.

roger.showley@sduniontribune.com; (619) 293-1286; Twitter: @rogershowley

Copyright © 2016, The San Diego Union-Tribune

RFQ: UC Riverside Boyce HVAC Electrical Systems Study

ADVERTISEMENT FOR BOYCE HALL MECHANICAL (HVAC), CONTROLS & ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS STUDYPhase 1 – Existing Building Mechanical (HVAC), Controls, and Electrical Systems Assessment, Assessment of on-going and future research and impacts to current Mechanical (HVAC), Controls and Electrical Systems, Development of Strategies and Options, including costs, for implementation to meet the needs of current and future research programs and processes.

Phase 2 – Executive Architect Services for Schematic Design, Design Development, Construction Documents, Bidding and Construction Phase Services.

View complete RFQ here.

AIA National: Further Contraction in Architecture Billings Index

Further Contraction in Architecture Billings Index Rare two-month downturn could reflect uncertainty in economic outlook

Contact: Scott Frank 202-626-7467 sfrank@aia.org

Washington, DC – October 19, 2016 – For the first time since the summer of 2012, the Architecture Billings Index (ABI) posted consecutive months of a decline in demand for design services.  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 September ABI score was 48.4, down from the mark of 49.7 in the previous month. This score reflects a decrease in design services (any score above 50 indicates an increase in billings).  The new projects inquiry index was 59.4, down from a reading of 61.8 the previous month.

“This recent backslide should act as a warning signal,” said AIA Chief Economist, Kermit Baker, Hon. AIA, PhD.  “But this drop-off in demand could be continued hesitancy in the marketplace to move forward on projects until the presidential election is decided. The fact that new work coming into architecture continues to slowly increase suggests that billings will resume their growth in the coming months”

Key September ABI highlights:

  • Regional averages: South (53.4), Midwest (50.1), West (49.5), Northeast (44.0)
  • Sector index breakdown:  commercial / industrial (50.4), mixed practice (49.8), institutional (49.0), multi-family residential (48.8)
  • Project inquiries index: 59.4
  • Design contracts index: 51.4

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.

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.

AIA National: AIA Innovation Award Recipients Selected

AIA Innovation Award Recipients Selected Program honors projects that highlight collaboration between design and construction teams to create better process efficiencies and overall costs savings

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

For immediate release: Washington, D.C. – October 17, 2016 – The American Institute of Architects (AIA) TAP/CCA Innovation Award honors new practices and technologies that will further enable project delivery and enhance data-centric methodologies in the management of buildings for their entire lifecycle, from design, to construction and through operations.  The AIA’s Technology in Architectural Practice (TAP) Knowledge Community, in collaboration with the Construction Contract Administration (CCA) Knowledge Community has selected the recipients for the 2016 TAP/CCA Innovation Awards.

Categories for the TAP/CCA Innovation Awards include: Stellar Design, Project Delivery & Construction Administration Excellence, Project Lifecycle Performance (none selected this year), Academic Program/Curriculum Development and Exemplary use in a Small Firm.  The descriptions below give a brief summary of the projects being recognized. You can learn more about these projects by clicking on the name of the project/firm name. If you are interested in obtaining high resolution images, please contact Matt Tinder at mtinder@aia.org.

Category A | Stellar Design

Award Citation Astana Expo City 2017; Astana, Kazakhstan Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture

Currently under construction, Astana Expo City 2017 will embrace the exposition’s theme, “Future Energy,” with the aim of reducing the overall energy demand of the site by using both passive and active strategies. All opportunities for power generation were investigated and several were incorporated into the building-design guidelines, including high-performance glazing; energy piles that will reduce energy demand and provide temperature modulation during winter; energy storage capacity that can meet two days of emergency demand; 100% of rainfall from a 100-year storm event managed on site; and 90% of waste generated on site will be diverted from a landfill.

Honorable Mention Epic Deep Space Auditorium; Verona, Wisconsin Cuningham Group Architecture, Inc.

Situated on an 811-acre site, Deep Space is Epic Systems Corporation’s largest auditorium, seating up to 11,400 guests and was completed in less than 24 months. To create the rolling roof forms and building façade, a combination of hand sculpted and laser-cut models were developed concurrently in programs suited for generation of complex shapes. The final physical model was a large scale clay model that was 3D-scanned in order to produce a digital point cloud which was integrated with BIM software and became the engine that drove the other technical delivery tools of the project. The auditoriums 8-acre green roof provides visual and physical connections to the surrounding Wisconsin landscape.

Category B | Project Delivery & Construction Administration Excellence

Award Citation Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin Center for Advanced Care; Wauwatosa, Wisconsin Mortenson Construction & CannonDesign

Utilizing the latest Virtual Design and Construction (VDC) building tools and technology, the design team developed and pioneered new ways to add value and communicate with each other. By implementing a one-model approach, the team was able coordinate in advance of construction, which reduced duplication of modeling efforts, and greatly accelerated the development of fabrication models.  Compared to a previous project with the same construction management/architect team, the one-model approach resulted in a 50% reduction in Request for Information (RFI) and an 18% reduction in Architect Supplemental Instruction (ASI), as well as the addition of five floors per the owner’s request with no change to the original completion date of the project.

Category D | Practice-based or Academic Research, Curriculum or Applied Technology Development

Honorable Mention Glazing and Winter Comfort Tool; Boston Payette

The Glazing and Winter Comfort Tool is based on existing scientific research that aims to improve the design community’s understand of the triggers of thermal discomfort in the wintertime. It was developed to be simple and intuitive so that architects and engineers can design glazed facades that provide the desired levels of transparency, comfort and energy performance at an ideal cost. The development of the tool involved contributions from building scientists, designers and web developers. Previously, the only way to understand which façade properties negatively or positively impact occupant comfort involved a costly and time-intensive Computational Fluid Dynamics simulation. The Glazing and Winter Thermal Comfort Tool was conceived to facilitate this decision-making process quickly and inexpensively early in the design.

Category E | Exemplary use in a Small Firm

Award Citation Youth & Opportunity United; Evanston, IL Studio Talo Architecture

Youth & Opportunity United (Y.O.U.), a 45-year-old non-profit, youth development agency requested renderings of their new headquarters for a community outreach and fund-raising campaign. The architects understood that the youth, not the building, needed to be the campaign's focus, so they created multiple 360-degree virtual reality video renderings of spaces in the building, populated with video avatars of young people served by the organization acting as tour guides, explaining how Y.O.U. and the new building would impact their lives. Through the dynamic video rendering, community members and donors experienced Y.O.U's mission, rather than just their plans.

The public can now vote on their favorite AIA TAP/CCA Innovation Award project.  Voting will be open from October 17th to November 18th.  Voting can be done here: bit.ly/TAPyourchoice

The jury for the AIA TAP Innovation Awards include: Ken Sanders, FAIA (Chair), Gensler; Heather Burpee, University of Washington; Ian O’Cain, AIA, Eskew+Dumez+Ripple Architects; Greg Gidez, AIA, Hensel Phelps Construction and Pierce Reynoldson, Skanska.

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.

Irving J Gill Symposium Coverage on Curbed

Irving Gill, father of modern architecture

A new symposium seeks to bolster the case that a San Diego architect foreshadowed Modernist design

BY PATRICK SISSON OCT 12, 2016, 1:46P

Walter L. Dodge House (1916) in West Hollywood, California, an architecturally significant home design by Irving J. Gill at the beginning of Modernism

All images courtesy Irving J. Gill Foundation

Corbusier, Mies van der Rohe, Gropius…. and Gill? A new symposium taking place in San Diego on October 20th, “Irving J. Gill and the Chicago School,” presents new scholarship connecting American architect Irving Gill’s experience in Chicago with his later designs for “buildings of amazing modernity” in early 20th century California, as well as the broader Modernist movement.

While much of the clean-lined modern design of the 20th century has been attributed to European innovations and influences, this event traces the lineage of modernism back to Chicago, making the case for Gill as a pioneering modernist architect who connected and realized early innovations and ideas.

Gill, who was born near Syracuse, New York, in 1870, briefly worked in Chicago during the early years of his career, then settled near San Diego, was well-known during his lifetime for his streamlined forms and flat roofs, but fell out of favor after his death in 1936. While he’s been credited as a pioneer before, this event seeks to make more explicit connections, with new scholarship connecting the Chicago School with this precursor to Southern California cool.

Architect James Guthrie, who spearheaded the upcoming symposium, organized by the Irving J. Gill Foundation, discussed Gill’s history, why he’s under-recognized, and makes a case for him as a pioneering modern architect.

Read the rest of the article here

AIASD Volunteer Opportunities

If you did not attend our Annual Members Meeting, or didn’t get a chance to review the volunteer opportunities available, please see below the goals we have for the upcoming year. You can contact the incoming 2017 AIASD President, Phil Bona, AIA pbona@bnim.com with your interest in helping with the following volunteer activities, or Buu Huynh at bhuynh@aiasandiego.org.

We are very excited to elevate AIA San Diego as a more active and visible contributor to the architecture & design community, but we need your expertise!

Volunteer Opportunities

  • Beaux Art Costume Halloween Ball
    • General Public event to celebrate 2017 Design Award recipients and architecture
  • Mentoring Committee
    • Help plan events like “An Evening with Hal Sadler, FAIA” or “An Evening with Rob Quigley, FAIA”
    • Coordinate mentorship opportunities between members, students, young professionals
  • Small Firm Forum
    • addressing needs and marketing of San Diego’s small firm architects
  • Housing the Next 1 Million in San Diego County Charrette
  • AIA Palomar Joint Activities
  • Woodbury & NewSchool Teaching Firms for IPAL Program
  • Housing Affordability Industry Debate
  • Your Additional Suggestions/Ideas?

AIA National: Architects to Participate in United Nations Habitat III Conference

Architects to Participate in United Nations Habitat III Conference  AIA delegation will discuss design solutions aimed at making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable

Contact: Scott Frank sfrank@aia.org 202-626-7467

For immediate release: Washington, D.C. – October 10, 2016 – The United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Development (Habitat III) is taking place in Quito, Ecuador on October 17th – 21st.  The goal of the conference is the adoption of a New Urban Agenda that intends to set global standards of achievement in sustainable urban development.

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) is sending a delegation of topical experts led by AIA President, Russell Davidson, FAIA, who will be moderating the panel, Building Better Environments: Resilience, Health & Design.

“This is an ideal opportunity to share how design practices are responding to the multitude of environmental and ecological shocks and stresses to foster thriving urban spaces,” said Davidson.  “Architects and planners will be discussing their first-hand experiences in addressing global challenges ranging from rising sea levels to skyrocketing housing costs, with an eye on the future and other emerging urbanization issues and how we can orchestrate solutions to transform our communities.”

The delegation also includes:

  • Thomas V. Vonier, FAIA, 2016 AIA First Vice President/2017 President
  • Jamie Blosser, AIA, executive director of the Santa Fe Art Institute
  • Mary Kell, AIA, acting chief resilience officer for the City of Tulsa
  • Catherine Baker, AIA, principal at Landon Bone Baker Architects

There will be an exhibit on display of a carefully curated collection of projects selected from various AIA award programs.  These projects were chosen to be showcased because they are scalable and can be replicated in environments around the world.

The featured projects include:

Dorchester Art + Housing Collaborative The project emphasizes collaboration both in development with participation of public, private and non-profit sectors, but also the way in which it engages with art by setting aside residences for artists—a first for public housing—selected with assistance from the community.

Fayetteville 2030: Food City Scenario This initiative demonstrates that green and urban spaces can coexist.  By bringing productive agriculture into urban contexts, the project is able to address food security and health while not having to sacrifice development.

Building Hope Community + Water Initiative A new center with a program that builds community and provides needed resources stands to potentially curb neighborhood conflict and begin the community healing process.  The center stands as not only a replicable model, but also as an immediate community element to bring neighbors back together physically in daily interactions and emotionally in the new resources being provided.

H-E-B at Mueller This grocery store, a building type known for high energy consumption, reduced usage by 64% for the purpose of passing along savings to the consumer. The building does this while also improving natural lighting and dedicating spaces to community use.

West Branch of the Berkeley Library The project exemplifies how civic projects can use integrated and collaborative design processes even with the limited budget of the public bid project.  The library is a success for the use of integrated, collaborative design process and innovative ventilation and daylighting strategies, all while serving its public mission.

Flycycle High Density Bike Rack Despite its small scale, the project is able to facilitate greater bike use through making bike parking easier to use and allowing greater density. The design is attractive, easily produced, and flexible.

AIA leadership and topical experts are available for media inquiries prior to and immediately following their return from the conference.  High-resolution images of the projects selected for the exhibit are available upon request.

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.

RFP: UC Riverside Plant Growth Environments Facility Phase 1A

University of California, RiversideRequest for Design Professional Qualifications FOR PLANT GROWTH ENVIRONMENTS FACILITY PHASE 1A Study Number: 958046 Project Number: 950558 Contract No.: 950558-EDPA-2017-60

The University of California, Riverside (UCR) requests that Architects submit written Statements of Qualifications for providing architectural services for the following proposed project:

PLANT GROWTH ENVIRONMENTS FACILITY PHASE 1A Project No. 950558

The University of California, Riverside, will select a Design Professional to be the University’s Master Architect for the Plant Growth Environments Phase 1A, which will be delivered via the Design-Build delivery method. The Master Architect will provide Programming services, develop Basis-of-Design Documents, as well as provide support throughout the Design-Build procurement (Competition) process for this project. Subsequent phases of work may include (but not be limited to) transition meetings with winning Design-Build entity, peer review of milestone design & construction documents (developed by Design-Builder), review of key submittals, and construction administration support as-needed.

The selected entity must be able to start work immediately.

View the complete RFQ here.

San Diego Union Tribune: Archtoberfest offers lectures, tours on architecture

Archtoberfest offers lectures, tours on architecture

Archtoberfest, San Diego’s month-long architecture and design festival, kicked off last week with more than 65 tours, exhibitions, lectures and street fairs in this third annual edition.

“It’s not just about architecture,” said Bastiaan Bouma, executive director of the local chapter of the American Institute of Architects that coordinates the event.

“It’s about how architecture works to elevate the community, to enrich the community. It’s not just a bunch of specimen buildings you look at. It’s how buildings work in the community.”

The program has added community organizations in Barrio Logan, North Park,  Ocean Beach, Pacific Beach as partners, brought in eight higher-education institutions with design curricula  and helped  organize a retrospective at various venues on San Diego’s early 20th century modernist architect, Irving J. Gill.

“We’re not just looking for architecture,” Bouma said, “we’re looking for a bigger sense of  how design, planning, sustainability and community development work together to create a more successful community.”

A full calendar is available at archtoberfest.com. Here are some highlights:

San Diego Design Film Festival: “Design Disrupters” on corporate approaches to design, Thursday, Oct. 6, and “Design Maverick” on William F. Cody’s modernist work in Palm Springs, Oct. 20,  sddesignff.tix.com.

Awards: Orchids & Onions awards program, Oct. 13, at the Spreckels Theatre,orchidsandonions.org; AIA Design Awards, Oct. 27, at the Scripps Research Institute auditorium, aiasandiego.org.

Tours:  Barrio Logan Community Committee art crawl, Saturday, Oct. 8, mwsteele.com; San Diego Modern Architecture + Design Society modern home tour, Oct. 15, mads.media; Signature Flight support facility tour, Oct. 18, sdasandiego.org; Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego tour of Tijuana architecture and design scene, Oct. 21, mcasd.org; American Society of Interior Designers interior excursion, Oct. 22,asidsandiego.org; Design Institute of San Diego campus tour, Oct. 22, disd.edu.

Lectures: Woodbury School of Architecture, Petra Blaise on Oct. 10, Karen Lewis on Oct. 21 and Mason White on  Oct. 28, architecture.woodbury.edu;  “Masters of a Generation,”  Tom Kundig, Oct. 14, adjoinsd.org;  Friends of San Diego Architecture, Rob Quigley, Oct. 15, friendsofsdarch.com; NewSchool of Architecture and Design, Billie Tsien on Oct. 19,  newschoolarch.edu.

Exhibition, talks, tours on Irving J. Gill:  “Illustrating New Architecture,”  La Jolla Historical Society, lajollahistory.org; “New Architecture for a Great Country,” San Diego History Center, sandiegohistory.org; “A Comfortable Fit,” Oceanside Museum of Art,oma-online.org; “Coronado Refined,” Coronado Historical Association,coronadohistory.org;  “Progress and Poetry in Architecture,” Save Our Heritage Organisation, sohosandiego.org; “Stones in the Meadow,” Barona Cultural Center and Museum, baronamuseum.com; “Simplicity and Reform,” UC Santa Barbara,museum.ucsb.edu; “The Iannellisin California,” La Jolla Athenaeum,   ljathenaeum.org;  “The Chicago School” symposium, La Jolla Woman’s Club, Oct. 20, eventbrite.com. “Romance and Honesty,” Bishop’s School, bishops.com. Tours  and lectures also are planned at various sites, irvingjgill.org.

roger.showley@sduniontribune.com; (619) 293-1286; Twitter: @rogershowley

Copyright © 2016, The San Diego Union-Tribune

AIA National: Mixed Results in Design Projects Meeting Carbon Reduction Targets

Mixed Results in Design Projects Meeting Carbon Reduction Targets More buildings are meeting certain goals, but energy intensity reduction results have flat lined

Washington, DC – October 5, 2016 – The American Institute of Architects (AIA) has produced a report assessing the work of firms that are part of the AIA 2030 Commitment, a voluntary initiative to commit their practice to advancing the AIA’s goal of carbon-neutral buildings by the year 2030 that began reporting performance data in 2010.

“We have made some progress in the overall program, with a noteworthy jump in the amount of buildings included in the report,” said Greg Mella, FAIA, Director of Sustainable Design at SmithGroupJJR and co-chair of the AIA 2030 Working Group. “But we are simply not making significant strides in crucial metrics that predict building performance. These findings should serve as a wake-up call to architects that there needs to be greater urgency to drive improved energy efficiency across their project portfolios if we are going to reach our ultimate carbon reduction goals.”

Highlights from the AIA 2030 Commitment: 2015 Progress Report include:

  • 152 firms submitted reports – a 9% increase from 2014
  • 2.6 billion gross square feet (GSF) represented in this data – a 8% increase
  • 5,982 whole building projects have been accounted for in this report – a 37% increase
  • 4,461 interiors only projects reported – a 16% increase
  • 614 design projects are meeting the 60% energy reduction target – a 42% increase
  • 38% average Predicted Energy Use Intensity reduction reported by firms – an increase of 1%
  • 10% of total GSF meeting the previous 60% carbon reduction target – a decrease of 4%
  • 4% of total GSF meeting the new 70% carbon reduction target
  • 59% of total GSF using energy modeling to predict operational energy consumption – a 9% increase

In aggregate, the energy saved from the projects accounted for in this report is approximately 21 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions, the equivalent of running six coal-fired power plants or powering 2.2 million homes for a year (source: EPA Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator).

“Seeing more firms including energy modeling into their workflow is one of the encouraging takeaways from this report,” said Andrea Love, AIA, Director of Building Science at Payette and co-chair of the AIA 2030 Working Group. “Architects are uniquely positioned to lead the energy modeling process and incorporate into their overall business strategy with their clients. This is exactly the sort of broad, cultural shift that is required to make serious inroads towards carbon reduction in buildings.”

2015 was the first year that firms used the new 2030 Design Data Exchange interactive tool that enables design teams to benchmark and target energy performance through a range of analytical aids to drive improved energy efficiency. Users of this tool are reporting that the ability to see immediate results on how their projects are performing has facilitated benchmarking and started conversations about efficiency options earlier in the design process. This has afforded them more ability to understand how the buildings will perform against baseline energy use.

For additional resources for architecture firms to develop greater high-performance building practices, click here.

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.

Irving J Gill and the Chicago School Symposium: Setting the Modernist Record Straight

Setting the Modernist Record Straight

Symposium set to backtrack the inspiration for California’s modern architecture from Chicago to San Diego and back again via Irving J. Gill

(San Diego, CA, September 29, 2016) From the Walter L. Dodge House in West Hollywood, to the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, Southern California has been dotted with reasons to call it the birthplace of Modern architecture. And while many of the clean-lined modern buildings we now take for granted have long been attributed to the influence of European architects, an upcoming symposium is set to track their origins all the way back to Chicago, via the influences that city had over one of San Diego’s most renowned architects.

Over the course of his multi-faceted career, Irving J. Gill (1870- 1936) evolved into one of America’s most original and innovative architectural designers, producing a body of work that has influenced generations of Southern Californian and American architects. His unique, formal vocabulary became the basis of forms used by successors including the De Stijl and International Style architects. His revolutionary ideas in building technology became Southern California standards, including its “thin wall,” stud and stucco, and concrete tilt-slab methods. Thursday, October 20, 2016, the Irving J. Gill Foundation, a not-forprofit corporation launched to preserve Gill’s work and legacy, presents “Irving J. Gill and the Chicago School,” evidencing how Gill’s Chicago-based experiences influenced the design of his “buildings of amazing modernity,” leading in part to California’s modernist movement.

Held in partnership with the La Jolla Historical Society and the American Institute of Architects, San Diego, and set amid one of Gill’s most renowned landmark buildings (La Jolla Woman’s Club on Draper Ave), the symposium is one of many events forming “Irving J. Gill: New Architecture for a Great Country,” a collaborative project of exhibitions and tours honoring and exploring his legacy across thirteen Southern California organizations. A series of presentations, panel discussion and question and answer sessions will be led by James B. Guthrie, AIA, the foundation’s founder and president, and a San Diego-based architect who hails from the University of Illinois and the architectural center of Chicago. Panelists include: Tim Samuelson, a 40-year architectural and cultural historian of Chicago, with first-hand knowledge of the city’s Chicago and Prairie Schools of architecture; Paul Kruty, Ph.D., professor emeritus of architectural history at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and founding member of the Griffin Society of America; and David Jameson, cultural archivist, founder of ArchiTech Gallery in Chicago’s River North district and author of two books highlighting Gill’s formative relationships from both California and Chicago.

The event, which is free and open to the general public, begins with a reception, including light refreshments from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m.

Irving J. Gill and the Chicago School Thursday, October 20, 2016 5:00 to 8:30 p.m. (reception with light refreshments 5:00 to 6:00 p.m.; symposium to follow)

The La Jolla Woman’s Club, 7791 Draper Ave., La Jolla, CA 92037

For further information, visit: www.irvingjgill.org

About Irving J. Gill Foundation Founded in 2015, the Irving J. Gill Foundation is a California-based not-for-profit corporation that preserves the work and legacy of renowned architect Irving J. Gill (1870-1936). Through a mega exhibition consisting of public programming, panels, lectures, architectural tours and newly produced publications, the foundation and its members educate architects and their allied professions, as well as the general public, about the pioneering advancements Gill formed in the art and science of architectural design and building. For more information on the foundation and its events, visit www.irvingjgill.org.

 

AIA National: Top three special function rooms homeowners prefer

Top three special function rooms homeowners prefer Business conditions weaken but remain positive at residential firms

Contact:  Matt Tinder 202-626-7462 mtinder@aia.org

For immediate release: Washington, D.C. – September 27, 2016 – Outdoor living space, mud rooms, and home offices top the list of special function rooms in the American Institute of Architects’ (AIA) Home Design Trends Survey covering activity during the second quarter of 2016 that focused on emerging home features, systems and technologies.

“Heavy investment in outdoor living spaces, mud rooms, and home offices indicate that consumers are placing a premium on practicality and functionality,” said AIA Chief Economist, Kermit Baker, PhD, Hon. AIA.  “Things have changed a lot from a decade ago when home theaters and exercise rooms were some of the most popular special function rooms in homes.”

All of the data from this survey can be access in this infographic.

Special function Rooms 2016 2015
Outdoor living rooms 58 62
Mud rooms 43 45
Home offices 37 34
Dedicated guest rooms (Au pair / in-law suites) 31 33
Home auto management / mechanical room 24 19
Sun room/ 3-season porch 10 N/A

(% reporting popularity of room “increasing” minus % reporting “decreasing”; Q2)

“Although accessibility features remain an important issue to homeowners, demand for some of these features has leveled off in the custom residential arena,” Baker said.  “As more homes become equipped to handle an aging population of homeowners, less custom work needs to be done to address specific accessibility issues.”

Accessibility 2016 2015
First floor master bedroom 54 51
Ramps/Elevators 42 45
On-grade entry 36 37
East-to-use features (e.g. handles) 26 32
Multiple laundry rooms 25 21

(% reporting popularity of room “increasing” minus % reporting “decreasing”; Q2)

Utility Efficient Features/Products 2016 2015
Energy management 63 62
Smart thermostats 59 59
Energy Efficient 47 50
Super insulation 44 56
Solar Panels 42 41
Water saving 38 40
Tankless water heater 35 36

(% reporting popularity of product “increasing” minus % reporting “decreasing”; Q2)

“As more automation products become available, homeowners continue to explore new ways to maintain their spaces with greater ease,” said Baker.

Low Maintenance and Home Automation Products Top List of Popular Home Products 2016 2015
Low maintenance 59 60
Wireless systems 48 53
Electrical car docking station 48 42
Home automation controls 43 42
Backup power generation 40 43
Security systems 35 34
Air purification 34 33
Automated lighting controls 26 30

(% reporting popularity of system “increasing” minus % reporting “decreasing”; Q2)

Housing market business conditions

“Though billings remain positive, demand for design services has leveled off to figures not seen since the early months of recovery from the Great Recession,” Baker said. “The same can be said for inquiries, which usually track several points higher than billings.”

AIA Home Design Survey Index for Q2 2016 (any score above 50 is positive)

  • Billings: 54
  • Inquiries for new projects: 56
  • Regional averages: Midwest (62.5), South (47.9), West (56.3) Northeast (50)

“Activity in the additions and remodeling segments are leveling off as well, but remain positive.  Conditions in these sectors in the coming months will serve as a barometer for the housing market in 2017,” Baker concluded.

Specific construction segments 2016 2015
Additions / alterations 55% 64%
Kitchen / bath remodeling 51% 59%
Custom / luxury home market 24% 34%
Move-up homes 23% 29%
Townhouse / condo market 2% 18%
First-time buyer / affordable home market -2% 17%
Second home -6% 3%

(% of respondents reporting sector “improving” minus % reporting “weakening”; Q2)

About the AIA Home Design Trends Survey The AIA Home Design Trend Survey is conducted quarterly with a panel of over 500 architecture firms that concentrate their practice in the residential sector.  Residential architects are design leaders in shaping how homes function, look, and integrate into communities and this survey helps to identify emerging trends in the housing marketplace.  Business conditions are also monitored on a quarterly basis.  Future surveys will focus on community design trends (December 2016), and kitchen and bath trends (April 2017).

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.

AIASD Member News: Project Updates from Colkitt & Co.

Colkitt&Co is a San Diego and New York based group of innovators, architects, designers, builders and thinkers operating within the fields of architecture, interiors, research and development. We focus on innovation to impact lives. austinst

 

Austin Street Mid-Rise Loft Livin' in a Concrete Ribbon Queens, New York

Like a ribbon of concrete, structure emerges from within this seven-story, mixed-use mid-rise design in New York City. The highly expressive sculptural treatment of balconies, planters, and canopies is emblematic of sustainable design while emphasizing the uniqueness of each of the twenty-one residential units. The memorable building form looks optimistically to the future while drawing from its transitional context of brick-clad commercial buildings.

cravory

Cravory Cookies Cooking Up A Sweet Design! Bressi Ranch, Carlsbad, California

Our new cookie store at Bressi Ranch is open! Fresh, modern, and sweet, the nearly all-white store was done in collaboration with Hollis Brand Culture on a super-tight budget. Designed to create an immediate, product-forward impact in a compact store selling up to thirty (!) flavors of rich, comfort-inducing, and imaginative cookies bursting with flavor, this bright, welcoming store will also offer crafted specialty coffee and milk. Evoking Scandinavian and mid-century spaces, the architecture of Cravory at Brassi Ranch is a carefully studied composition of white counters and glass cases, with friendly, eye-catching, and fun graphics.

uofaflagship

University of Arizona Flagship Store An Education In Retail Design Tucson, Arizona

Intended as a high-end experience comparable to Neiman Marcus or Nordstrom, our full transformation of the University of Arizona Flagship Store on campus in Tucson, Arizona, is finally coming to life. One of our most challenging projects to date, the design and construction process involved updating an existing retail space while maintaining the spirit of a highly successful store, phasing work according to the UA academic calendar, and a tight budget. Colkitt&Co performed an in-depth retail analysis of the store’s main sales floor, explored design alternatives through a series of rendered interior views, and carefully detailed retail fixtures and displays to seamlessly merge with the most effective aspects of the existing retail environment. The contrast between the previous store and the new well-rounded retail experience comes across as starkly as night and day, especially for those who remember the former flagship store!

Learn more about Nathan Colkitt and Colkitt&Co at http://colkitt.com/

AIA National: Architecture Billings Index Slips, Overall Outlook Remains Positive

Architecture Billings Index Slips, Overall Outlook Remains Positive Business conditions are slumping in Northeast 

Contact: Matt Tinder 202-626-7462 mtinder@aia.org

Washington, DC – September 21, 2016 – On the heels ofsix out of seven months of increasing levels of demand for design services, the Architecture Billings Index (ABI) fell just below the positive mark.  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 August ABI score was 49.7, down from the mark of 51.5 in the previous month. This score reflects a decrease in design services (any score above 50 indicates an increase in billings).  The new projects inquiry index was 61.8, up sharply from a reading of 57.5 the previous month.

“This is only the second month this year where demand for architectural services has declined and it is only by a fraction of a point,” said AIA Chief Economist, Kermit Baker, Hon. AIA, PhD.  “Given the solid numbers for new design contracts and project inquiries, it doesn’t appear that this is the beginning of a broader downturn in the design and construction industry.”

Key August ABI highlights:

  • Regional averages: South (55.2), Midwest (52.8), West (49.0), Northeast (44.9)
  • Sector index breakdown:  mixed practice (51.8), multi-family residential (50.9), commercial / industrial (50.8), institutional (50.7)
  • Project inquiries index: 61.8
  • Design contracts index: 52.7

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.

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.

AIA National: Explore the World through Architectural Adventures

Explore the World through Architectural Adventures New travel program offers design enthusiast travelers 10 global destinations

Contact: Scott Frank 202-626-7467 sfrank@aia.org

For immediate release:    Washington, D.C. – September 19, 2016 – Beginning with ten world-class destinations in 2017, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) new global travel program, Architectural Adventures, will offer small-group trips tailored specifically to the discovery and appreciation of the world’s architecture. Every Architectural Adventures tour will feature subject-matter experts, hand-picked by the AIA, to guide travelers and enliven their awareness of the world’s architecture.   The tour guides will offer an up-close view of not just the iconic landmarks and buildings in the various cities, but also an explanation of how the historical, political and cultural events helped shape the cityscapes.

This is the premier travel provider for architectural, art and photography enthusiasts, as well as intellectually curious travelers alike.  Offering a variety of tours specializing in the exploration and appreciation of some of the world’s most remarkable architecture all while enjoying a destination’s culture, food and traditions.

Architectural Adventures tour features:

  • Enjoy educational guidance and commentary from a knowledgeable and engaging, Architectural Adventures-selected expert who will offer unique insights through formal and informal discussions.
  • Participate in special excursions, exclusive behind-the-scenes access and get insider knowledge to popular sights as well as lesser-known, yet equally fascinating architecture.
  • Explore and photograph the world and its architectural wonders with like-minded travelers.

2017 destinations and highlights include:

  • Havana: In March, set forth on a six-day immersion in the Cuban capital that spans from Old Havana and the 16th century stone fort that guards Havana Bay to the city’s early twentieth-century Art Deco wonders and its most prominent contemporary projects.
  • Barcelona:  In March, discover Antoni Gaudí’s Modernist marvels and see the city’s medieval Gothic Quarter.
  • Chicago:  In April, explore the varied works of Frank Lloyd Wright and see why Chicago is known as the first city of American architecture.
  • Lisbon to London:  In April, cruise Europe’s Atlantic coast, stopping to see its most spectacular sites and structures, like the Frank Gehry-designed Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain and France’s Mont Saint-Michel.
  • Northern Italy:  In May, immerse yourself in the Renaissance world of Andrea Palladio and visit Venice for an exclusive tour of St. Mark’s Basilica.
  • Cities of the Baltic Sea:  In June, sail from Copenhagen to Gdansk to Tallinn to St. Petersburg to Helsinki to Stockholm, stopping to see the Baltic’s grandest designs.
  • Along the Danube:  In June, experience Central Europe’s signature cities, including Prague, Vienna, Bratislava, and Budapest.
  • London:  In July, wander London’s charming back streets and towering triumphs like Westminster Abbey and St. Paul’s Cathedral.
  • Portugal and Northern Spain:  In October, take an epic 17-day journey from Lisbon to Barcelona by way of the seminal cities of the Spanish Pyrenees.
  • China:  In October, spend two weeks exploring Chinese culture and design in Beijing, Pingyao, Hangzhou, and Shanghai.

Accommodations, most meals, tour transportation and logistical details of the trip are included in the tours. For more details on booking availabilities and new trip announcements visit architecturaladventures.org and to sign up for the Architectural Adventures mailing list.

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.

BEEP Featured on American Planning Association, San Diego

The Built Environment Education Program (BEEP) was recently featured on the American Planning Association, San Diego's website for their work. "Enlightening Students through the Built Environment: Architecture as Geometry" The Built Environment Education Program (BEEP) San Diego is a nonprofit volunteer organization dedicated to educating and advocating for school-age youth as meaningful participants, leaders, and decision makers of the built environment. Through its curriculum and program structure, BEEP San Diego seeks to educate and engage youth on all aspects of the built environment.

Read the full blog here.

AIASD Member News: Jonathan Segal, FAIA Recipient of Two AIACC Honor Awards

Jonathan Segal FAIA proudly announces it is the 2016 recipient of two Honor Awards from the American Institute of Architects State of California Chapter. San Diego, CA -- Jonathan Segal, FAIA has been recognized for both the mixed-use Mr Robinson Project in Hillcrest, San Diego and the “The Cresta” a single family concrete home built in La Jolla.

Over 250 entries were submitted and only seven Honor Awards were given, Jonathan Segal, FAIA was awarded two of these seven alongside internationally renowned firms.

rob-small

The Mr. Robinson Project is a seven story mixed use project, which fuses residential, retail, and office space into one cohesive structure.  Prior to the development this corner was home to a blighted car repair shop, however it is now a lantern of the entry to the public transit corridor of Park Blvd.   This building has already started to initiate redevelopment density in this area and provides an affordable housing component free with no tax benefits from the City of San Diego.  Instead of spending time and significant resources on LEED certification we instead were able to apply those funds to practical energy saving means and methods.  The entire building core is naturally powered and all common corridor spaces and garage areas are naturally ventilated.

cresta-small

The Cresta, is an internationally published single family home which we feel delicately illustrates our design direction in both material and form.  Located in the Lower Hermosa Area of La Jolla, this energy neutral home stems, like the Mr. Robinson, from a solid form that is slowly eroded into indoor and outdoor spaces. Due to the unordinary small property in an area with typical adjacent properties three to four times the size, every square foot was important.  The delicate roof forms an exterior private courtyard space although the buildings overall form is kept intact.  By slowly removing from the original form visually the object of the home reflects the original whole mass but is much more elegant and light.

About Jonathan Segal, FAIA San Diego based Jonathan Segal, FAIA & Development Company is responsible for the design and development of over 300,000 square feet of medium-to-high density urban residential, mixed-use and live/work units. He has been the recipient of numerous accolades, including 24 local, state and national AIA awards for residential and Urban Design. He is Co-Chair of the MArch|Real Estate Development at Woodbury School of Architecture, and has a well-known penchant for fast classic cars.

About AIA California Council The AIACC represents the interests of more than 11,000 architects and allied professionals in California. Founded in 1944, The AIACC's mission supports architects in their endeavors to improve the quality of life for all Californians by creating more livable communities, sustainable designs and quality work environments. Today, The AIACC is the largest component of the National AIA organization.

###

 

AIASD Member News: Bill Bocken, AIA Is HGTV's Designer of the Month

Bocken HGTV Congratulations to AIASD Member, Bill Bocken, AIA for being chosen as HGTV's (Home & Garden Television Network) "Designer of the Month" for September! Bill Bocken has a true passion for design and brings a personal commitment to all of his projects. Working with a wide variety of specific requirements, budget constraints, environmental concerns and client personalities, lead to the creation of very customized projects.

Bocken was also recently featured in the August 2016 issue of San Diego Home & Garden Magazine for a home renovation project: http://www.sandiegohomegarden.com/August-2016/Somewhere-Under-The-Rainbow/.

To learn more about Bill and view his residential projects, go to http://people.hgtv.com/professionals/bill-bocken.

 
 
 

Thank you to our annual Sustaining partners

T.B. Penick & Sons, Inc.

CONSTRUCTION, DESIGN-BUILD, INNOVATIVE CONCRETE SYSTEMS

It takes an agile company like T.B. Penick to meet today’s aggressive schedules and tighter budgets, offer cutting-edge methodologies such as BIM, advocate best practices and offer safe and sustainable construction practices.

STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING, CIVIL Engineering & land SURVEYING

BWE is dedicated to providing industry leading engineering and professional services through efficient, cost-effective and sustainable solutions that make positive impacts in our community.

LEADING LIGHTINg and controls manufacturer’s representative

We are a forward-thinking lighting agency that offers an expansive line of lighting and controls products from leading manufacturers. At SDLA, we stand behind our products 100% . We respond to your needs quickly, efficiently and accurately to provide onsite assistance to ensure the job exceeds expectations.

Annual Supporting partners

Architecture and Interior Design

Miller Hull has a passion for creating dynamic and environmentally sensitive buildings. It is the essence of the firm and continues to push our work forward.

 

Architecture is a Shared endeavor

We craft innovative solution which enrich programmatic and sensory intent, engage the greater community and achieve tangible success.

unprecedented performance and exceptional aestheticS

Designed in America and manufactured in Europe, INICIO's products exemplify a fusion of exceptional quality, precision, and innovation for residential applications.


lighting industry with innovative products and best in class service. 

Our team is on the forefront of the latest technologies, trends, and requirements meaning our customers are always one step ahead of their competition. We are result and ROI driven, and are passionate about making lighting more than just an afterthought.

Providing Design Professionals with Confidence in the FutureMake it stand out

We’ve served Design Professionals since 1992, with a focused expertise that gives our architectural, engineering, and construction management clients a critical advantage. As the exclusive broker for two of the top A&E insurance companies, we’re experts at negotiating appropriate coverage and competitive pricing.