Congratulations to Carrier Johnson + CULTURE for their recent groudbreaking of The Park + Market project on August 16, 2017! Learn more about the project here.
AIASD Member News: Delawie Groundbreaking Begins On $100M Biotech Project
Key team members from BioLegend, Delawie, Hughes Marino, and DPR Construction gathered on Wednesday, August 2, 2017, on the BioLegend Campus in Sorrento Mesa to celebrate the groundbreaking of the new $100 million campus development.
BioLegend envisioned a campus-like environment that would foster a sense of collaboration and dedication to the biotech company’s mission to enable Legendary Discovery. They also wanted to build a sense of community, with uniquely positioned indoor and outdoor amenities worthy of attracting and retaining the best talent.
The 8-acre campus design includes a complete overhaul of three out of four older buildings along Terman Court. One demolished building will be replaced by the main campus building with an iconic 70-foot tall atrium as its focal point. From the atrium, BioLegend employees will access the upper floor labs, offices, break rooms and conference rooms. Delawie applied its understanding of the client’s process and workflow to form a building program that ultimately marries functional, flexible, and efficient lab space with inter-departmental collaboration. The placement of departments is deliberate and allows for productive workspaces – both creative office and private rooms for focused work. Read more at Delawie
2017 CMACN/AIACC Concrete Masonry Design Award Recipients Announced
Congratulations to Roesling Nakamura Terada Architects, Inc. for receiving the Grand Award for Education Design, and to domusstudio architecture for the Merit Award for Public/Civic Design! View the full list of recipients here: http://www.aiacc.org/2017/07/12/2017-cmacnaiacc-concrete-masonry-design-award-recipients-announced/
Education Category:
Grand Award for Education Design
Project: Sage Creek High School, Carlsbad, California
Firm: Roesling Nakamura Terada Architects, Inc., San Diego, California
Architects: Ralph Roesling, FAIA
Chikako Terada, Architect, LEED® AP BD+C
Rommel Olaes, AIA, LEED® AP
Raúl Díaz, AIA
Public/Civic Category:
Merit Award for Public/Civic Design
Project: Encinitas Fire Station #2, Encinitas, California
Firm: domusstudio architecture, San Diego, California
Architects: Wayne Holtan, AIA, Principal
AIA Codes Advocacy Program Considering ICC Code Change Proposals
AIA Members, we need your help! The AIA Codes Advocacy Program is considering ICC code change proposals for co-sponsorship thru Sept. 22, 2017.
- What: AIA Codes Network members can propose code changes for the next ICC code development cycle
- Why: To encourage AIA members to get involved in the ICC code development process
- Who: Any AIA member interested in improving the I-Codes
- When: Submit your code proposal change to the AIA Code Advocacy Program by September 22, 2017 at the latest (earlier is always better!)
- How: Online via cdpACCESS and via email to codes@aia.org
- Questions? Contact Paul Karrer at paulkarrer@aia.org or (202) 626-2562
“As industry leaders and stakeholders, architects must participate in the development and application of appropriate regulations and standards intended to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public.” – AIA Directory of Public Policies and Position Statements, April 2017
One of the core functions of the AIA Codes Advocacy Program is to participate in the development of construction codes that make the built environment and our communities safe, resilient, and sustainable. Given the widespread use of the I-Codes across the United States, the AIA actively participates in the International Code Council (ICC) model code development process. The results of this triennial effort will greatly influence the building codes adopted in the states and municipalities across the United States where you practice.
The AIA is developing code change proposals now. If you have improvements to the code you would like the AIA to consider co-sponsoring, send your code change proposal to us at codes@aia.org by September 22, 2017. We will review it and respond by November 10, 2017. AIA members whose proposals are not selected for co-sponsorship by the AIA Codes Advocacy Program are certainly welcome to submit their proposals directly to the ICC (details below) – on the behalf of yourself, your firm, and/or your state or local AIA component.
Before you submit your code proposal to us for consideration, please review the available information on the 2018/2019 ICC Code Development Cycle, including the full cycle schedule. Please note that January 8, 2018 is the deadline for submitting code change proposals for the Group A code groups to ICC. They are listed below (those not listed will be included in Group B, which will follow a similar schedule to Group A but in 2019).
2018 Group A code groups:
International Building Code (IBC)
- IBC Egress provisions. Chapters 10 and 11.
- IBC Fire Safety provisions. Chapters 7, 8, 9 (partial), 14 and 26. Majority of IBC Chapter 9 is maintained by the IFC. See notes.
- IBC General provisions. Chapters 3 – 6, 12, 13, 27 – 33.
International Residential Code (IRC)
- IRC Mechanical provisions in Chapters 12 – 23 and IRC Plumbing provisions in Chapters 25 – 33.
International Fire Code (IFC)
International Urban-Wildland Interface Code (IUWIC)
International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC)
International Mechanical Code (IMC)
International Plumbing Code (IPC)
International Mechanical Code (IMC)
International Private Sewer Disposal Code (IPSDC)
International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC)
International Zoning Code (IZC)
International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC)
cdpACCESS:
- Homepage/Login | Register an account | Create a new proposal
- cdpACCESS allows you to create code change proposals and public comments and store them in the cloud for easy access and submission. You can also invite colleagues to view, comment and collaborate on your proposals/comments. Once you log in, click on “Proposals,” then “Create New Proposal” to begin.
- Support: Email cdpACCESS@iccsafe.org or call (855) 422-2371
AIA Codes Advocacy Program Timeline:
- September 22, 2017: Deadline for sending your code change proposal for possible co-sponsorship to the AIA Codes Advocacy Program – Email us at codes@aia.org.
- November 10, 2017: AIA Codes Advocacy Program staff will notify AIA members whether or not their proposal(s) were selected for co-sponsorship.
- January 8, 2018: Deadline to submit all code change proposals to ICC online via cdpACCESS.
If you have any questions about this process, please don’t hesitate to contact Paul Karrer at paulkarrer@aia.org or (202) 626-2562.
AIASD Member News: Mark Silva, AIA Cover Feature of Luxe Magazine
Congratulations to AIASD Member, Mark Silva, AIA of Silva Studios Architecture for their 12-page spread and cover story in the July/August 2017 issue of Luxe Magazine. This ground up La Jolla home is quite unique, and "strikingly beautiful" (according to the owner). Silva recently completed the project 6 months ago. View the original article here or visit Silva's Press page.
AIASD Member News: Marengo Morton Architects in San Diego Home/Garden Magazine
Congratulations to Marengo Morton Architects for their recent 12-page feature in the July 2017 issue of San Diego Home/Garden Lifestyles! Titled "Second Time Around," San Diego builder, Sean Morgan along with the blueprints by Marengo Morton, helped to turn a difficult La Jolla remodel into a Cape Cod-style masterpiece. View the article here.
AIASD Member News: Trace Wilson Featured in San Diego Home/Garden
Congratulations to Trace Wilson, AIA of Materia, LLC for their recent 10-page feature in the June 2017 issue of San Diego Home/Garden Lifestyles Magazine! View the article here. “The house was designed by Frederick Liebhardt as one of four he did on this street, and it definitely has a Usonian influence,” says architect T race Wilson, referring to Wright’s concept for middleclass-family dwellings. T race led the home’s restoration, which included interior-space rearrangements, in collaboration with E.B. (his sister) and Andy.
AIASD Member News: John Ryan of Marrokal Design & Remodeling
John E. Ryan, Assoc. AIA of Marrokal Design & Remodeling's kitchen renovation is featured in the May 2017 issue of San Diego Home & Garden. John Ryan is the Director of Design for Marrokal, and you can learn more about him here.
AIASD Member News: Delawie Featured in Interior Design Magazine
Congratulations to Delawie, for their latest feature in Interior Design Magazine, the Andaz Scottsdale Resort & Spa. View the article here.
Proposed Code Changes Necessary to Adopt Amendments
AIA San Diego/Palomar members are invited to review proposed code changes necessary to adopt amendments to parts of the 2016 California Building Standards Code and offer comment. The Development Services Department of the City of San Diego kindly requests you or your organization to review and comment on the proposed amendments to the 2016 edition of the following California Construction Codes:
- California Building Code
- California Residential Code
- California Electrical Code
- California Mechanical Code
- California Plumbing Code
- California Fire Code
- California Green Building Code.
- California Existing Building Code
- Construction Permit Procedure/Rules updates
We have posted for your convenience the proposed amendments to be codified into the Municipal Code on the Development Services Web site at https://www.sandiego.gov/development-services/industry/information/codesregreq#Proposed2016 .
The proposed Code changes will be heard by the Technical Advisory Committee. We propose to go before the Smart Growth and Land Use Committee of the City Council on July 26, 2017.
For more information please contact Ali Fattah at 619-446-5092 or via e-mail at afattah@sandiego.gov
2018 AIA San Diego Slate of Officers and Directors
OFFICERS
- President: Steve Shinn, AIA
- Immediate Past President: Philip Bona, AIA
- Vice-President/Pres-Elect: Katherine Lord, AIA
- Secretary/Treasurer: Sandra Gramley, AIA
COMMISSIONERS
- Advocacy: Lance Hosey, FAIA
- Public Awareness: Alahe Aldo, AIA
- Emerging Professionals: David Garcia, Assoc AIA
- Membership: Michael Robinson, AIA
- Practice: Randal Ehm, AIA
*AIACC DIRECTORS
- President: Steve Shinn, AIA
- President-Elect: Katherine Lord, AIA
- Immediate Past President: Philip Bona, AIA
*The chapter’s three AIACC directors, per our chapter bylaws, are the president, president-elect, and immediate past president. In effect, they are ex-officio positions.
TIMELINE:
- Jul 12: Committee nominations due
- Jul 16: AIASD Board-approved slate mailed to members 60 days before election.
- Aug 10: Deadline for additional nominations from the members. (Requires five letters/nominations from members in good standing as well as an electronic profile to be distributed to the membership).
- Aug 25: If no additional nominations received, Board Secretary may cast one ballot on behalf of all members for any/all uncontested seats.
- Aug 25: Distribute ballots and post electronic profiles. (Only when additional nominations occur.)
- Sept 7: Deadline for votes to arrive (if a mail ballot has been sent).
- Sep 14: Annual Meeting/Election if Needed; votes tabulated and President declares elections.
Overview of the Nominating/Election Process for the 2018 Board of Directors
BYLAWS SECTION 4.3
(4.31) Nominations. [Committee’s] slate shall be approved by the Board of Directors and published in the Chapter newsletter at least 60 days prior to the election. Noticed in this same publication will be the qualifications for each officer/director position and a time schedule and procedure that would allow more names to be added to the slate by the general membership. All Institute assigned members, in good standing, may be added to the Nominating Committee’s slate by producing letters from five (5) Institute assigned members (in good standing) nominating him/her for a specific officer or director position. Additional nominations are to be received by the Chapter no later than 25 days after the mailing of the Chapter’s newsletter announcing the Nominating Committee’s slate. Profiles of all qualified candidates shall be published in the Chapter’s newsletter and mailed to the membership 20 days prior to the election.
(4.32) Voting; When Required. If there is only one nominee for any office or directorship, 20 days before the election, the Secretary may cast a ballot for the full number of votes of the membership for the said nominee, whereupon the President shall declare the candidate(s) elected by acclamation. Otherwise, each contested office and directorship shall be placed on ballots for the voting thereof. Such voting shall be by ballot in accordance with the provisions of these bylaws.
AIASD In Planetizen: Amid Controversy, More Density Urged Along San Diego Trolley Extension
Read the original Planetizen article here
Amid Controversy, More Density Urged Along San Diego Trolley Extension
In 2021, San Diego will open a northern trolley extension connecting its downtown and Golden Triangle. However, much of the route in between is barren and inaccessible. AIA-SD urges density and more effort to win over opponents.
In 2021, San Diego's light rail "trolley" system will open a northern leg, called the "Mid Coast Corridor." It will connect La Jolla, the Golden Triangle, UCSD, the V.A. Hospital, the city's Bio-Med industry, and neighborhoods in between, to downtown, the border, and the rest of the trolley system. Needless to say, its a critical corridor in the city's transit infrastructure. Finally, the coastal city and surrounding communities will have a light rail transit system with a hub downtown that goes in the core directions of north, south, and east.
Unfortunately, a large portion of the extension uses existing heavy rail right-of-way, runs adjacent and parallel to I-5, and borders urbanized areas on only one side—at the bottom of a steep hill that runs much of the length of the extension. Such is the reality of building light rail late in urban development. Moreover, the urbanized areas abutting the extension are low density and car oriented. Much of the middle portion of the extension is not very accessible, particularly to pedestrians and bicyclists.
These conditions were to be partially remedied by "The Morena Corridor Specific Plan," which was to facilitate transit oriented development. In 2014, a neighborhood backlash against lifting a 30-foot height limit to allow six-story transit oriented development near a station along the line scuttled the Specific Plan. In an open letter, AIA San Diego revisits the necessity of facilitating transit oriented development along the extension:
All communities must share responsibility for meeting housing and transportation infrastructure needs for the greater good of the region. Adding housing, creating transportation nodes, fostering retail & commercial services and committing to expanded public amenities enhances neighborhoods, making them better places to live, work, study, play and raise families. Increased density at Tecolote and other stations along the Corridor and throughout the region will create livable communities for the workforce that makes the city function – teachers, police, nurses, mechanics, chefs and servers, designers and many others. This approach fosters prosperity, prepares us for the exciting future promised by emerging transportation and energy technologies, and builds resilience against the environmental challenges that we will experience soon.
AIA-SD urges reconsideration and adoption of the Specific Plan:
We support our public officials, the Morena Corridor Specific Plan, and local developers that advocate for thoughtful, effective growth, and economic development of our neighborhoods.
For the the full letter from AIA, see the source article.
Full Story: Support the Morena Corridor Specific Plan Published on Friday, June 23, 2017 in
AIASD Member News: Mark Silva Architect Is Luxe Magazine's Feature Cover Story
Congratulations to Mark A Silva AIA! His La Jolla residential project is on the cover of Luxe magazine, with a 12 page spread inside, available on newsstands this week.
This ground up La Jolla home is quite unique, and "strikingly beautiful"(according to the owner), and was recently completed 6 months ago. Check out the feature on Silva's website here.
Call for leaders: National emerging professional committees
Any EPs interested in advancing AIA's mission and values can apply for open positions on the Young Architects Forum and the National Associates Committee. Applications are due by July 31. Apply today!
https://www.conferenceabstracts.com/cfp2/login.asp?EventKey=AUGABRTH
Guest Blog: What’s your No. 1, can’t-do-without-it construction technology?
What’s your No. 1, can’t-do-without-it construction technology? John Whitcraft, P.E., and corporate allied member, answers this question for Construction Dive magazine, Wired up: CA electrical engineer selectively plugs into job site tech.
This one-on-one interview highlights that using paper is still a valid option; however, there are multiple tech options that can keep a construction site on task and on time.
“I like to put my hands on construction documents and feel the paper and look at the pages and mark them up — but what happens when somebody makes a change? Creating a new set of documents is costly and time intensive,” says Whitcraft.
Consider your top tech picks as Whitcraft discusses the apps and construction management software he uses on site, including;
- Southwire’s Voltage Drop Calculator
- Conduit Fill
- Bluebeam workflow and construction management software.
Read more about these apps and the discussion on technology’s biggest impact on the job site.
Debunking Design Award Misconceptions
2017 AIASD Design Awards AIA San Diego started the Design Awards program in 1960. We encourage you to submit your quality projects to help us continue to promote the power and scope of architecture, and how we shape the built environment and enrich the human spirit. This year we have 9 categories including Architecture, Interior Architecture, Urban Design, Unbuilt Design, Metro Tijuana Architecture, Young Architect of the Year, Patron of the Year, Legacy Award and Student Design Award. We always want to set the bar high for the projects that receive design awards, but that should not dissuade anyone from submitting. We want to correct some misconceptions about the design awards based on data from the last two years:
Misconception: The percentage of awards is very low and it is difficult to receive acknowledgment. Misconception: My projects cannot compete in some of the award categories.
During the past two years, an average of 17% of the submitted projects have received awards. Projects have consistently received awards in every category. Unbuilt awards have been low because the juries have requested more information on the design process, a stronger emphasis on diagrams, sketches and conceptual framework which are more compelling that just renderings.
| 2015 & 2016 Submissions | Total Projects | Total Awards | Percent Winning |
| Project Categories | |||
| Architecture | 75 | 14 | 19% |
| Interior Architecture | 26 | 3 | 12% |
| Urban Design | 8 | 3 | 38% |
| Unbuilt | 19 | 1 | 5% |
| COTE | 22 | 3 | 14% |
| Divine Details | 37 | 5 | 14% |
| SDG&E Energy | 20 | 6 | 30% |
| Total | 207 | 35 | 17% |
Misconception: Awards are not offered in my project type. Misconception: There is too much competition in my project type.
Projects have been consistently awarded in every major project type except Religious, but we only received two religious submissions. Award winners have included small house renovations and mega corporate office complexes. Unusual projects such as temporary exhibits, donor graphics, gyms, utility plants, historic boardwalks and biomedical facilities have also received awards.
| 2015 & 2016 Submissions | Total Projects | Total Awards | Percent Winning | ||
| Project Types | |||||
| Commercial / Office | 47 | 5 | 11% | ||
| Civic / Government | 31 | 7 | 23% | ||
| K-12 | 19 | 2 | 11% | ||
| Higher Education | 44 | 8 | 18% | ||
| Industrial / Parking | 6 | 1 | 17% | ||
| Medical | 3 | 0 | 0% | (40% if include high ed medical) | |
| Multi-Family, Mixed Use | 18 | 5 | 28% | ||
| Retail / Hospitality | 10 | 1 | 10% | ||
| Single Family | 19 | 3 | 16% | ||
| Urban Design | 8 | 3 | 38% | ||
| Religious | 2 | 0 | 0% | ||
| Total | 207 | 35 | 17% | ||
Misconception: I am a small firm and I cannot compete with the large firms.
Small firms have received more design awards than medium or large firms.
| 2015 & 2016 Firms | Total Projects | Total Awards | Percent Winning |
| Projects by Firm Size | |||
| Small (1-9) | 63 | 15 | 24% |
| Medium (10-29) | 65 | 6 | 9% |
| Large (30+) | 79 | 14 | 18% |
| Total | 207 | 35 | 17% |
We encourage you to submit for the design awards program. If you have any questions, you can contact any of the committee members listed below:
Design Awards Committee
Steven Shinn, AIA Amanda Behnke, AIA Alahe Aldo, AIA Jamie Bohannan, Assoc. AIA Buu Huynh, Communications Director, 619.232.0109
Support the Morena Corridor Specific Plan
Thank you UrbDezine for publishing our Opinion-Editorial letter regarding the Morena Corridor Plan. You can read the UrbDezine piece here. Support the Morena Corridor Specific Plan
The San Diego Region will struggle in every neighborhood to accommodate the population growth forecasted by SANDAG – as many as a million new residents by 2050. San Diego already has a widely-recognized housing shortage that results in major annual price increases and undermines the city’s climate action plan as commuters go farther afield in search of affordability. The problem will only get worse unless we take bold steps to sensibly accommodate this inevitable growth.
An important tool in addressing this growth and implementing the climate action plan is a denser type of development that mixes residential and other uses along transit corridors and at transit stops. The city has already produced a great tool for implementing this type of transit oriented design, or TOD – the Morena Corridor Specific Plan.
Unfortunately, the city abandoned this plan after a process that resulted in all too familiar resistance to increasing density. Those who opposed the plan misunderstood many of its potential benefits – increased services and amenities for their neighborhood, location of housing where a variety of transportation options will mitigate or even reduce traffic, and the opportunity to redevelop a barren industrial corridor into a vibrant walkable community. With the rejection of the plan, the larger community will not benefit from more affordable workforce housing for future generations from that neighborhood. AIA San Diego strongly urges the city to reactivate this planning process and adopt the Morena Corridor Specific Plan.
A recent proposal for the Tecolote Light Rail Station along the Mid-Coast Trolley line contains some good elements that relate to this plan. This proposal includes a mix of higher density housing, shops and restaurants along with significant mobility improvements and public open spaces, akin to what is proposed in the Morena Corridor Specific Plan. This project would make a positive and lasting contribution to the Bay Park, Clairemont and Linda Vista districts by providing a variety of services and amenities for those neighborhoods. Such development addresses our critical need for good-quality housing that middle-income San Diegans can afford in places with a variety of convenient transportation options.
All communities must share responsibility for meeting housing and transportation infrastructure needs for the greater good of the region. Adding housing, creating transportation nodes, fostering retail & commercial services and committing to expanded public amenities enhances neighborhoods, making them better places to live, work, study, play and raise families. Increased density at Tecolote and other stations along the Corridor and throughout the region will create livable communities for the workforce that makes the city function - teachers, police, nurses, mechanics, chefs and servers, designers and many others. This approach fosters prosperity, prepares us for the exciting future promised by emerging transportation and energy technologies, and builds resilience against the environmental challenges that we will experience soon.
The Morena Corridor today is an unplanned, automobile-centric and unattractive mix of industrial and retail businesses dominated by large surface parking that falls far short of optimizing its outstanding location. Pedestrian access is dangerous to non-existent. Thus, it is the perfect location for thoughtful, orderly healthy growth that will result in a rejuvenated and diverse community. This area has great potential to be developed with a mix of existing and new businesses, stores and restaurants, and housing in a walkable, bicycle friendly, transit accessible environment, connected to the rest of the region. We support our public officials, the Morena Corridor Specific Plan, and local developers that advocate for thoughtful, effective growth, and economic development of our neighborhoods.
Philip J. Bona, AIA
2017 President American Institute of Architects San Diego Chapter 233 A Street Ste 200 San Diego CA 92101
AIASD Member News: JCJ Architecture Celebrates Employee Advancement and Professional Milestones
JCJ Architecture Celebrates Employee Advancement and Professional Milestones Hartford, Conn., - June 1, 2017 – JCJ Architecture today recognizes the significant achievements of several team members in the areas of Architecture, Interior Design, WELL Design and Sustainable Design.
Architecture Registration Examination: Administered by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards, this multi-division exam assesses proficiency in aspects of architectural practice that affect the integrity, soundness and health impact of buildings and is a key step to these professionals earning licensure. Individuals qualify to take this rigorous examination only after fulfilling degree requirements from a NAAB-accredited program and completion of the Architect Experience Program, which ensures future architects have practical experience in all aspects of the profession.
- Sara Miller, AIA – Sara earned a Bachelor of Architecture from Illinois Institute of Technology and Masters of Science in Construction Management from Central Connecticut State University. She has 10 years of professional experience. (Also a current AIA San Diego member!)
- Chris Desrosiers, RA – Chris earned a Bachelor of Architecture from Roger Williams University and 10 years of professional experience.
- Kevin Beals, AIA, LEED Green Associate – Kevin completed a Bachelor of Architectural Engineering Technology from Wentworth Institute of Technology and has 10 years of professional experience.
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Green Associate: Administered by the US Green Building Council, this exam tests knowledge of the LEED rating systems and denotes basic knowledge of green design, construction and operations.
- Joy Ortiz, LEED Green Associate – Joy is an intern Architect who received a 5-year professional Bachelor of Architecture degree from the College of Architecture, Art and Planning from Cornell University in 2016. As a LEED Green Associate, she has achieved the requirements of LEED certification in addition to meeting the high standards of prevailing green building principles and practices.
National Council for Interior Design Qualifications: Administered by the National Council for Interior Design Qualifications, this examination is the industry’s highest certification for interior design professionals and provides validation of an individual’s knowledge, experience and proficiency in the interior design principles of protecting the public health, safety and welfare.
- Danae Tinsley, NCIDQ #31505 – Danae is a graduate of Mount Ida College and has 13 years of experience in interior design, project management, permitting and construction administration.
WELL Accredited Professional: This rigorous exam is designed to test a candidate’s competency to perform the duties of a WELL AP. The exam is based on the expertise of leading practitioners in the field of design, health and wellness in the built environment.
- Hannah Cushman, WELL AP – Hannah has 3 years professional experience and graduated from Endicott College with a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design with a concentration in Sustainable Design.
“We congratulate each and every individual for their skill and dedication in achieving these personal and professional milestones,” said James E. LaPosta, Jr., FAIA, LEED AP, Chief Architectural Officer of JCJ Architecture. “It takes perseverance to earn all of these qualifications and the firm commends them for their efforts.”
About JCJ Architecture
Founded in 1936, JCJ is headquartered in Hartford with offices in Atlanta, Boston, Los Angeles, New York City, Phoenix and San Diego. A 100% employee-owned firm, JCJ is recognized nationally as one of the country’s most respected architecture firms, providing clients with comprehensive planning, programming, architectural and interior design services. With a long-standing reputation for creativity, project delivery excellence and a strong business acumen, JCJ Architecture works across a broad range of building types including K-12 education, civic, higher education, sports and recreation, hospitality and entertainment. For more information, visit www.jcj.com.
For further information contact:
Ashley Currie Zeno Group Tel: (312) 396-9763 Ashley.currie@zenogroup.com
Barbara Hubbard JCJ Architecture Tel: (860) 240-9090 bhubbard@jcj.com
AIA National: Design billings maintain solid footing, with strong momentum reflected in both project inquiries and design contracts
Design billings maintain solid footing, with strong momentum reflected in both project inquiries and design contracts Balanced growth results in billings gains in all sectors
Contact: Matt Tinder 202-626-7462 mtinder@aia.org
Washington, D.C. – June 21, 2017 – Design services at architecture firms continue to project a healthy disposition on the construction industry as the Architecture Billings Index (ABI) recorded the fourth consecutive month of growth. 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 May ABI score was 53.0, up from a score of 50.9 in the previous month. This score reflects an increase in design services (any score above 50 indicates an increase in billings). The new projects inquiry index was 62.4, up from a reading of 60.2 the previous month, while the new design contracts index increased from 53.2 to 54.8.
“The fact that the data surrounding both new project inquiries and design contracts have remained positive every month this year, while reaching their highest scores for the year, is a good indication that both the architecture and construction sectors will remain healthy for the foreseeable future,” AIA Chief Economist, Kermit Baker, Hon. AIA, PhD. “This growth hasn’t been an overnight escalation, but rather a steady, stable increase.”
Key May ABI highlights:
- Regional averages: South (56.1), West (52.3), Midwest (50.4), Northeast (46.5)
- Sector index breakdown: mixed practice (55.8), multi-family residential (51.3), commercial / industrial (51.2), institutional (51.2)
- Project inquiries index: 62.4
- Design contracts index: 54.8
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.
Good Earth Plants & GreenScaped Buildings Featured in Building Owners and Managers Association Magazine
AIASD Member, Good Earth Plants & GreenScaped Buildings President, Jim Mumford, discusses the attributes and challenges of an interior living wall in the latest BOMA International (Building Owners and Managers Association Magazine). Congratulations on the feature!
Check out page 30 for the article: http://digital.boma.org/2017/May_June/
