ArchPLUS Summer 2015 Vol.2 No.3

ArchPLUS A PUBLICATION OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS WESTCHESTER + HUDSON VALLEY CHAPTER

inner spirit

the culture of design : the design of culture

SKETCHBOOK

AN ARCHITECT’S TRAVELS THROUGH EUROPE

BACK TO MIDDLE SCHOOL CAREER DAY IN PEEKSKILL

PASSIVE SOLAR VOLUME 2 | NO. 3 | SUMMER 2015

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ENGINEERING BETTER ENVIRONMENTS SINCE 1974

Working with Peter Gisolfi Associates, OLA Consulting Engineers designed the MEP systems, provided DOE2 Energy Modeling, and Commissioning for The Center of Maple Grove. The multipurpose facility, set amid a pastoral 65-acre backdrop offered by the cemetery, received an AIA Westchester + Hudson Valley Citation Award.

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MEP ENGINEERING • ENERGY ENGINEERING • COMMISSIONING

Structural Engineer: WSP Cantor Seinuk Photograph: Tex Jernigan Architect: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill Structural Engineer: WSP Cantor Seinuk Photograph: Tex Jernigan

ArchPLUS: A publication of the AIA Westchester + Hudson Valley Chapter ArchPLUS Staff Editor-in-Chief Peter Gaito Jr., AIA pgaitojr@pfga.net Art Director Jaclyn Tyler, AIA, LEED AP bd+c

Advertising Jaclyn Tyler, AIA, LEED AP bd+c Valerie Brown, Hon. AIANYS, LEED AP chapteroffice@aiawhv.org 914.232.7240

Photo Editor Jason Taylor, AIA, LEED AP Contributing Editors Manuel Andrade, AIA, LEED AP; Gregg DeAngelis, AIA LEED AP; John Fry, AIA LEED AP bd+c; Teresa Marboe, Assoc. AIA; Nicolas Mariscal, Assoc. AIA; Nick Viazzo, AIA; Jaclyn Tyler, AIA, LEED AP bd+c Submission ArchPLUS is currently accepting unsolicited material for upcoming publications. For submission guidelines and/or to become a regular contributor, see our website for information; www.aiawhv.org. For further information please email the Editor or the Executive Director.

Board of Directors 2015 President Peter Gaito Jr, AIA President-Elect Manuel Andrade, AIA, LEED AP Treasurer Michael Berta, AIA

World World View View

While the world watched, One World Trade Center grew in both height and symbolism, its 1,776-foot crystalline form bringing unmatched views back to While world watched, One World Trade Center Lowerthe Manhattan.

A redundant structural steel grew in both height and symbolism, its 1,776-foot frame, the result of creative collaboration between crystalline form bringing unmatched views backSeinuk, to Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and WSP Cantor Lower Manhattan.

A redundant structural ensures that its safety is as substantial as steel its stature. frame, the result collaboration between Read more aboutofitcreative in Metals in Construction online.

Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and WSP Cantor Seinuk, ensures that its safety is as substantial as its stature.

Read more about it in Metals in Construction online.

Secretary Rick Torres, AIA Executive Director Valerie Brown, Hon. AIANYS, LEED AP chapteroffice@aiawhv.org

Directors James Copeland, AIA May Kirk, AIA Marsha Leed, AIA, LEED AP Kim Miller, AIA, LEED AP Seunghee Park, AIA, LEED AP Elizabeth Parks, AIA Jaclyn Tyler, AIA, LEED AP, bd+c Associate Directors Erika Conradt, Assoc. AIA, LEED AP Nick Viazzo, AIA State Director George Gaspar, AIA Immediate Past President John Fry, AIA, LEED AP bd+c

A Chapter of The American Institute of Architects P.O.Box 611, Katonah, NY 10536 914.232.7240 E-mail: chapteroffice@aiawhv.org Website: www.aiawhv.org Twitter: @aiawhv Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AIAWestchesterHudsonValley Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/AIAWestchesterHudsonValley

ArchPLUS Is a benefit of the American Institute of Architects Westchester + Hudson Valley Chapter as a quarterly publication. For information on professional or allied membership, please call 914-232-7240 or email chapteroffice@aiawhv.org.

The opinions expressed hererin or the representations made by contributors and advertisers, including copyrights and warranties, are not those of the AIA Westchester + Hudson Valley Chapter, its Staff or the Editor-in-Chief of ArchPLUS, unless expressly stated otherwise.

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Š2015 The American Institute of Architects Westchester + Hudson Valley Chapter. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without expressed written permission is strictly prohibited.

SUMMER 2015 REGULARS

FEATURES

6 A Word from the Editor

19 Can Architecture be Saved

Summertime and the livin’s easy

By Peter Gaito Jr., AIA

8 Sustainable Design

A Different Spin on Passive Solar

By Joseph Thompson, AIA

10 President’s Perspective

Architecture; 1 Part Culture, 1 Part Identity, 1 Part History

By Peter Gaito Jr., AIA

Have you struggled in the profession? Mark LePage, AIA, provides five tips on how to save the profession.

22 Traveling & Drawing Julie Evans, AIA, LEED AP, takes you on a journey through her Architecture trip throughout Europe. Get a glimpse into the cultural Architecture through the exquisite images provided in her sketches.

News and Events

By Jaclyn Tyler, AIA, LEED AP, bd+c

30 Event Highlights:

Breuer House Stone Barns

AIA National Convention

14 Code Corner

34 An Architect in the Political Machine

13 Emerging Professionals

Quick Clarifications

By P. Wolfe Consultants, Inc.

16 Legal Corner

Let the Clock Run Out

By Jarrett M. Behar

ArchPLUS

Summer 2015 Vol. 2, No. 3

Architects tread many waters beyond design. Brad Will, AIA, LEED AP provides some insight into the Civil Service industry and the role he has played.

36 Peekskill Career Day

18 AIA Updates

Rob Mintzes shares his experience of enlightening a group of middle schoolers about the Architecture Profession. See their reaction to what we do as Architects.

20 Structural Solutions

38 Energy From Glass

A Shifting Culture

By Ciro Cuono, PE

A Shifting Culture

By Ciro Cuono, PE

Jason Taylor, AIA expresses how the Contemporary Art Gallery in Corning, NY brings energy from culture, all housed in a gem which many Architects have contributed to.

40 Calendar of Events

Mark your Calendar for upcoming events

44 Looking Back 1998

Experience past award winners

Cover Photo: Corning Museum of Glass Photo Credits: Jason Taylor, AIA Back Photo: Corning Museum of Glass

Corning Museum of Glass Photo by: Jason Taylor, AIA

A Word From The Editor

Summertime and the livin’s easy….

SUMMERTIME is full of fun

adventures, great food, great music and catching up with family and friends in a variety of outdoor and indoor places. Often our pleasure derived with these activities is a balance of what we are doing and where we are. Great architecture can enhance our fun and also guide our inner spirit of how we experience those places and events. Ice cream tastes great no matter where you are, but the cultural feelings will differ whether you are at a family picnic in the backyard, in Yankee Stadium, or at a church social event.

A culture is a way of life of a group of people, and cultural architecture is the physical vehicle by which we further enhance our cultural experience. The behaviors, beliefs, values, and symbols that we accept, generally without thinking about them, are passed along by communication and imitation from one generation to the next. I’d like to think that the collective participation in our humble architecture magazine, as readers, contributors and editors could enhance your culture.

In this Summer Issue, we explore several articles of cultural value and architectural significance. In addition to our regular features, this issue’s

6 ArchPLUS Summer 2015

special features truly celebrate culture as we explore the connection between student and teachers of Architecture, Construction and Engineering; Educating students on what it is like to be an architect; Celebrating cultural (and culinary) highlights from our tour of Stone Barns the Rockefeller owned and Marcel Breuer house; Thoughts from a past board member of what it is like to be an architect in the political machine and a Taste of AIA National culture with thoughts from this past year’s convention in Atlanta.

But perhaps the most transformative feature this issue is a cultural sketchbook from an architecture trip in Europe. If you had the choice, and you could visit anywhere to get your cultural fill, where would it be? Someplace you have been before or someplace you have dreamed of going? For me, it was a recent trip to Santa Clara for a cultural and musical experience held at the country’s first LEED rated football stadium.

Safe travels...

Talk soon Peter Gaito Jr, AIA

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Summer 2015 ArchPLUS 7

Sustainable Design

A Different Spin on Passive Solar

BY JOSEPH THOMPSON, AIA

The Dome House has the ability to rotate about its axis 320 degrees at a push of a button, “using less energy

than your average electric hair dryer”

Passive solar design strategies

Above: Finished exterior, photo by Domespace Right: Roof framing, photo by Domespace Opposite: Wood structure, photo by Domespace

8 ArchPLUS Summer 2015

traditionally have generally focused on providing spaces with the ability to harness the sun’s radiant energy in a controlled manner. One of the primary goals of passive solar design is to reduce the demand on supplemental, often fossil fuel based, heating systems. Passive solar design is not a new design concept as it has been exhibited in vernacular architecture for thousands of years. Generally the level of success achieved has been dependent upon the opportunities that the building site offers and the careful analysis and thoughtful implementation of design strategies by the architect.

Domespace, a French company, is redefining the traditional limits of passive solar opportunities through its work with designing and manufacturing Dome Houses that have the ability to actively respond to variable environmental conditions. The Dome House concept was accidentally designed by Patrick Marsilli in the 1980’s.

Marsilli, a French High School Teacher at the time, constructed his first stationary Dome House and shortly after began receiving requests to build more. It was not until one of the Dome House Owners decided that they wanted the home to have the ability to spin that the rotating version was born. The primary quantitative benefit for designing a rotating home is that giving a home the ability to react to changing environmental conditions can reduce its impact on the natural environment. This unique ability to rotate allows Dome Houses to either harness or shelter themselves from the sun. The result for dome homeowners

has been reported reductions of up to 30% in energy consumption when compared to conventional homes. There are currently over 200 of these homes that have been constructed worldwide, approximately half of which rotate, and one of them actually exists here locally in the Mid-Hudson Valley.

In 2003, Veronique Gautier Vencat and her husband Shivah Vencat constructed a Dome House in New Paltz, New York and were the first to do so in the United States. They wanted a home that gave them control over daylighting, views and solar gain from the sun. The Dome House has the ability to rotate about its axis 320 degrees at a push of a button driven by a ½ horsepower electric motor “using less energy than your average electric hair dryer” Veronique explained. The windows on the home are primarily located on one side of the dome which allows you to either embrace or shield yourself from the sun.

The Vencats typically only rotate the home twice a year although the home does have the ability to rotate on demand to actively balance internal temperature and energy use. In the winter, the home is rotated to orient the majority of the glazing to be south facing to take advantage of southern solar exposure. This allows for direct solar thermal gain thus reducing the demand for supplemental fossil fuel based heat sources.

In the summer, the home is rotated again

to orient the majority of the glazing to be north facing. This shields the interior spaces from the sun to avoid direct solar gain and reduces the demand on cooling systems and electric usage. On a cold 30 degree Fahrenheit winter morning in February, it was remarkably impressive that the home’s interior was quite warm at 76 degrees Fahrenheit using no supplemental heating at that time.

Beyond the value of the substantial savings in utility costs and reduced negative environmental impacts, Veronique explained that she and her family really enjoy the free flowing qualities of a circular living space in comparison to the boundaries that typically exist in a conventional home. Their 2,500 SF home, that has a radius of 8.3 meters (27.23’), contains 3 bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms, feels very spacious and open. The form and construction of this home also serve to make it earthquake and hurricane resistant. As the cost of fossil fuels continues to rise, and as the intensity of weather events appears to be continuing to increase in magnitude, it will be interesting to see if the demand for this type of reactive architecture increases.

To find out more about Dome Houses and the innovative living environments that Domespace is creating, visit their website: www.domespace.com or the US based design-build and distributer company Solaleya at: www.solaleya.com

Dome house exterior, photo by Douglas Elliman

Rotation mechanism, photo by Domespace

Dome house interior, photo by Douglas Elliman

Dome house interior, photo by Douglas Elliman

For anyone interested in experiencing a Dome House first hand, the Vencats are currently renting it for summer weekend retreats. Their hope is that someone will appreciate the home as much as they have. After over 10 years of residency, they have placed it on the market with realtor Douglas Elliman.

To find out additional information on renting this home visit: www.airbnb.com/ rooms/1362759 This home has also been featured on HGTV’s “World’s Most Extreme Homes”: https://youtu.be/v79fSKmg9B8

Summer 2015 ArchPLUS 9

President’s Perspective

Architecture 1 part culture

1 part identity 1 part history

BY PETER GAITO JR, AIA

As we embark on designs for our clients, we must embrace the chance for change and design with the times.

When you think of cultural architecture, you can envision wonderful churches, inspiring museums and engaging community centers. It is quite remarkable when you think about it: just how much architecture can influence our culture both physically and psychologically.

We understand culture in two different senses: One that relates to the specific building or area designed to support, nurture and enhance an activity; and the other is the human spirit felt within all of us, while participating in that activity.

The two can be viewed and appreciated separately, yet each is strengthened with the success of the other. The power and beauty of a well-designed place is reinforced by the power and increased internal spirit felt while in that space. Conversely, it is the internal spiritual enhancement one feels that transforms a seemingly simple space into a cultural destination.

Cultural architecture, like public architecture, has its purpose and responsibilities. Carefully selected materials, proportions, and daylighting solutions, will make the distinction between beautiful forms and adequate functionality. They will both keep the rain out, however, only one has the power to inspire, entertain or heal. Good design absolutely matters, and though our design tasks are not often easy, the rewards for those who benefit from them, are great.

As we embark on designs for our clients, we must embrace the chance for change and design with the times. Like all project types, shifting with the times for cultural projects often is accompanied by many updates, ranging from modernization for human comfort or a transformation of how the owners want their building to be viewed and visited. Both stem from cultural shifts of human interest, which has a direct relationship to a new and improved business model. Popular cultural shift projects include renovating museums and churches: The New Whitney Museum, Jacob Burns Theater, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, etc.

To this effect, we as architects, engineers, planners and builders, must consider design solutions of our projects not just for today, but also for the future. Our buildings must embrace available sustainable enhancements, clever designs and flexible solutions. These buildings will then have the advantage of future adaptive reuse, rather that full demolition and starting over. The

10 ArchPLUS Summer 2015

better buildings will also have structural and engineering design and placement working with this flexible program thesis. This way in the future, owners and institutions can initiate more sensible, economical buildings and engineering systems modifications while allowing the balance of the design updates to accommodate the physical needs of the both the physical and psychological cultural shift of that future/modern world.

Architecture’s continual participation in the cultural world is one of the main ways to generate a stronger connection between the culture of architecture and the public nature of human society. Even if you don’t work on cultural projects, the essence of those design solutions can be effective for a variety of other building types. If hundreds of people enjoy a new recreation space or just two people enjoy a new writer’s studio in the woods, the satisfaction derived from each positive cultural experience, only serves to enhance the public’s image of architecture, and the value of good design, which in turn should beget more quality design opportunities for all of us.

An area’s needs are reflective of its architectural cultural heritage, which is an important part of its identity, its history, its growth and its prosperity. Countries, cities, town squares, main streets and individual buildings all contribute to an area’s success and the well-designed designed buildings and spaces do the heavy lifting to support those cultural needs. The hundreds of cultural projects created and the hundreds more that we visit each year, further reinforce the requirements and successes of those needs.

We can all do our part as architects and industry related design professionals by viewing our design and construction projects as successful future examples of the relationship between architecture, culture, identity and history.

Sincerely,

Peter F. Gaito Jr, AIA President

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AIA Westchester + Hudson Valley

Welcome New Members

As new members join the AIA Westchester + Hudson Valley chapter, one of the top three largest chapters in New York State, our members gain more opportunities to network.

Gerasimos Alissandratos, Assoc. AIA RJ Stahl Architect, PC 75 N Saw Mill River Rd # 301 Elmsford, NY 10523

Mr. Sanjay B. Effs, Assoc. AIA RCM Technologies 3020 Westchester Ave Purchase, NY 10577 http://www.rcmt.com

Ms. Lee R. Armstrong, AIA Armstrong Architecture

Mr. Paul R. Girardi, Assoc. AIA Papp Architects, P.C. 188 E Post Rd # 204 White Plains, NY 10601 http://www.papparchitects.com

Ms. Sharon L. Arrindell, AIA

Ms. Laurie Hillman-Johnsson, AIA KG&D Architects, PC 285 Main St

Mt Kisco, NY 10549 http://kgdarchitects.com

Mr. Christopher F. Boston, Assoc. AIA Dutchess County Dept. of Public Works

Mr. Brian O. Mangan, AIA KG&D Architects, PC 285 Main St

Mt Kisco, NY 10549 http://kgdarchitects.com

Mr. Edgardo Andres Cadiz, Assoc. AIA Gap, Inc.

Mr. Brandon J. Petrella, AIA Mauri Architects PC 303 Mill St Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 http://www.mauri-architects.com

Firm News

Many Firms are hiring across our Chapter. Here are your new colleagues.

Bergmann Associates architects // engineers // planners is pleased to announce that Sam Sparta, AIA has been named Director of our Buildings Group.

Sam will oversee Bergmann’s entire Building Design team and U.S. practice throughout our network of 12 offices, across seven states.

12 ArchPLUS Summer 2015

Gary David Warshauer NCARB, AIA and Vincent J. Mellusi NCARB, AIA are proud to announce that Edmund Vogel, AIA, LEED AP has become a Principal of Warshauer Mellusi Warshauer Architects p.c.

Emerging Professionals

Emerging Professionals Corner The resource for Emerging Professional AIA chapter members

News/Kudos • All Associate members are eligible to

borrow the 2014 Kaplan Study guides.

Each section may be checked out individually on a loan period of 6 weeks with renewal possibilities available.

• Contact Jaclyn Tyler at jaclyn.a.tyler@

gmail.com for more information on study materials, and events geared toward EP’s. Please also visit the calendar on our webiste for all EP events

• Congratulations to Kenneth Baviello, AIA, employed by KG&D Architects, P.C. in Mt. Kisco, NY, and past Assoc.

Director on the AIAWHV board, on successfully completing all sections of the ARE.

ARE Scholarship Returns

The AIAWHV chapter will be offering their annual Architect Registration Examination (ARE) Scholarship. An email was distributed on August 14th to all Associates.

The scholarship is intended to recognize Associate AIAWHV Chapter members who have made significant contributions at an early stage in their careers to the profession and to encourage their pursuit of licensure.

Scholarships will be awarded based on a demonstration of financial need and additional criteria to be distributed later this year. A jury composed of distinguished professionals from the AIAWHV Board of Directors, the AIA College of Fellows and NYS Emerging Professional Leaders will select the recipients from submitted criteria.

Scholarship recipients will be reimbursed for the cost of passing the divisions of the Architect Registration Examinations with details to be released later this year.

The award criteria and disbursement will both be modeled after the Jason Pettigrew Scholarship and the AIANYS ARE Scholarship Program. The recipient of the AIAWHV ARE Scholarship will be recognized at the chapter’s December Soiree Celebration.

For more information on becoming an Associate AIA Member, go to www.aiawhv.org or contact Valerie Brown Hon. AIANYS, LEED AP at chapteroffice@aiawhv.org Summer 2015 ArchPLUS 13

Code Corner

Quick Clarifications on the 2014 Energy Code Compliance FIRST PUBLISHED IN BUILDING CODE NEWS FROM P. WOLFE CONSULTANTS, INC.

substantial thermal disruption, the thermal conductivity of the steel actually has the same flimsy thermal performance as that of the exposed slab edge.

2014 Code Changes

In our city, all buildings are insulated to ensure that heat is kept in but even a small break in the insulation can actually affect performance of these insulations by as much as 20% since the heat goes out of the gaps. The NYC energy code actually requires insulation to be continuous but code interpretation has allowed various metal and concrete components that allows heat to penetrate the walls/insulation.

These days though, we will be seeing a lot of changes as the new interpretation of the codes shows that most buildings with exposed slab edges and continuous shelf angles will no longer be considered as compliant with prescriptive code insulation requirements and with DOB to strictly enforce the provision, the energy loss through the gaps in the walls can now be averted.

What Was Done Before

Previously designers of high-rise buildings have been able to use exposed slab edges as well as continuous shelf angles that disturb insulation. These metal shelf angles provide support for brick façade just like the exposed slab but isn’t noticeable from the outside and while the exposed slab edge may look like it shows a more 14 ArchPLUS Summer 2015

The examples noted above cannot represent continuous insulation and the DOB has confirmed this and as such, the code now requires for wall sections to have a truly continuous insulation. The slab should be fully insulated and the shelf angle be cantilevered away from the slab by brackets and doesn’t break the insulations’ continuity. The brackets show an acceptable example of how it should be done, there may well be other ways to do it as well, but the main consideration will be the continuity of the insulation to prevent heat loss due to the gaps.

Looking Ahead

We must keep in mind that unlike appliances or automobiles, buildings constructed today will impact energy consumption up to a 100 years from now or perhaps even longer. Making sure that building energy codes are complied upon to facilitate energy efficiency is very important.

Lowering energy bills and lowering energy generation demands help by controlling greenhouse gas emissions as well as air pollution. Updating these energy codes to make them more efficient for easy compliance and enforcement is a very important aspect in reducing energy use of the building’s life.

It might be realized that in time, as efficiency requirements of building energy codes are improved, zero net energy buildings or ZNEBs – buildings which produce their own required energy - will be the recognized standard of new buildings/ constructions.

Legal Corner

Let the Clock Run Out On Potential Malpractice Claims

BY JARRETT M. BEHAR, ESQ.

Once an architect's services are complete, the architect should think twice about returning to the project In 1996, the New York State Legislature amended the New York have otherwise been untimely. It is advisable that an architect

State Civil Practice Law and Rules to apply a three-year limitations period to all non-medical malpractice actions, regardless of whether they were based on breach of contract or tort. Thus, except for the unusual circumstance where an architect specifically agrees in his or her contract to produce a specific result, i.e. some sort of government approval, LEED certification, etc., a claim will be untimely if it is brought by the client more than three years after the relationship with the architect ended.

Note that this does not mean three years from the end of construction if the architect’s relationship with the client ends sooner. For example, the architect’s contract may only extend to the design phase of the contract, or the relationship may be terminated prior to the contemplated end of services due to a dispute. In any event, it is always advisable to issue some sort of written communication specifically acknowledging the date on which the architect’s engagement is complete. Sometimes a matter of one day can be the difference between being exposed in a lawsuit and being able to have a potential matter dismissed, or not even commenced, as time-barred.

The caveat to that is what is known as the “continuous treatment doctrine”. Even though an architect has completed his or her services for a client, the three-year statute of limitations can be extended (or “tolled” in legal terminology). This can occur if the architect continues to consult with the client or provide services on the project and has the potential to extend the statute of limitations through the end of that consultation.

The most common area where this comes up is when a potential issue arises with a project after the architect has completed his or her work, and the architect returns to the project to consult on potential corrective action. Even if the consultation or potential corrective action does not relate directly to the architect’s original services, the door can be opened to the argument that the threeyear statute of limitations has been extended and did not start to run until the end of that consultation.

As a result, once an architect’s services are complete, the architect should think twice about returning to the project, especially when returning involves some sort of problem that has arisen. This is especially true where the time to initiated claim has nearly run out and going back would revive a claim that would

16 ArchPLUS Summer 2015

that is contemplating consulting on a previously completed project consult with his or her attorney before returning to the site, performing any services, or issuing a preliminary opinion or advice.

For additional information concerning this article or other issues of significance to architects, please feel free to contact Jarrett M. Behar, a member of the firm Sinnreich Kosakoff & Messina LLP at jbehar@skmlaw. net. Mr. Behar practices in the areas of commercial litigation, construction law and professional liability defense, and has successfully defended untimely claims against architects on statute of limitations grounds.

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AIA Updates

2015 Design Conference: A Practice and Academic Partnership

BY MIKE BURRIDGE This year's Design Conference, themed "A Practice and Academic Partnership," promises to be a memorable endeavor, as we look at the correlative nature of academia and practice in architecture and how each distinct area can learn from each other.

As we move forward in the ever-evolving profession of

architecture, research, process and practice are becoming more important. As part of the conference, we will be offering 33 programs with 19.5 LUs/HSWs available from a broad spectrum of Conference themed programs. There are also 4 architectural themed tours and many networking and social opportunities to get to know other AIANYS members and industry professionals.

We have also invited special keynote speakers who exemplify our theme. Andrew Freear has given the students of Auburn University hands on, real world experience through the Rural Studio, where students plan, design, fund-raise and build structures for lower social economic areas of Alabama. Anna Dyson is a professor at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, where she brings design practice and theory to the classroom. Ms. Dyson has committed herself to bridging the diverse worlds by proposing a new collaborative model for building research, uniting interdisciplinary academic research with building and development

processes. Our Sunday breakfast speaker is Jay Valgora, AIA, who specializes in urban development. He is currently working on the Roosevelt Island redevelopment project in New York City, where he has partnered with Cornell University to create the new home of the Cornell Tech campus.

Finally, our trade show is not to be missed, where many companies representing products used in the profession will be presenting and displaying cutting edge materials and technologies.

You will be able to walk the Trade Show floor as well as receive more information by scheduling an appointment for detailed information or personal demonstrations.

We hope to see you in Saratoga this fall. Attendee registration will be opening soon, look for registration specials and special promotions for AIANYS members. If you have any questions, feel free to visit www.aianys.org or call 518-449-3334 for more information.

Keynote Speakers (Left to Right): Anna Dyson, Director

Center for Architecture Science and Ecology (CASE) Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Andrew Freear

Director, Rural Studio

Jay Valgora, AIA

STUDIO V Architecture

18 ArchPLUS Summer 2015

Feature

Can Architecture be Saved?

BY MARK R. LEPAGE, AIA

I entered the profession in 1993 after graduating from Roger Williams University.

The day I walked through studio for the first time, I heard the stories of a struggling profession; a culture built upon the belief that architects were artists and money was for those who sell out to the masses. That story is alive and thriving in today’s profession as well.

Independent Architects Must Lead the Charge

We have many problems with our profession and that story we architects are perpetuating is one of the most painful.

Solving this problem is not going to be the result of our professional organization making promises for change, and our schools will be slow to evolve. The solutions will not be found within the halls of academia any time soon.

I believe the solution to our profession’s problems will be found with independent architects.

You and I must take a stand. We must lead the charge. We must commit to making change in our own studios. Shift paradigms. Create collaborative cultures and build better businesses.

Profit… Then Art

I built the online platform, EntreArchitect.com to inspire architects to build better businesses. If you’ve read the blog for any amount of time you know our mission, as a community, is to become an influential force in the profession. When architects focus on building healthy profitable businesses, things will change.

Can our profession be saved? It is up to you.

Write a business plan. Develop a marketing strategy. Learn to sell your services.

Build a business that thrives, with systems to allow you to create the architecture that makes the world more beautiful and improves the lives of your clients. Focus on

profit, then art.

Pursue Debt Zero

The first step in building a strong healthy business is to pursue debt zero.

Despite what our banks try to sell us, debt is not the solution for success. Our society is addicted to debt. Impatience and misguided ambition has led us to a dead end of maxedout credit cards and extended lines of credit.

Borrowing money holds you captive. Grow slow. Save your money and earn your way to success.

Raise Your Fees

The second step to success is to raise your fees. The independent architect will lead this revolution. When we each begin to push our rates up, the value of our services will increase in the mind of our clients.

The fees we earn are the fees we set.

Share What You Know

Have you built a better business?

Open your doors and share what you know with fellow architects. Be transparent with your success.

The more we share, the more the profession will benefit. When changes in the profession begin to occur, we will all benefit.

We’ll all make more money, we’ll all build better businesses and we’ll all create better architecture.

Can our profession be saved? It is up to you.

Mark R. LePage, AIA, is Partner in Charge of Operations at the Chappaqua-based residential architecture firm, Fivecat Studio. He is also the founder of EntreArchitect.com (Entrepreneur Architect), an online resource inspiring small firm architects to build better businesses. Mark writes a weekly blog, hosts the EntreArchitect Podcast and has recently launched EntreArchitect Academy, a private online community for architects seeking success in business, leadership and life. Learn more at EntreArchitect.com.

Summer 2015 ArchPLUS 19

Structural Solutions

A Shifting Culture:

Technology, Integrated Design, and New Work Patterns

BY CIRO CUONO, PE

Architecture is a reflection of the society that commissions it. Similarly, design firms have their own culture which is generally reflective of the greater industry that they are in.

For most, the culture of design professional firms is still dominated by the Design- Bid- Build philosophy. An owner hires an architect and engineers to design their concept. The concept (drawings) are bid by multiple contractors, one of which is selected, and the project is built by that contractor. A system of checks and balances is in place to ensure that each party is fulfilling their role: Owner: provides timely input and pays bills. Design professional: provides a design that fulfills the owner’s goals, meets code, and is buildable.

Contractor: figures out how to build it safely, on time, and on budget. The nature of these relationships can be guarded or even adversarial as the owner is separately contracting the designers and contractors.

There is a shift, however, taking place, particularly in the larger size firms and engineering driven mega projects. While design-build or integrated design approaches are not new – having been around for many years, many large scale engineering projects are following these delivery methods. Some examples are the new Tappan Zee Bridge which is being built by Tappan Zee Constructors, LLC (TZC), a consortium of several firms and the design/build team of Turner, Gensler and Farnsworth Group which is working with Caterpillar Inc. for its global headquarters in Peoria, Illinois. Another, example is Gluck+, the firm founded

by Peter Gluck in NYC, which is an Architect led design build firm.

They have just completed the design and construction of a new 12,000 square foot Center for Tennis & Learning in the Bronx.

What is the cause for this shift in design and delivery? The reasons are varied and probably boil down to cost and efficiency.

This author believes that it is the way of the future and the direction our industry is headed; like it or not.

Architecture and engineering is a fragmented industry, anyone can start up a firm from a laptop in their kitchen. Though we read about mega firms with tens of thousands of employees, the vast majority of firms are under 10 people. Increased competition 20 ArchPLUS Summer 2015

(Source: The Business of Architecture: 2012 AIA Survey Report on Firm Characteristics, Copyright 2012, The American Institute of Architects)

internally and from abroad has been spurring more mergers and acquisitions within this fragmented industry. Further, the technology is increasing at a dizzying pace. Many practitioners today were taught hand drafting, learned AutoCAD, and are now watching their younger coworkers work in Revit and other 3D programs. This increased competition and incredibly powerful technology may push more practitioners to an integrated or design build approach which fully realizes the potential of the new technology.

The auto industry and other manufactures use advanced 3D technologies to completely design their products and then proceed to manufacture them – all under one umbrella. Though obviously buildings and not mass produced, we now have cheap technology to allow a similar approach.

While the benefits of this are obvious for the mega projects of the day how could this come into play for a small design office working on single family houses or small commercial projects? I believe that this shift will slowly trickle down to even the smallest jobs.

Though some may reject this shift, this author thinks that our industry should fully embrace this design shift. After all the builders from antiquity to the emergence of the modern

architecture and engineering industry in the 1850s actually used this methodology- The Master Builder did it all. While we cannot and should not go back to one person responsible for all – our increasing specialization could benefit by having us work under one umbrella. Rather than fighting a general contractor, we engineers and architects could mutually benefit by working for the same team.

In our own practice we see the beginnings of this shift and its benefits with certain structural steel fabricators that we work with. Having a good working relationship with some steel fabricators we have been able to engage them in the design process from the beginning. This has resulted in more efficient designs by having direct input from an actual fabricator before we put pencil to paper. While this is not an earth shattering concept, if we added a 3D model to this and had shop drawings completed upon filling for a building permit, a tremendous efficiency and savings in time could be realized. The technology now allows an architect to conceive a building with a working 3D model. This model is passed to the structural engineer, dumped into an analysis and design program to develop the structural framing. The engineer’s 3D model is then passed onto a steel fabricator who uploads the model to detailing software which spits out takeoffs and shop drawings ready for fabrication. If the boundaries of the traditional design-bid-build relationships are broken down, then this process of design to fabrication becomes streamlined in terms of production and allows for direct contractor input at the beginning of the process. This, hopefully, would preclude the need for any “Value Engineering” exercises and result in a fully coordinated design much sooner in the process than the traditional model.

Another shift in our design culture, as well as other industries, is a changing work pattern. New technology (iphones, tablets, etc.) and the connectivity they provide allow an engineer and architect to be involved and attuned to many projects at any time. This connectivity has broken down boundaries- emails in the middle of the night, weekends; vacations etc. mean that many architects and engineers have merged their work life and personal life. On the other hand work that needs to be done on the weekend does not necessarily mean that one has to dredge to the office since files can easily be accessed from a home laptop or tablet. Younger generations also have a different outlook. As they progress in their careers, their concepts of work-life balance continues to shift and evolve within the design firm culture.

“New cloud-based tools are making the world a much smaller place. Today my team can be located anywhere in the world. I believe the networked virtual firm is the future of small firm architecture.”

Mark R. LePage,AIA Co-founder, Fivecat Studio and founder, Entrepreneur Architect

Looking ahead, architectural firms should align themselves with engineering firms and other consultants who embrace this paradigm shift ahead of the curve. Though, admittedly, it will probably be some time before this new world of design builders becomes the norm, we can prepare ourselves now by closer collaboration as early in the process as possible. We do this in

Precast pile caps are installed at the base of the new Tappan Zee Bridge Photograph courtesy of New York State Thruway Authority

our practice by encouraging our clients to bring on a qualified contractor during the schematic phase as a paid consultant for preconstruction services. Though not a guarantee that this contractor will win the job, they are compensated for their valuable input at this early stage. We typically ask them to have a running budget, open probes for renovation projects, and provide insight on pros and cons of structural systems from a cost and constructability point of view. This has been a rewarding process as the contractor is aware of design constraints; early design decisions, and has an intimate knowledge of the project if they win the bid. During construction, the team then has a good working rapport which helps avoid conflicts and allows quick resolution to inevitable issues that come on any construction project.

Ciro Cuono, P.E., LEED AP, is a structural engineer and principal at Cuono Engineering PLLC in Port Chester, NY and an assistant adjunct professor of structural engineering at the Bernard and Anne Spitzer School of Architecture at the City College of NY. He can be reached at ccuono@cuonoengineering.com.

Summer 2015 ArchPLUS 21

Feature

Traveling and Drawing

BY JULIE EVANS, AIA LEED AP

Reflections on an 1989 SOM travelling fellowship My favorite English teacher was a passionate realist. One day, she

called out a classmate, and said, “If you aren’t interested in our discussion, you may lie on the floor and study how the carpet is made!” She sometimes taught class on the roof. She knew that we all need to be pulled out of our context to wake up our receptors, and that close focus with almost anything can get our wheels turning.

I attended graduate school in the late 1980’s, at the University of Illinois at Chicago. This was an exciting and funny time in academe: post structuralism, fractals, computer generated patterns and soft forms, the ‘end of history’ and the ‘end of architecture’, in opposition to classicism, post modernism, and poised (Miesian) modernism. All was ‘text’, and all was hyphenated.

In that setting, I won an SOM traveling fellowship which funded about four months of travel. This was a thrilling honor and opportunity. I began the trip by working on masonry restoration of medieval sites near Avignon, and then spent about a month each in the Netherlands, Spain, and Paris.

I wrote a lot while traveling, but my sketchbooks tell of a deeper and freer engagement with everything I saw over those months: from quick ink diagrams of fascinating buildings to careful pencil studies to intense graphite impressions to water colors. That time, that luxury of engagement, forever changed how I think about buildings, space, and cities, and how I draw.

Above left: Alhambra; Granada, Spain; graphite.

Left: Barcelona Pavilion, Mies van der Rohe; Barcelona, Spain; graphite.

Opposite: Mezquite; Cordoba, Spain; watercolor.

All sketches by Julie Evans, AIA, LEED AP

22 ArchPLUS Summer 2015

Summer 2015 ArchPLUS 23

Reflection on an afternoon in Barcelona: “On September 10, 1989, I was two and a half months into my ‘grand tour’, and very far away from Chicago, grad school, style wars, Mylar, theory, and worrying about what merited being seen or documented to SOM. I was content with my notebooks, pencils, paint box, backpack, a bag of granola and day’s supply of fruit and yogurt. By then, I launched myself every day to see everything I could. I walked so much I still felt my legs moving as I fell asleep, and sometimes only sketched at night when I finally sat still.

This day, though, was my third day in Barcelona, and traveling through the city was daunting at best. The city was readying for the Olympics, the streets were a mess, and I’d discovered that my 12 word Spanish vocabulary - even combined with fluency in French did me no good with those who spoke Catalan. I spent the first few days; it seemed, frustrated and underground in hot, loud subway cars, in the city I most waned to see every inch of.

By five o’clock that day, I’d had enough, and randomly got off the subway to get some air. I surfaced in the Eixample district, right in front of Casa Mila. But this was not the weird, gunnite building we first saw in grainy photographs in our history surveys. This was a precisely crafted, creamy, stone building, being wondrously hit by the late afternoon sun. What seemed like amorphous curves in those old photos were, in fact, fantastically regularized hand-hewn stone, the surfaces evenly pin-hammered to create those famous curves.

Amazing!!! Then – then!!! - There were the railings. Fantastic, again, in that they were hand hammered, twisted iron, rendered into frozen kelp and sea weed. Even in this inland neighborhood, the sea was felt. As I sketched, all my frustrations fell away, and that moment was worth my entire four months of travel.”

24 ArchPLUS Summer 2015

Right: Casa Mila, Antonio Gaudi; Barcelona, Spain; graphite.

Left: Parc Guell; Antonio Gaudi; Barcelona, Spain; graphite.

Below left: Shipyards; Barcelona, Spain; graphite.

All Sketches by Julie Evans, AIA, LEED AP

Summer 2015 ArchPLUS 25

26 ArchPLUS Summer 2015

Left: Sagrada Familia; Antonio Gaudi; Barcelona, Spain; graphite.

Opposite: Villa Savoie, le Corbusier; Poissysur-Seine, France; watercolor.

All sketches by Julie Evans, AIA, LEED AP

Favorite things and revelations during the trip: •

Brilliant pocket parks and sun shading in Barcelona and Paris

•

Anything at all by Raphael Moneo

•

The buttery smooth concrete and impeccable scale and urbanism of the Institut du Monde Arabe

by Jen Nouvel

•

How incredibly colorful Villa Savoie is on a fall afternoon

•

Bay windows in Amsterdam, balconies with iron screens in Spain

•

Hexagonal terra cotta sidewalk pavers patterned fish and plan forms in Barcelona

•

How impossible it is to evade the influence of the Romans or the Hapsburgs

Summer 2015 ArchPLUS 27

Santa Maria la Blanca; Toledo, Spain

28 ArchPLUS Summer 2015

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Summer 2015 ArchPLUS 29

Chapter Events

Breuer House Stone Barns Tour

BY KIM MILLER, AIA, LEED AP

On May 8th, the AIAWHV held a tour of the Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture, including a farm to table luncheon followed by a tour of the Marcel Breuer House on the grounds of the part of the Rockefeller Estate in Pocantico Hills now owned by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and operated by the Rockefeller Brothers Fund. The tour and luncheon was limited to 30 people and quickly sold out.

The Stone Barns Center, originally designed as a farm center for the Rockefeller family by Grosvenor Atterbury in the 1930’s, is now a nonprofit farm and educational center. On over 80 acres, the Center promotes sustainable agriculture and the award winning restaurant, Blue Hill at Stone Barns, operates on site.

With two expert guides from the Stone Barns Center, we visited the greenhouse, pastures where we saw mobile chicken coops and baby lambs and fields of the many vegetables that are grown on the farm.

Afterwards, a wonderful buffet lunch was served in part of the old farm barn which was renovated in 2005 by Machado Silvetti.

After lunch, the tour continued with a short drive to the Marcel Breuer House.

The house was originally designed by Breuer in 1948 as an exhibit house for the Museum of Modern Art. It was displayed in their garden for 6 months and demonstrated how the average American could live in a well-designed home. The house featured the hallmarks of mid-century style, but also Breuer’s separation of functions and his signature butterfly roof which allowed for one central drain and no gutters. After the exhibition, the house was cut into 4 sections and brought to Pocantico on flat bed trucks where it was reassembled.

It was used as a guest house for the family before the estate of Laurance Rockefeller gave it to the National Trust in 2007.

30 ArchPLUS Summer 2015

Left: View of Living Room, looking up to the Master Bedroom photo by Ben Asen Opposite: Marcel Breuer House, photo by Ben Asen

The tour was given by RBF employees, Kimberly Miller, Staff Architect and Director of Operations and Cynthia Altman, Curator. The tour focused on the balance between efforts to restore the house to Breuer’s original design intent while also making it a functional place for artists’ residencies as part of the Pocantico Arts Collaborative.

After the tour, a reception hosted by the Rockefeller Brothers Fund was given in the automobile hall of the Coach Barn which was used by the Rockefellers but is now part of the public tours.

Kim Miller, AIA LEED AP, and current AIAWHV Director, is Staff Architect and Director of Operations, Pocantico Center.

Event Highlights

AIA NATIONAL CONVENTION: ATLANTA AIAWHV’s Thoughts on the National Convention in Atlanta

Photography by Peter Gaito and Mike Berta

Peter Gaito. Jr, AIA, Peter F. Gaito and Associates

“A refreshing, engaging few days full of wonderful social events, enlightening classes and professional camaraderie- AIA Atlanta reaffirmed my confidence in the direction our profession is heading and in the current and upcoming AIA Leadership.

One highlight for me, was attending a small college alumni gathering where I caught up with friends I haven’t seen in a while, made some new friends and had the opportunity to chat with 2010 Gold Medal Winner (Peter Bohlin), 2015 Firm Award Winner (Steven Ehrlich) and 2016 AIA National President (Russ Davidson).”

Jaclyn Tyler, AIA, LEED AP bd+c, Tyler Architecture & Planning, PLLC “As an Emerging Professional, I feel that the convention offers many opportunities to network not only with colleagues and classmates from the past, but also with individuals that may impact your career in the future. In addition, I take the opportunity to make my voice heard through the many means created at the convention.”

32 ArchPLUS Summer 2015

Michael Gallin, AIA, LEED AP, Gallin Beeler Design Studio

“The Atlanta convention was a great opportunity to see past colleagues and form new relationships. Tremendous resource in the exhibition hall as well. It was well worth the trip!”

David Freeman, AIA, SUNY Dutchess

David Freeman attended the Coalition of Community College Architecture Programs annual meeting. The Coalition is a national organization which seeks the advancement of two year school graduates as they transfer or enter the workforce.

David is a member of the Board of Directors. Cccap.org for more information.

Valerie Brown’s, Hon. AIA, NYS LEED AP Top 5 List:

1 - Connecting with AIA National staff and personally thanking them for all their support through the year!!! They are the best! Lead by their fearless leader and CEO, Robert Ivy, FAIA 2 - Meeting up and dancing the night away with chapter members at the AIANYS reception (videos provided upon request haha).

3 - Being awe struck by Bill Clinton as the Convention keynote speaker.

4 - Meeting family of members attending!! John Fry’s dad is a sweetheart!

5 - And the #1 reason that I love conventions in the south shrimp and grits!

Summer 2015 ArchPLUS 33

Feature

An Architect in the Political Machine

BY BRAD WILL, AIA, LEED AP

The last seventeen months have been a great experiment in civil service for this architect, having jumped into the small city political arena of Kingston, New York. The learning curve has been steep, the wounds many and some deep. Would I trade it in, or do I have any regrets? No, not a chance - this experience has given me great insight into the inner workings of government - its strengths, its shortcomings, its many challenges, and not least, the intensity of ego- and turfdriven political combat. This much is clear: its enough to make any high school clique or caste system collectively blush brightly.

Treading into these treacherous waters is not for the faint of heart, and in the first year is like going to a foreign language school without any textbooks or tutoring. High schools and colleges simply do not prepare the pupil for this arena, with the notable exception of political science and law school majors. For the rest of us, it’s trial by fire - and honestly, this is how the Founding Fathers intended it to be - citizens from all walks of life having the equal opportunity to serve their country, states, cities and towns. So much ground has been covered over my short time in office, I can relate only a few of the stories and lessons learned.

As an Architect, I have exercised and applied my professional expertise in both tactical and strategic ways: environment stewardship has always played a central role in my architectural practice, and so it should in government policy.

Sometimes this means knowing when to ask questions and put the brakes on a project that poses significant pollution risks, even if somewhat antithetical to ‘economic development‘ at any cost.

Last fall, the public first learned that a California-based water bottling company

34 ArchPLUS Summer 2015

was deep into negotiations with the City Water Department and a neighboring municipality. My role in this became immediately apparent - inform and educate the public, sound the alarm for fellow City Councilmen and Councilwomen, and be persistent in making the issue as highly publicized and transparent as possible. I did not do this alone by any means, as groups like kingstoncitizens. org, Riverkeeper, Woodstock Land Conservancy, Kingston Conservation Advisory Council, and hundreds of citizens responded and participated in a way that Kingston had almost never before seen.

I am proud to say that the Common Council stepped up in a big way, voting unanimously to give the City a greater voice in the process. With the bottling company now distant in the rear view mirror, the Council can concentrate on amending the City Charter via public referendum, and giving the people of Kingston a say in their city’s destiny.

I have learned that government waste is perversely widespread and chronic.

The task of demanding accountability and challenging old ways of doing ‘business as usual’ is formidable, requiring a great deal of patience, perseverance, and inquiry.

Kingston is home to the now infamous Washington Ave. sinkhole, an over-three year festering blot in the middle of a major City artery. The writer could enter several chapters on the topic, but suffice it to say this much: what was once described in 2011 as a $50,000 road repair project is now an $8,000,000 massive infrastructure reconstruction project. Senator Schumer, upon visiting the sinkhole on a rainy early April day, exclaimed “I have never seen a sinkhole this big.” Early in my term as Alderman for the 3rd Ward (in which the sinkhole resides), I helped organize a public informational meeting that was

attended by 100 concerned residents. Why? Because prior to this event, the City had not properly informed the public regarding the proposed engineering solution, timetable for construction, overall costs, and steps required that would affect neighbors around the sinkhole. As of this writing, 15 months post-public meeting, the sinkhole remains unfixed. Accountability is sorely needed with this expensive problem, as with every infrastructure project the City is faced with. Insisting on issuing RFP’s for consulting work, and posting more information on the City website are two ways I have sought to create greater governmental transparency and accountability.

Last, but certainly not least: historic preservation has leapt to center stage in Kingston. With an Unsafe Building law enacted in the previous term, the City has been intent on executing a building demolition program costing the taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars. When the latest request for $60,000 from the Administration was made to the Finance Committee (on which I sit), I wanted to learn more about the structures proposed for demolition. The two structures being targeted are each roughly two hundred years old, and have historic relevance to the canal-building, horse-drawn barge commerce days of the Rondout Creek then its own town and since annexed by Kingston.

As a direct result of my urging caution before destroying some of the last remaining vestiges of Kingston’s past, the Mayor has called for an ‘historic preservation summit,’ and two buyers have made offers on the City-owned properties.

The lessons are clear and rewarding: architects (and city planners, engineers, and environmental scientists) can have a direct, positive impact on the course of their respective municipality. It can be hard and demanding work, a drain on your personal and professional life - but in the end, completely worth having a seat at the table.

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Brad Will, AIA, LEED AP is a former AIAWHV Director who is now serving as 3rd Ward Alderman in Kingston, NY

Summer 2015 ArchPLUS 35

Feature

Peekskill Career Day

BY ROB MINTZES

In the classrooms of America, there are students whose passions for architecture have yet to be kindled

If you ask a group of middle school students what they think an architect does, the chances are relatively

good that they'll give the right answer.

They'll say that architects design buildings, simply put. It's a good, general answer, but then it falls on you to fill in the gaps.

My colleague Crosby Scott and I were invited to speak with a couple of classes at Peekskill Middle School in Peekskill, NY, for their Career Day. As I had presented to students at the middle school where my wife teaches for the past few years, I had some presentation material ready to go, save for a few modifications.

Peekskill Middle School is a relatively new building—completed in 2008 to replace its aging 1920s predecessor—and it was designed by Peter Gisolfi Associates, the firm at which Crosby and I are employed.

Our presentations were wellrounded. I brought a PowerPoint slideshow that explained what an architect does—or in my case, an architectural designer, as I'm not yet licensed—and what the differences are between those two titles. I spoke about my education, how multiple paths can be taken to a career in architecture, and I showcased my own personal and professional work and interests. Most importantly, I spoke to them about what they would need to know and study if they were interested in pursuing a career in architecture. Crosby spoke to them about similar things, emphasizing the need for students to do well in school, as architecture is a very competitive field.

36 ArchPLUS Summer 2015

He spoke about his own personal journey in architecture, which started when he was living in Jamaica. He had immigrated to the U.S. from there and recently became an American citizen. He also brought models and construction drawings of one of our office’s projects to look show to the students.

The students reacted well to the PowerPoint presentation, as it included a lot about new digital technologies and techniques such as 3D printing, parametric modeling, and scripting. It was more difficult to gauge their interest in items such as the construction drawing set. Some seemed to let their attention spans drift elsewhere as we explained the purpose of each sheet. Understandably, the hard line

drawings of a CD set might be difficult for youngsters to understand and appreciate, compared to the artistic qualities of a rendering or the impact of a finished building in a photograph.

Photos of our work were met with “oohs,” “aahs,” “wows,” and some instances of “that's beautiful,” and that's always something that makes an architect feel good. When it was revealed that we were the architects of the building and classrooms that we were currently occupying, the students applauded— without any prompting from their teachers.

Hearing the students tell us how much they love the school that had been designed for them, and thanking us for the job we did, was great feeling.

But beyond the fairly one-sided realm of presenting and lecturing is the Q&A session that is to be expected at every Career Day. Here are some of the questions one can expect: 1. What made you want/decide to become an architect?

2. How long does it take to design a building?

3. How much do you get paid, or how much money do you make?

There are many other questions, for sure, but the above inquiries are three that I have received without fail. Answering the first two questions can be relatively straightforward, but that last one can be tricky. It's best to be as general as possible, and not have any answer pertain to you personally regarding salary.

Presenting to the next generation about architecture is a rewarding experience, as it presents one with the opportunity to inspire. Our profession has undergone a great amount of upheaval and change over the last few years, driven heavily by rapid changes in technology in both design and construction. While some of these may still be considered experimental to the current generation of architects, today’s youth will, in twenty years time, be able to utilize them to far greater ends.

In the classrooms of America, there are students whose passions for architecture have yet to be kindled. It's an honor and a privilege to have the chance to ignite that flame in those kids.

Summer 2015 ArchPLUS 37

Feature

Energy From Glass

BY JASON TAYLOR, AIA

The Corning Museum of Glass is the heart of Corning, NY. It is a

conglomerate of fantastic buildings housing everything from ancient glass artifacts to exhibits on cutting edge glass fiber technology. Over the years, world renowned architects have contributed to its sprawling structure. The varying styles of each wing add to the museum’s sophistication. It becomes not just about glass, but about the way culture has influenced architecture and how technology and architecture have influenced culture. The International Style building that housed the original museum was designed by Wallace K. Harrison in 1951. In 1980 an amorphous glass and steel wing designed by Gunnar Birkets, opened to house thousands of years of glass history.

The admissions lobby, cafe and interactive

38 ArchPLUS Summer 2015

exhibit spaces were designed by Smith Miller and Hawkinson Architects LLP in 2001, with exhibitry by Ralph Applebaum Associates. But the icing on the cake is the new Contemporary Art Gallery by Thomas Phifer and Partners which opened its doors in the spring of 2015.

For my family, the Contemporary Art Gallery was the last stop at the last destination on a five day summer road trip.

Our journey had taken us to awe inspiring places including Howe Caverns, Niagara Falls and the Finger Lakes. To top off our tour of natural wonders, we spent the morning hiking the gorge trail at Watkins Glen State Park – a path lined with majestic cliffs and nineteen sparkling waterfalls. We had spent days marveling at the natural beauty of each destination. But after two days in a hotel in Niagara, overlooking the splendor of the Canadian Horseshoe falls, the wonder of it all became almost tiresome. As we rode in the car, we would half-jokingly complain “no more beauty!” as we went from one stunning vista to another.

Corning, was sort of an obligatory stop – an homage to a field trip I had taken when I was twelve years old – and one of the few tourist destinations on the long drive from Niagara to Westchester. We

entered the museum at around 3:30 in the afternoon, tired and not particularly interested. But I figured we would stop in for an hour then begin our long drive home.

Once we entered the museum, our tiredness faded and our interest piqued as we were treated to truly engaging demonstrations including: glass blowing, flame working, glass breaking and fiber optics. After two hours of learning and appreciating the exhibits we were once again growing sleepy and hungry. But near the entrance, not far from the ticket counter, was a tapering stark white corridor with two lines of light in the ceiling that drew our attention. This was the entrance to the Contemporary Art Gallery. We all decided to check it out.

My children, both girls, ages six and nine, enjoy architecture, at least as much as a six and nine year old can.

They’ll often sit beside me as I look through whatever Architecture magazine we happen have on the coffee table. I bring them to job sites and explain how buildings go together. Sometimes, I think their interest is sincere, and other times, I think they’re just humoring me to get some quality time with dad. But when we walked into this new gallery, our tired eyes opened wide with wonder and our exhausted sense of

beauty was rekindled by something totally new. My girls began to dance. They looked up and around at the curved walls and the light that filtered through slender concrete fins. They ran through the wide spaces, with their arms outstretched and mimicked the shapes they saw around them. It was as pure an appreciation of beautiful architecture as I’ve ever seen.

At their most noble, art and architecture can lift our spirits and change our behavior so that we appreciate our surroundings in a whole new way. It’s even better if the culture surrounding that architecture can enhance the experience.

For a few hours my family was treated to the contagious enthusiasm of the museum’s presentation staff. Our attention was constantly held by the visual and tactile delights of the exhibits and their meticulously crafted surroundings. And finally we were given new energy and perspective from the Contemporary Art Gallery’s cloud-like walls and suspended glass sculptures bathed in ever changing natural light.

We left the museum at closing time: 8:00 pm – not tired at all.

“At their most noble, art and architecture can lift our spirits and change our behavior so that we appreciate our surroundings in a whole new way.”

Summer 2015 ArchPLUS 39

September Events

October Events Design Awards October 28

Annual Business Meeting/Elections September 30

Join us for one or three nights in the month of August to earn your CES credits.

Topics vary.

AIA Business and Guest Lecturer Melissa KaplanMacey presents Tarrytown Waterfront Masterplan

5 Saturday Design Awards submittal

TBD

19 Saturday West Point Tour & Football USMA - West Point West Point, NY

8:00 am Cadet Review 10:00 am Tour

12:00 pm Kickoff & Lunch

14 Wednesday Architecture Trivia Night

Deadline

23 Wednesday Breakfast Seminar Benefits of Impermeable Conc.

& Permanent Impermeable Repair Materials

1161 Little Britain Road

New Windsor, NY

8:00 - 9:30 am

Architecture Tour Vassar College Poughkeepsie, NY 5:30-7:30 pm

Host: Emerging Professionals Growlers Beer Bistro 25 Main Street Tuckahoe, NY 5:30-7:30 pm

15

Thursday

22-24

ARE Scholarship Application Due

NYS AIA Design Conference Saratoga, NY

24 Thursday

Past President’s Council Location TBA Time TBA

28 Wednesday AIAWHV Design Awards

Temple Beth El of Westchester 30 Wednesday Annual Business Dinner/ Northern

220 S Bedford Road Meeting/Elections Chappaqua, NY IBM Learning Center 5:00 pm Building Tour

20 Old Post Road 6:00 pm Cocktails Armonk, NY 7:30 Awards Ceremony 5:00-9:00 pm 40 ArchPLUS Summer 2015

November Events

December Events

Guest Lecture November 12

Soiree 79 December 7

Guest Lecturer Jodi Anderson, AIA, LEED AP presents Resiliency and 8 Good Habits for Architecture

Join us for a night full of food • beverages • music • tours • recognition

3 Thursday Half Day Seminar:

5 Thursday Breakfast Seminar

Topic:TBD

1161 Little Britain Road

New Windsor, NY

8:00 - 9:30 am

Residental Design &

Release of New NYS Code Location TBA Time TBA

7 Monday Soiree 79 Guest Lecture

Garcia’s at the Capitol Theatre Jodi Anderson, AIA, LEED AP

Resiliency & 8 Good Habits 149 Westchester Avenue

Port Chester, NY for Architects

6:30 - 10:30 pm Location TBA Time TBA 12 Thursday

Interested in assisting with the chapter’s graphics task force? Have web design experience or magazine layout experience? Contact Valerie Brown at 914.232.7240 or aiawhv@gmail.com

Don’t miss your opportunity to apply for the ARE Scholarship to be awarded in December

Interested in serving on the Events Committee? Contact Valerie Brown at 914.232.7240 or aiawhv@gmail.com

For more information on our events, please visit our website at www.aiawhv.org

Deadline - October 15, 2015 Summer 2015 ArchPLUS 41

42 ArchPLUS Summer 2015

Summer 2015 ArchPLUS 43

LOOKING BACK A GLIMPSE OF AIA+WHV

1998

AWARD WINNERS

CITATION PROJECT: RUBIN BROTHERS PAINTS MUNICIPALITY: CITY OF YONKERS ARCHITECT: D’AMORE DESIGN STUDIO ARCHITECTS AND PLANNERS, AIA CONTRACTOR: GLENMAN CONSTRUCTION CORP. OWNER: JEFF RUBIN

Picture Above After Alteration Picture Right Before Alteration

44 ArchPLUS Summer 2015

CITATION (above)

HONOR AWARD (below)

PROJECT: KATHLEEN LUKENS LIVING CENTER MUNICIPALITY: TOWN OF ORANGETOWN ARCHITECT: MICHAEL RICHARD SHILALE ARCHITECTS, AIA CONTRACTOR: FRED L. HOLT, INC. OWNER: CAMP VENTURE

PROJECT: PROTECTION ENGINE COMPANY NO. 1 MUNICIPALITY: VILLAGE OF HASTINGS ON HUDSON ARCHITECT: CHRISTINA GRIFFIN, AIA CONTRACTOR: RON PAQUETTE & SONS, CARPENTERS

Summer 2015 ArchPLUS 45

Print issues are available for order through the Chapter office. Single copy price $10. Contact Valerie Brown at chapteroffice@aiawhv.org to place your order.

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Don’t wait - Get your printed version today 46 ArchPLUS Summer 2015

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