What Do You See When You Look Up?

AIA wants to know – “What Do You See When You Look Up?”

See what architects see and pass it on, go to:

Service crédit sur Nantes

Year End Review of AIA-NJ Public Awareness

As we close the books on 2014, the AIA-NJ Public Awareness Committee is pleased to report yet another successful year in the evolution of the organization’s public relations campaign.

Each year, the Public Awareness Committee – chaired by Bruce Turner, AIA, along with representatives from each local Section and leaders of the State Chapter – teams with Beckerman Public Relations to build and sustain exposure for our membership and the architectural profession at large. Our committee has been able to consistently achieve this goal through an “earned media” campaign, in which we publicize specific projects, awards, events, and trends using a comprehensive media relations strategy. We regularly pursue coverage through distribution of press releases, event advisories, and bylined pieces submitted by AIA-NJ members. This earned media effort positions AIA New Jersey as an expert resource to the media, and we are, therefore, often called upon by them when specific news stories arise or to comment on feature articles these journalists are writing themselves.

This year, the committee approached the campaign with a renewed focus on where we were promoting AIA-NJ in the media. Our goal was not only to raise awareness of architectural practice in the general public, but also solidify the AIA-NJ brand among key stakeholders, industry influencers and potential clients. To this end, we targeted a wide variety of local general news publications (Times of Trenton, Asbury Park Press, Nj.com, and Courier News, to name a few) along with more specialized industry trade press (NJBIZ, GlobeSt, Commercial Construction and Renovation, Real Estate Weekly, and, of course, AIArchitect). In total, we issued upwards of 35 press announcements throughout the year, securing approximately 120 media placements!

Additionally, AIA-NJ maintains an all-volunteer social media campaign to complement this digital and print media presence. Not only have the AIA-NJ Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn pages been increasingly active in promoting the organization’s core messages, but our members have also maintained their own active social media presence, benefitting both their own firms and the practice as a whole.

Now, with repositioning in mind and on the heels of the recently launched AIA national “I Look Up” campaign, we’re asking all members of AIA-NJ to get involved and take advantage of the opportunity to market themselves while helping to promote AIA’s central goals here in New Jersey. Together with Beckerman, we’re working on a series of educational initiatives to make sure that our members have the tools that they need to make a splash in the press. Stay tuned!

AIA 2015 Membership Renewal

Dear AIANJ Members: You should all by now have received your AIA Membership renewal letter by mail.  If you renew early, which would be by December 31st, you have the following advantages: 1.      The chance to win a Surface Pro 3 or iPad Air 32G! 2.    An additional business expense for tax purposes 3.    AIANJ and your AIA Section receive due payments early which is always beneficial for local event planning and payment 4.    One more thing to take off of your 2015 to do list! You can renew by visiting http://aia.org/renew/ and signing in with your member id number.  We at AIANJ value our members and look forward to an exciting 2015! Happy Holidays and a very Happy New Year! Justin A. Mihalik, AIA Membership Chairperson

ICC 2015 Code Updates

On behalf of AIA NJ, I attended the NJ Uniform Construction Code Advisory Board Meeting last Friday. John Terry reported that Governor Christie signed the legislation to adopt the 2015 ICC series of codes with the amendments recommended by DCA. The proposed amendments are expected to be published in the NJ Register on January 5, 2015.

As you may be aware there is a 60 day public comment period after which some revisions are likely before the law is formally adopted. DCA estimates adoption in June or July 2015. Considering the 6 month grace period (the time in which the design professional can choose to use either code) the 2015 ICC codes should become mandatory about a year from now.

AIA NJ is planning on hosting seminars on the updates to the IBC prior to adoption next year. Stay tuned . . .

Robert M. Longo, AIA

Reciprocity With Canada

In his recent trip to Canada, Governor Christie said “I’ve gotten the impression over time, watching American foreign policy, that Canada has been an afterthought……I don’t think we pay enough attention to this relationship as Americans in general. I’ve made a very conscious decision to come to Canada and to come here to Alberta because we should treat our friends with both respect and attention.”

This statement comes on the heels of a recent tri-national agreement by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB), Canadian Licensing Authorities (CALA), and the Federacion de Colegios de Architectos de la Republica Mexicana (FCARM), making it possible for architects to work across North American boarders.

With all of this in mind, it is time for the State of New Jersey to take specific action to address New Jersey’s relationship Canada relative to the practice of architecture. Specifically, the New Jersey Chapter of the American Institute of Architects renews its call for the State of New Jersey to resolve impediments to cross border licensure with Canada, and stands ready and willing to work with all relevant parties to find a workable solution for New Jersey.

AIANJ Awards Dinner – January 2015

Please join us for the 2015 AIA New Jersey Awards Dinner

at the

Moorestown Community House
16 East Main Street
Moorestown, NJ
January 9, 2015
6:00 – 10:00 PM
Black Tie Optional
The main course will be beef unless requested BEFORE December 30th

Click to Register here –

Service Award Winners

Distinguished Service Award
Jack Purvis, AIA

Architect of the Year
Merilee Meacock, AIA

Architectural Firm of the Year
Joshua Zinder Architecture & Design

Young Architect of the Year
Jason Chmura, AIA

Intern of the Year
Nicole Hollenbeck, Associate AIA

Resident of the Year
Ingrid Reed

Design Award Winners

Unbuilt Merit Award

ikon.5 Architects
Training Recreation Education Center Newark Housing Authority

Built Open Merit Award

Atkin Olshin Schade Architects
Brown Hall Princeton University

HDR Architecture
University of Maryland College Park

ikon.5 Architects
E.J. Ourso College of Business Louisiana State University

ikon.5 Architects
Training Recreation Education Center Newark Housing Authority

Jacobs
Campbell Employee Center

Built Open Honor

H.A Boyd Architects
Downtown Market

ikon.5 Architects
Monmouth Battlefield State Park Visitor Center

ikon.5 Architects
Schindler Elevator Corporation U.S. Headquarters Phase 2

TEN Arquitectos
Rutgers Business School

Built Residential Merit

Minervini Vandermark
Jefferson Street

Built Residential Honor Award

Michael Ryan Architects
Tidewater Residence

Built Historical Preservation Merit Award

Mills & Schnoering Architects, LLC
Wheeler Opera House

Installation of 2015 AIA NJ Officers

President Kimberly L. Bunn, AIA
President Elect Justin A. Mihalik, AIA
First Vice President Ben P. Lee, AIA
Second Vice President Verity Frizzell, AIA
Secretary Judith Anne Donnelly, AIA
Treasurer Steven B. Lazurus, AIA
Regional Director Robert Cozarelli, AIA
Assoc. Regional Director Nicholas Caravella, Associate AIA
Past President Kurt M. Kalafasky, AIA

RREM Seminar for Construction & Design Professionals

 

Still time to register for December 10th or December 11th RREM Seminars