President’s Message – AIA Convention and AIANJ Update

This past week, I and many other architects from around the world gathered in Atlanta for the AIA National Convention.  From continuing education sessions and tours to a huge expo floor and interesting keynote speakers, there was something for everyone.    I met many people while there, a number were from NJ and the surrounding areas, there were so many wonderful conversations. 

.

CEO Robert Ivy announced the newest  video of the national public awareness iLookUp campaign, watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrtfXDk0L8A .

.

Two AIANJ  members were among the newest installed to the AIA College of Fellows.  Congratulations to Pamela Rew, FAIA, and  Joseph Tattoni, FAIA, on their elevation.   AIANJ would also like to Thank Andersen Windows for sponsoring AIANJ’s Fellow Reception celebrating AIANJ Fellow held on Thursday evening at Ormsby’s restaurant.

.

Mark your calendars now for next year’s convention –  May 19th – 21st, 2016, the convention is at our neighbor in Philadelphia.

.

As we hope you heard our AIANJ own Jerry Eben, AIA, ran for national office as a At-Large Director on the new national board.  Unfortunately in the end, Jerry was not successful, however we want to Thank him for participating in the process and continuing the important discussions on the national level that we all need to have.   His passion for architecture and love of AIA shine through – we at AIANJ are very proud of him.  Jerry will continue his work with AIA on a state, local and national level, and we all look forward to working with the new board in the years to come.  Congratulations to Thomas Vonier, FAIA, who was elected as 2017 AIA President, and to the other newest AIA board members – Stuart Coppedge, AIA; Jennifer Workman, AIA; Jane Frederick, FAIA;  Anthony Schirripa, FAIA.

.

At AIANJ many things are moving forward.  Registration for East Coast Green is open, to be held June 17, 2015, at NJIT.  If you were not able to come to Atlanta, this is a great opportunity to get your continuing education credits right here in New Jersey.  A reminder – 2015 is a license renewal year for NJ, get your necessary credits by the July deadline.   East Coast Green sessions are registered for both AIA and USGBC CEU credit.  Find out more information or register here.

.

In the fall, the 2015 NJ Convention will be held at the Hanover Marriott, in Whippany.  Many things are in preliminary planning stages for the event to be held October 23rd – 24th.  What for more information to be coming out soon.  Sponsor, exhibitors and speakers are being coordinated now, anyone interested should contact the committee – find info.

.

The codes in NJ are in the process of being update, and our Codes & Standards Committee, chaired by Robert Longo, AIA, is in communication with the state to keep us all updated as these changes happen.   The Task Force on Lightweight Construction that I formed after the devastating fire earlier this year has taken on the task of looking at the health, safety and welfare aspect of the codes and asking the hard questions, what could we do better?  The committee and Chair Justin Mihalik, AIA, have had numerous meetings, conversations and debates on building and construction in NJ, we look forward to continuing to work with our communities and elected officials to make the built environment in NJ the best it can be.

.

AIA is for all of us, and I would welcome your input.  As part of repositioning we are trying to make sure that all members are getting value from AIA membership.  AIANJ is going through this process right now, If there is something that is important to you please reach out.   Reach out to me – president@aia-nj.org  or another board member.  Reach out to your section president, they are your local contacts.

.

I AM AIA, you are AIA, we are all AIA.

.

– Kimberly Bunn
2015 AIANJ President

Call for Entries – AIANJ COTE Top Ten Green Projects

Is your latest project Green?  AIANJ is looking for entries to be included in the AIANJ Top Ten Green Projects.

The Top Ten Green Projects Program recognizes projects that demonstrate the highest accomplishment in environmentally sustainable architecture, combining inspired design, systems analysis, and evaluation of performance.

Sustainability envisions the enduring prosperity of all living things.  Sustainable design seeks to create communities, buildings, and products that contribute to this vision.

Submit your project today – Click here, 
Submission Deadline :  June 8, 2015
All submissions to be electronic.  See website for submission guidelines.

The Top Ten Green Projects will be announced at the networking reception during East Coast Green.

Registration for East Coast Green open now

Registration open for East Coast Green 2015
Creating a Culture of Sustainability

June 17, 2015
8:30 am to 4:00 pm
at NJIT School of Architecture

AIA & USGBC Continuing Ed credits
Early Bird Deadline for registration June 1st

  

New Perspectives on the Past: 2015 New Jersey History & Historic Preservation Conference

New Perspectives on the Past – Registration Open

New Perspectives on the Past: 2015 New Jersey History & Historic Preservation Conference, scheduled for June 3-4, 2015 at the Hotel ML in Mount Laurel, New Jersey. The annual conference offers more than 20 educational sessions and field workshops over two days. Featured speakers include Robert Wittman, founder of the FBI’s National Art Crime Team, Ruth Abram, founder of the Tenement Museum, and Elizabeth Silkes from the International Coalition of Sites of Conscience.

Featured this year:
· Walking tour of historic Collingswood and discussion of tools for downtown revitalization
· Sessions on preservation planning, disaster response, and combatting demolition by neglect
· Historic wood window restoration hands-on workshop

Select sessions will be eligible for AIA, AICP, and ASLA continuing education credits. Networking opportunities will center around the Marketplace exhibit area and during the closing reception at the ML Hotel’s Coco Key Water Resort.

For more information and to register, visit the conference website at www.njpreservationconference.org

Donna M. Miller, AIA Earns NJ Architect License

Donna M. Miller, AIA has just successfully completed all sections of the rigorous Architectural Registration Examination administered by the New Jersey State Board of Architects and NCARB.
As a newly Registered Architect in the State of New Jersey, Donna now assumes all of the professional responsibilities of a licensed design professional.
Donna has made many very positive contributions in the management of significant design projects over the past five years at Cornerstone. She is a Project Architect, overseeing the design, documentation and implementation of designs for several of CAG’s high profile clients. Most notable; SHI, Chelsea Senior Living, Springfield Township, PTC Therapeutics, Foley Inc., and Environ among others.
Donna lives in Matawan, NJ with her husband Jason, their newborn daughter Evelyn and their dog Blue.

NJIT School of Architecture Appoints New Director

Richard Garber, AIA, associate professor of architecture, has been appointed director of the School of Architecture at New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT).

Garber is the author of BIM Design: Realizing the Creative Potential of Building Information Modeling, published by Wiley in 2014. He also was the editor of Closing the Gap: Information Models in Contemporary Design Practice, published by Wiley in 2009. He is an award-winning architect and partner at GRO Architects. In addition to large-scale planning, Garber is an internationally recognized expert in the application of parametric design and building information modeling.

In 2009, Garber and his architecture students were selected as finalists in the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon. In 2011, as part of a worldwide competition, they designed and built a prototype of a solar house, which was exhibited in Washington, D.C. Two years later, Garber and his students entered the China Solar Decathlon alongside the Harbin Institute of Technology— and built a prototype in Datong, China. In addition, Garber has conducted city-planning research in the developing countryside of Wuhan, China with Zeyuan Qiu, an associate professor in chemical and environmental engineering at NJIT.

“I am thrilled by the prospect of continuing my responsibilities to the School of Architecture in this new and exciting role,” said Garber. “As a committed educator and practicing architect, I look forward to the opportunity to build on our core strengths of digital design and fabrication, high performance buildings and sustainable urbanization. We will do this while capitalizing on the school’s position within the state’s premier STEM institution. It will be fun.”

In his new role, Garber will focus on restructuring the School of Architecture to make full use of the extraordinary talent represented by his colleagues. He intends to work closely with his fellow faculty members to orchestrate this transformation.

Click here to read more about the College of Architecture and Design.

AIANJ East Coast Green – Save The Date : June 17, 2015

AIANJ East Coast Green 

Creating a Culture of Sustainability

June 17, 2015
8:30 am to 4:00 pm
at NJIT School of Architecture

Learn more about the conference program and schedule

Featuring AIANJ COTE Top10 Green Projects

Submit your project
Find out More Information