President’s Message – Happy 2016

Happy New Year!

First and foremost, a big thank you to Kim Bunn AIA for her leadership as President taking on and delivering a new Strategic Plan and Member Core Services amongst all of the other successful programming events of 2015!  I am exhilarated to be your 2016 President and the year could not have started off any faster for us at AIANJ.  As just mentioned, AIANJ will be implementing its new strategic plan that has four key goals:

• Advance the quality of the profession by keeping pace with technology, sustainable design practices and the ever-changing political, economic, social and physical environment.
• Cultivate well-designed, livable, sustainable, resilient communities that enhance the public’s health, safety, and welfare.
• Elevate the value of the profession; educate the public on the benefits of using architects for sustainable/innovative design; and promote a streamlined path to licensure.
• Expand the diverse membership base; continue to enhance its organizational, membership and technical resources; and extend its policy advocacy role.

As you can imagine, the implementation of this plan is taking a lot of time and effort and I want to thank all of those who are involved for their commitment to the future of this organization.

This is also the first year of the implementation of Core Member Services, which is a new plan instituted by AIA to ensure that each member throughout the country receives a minimum level of membership benefits.  The good news is that AIANJ and its Sections meet all of the requirements of Core Member Services and will continue to deliver those benefits to all of you.

On the legislative front, the Governor signed Bill A2023 AcaSca (2R), which revises the definition of “responsible charge” as it relates to licensed architects.  This is a very important win for AIANJ as it supported the passage of this bill.  The revised language now recognizes the “digital age” in the architectural practice and the many firms who are utilizing production teams outside of their physical offices.  So in short, if you are working with a consultant or with a team member who is producing the drawings outside of the physical office that the architect sits in, you are practicing legally as long as you are providing the proper personal direction and oversight.  AIANJ thanks the efforts of Assembly members Louis Greenwald, Daniel Benson and Nilsa Cruz-Perez for their support!

Lastly, the sad news is the loss of the St. Mark’s Church in West Orange to a major fire on New Year’s Day.  The St. Mark’s Church underwent a major renovation and addition between 1861 and 1877 by Richard Upjohn FAIA, the founder of the AIA.  The church was nominated to the National Historic Register in 1977 and is also a State and local Historic Landmark.  Many AIANJ members including Jerry Eben AIA, Eli Goldstein AIA, Mark Hewitt FAIA and Marty Feitlowitz AIA, have been working with the church owner’s and the municipality to save the church from demolition.  This is a great example of AIANJ members taking the initiative to save an important and historic piece of architecture, while at the same time educating the public as to why it is important.

Educating the public about architects and architecture is something that all of us must do if we expect the public to value the talent and services we provide.  AIANJ through its Public Awareness Committee is committed to this important effort as it is one of the cornerstones of our Strategic Plan.  However, it does not stop there, it must continue with the boots on the ground, the members, who work with the public on a daily basis.  Let me know how AIANJ can help you in this most important effort.

Sincerely,

Justin A. Mihalik, AIA

AIA New Jersey 2016 President

AIA West Jersey Seminar With Postgreen Homes

AIA West Jersey will host the first General Membership Meeting and Dinner Seminar of 2016 on January 28th at Café Aldo Lamberti in Cherry Hill, NJ.

AIA West Jersey is excited to feature a presentation by Chad Ludeman, President of Postgreen Homes.  Chad will elaborate on strategies to help the architect-developer team succeed, and provide insight to Postgreen’s process for building high-quality homes on a spec developer’s budget.

RSVP:  No Later Than Tuesday, January 26th
see AIA WJ website to RSVP 

Location:  Cafe Aldo Lamberti: 2011 Route 70 West, Cherry Hill, NJ

Date:  Thursday, January 28, 2016

Additional details may be found on the AIA West Jersey website:

http://aiawestjersey.org/2016/01/general-membership-meeting-and-dinner-seminar-jan-28th-2016/
Thank You,
AIA West Jersey

 

Spring 2016 ARE Structures Course Offered

The College of Architecture & Design at New Jersey Institute of Technology is offering an online review course for the Architect Registration Exam (ARE 4.0) in Structural Systems this spring semester.

The course will start on January 30 and will cover the exam material in a lecture format, including the related graphic vignettes. The instruction will be delivered entirely online so students do not need to travel to campus to attend class. Lectures are delivered weekly through a password- protected website. Questions are answered through the same website or by e-mail. Registrants can view the lectures at their convenient time. The course will run for 15 weeks ending by May 15.

For further information and for registration, please contact the instructor, Rima Taher, by e-mail at: Taher@njit.edu.

NJIT Design Showcase 2016

College of Architecture and Design Design Showcase 2016

The College of Architecture and Design at NJIT hosts its annual Design Showcase event in April of each year. This fundraising/networking event will be in its 10th year in 2016 and has grown into an incredible success over the years.

April 7, 2016
Weston Hall Gallery
5 – 9 pm

During the course of the evening, we provide an industry related lecture (good for CEU credits), networking between alumni and sponsors, and an exhibit showing the work of our top students which leads to internships and entry level hires in many firms.

The money raised from the event goes directly back to the students in the form of scholarships, architecture environment enhancements, and this past year the introduction of a 3D print lab which is run on a volunteer basis by our local AIAS chapter. 

This venue is an excellent opportunity to bring together current students, past students, and industry professionals. Whether an alum of NJIT or not, we would welcome any AIANJ member who would like to support the school, the students, and the growth of our program. 

AIA National Strategic Partner Autodesk Offers Small Firms Big Discount on Revit LT Suite

The AIA and Autodesk are working together to ensure that small firms have the resources they need to be successful. As part of Autodesk becoming an AIA Strategic Partner, the software designer is providing AIA members with a special 25 percent discount on a key practice tool, AutoCAD Revit LT Suite.

The discount, available only to AIA members now through January 31, 2016, responds to an ongoing request from small and solo practitioners to help them stay competitive and current in a fast changing marketplace. The Autodesk discount makes the latest tools and resources more affordable, so small firms can use them to better serve their clients and communities.

The Suite includes two of the most important tools small firm practitioners might need: AutoCAD and Revit. Priced by seat licenses, a one-year, one-seat license is $505; with the 25 percent discount, members can receive it for $378.75. Members can purchase up to 3-year license terms, and more than one seat license can be purchased for that same 25 percent discount.

This offer is available to AIA members only, now through January 31, 2016. Click here to access the member only portion of the AIA National Website with access to links to make the purchase. Enter the coupon code AIARevit25 at checkout to receive this special discount for either the 1-year, 2-year or 3-year basic subscription.

Reminder: You must use one of the three links on the AIA National Website to make your purchase, and this deal ends January 31, 2016.

Design and Disruption: Millennials in Architecture

When: 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM FRIDAY, JANUARY 22

Where: At The Center for Architecture, 536 LaGuardia Place, New York, NY 10012

Price: Free for AIA members and students with valid ID; $10 for non-members.

Register

Description:

Until the January 2013 issue of Architect, the architectural academy and profession paid little attention to the emerging Millennial generation. Suddenly, the journal’s writers predicted “drastic changes to pedagogy, licensure and firm management,” all necessary to absorb the generation’s impact on the field, but also to avert the disruptions affecting other professions and industries that Millennial’s have helped precipitate. 

The discussion will raise this question: How can growing awareness of this generation’s traits continue to push the boundaries of architectural education and the profession? Darius Sollohub, AIA, Associate Professor of Architecture at NJIT will present the results of his research about Millennial characteristics already evident in practice and teaching. Richard Sweeney, NJIT’s University Librarian, a longtime researcher of Millennials, will join in the presentation. Together with a panel of leaders from various architectural organizations, Sollohub and Sweeney will engage in discussion about ideas and initiatives to help the architectural profession take best advantage of this next generation.

To further the discussion, we also strongly encourage you to give us five minutes to participate in the poll.

Speaker/Moderator: Darius Sollohub, AIA, Associate Professor of Architecture, College of Architecture and Design, NJIT
Darius Sollohub, AIA, is an Associate Professor of Architecture at the College of Architecture and Design at NJIT. He served as Director of its New Jersey School of Architecture from 2010 to 2015, administering graduate and undergraduate programs in architecture and planning. Prior to that, he was Director of the School’s Infrastructure Planning Program from 2007 to 2010. He joined NJIT’s faculty in 1996. His research focuses on design pedagogy, affordable housing, transit-oriented development, parking, earth art, and transportation systems. He is currently writing a book entitled Millennials in Architecture. Sollohub consults actively and maintained his own practice, Rosenbaum Sollohub Architects, from 1994 to 2004. Prior, he worked with Polshek and Partners (now Ennead Architects), Ellerbe Becket, and Steven Holl Architects. Sollohub holds a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture and a Master of Architecture, both from Columbia University. He is a licensed architect in New York and New Jersey.

Speaker: Richard Sweeney, University Librarian, NJIT
Richard Sweeney is the University Librarian at the NJIT. Sweeney has been Vice Provost for Libraries and Information Services at Polytechnic University in Brooklyn, Executive Director of the Public Library of Columbus and Franklin County in Ohio, Director of the Genesee County Library in Flint, Michigan, Director of the Atlantic City Free Public Library in NJ, and Librarian at Central Junior HS in Atlantic City, NJ. Sweeney has served on the Board of Trustees of Thomas Edison State College (NJ), has taught at the high school, college, and graduate levels, and has served as President of the Columbus Ohio Cable Commission. Sweeney is a frequent speaker and consultant and has conducted over 60 Millennial generation panels in front of live audiences in over twenty states at various libraries, associations, colleges, universities, and companies in the US and abroad. His Millennial research has been featured on multiple occasions in the Chronicle of Higher Education and in other press venues and academic journals.

Panelists:

George H. Miller, FAIA, Managing Partner, Pei Cobb Freed & Partners
Justin A. Mihalik, AIA NCARB, 2016 President, AIA New Jersey; President, J.A. Mihalik Architect LLC
Danielle Mitchell, Assoc. AIA, AIAS National President
Tomas Rossant, AIA, Founding Partner, Ennead Architects
Pascale Sablan, AIA, NOMA, LEED AP, Associate, FXFOWLE Architects

George H. Miller, FAIA is the managing partner of Pei Cobb Freed & Partners. He has served the Chapter as Treasurer, Vice-President, and as President in 2003. He has also served on both the State and National AIA Boards of Directors and was the National President of the AIA in 2010. He served on the local AIA Foundation Board and was the President of the National Architects Foundation. Miller has received numerous awards, including the AIANY President’s Award in 2007 and the AIA NYS Kideney Gold Medal in 2011. He is currently a member of the AIA New York Fellows Committee and the 2016 AIA New York Nominating Committee.

Justin A. Mihalik, AIA NCARB is AIA New Jersey 2016 President and a principal at Essex Fells, NJ-based J.A. Mihalik Architect LLC. He served as a member of AIA-NJ’s Legislative and Government Affairs Committee, which monitors regulatory issues that affect the practice of architecture, and has served as vice chair of the New Jersey Architects Political Action Committee. In recent years, he has co-helmed the AIA Regional Recovery Working Group, an organization comprising leaders of AIA chapters in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Rhode Island that brings together industry and community leaders for discussions on resiliency in the wake of Hurricane Sandy.

Danielle M. Mitchell, Associate AIA, is the 2015/2016 elected president of the American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS); she is a recent graduate of Pennsyvania State University. Mitchell was twice elected to serve as the Northeast Quadrant director for AIAS after a successful two-year term as the Penn State chapter president. The chapter saw immense growth under her leadership and the mentorship program grew tremendously. She additionally served on the Penn State THON Operations Committee from Fall 2011 through Spring 2013 and been devoted to recruitment and retention in the Architecture department at the Stuckeman School, serving for multiple years as a student ambassador for undergraduate recruitment and as the student representative for the Architecture Department.

Tomas Rossant, AIA, is a founding partner of Ennead Architects where he serves as a Design Principal. His work is recognized for design excellence and has received Awards from AIA New York State and AIA New York Chapter as well as other regional awards. Rossant was the 2015 President of the American Institute of Architects New York Chapter. His Presidential theme, “Dialogues from the Edge of Practice,” explored how architects are boldly expanding practice to bring particular critical problem solving skills and design acumen to endeavors previously considered outside the traditional role of the architect. He recently presented at the Consortium for Sustainable Urbanization at the World Habitat Program at the United Nations, sharing his views on the future of sustainable urbanism.

Pascale Sablan, AIA, NOMA, LEED AP, joined FXFOWLE Architects in 2007 and was promoted to Associate in 2014. With over nine years of experience as an architect, she has been on the design team for a variety of mixed-use, commercial, cultural and residential projects in the US, Saudi Arabia, India, Azerbaijan, Japan, and UAE. Her project approach is inspired by urbanism, technology, and sustainable design strategies. Sablan is President of the New York Chapter of the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA), a member of the AIANY Diversity and Inclusion Committee, and a Board Trustee for The Mary Louis Academy, a private Catholic college preparatory academy in Queens. She has been recognized for her contributions to the industry with several awards and honors, including the Emerging New York Architect Merit Award–AIA New York and the NOMA Prize for Excellence in Design (Unbuilt) for her redesign of the Association of Haitian Physicians Abroad School Campus in Cap-Haïtien, Haiti, which was destroyed in the 2010 earthquake. Pascale graduated magna cum laude from Pratt Institute with a Bachelor of Architecture and achieved a Master of Science in Advanced Architectural Design from Columbia University.

Organized by: AIA New York

Price: Free for AIA members and students with valid ID; $10 for non-members.

Register

AIANJ Code Seminar February

UPDATE NOTE:  1/6/2016 – Additional space at the facility has been obtained, class size restrictions have been raised to for both days.

 

NJ Smart Growth 2016 Awards Deadline

Entries Close Soon! Don’t miss the deadline! Do you have, or know of, a great plan or built project in New Jersey that represents high-quality growth and development or land preservation? Submit it now to New Jersey Future’s 2016 Smart Growth Awards competition. The deadline to submit is Jan. 15, 2016. This year New Jersey Future celebrates the 15th anniversary of the Smart Growth Awards! The awards have honored the best in responsible development in the Garden State. Large projects and small, innovative plans and codes, policies that foster quality growth and placemaking — any built project or adopted plan is eligible. So if you’re working on something that will help make any part of New Jersey a more vibrant place to live, work or play, submit it to our Smart Growth Awards competition! NEW THIS YEAR:  We will be accepting entries exclusively through our new online submission portal! This allows you and us to conserve paper and energy, and will allow the jury access to all entries from any location. Full entry guidelines and downloadable entry documents. Submission deadline: Friday, Jan. 15, 2016. Don’t miss out! Curious about what kinds of initiatives win a Smart Growth Award? Browse through profiles of past winners. Questions? Please contact Elaine Clisham, 609-393-0008, ext. 102.

 

President’s Message – The Year of 2015

As 2015 is now in the past, it is amazing how fast the year flew by.  It has been an honor to serve as your AIANJ President over the past 12 months.

Much happened during the year, both in AIANJ and each of the six local sections.  Each month saw multiple events throughout the state.   I enjoyed meeting so many members, students and trade professionals; and talking about our profession of architecture that we share.

AIANJ December Board of Trustees meeting at Princeton University

Internally, time was devoted to looking at the organizations long range strategic planning and evaluating the value to our members that the organization gives.  AIA national has been evaluating the value to the membership, and we at AIANJ have done the same thing.  It is your AIA, and we want to maximize your value from the organization.

We have reinforced many goals of the organization and we have been working towards them, including increased public outreach regarding the architecture profession, creating an online resource for both members and the public, more connection with the architects of tomorrow through increased involvement with the schools of architecture in the state and assistance for associates in the IDP/ARE process.

As part of that over the year AIANJ worked with all three of New Jersey’s Schools of Architecture – NJIT, Princeton, and NJ’s newest at Kean University.   To name a few initiatives – AIANJ sponsored an IDP event at NJIT, discussed the formation of an AIAS chapter at Kean University and opened dialogue with the new Dean at Princeton University.

Overall, 2015 was a good year, most of the firm owners I have talked with have agreed that the economy has improved from where we were a few years ago.   There was more project work, many firms have even brought on more staff to meet the need.  Students and young members have been successful in finding employment.  The profession is respected and we as the leaders are often reached out to for our ideas and participation locally.

All of the things that AIANJ did this year was the result of a team effort.   I would like to say Thank You to everyone who has played a part along the way.  There are to many people to call out by name, so just a Thank You to all.

And lastly, Good Luck to Justin Mihalik, AIA, as you start your year as 2016 President, I look forward to continuing to work with you.

      Kim

Kimberly Bunn, AIA, LEEDap
2015 AIANJ President

 

 

2016 NJIT SoA Pamphlet Call

The School of Architecture at NJIT is proud to introduce SoAP, the School of Architecture Pamphlet.  The pamphlet will be published each semester and showcase faculty, student, and alumni achievements of note, as well as other features of interest relating to the university.  Volume 1 Issue 1 can be viewed here:

http://design.njit.edu/sites/design/files/SoAP%20Issue%2001%20FINAL%20091715%20color.pdf

Alumni/alumnae, we’d like to hear from you. Tell us about the projects you have recently completed or are currently involved in. We will selectively publish work by SoA graduates in the next issue of SoAP.  Those who would like their work to be considered for inclusion should send low res images and a description to Richard Garber, Director of the School of Architecture (garber@njit.edu) and Meaghan O’Connor (moconnor@njit.edu) by no later than January 10, 2016.  SoAP Volume 1 Issue 2 will be digitally published on or about February 1, 2016 with a print edition to follow.