AIA NJ Regional Representative, Bruce D. Turner, AIA, returns from a Successful Governance Week

The week of December 3, 2017, AIA NJ Regional Representative, Bruce D. Turner, AIA traveled to Washington, D. C. to participate in AIA’s annual Governance Week.

The highlights of the program include:

1. Orientation for new members of the Strategic Council

2. Joint Board/Strategic Council Meeting where the following items are on the agenda:

    a. Voting for the following awards:

       – 2018 AIA Gold Medal

       – 2018 AIA Firm of the Year

       – AIA 2018 Kemper Award

       – AIA 2018 Whitney M. Young, Jr. Award

       – AIA/ACSA 2018 Topaz Medallion

3. Strategic Council Assembly

    a. Endorsement of the 2018 Operations Plan

    b. Endorsement of the 2018 Budget

    c. Working Group Year-End Reports

    d. Prioritization of Council work for 2018

4. Honoring outgoing AIA President Thomas Vonier, FAIA and other Board and Council members

5. Inauguration of 2018 AIA President Carl Elefante, FAIA

Convener Turner sharing the Innovative Business Models Working Group presentation with the Strategic Council Assembly on Thursday, December 7, 2017

As the chair of the Innovative Business Models Work Group, Bruce has reported that the efforts of the group this year have built upon similar work of the prior two years which predecessor Bob Cozzarelli, AIA, was involved with. It has focused on architectural business practices, innovation in the profession and prosperity for architects. The results have been well received and are beginning to make an impact with such things as the new “AIA Center for Practice” of which Mr. Turner is on the Advisory Committee. The group hopes the members will begin to see tangible results in 2018.

New Jersey native, Carl Elefante, FAIA, Inaugurated as 2018 AIA President

By Matt Tinder, Edited by Stacey Ruhle Kliesch, AIA

 

Carl Elefante, FAIA, was inaugurated as the 94th President of the AIA during ceremonies held on December 8, 2017, at the National Postal Museum in Washington, D.C. Elefante, a principal at Quinn Evans Architects in Washington, D.C. succeeds the 93rd President, Thomas Vonier, FAIA, in representing over 90,000 AIA members.  While Carl has spent most of his adult years in the Greater Washington, D. C. area, his roots are here in the Garden State.

 

Image of Carl and Adriana Elefante by William Stewart Photography

 

From 2013 to 2015, Elefante served as regional director of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Council; he is also a sustainability expert who has worked closely with the AIA Committee on the Environment, the Historic Resources Committee, and the Sustainability Scan Advisory Group. He served as president of AIA Maryland in 2012 and AIA Potomac Valley in 2009. A principal at Quinn Evans Architects in Washington, D.C., Elefante received his B.Arch. from the University of Maryland School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation.

 

 

 

Carl grew up in New Providence, New Jersey, where he attended school; kindergarten through high school graduation. He was interested in architecture from his early teen years. As a freshman and sophomore at NPHS, the chorus performed several times at the New Jersey pavilion of the New York Worlds Fair. “The futuristic architecture at the Fair blew my mind,” Carl recalls. He also noticed that he had the image of every building and a complete sitemap etched in his mind. It gave him confidence that he had an aptitude for architecture.

As a junior and senior, Elefante worked afternoons as an intern for Drake, Tuthill, Convery, and Cueman in Summit, running blueprints on an old-school diazo printer.

“I’m sure I lost a few brain cells from the ammonia! As I recall, there were about 10 architects and 20 career draftsmen – all men. Those draftsmen were true craftsmen. There were three women, all secretaries, including the office manager who was a childhood friend of my mother.

Mr. Drake was the son of the firm’s founder. He was well into his seventies or older. To a teenager, he was ancient. Mostly, he had me find old drawings of projects from the 1920’s and 30’s. Pencil on linen.

Convery and Cueman seemed to be the forces behind the firm. Hewlett-Packard was one of their clients. The firm had several four-function digital calculators, a rare and expensive item, as evidence of the high-tech work they were doing for HP. 

The two cool, young designers were Don Chapman and Peter Bieber, two of the registered architects. Don has one of the best “hands” of any architect I’ve ever know. Both were graduates of Pratt. I had to go to Pratt, period. I did.

While a freshman at Pratt, Don and Peter invited Elefante to help them with an award submission over the holidays. They had just opened their own firm, Chapman & Bieber. Mounting photo prints to foam core with rubber cement. More brain cells lost. I completely destroyed one of the large prints with a crease the size of the Rocky Mountains right down the middle.”

                                                                 ~ Carl Elefante, FAIA

Afterwards, life took Carl on to other places, including his latest adventure at AIA.  Elefante was elected AIA President in 2016.  You can learn more about his role at the AIA here.

 

About The American Institute of Architects and AIA New Jersey

Founded in 1857, The American Institute of Architects consistently works to create more valuable, healthy, secure, and sustainable buildings, neighborhoods, and communities. Through nearly 300 state and local chapters, AIA advocates for public policies that promote economic vitality and public wellbeing. Members adhere to a code of ethics and conduct to ensure the highest professional standards. AIA provides members with tools and resources to assist them in their careers and business as well as engaging civic and government leaders and the public to find solutions to pressing issues facing our communities, institutions, nation and world. The organization’s local chapter, AIA New Jersey, has served as the voice of the architectural profession in the Garden State since 1900. Based in Trenton, AIA New Jersey has 2,000 members in six local sections. For more information, please visit http://www.aia-nj.org.

 

Kim Vierheilig, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, appointed to the New Jersey State Board of Architects

Kim V. Vierheilig, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, Vice President of LAN Associates, has been appointed to the New Jersey State Board of Architects by NJ Governor Chris Christie. Ms. Vierheilig was sworn in on December 14, 2017. Her term ends April 29, 2021. The Governor’s Appointment’s office expressed their confidence in Kim’s ability to fulfill the duties and responsibilities of this position with diligence and integrity.

Vierheilig recently concluded her term as 2nd Vice President of the American Institute of Architects New Jersey Chapter, as well as, Chair of the NJ Women in Architecture Committee. past president of the Architects League of Northern New Jersey.

AIA NJ is very pleased to hear the announcement of another registered architect appointed to the board, and especially to see a woman selected.  AIA NJ President Elect Verity Frizzell, AIA, expressed her confidence and congratulations upon hearing the announcement while current President Ben Lee, AIA, is looking forward to Ms. Vierheilig’s service but disappointed that AIA NJ will lose her leadership.

AIA NJ Past President Stacey Ruhle Kliesch, AIA, has worked alongside Kim Vierheilig since they were in school together and during their years serving the Architects League and AIA NJ, released the following statement,

“Kim Vierheilig, AIA, has always presented herself with confidence, professionalism and grace. She is recognized throughout the industry as a fair and thoughtful leader. She is respected by AIA members as an icon of the successful Architect. I am so pleased to hear about her new appointment and know that the good people of the Garden State will be well served by my colleague.”

~ Stacey Ruhle Kliesch, AIA

 

According to the NJ State Board of Architects, the Board is responsible for protecting the public’s health and safety by determining the qualifications of architects seeking licensure in our State, establishing standards for practice, and disciplining licensees who do not adhere to those requirements.

The practice of architecture is the rendering of services in connection with the design, construction, enlargement, or alteration of a building or a group of buildings and the space within or surrounding those buildings, which have as their principal purpose human use or habitation. These services include site planning, providing preliminary studies, architectural designs, drawings, specifications, other technical documentation, and administration of construction for the purpose of determining compliance with drawings and specifications.

Kim is a licensed architect and a LEED-Accredited Professional with a Building Design and Construction Specialty. Vierheilig serves as Vice President of LAN Associates, an Engineering, Planning, Architecture, and Surveying firm, one of the leading architectural/engineering practices in Northern New Jersey.

Vierheilig leads the architecture department at LAN in designing inspirational, functional and comfortable spaces for its educational, senior living and hospitality clients. She is the author of the whitepaper entitled “Breaking out of the Box,” documenting scientific research proving that a holistic building design approach in schools enhances student educational achievement.

Vierheilig oversees the Marketing Department, spearheading numerous marketing and business initiatives that have increased LAN’s market share and positioned the firm as one of New Jersey’s leader in K-12 school design.

Vierheilig’s commitment to excellence has led her to be named one of NJBIZ 2017 Best 50 Women in business, Woman Builders Council 2017 Outstanding Woman and NJBIZ 2016 Forty Under Forty.

AIA NJ extends our appreciation and congratulations.

About AIA and AIA New Jersey

Founded in 1857, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) is the professional organization that helps architects serve the public’s needs and builds awareness of the role of architects and architecture in American society. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the 300 plus local chapters represent 89,000licesnsed architects and allied professionals. The organization’s local chapter, AIA New Jersey, has served as the voice of the architectural profession in the Garden State since 1900. Based in Trenton, AIA New Jersey has 2,000 members in six local sections. For more information, please visit http://www.aia-nj.org.

Equity in Architecture

 

AIA NJ is looking to explore ways to better encourage equity in New Jersey’s architecture profession.

This grows out of a resolution from the AIA National Convention in 2015, and a conversation that started long before that:

“The value proposition

Equitable practice has the potential to foster success on multiple levels—equity in the
workplace, plus socially just access to basic resources, healthier communities and resilient public space in our urban centers. The value proposition of equity at all these levels is rooted in empathy, transparency, education, collaboration, and trust.
The lack of equity in architectural practice and allied professions has made architects
prone to lose talent to other more lucrative career paths. The factors that challenge
retention include long hours, modest pay, work that is misaligned with professional goals, and lack of transparency in promotion and compensation practices.
In order to achieve equity in the built environment, the architecture workforce needs to reflect the rapidly changing demographics of those people we are charged to serve.
Architecture is also susceptible to some public misunderstanding of the value or potential of what architects can bring to the table.
In terms of social impact, design has the power to inform more equitable, resilient,
sustainable, and relevant built environments for the increasingly multicultural population of our nation.”

Rosa Sheng, AIA
Author, AIA Resolution 15-1, May 2015

 

 

In January 2017, the AIA published a report entitled  EQUITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION COMMISSION EXECUTIVE SUMMARY. AIA NJ’s 2018 President, Verity Frizzell, AIA, served on the commission that studied the subject and created the summary and priority recommendations in 2016.

“Our resolve and commitment to work toward a more diverse profession is a key value the Institute will not shy away from,” said 2017 AIA President Thomas Vonier, FAIA. “This report gives the AIA a solid framework to move closer to a more equitable and inclusive profession. In the months ahead, we look forward to implementing some of the recommendations put forth.”

You may access the report here. 

 

 

In 2017, under President Ben Lee, AIA, AIA NJ committed themselves to the following statement:

AIA Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Statement

The American Institute of Architects, as part of the global community, champions a culture of equity, diversity, and inclusion within the profession of architecture to create a better environment for all. Achieving this vision has a direct impact on the relevance of our profession and the world’s prosperity, health, and future.

 

 

In 2018, we invite you to be a part of the conversation, the evolution, and the solution. Please step forward and raise your hand if you wish to join the AIA NJ Equity in Architecture committee as we plan opportunities to plant the seeds for equity to grow in our community.

For more information and to get involved, please contact the 2018 Equity in Architecture Chair, Stacey Ruhle Kliesch, AIA at staceykliesch@gmail.com.