CORNERSTONE Celebrates 30th Anniversary

SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ (12 September 2017) – – Cornerstone Architectural Group, LLC, celebrated 30 years in business during a reception at the firm’s Hamilton Boulevard office building. Staff, invited guests, clients, business partners, friends and family gathered at an outdoor social gathering amid tasty treats and favorite beverages. The celebration was highlighted by Borough Council President Derryk C. White, when he presented and read a proclamation from the Mayor’s office congratulating the partners and staff of Cornerstone on their 30^th Anniversary.

Ranked by NJ Biz Magazine as one of New Jersey’s top 50 architectural design firms. Cornerstone Architectural Group is a local, design award winning firm that specializes in professional services in architecture, interior design, land planning and construction management. The firm employs a staff of ten at its South Plainfield office. The firm delivers design excellence in public, civic and commercial buildings.

Pictured (left front to right): Firm partners Robert M. Longo, AIA, Robert F. Barranger, AIA and Michael G. Soriano, AIA, receive a special proclamation from Borough Council President Derryck C. White.

Women in Leadership – Meadowlands USA article

AIA New Jersey’s Second Vice President Kim Vierheilig, AIA, was interviewed by Meadowlands USA magazine and spoke about AIA’s role in mentoring in the profession.  In the article, along with Sally Glick, principal and chief growth strategist at Sobel & Co., they spoke about challenges in their respective fields.

In the article Vierheilig shared:
“When I first started out of college there was basically no kind of networking group or anything that was geared to women. Now you have so much stuff and people are willing to actually share stories. I think that Women in Architecture is a platform to me to try and reach out and help women who are coming out of college, who maybe don’t know exactly where their careers want to lead them.”

Read the full article here: WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP: KIM VIERHEILIG & SALLY GLICK

 

Micro-MBA in Architecture

The Business of Architecture Certificate Program AIA West Jersey, in partnership with Temple University’s Fox School of Business and the Department of Architecture at Temple University, is pleased to announce the creation of a two-part sequence of courses: an Architecture-focused business essentials professional certificate and an Architecture specific Micro-MBA executive program. This multi-tiered program kicks off with two certificate programs to help prepare Architects and Construction Professionals with limited or no business training to enter the Micro-MBA executive program in late 2018. The Business of Architecture Basic Certificate will be offered Sept. – Oct. 2017 and The Business of Architecture Advanced Certificate will be offered Jan. – Feb. 2018. Each of the certificate programs will be five weeks in duration and provide background training to help ensure the candidates’ success. Classes will be taught by a combination of Temple University Professors and licensed AIA Architects at the Temple Center City Campus. Registration for the Business of Architecture Basic Certificate is now open! Details on this exciting program are outlined in the attached. Visit our website for more information.

Pella Architects Summer Events

Pella invites architects and designers to come see our newest products.

AIA Jersey Shore Meeting

 

 

 

MAY GENERAL MEETING: Are you Financially Prepared for the future?

Creating a Financial Plan by O’Leary Financial

TOPICS TO DISCUSS: – Investing for Retirement – Principles of Investing – 2016 Market Review – 2017 Outlook LOCATION: Spring Lake Manor 415 NJ-71, Spring Lake, NJ 07762 DATE: Monday, May 22, 2017 AGENDA: Registration/ Check-In – 5:00pm EP Meet & Greet  – 5:00pm-6:00pm Main Presentation & Dinner – 6:00pm $20 AIA Members $40 non-AIA Members FREE for Students & Interns Please RSVP to JerseyShore.aia@gmail.com Learn More or Register

AIA

Spiezle Architectural Group Move to New Headquarters

Spiezle Architectural Group Announces Move to New Headquarters in Hamilton, New Jersey from Longtime Trenton Location

New Space Accommodates Increased Services, Staff and Design Capabilities

 

Spiezle Architectural Group, Inc., an award-winning, full-service architectural, interior design and planning firm, announces that it is moving its headquarters from Trenton, New Jersey to a new location at 1395 Yardville Hamilton Square Road, Suite 2A, Hamilton, New Jersey.  Responding to continued growth, the Spiezle team designed a modern, more efficient space to accommodate increased services, staff, and a strengthened focus on the design side of its business.

 

The expanded Hamilton headquarters, an open-layout, contemporary space of approximately 15,000 square feet, was built to fulfill the needs of the firm’s latest growth, including Landscape Architecture and Interior Design, and the additional employees necessary to support them, as well as the continuing development of the firm’s markets in education, senior living, acute healthcare, government, commercial, hospitality, and not-for-profit.  The office was configured for optimal efficiency with all staff housed on one floor versus the previous three floors. Driving its vision for sustained expansion, the office can house an estimated 60 employees, including a build-out potential for future expansion.

 

“We are pleased to be establishing our new home in Hamilton and look forward to becoming an integral partner within the community,” said Thomas S. Perrino, president and CEO.  “Our enhanced space provides us with the ideal atmosphere to fulfill our ongoing mission to continue serving our valued clients and to develop new relationships for years to come.”

 

A state-of-the-art work environment, the office is built to inspire transparency, collaboration and creativity among professionals through a combination of open work spaces and smaller gathering areas critical to the spectrum of daily activities.  Natural light and daylighting are the driving elements for the office layout. Daylighting is the practice of placing windows or other openings and reflective surfaces so that natural light provides effective internal lighting. For example, Spiezle incorporated dimming capabilities to reduce energy usage when daylighting allows, and the furniture was specifically designed with a low horizon allowing natural light to flood the space. To encourage innovation, the creative team is strategically placed in areas along the office perimeter facing windows to optimize exposure to the natural lighting.  Senior executives enjoy open offices and “hoteling rooms” built to host private meetings or conversations.  Additional elements include a fully-equipped pantry and a small gym with a shower room.

 

“The design of our new headquarters was the ultimate collaboration engaging the extraordinary talents of all our professionals,” said Mr. Perrino. “We solicited ideas, needs and requirements from our entire staff, culminating in a space that is a true reflection of our intensely creative and team-oriented culture.”

 

 

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About Spiezle Architectural Group

Spiezle Architectural Group is an award-winning, full-service architectural and planning firm. Founded in 1954, the firm is known for innovative design, financially responsible solutions and personalized service. Spiezle serves academic, senior living, acute health care, corporate/commercial, government, hospitality, recreational and religious clients. Learn more at www.spiezle.com.

New Program Offers Assistance For “Green” Businesses

New program offers recognition and reliable, no-cost assistance for “green” businesses

By Deborah Smarth

For almost 40 years, the New Jersey Small Business Development Centers, also known as America’s SBDC New Jersey, has providedcomprehensive services and programs for New Jersey entrepreneurs to help expand their operations, manage their growth, or start new ventures. 

Up until recently, NJSBDC’s consulting services focused primarily on core operational activities, such as helping entrepreneurs develop business plans, obtain financing, identify new markets, develop marketing and sales strategies, learn recordkeepingand accounting skills, find procurement and international trade opportunities, commercialize technology, and develop an E-commerce presence. 

Thanks to a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and its long-standing working relationship with the Bureau of Energy and Sustainability (BES) at the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the NJSBDCnetwork has now added sustainability as a new specialty to its vast repertoire of services. The new specialty offers prompt and easily accessible services and a business friendly approach to help New Jersey small business owners start or expand environmentally conscious practices. 

One component of the new specialty program focuses on the pro-bono and confidential management consulting services for which the NJSBDC is renowned!  Whether you want information about starting or expanding a sustainability program, or a strategy to help you deal with an existing environmental concern, the NJSBDC will provide you with an expert counselor who is knowledgeable in all facets of sustainability, energy conservation, waste reduction, pollution prevention, toxics mitigation, and disaster preparedness. 

AIANJ: Women and Democracy Event

AIANJ Women in Architecture : Women and Democracy

The AIANJ Women in Architecture (WIA) held the latest in its Lecture Series.  Open to all, this event focused on democracy and the local legislature.  Guest speakers Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle, Assemblywoman Eliana Pintor Marin,  and Freeholder Tracey Silna Zur spoke at a round table discussion to members who attended.

Join WIA at their next event to be held during the AIANJ Design Conference on October 20th.  Click to find more information and register to attend.

New Overtime Rules: What to Know and How to Prepare

Reprinted from AIA KnowledgeNet
ByANGLE Staff  05-26-2016 19:11

Earlier this year we highlighted a proposed rule that would expand the pool of workers who qualify for overtime pay, and discussed its wide-reaching impact on American businesses. Finally, after months of deliberation, the Department of Labor has released the final version of its long-awaited overtime rule. Below we’ll tell you everything you need to know about what to expect, as well as how to prepare for the changes.

 

How is overtime currently mandated? 

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) of 1938 ensures that all salaried workers are guaranteed overtime pay at time and a half for any hours worked beyond the standard 40-hour workweek. The main aspect of the FLSA is its salary threshold, which says that every employee making under $23,660 annually must be paid overtime (this number has been

AIA Small Firm Exchange (SFx)

The AIA Small Firm Exchange (SFx – and previously the Small Firm Roundtable SFRT) recently published its inaugural newsletter. Click here for a link to the letter from the Chair. There you will find the first articles and a link to sign up for the Small Firm Exchange (nationally), which will put you on the email list for the newsletter.

As mentioned in previous SFx posts, AIA New Jersey is also interested in organizing local Small Firm Exchanges (Roundtables) throughout the state. Please stay tuned for additional information, but if you have an interest, you can always contact me directly.

Thanks,

Bruce D. Turner, AIA
email: bdtaia@aol.com