2010 President's Message

2009 was an eventful year filled with many accomplishments and successes as the result of much hard work and team effort. I am especially appreciative for the inspiring leadership of our 2009 President, Don Rudy, AIA. Don has brought such great enthusiasm to the job, an eagerness to be a part of everything and a tireless energy to his role as President. His contribution has set a very high bar that will be difficult for most of us to reach.

Most significantly, 2009 presented us with the AIA National Convention in our beautiful “49 square miles surrounded by reality.” “The Power of Diversity: Practice in a Complex World” was the convention’s theme and where else but “Bagdad by the Bay” could AIA National attempt to address this misunderstood term. San Francisco sells itself as a city that offers visitors the opportunity to explore a diverse combination of historic and new buildings, streets, parks, plazas and bridges. Unlike convention years of the past, we felt more protective of our AIA San Francisco programs and events. We reduced risk to the chapter through a new contractual arrangement with AIA National to partner with them in an integrated delivery model. Its success may become the contract of the future between all chapters hosting the National Convention. In the end we had a great program here, made new friends, and made a little money for the chapter.

In 2010 we encounter new challenges that surely match that of hosting a national convention. Chief among them is the faltering economy. Its impact has been swift and continuous to our members. In response, our chapter currently hosts biweekly sessions for underemployed professionals as a forum for networking and strategy-building on how to navigate through these unprecedented times. If you are interested in further resources don’t miss our portfolio workshops and sessions on how to increase your marketing reach. Be sure to visit our website (www.aiasf.org) for more information, as well as updates on future programs.

On a personal note, and as the 2010 President, my focus for the year will be on the systemic infrastructure of the city: water, energy, and information. The premise is that our water supply is precious, precarious and confused; our energy sources still depend too much on the ever depleting petroleum supply; and our cities sustained societal role will continue to rely on the “information revolution” now in its adolescence. We will provide programs in 2010 that shine a light on the existing infrastructure as well as programs that ambitiously seek solutions and insight for our future here in San Francisco.

I look forward to working with all of you to serve our members and the greater community.

William Roger
2010 AIA San Francisco President

Weathering the Economic Downturn

Start the new year with a new outlook! Although times are tough, creativity and an open mind can lead to unexpected opportunities.

See our calendar for detailed information on our January events, or call 415.362.7397. All events take place at AIA San Francisco, 130 Sutter Street, Suite 600, San Francisco, and are free, unless otherwise noted.

New Practices San Francisco Studio Visit: Kennerly Architecture + Planning
January 8, 4:00 pm
Kennerly Architecture + Planning, 375 Alabama Street, Suite 440, San Francisco

ARE: Building Design & Construction I
January 9, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
HOK, 1 Bush Street, Suite 200, Rincon Room, San Francisco

Career Strategy Roundtable: Informal Peer to Peer Discussion on Weathering the Economic Downturn
January 11, 12:00 pm

Revit User Group: Hey, this stuff is SO not in the manual!
January 13, 11:30 am - 1:30 pm

Health Care Update on the State Receiver’s Care Facility Program (1.5 HSWs)
January 13, 5:00 pm

A Venice of China: Transforming China's Cities for the Next Century
January 13, 5:30 pm
The Commonwealth Club of California, 595 Market Street, San Francisco

New Practices San Francisco Studio Visit: Min | Day
January 15, 4:00 pm
Min | Day, 2325 Third Street, #425, San Francisco

The Rub about Density: Empowering Local Planning in a Regional Context
January 19, 6:30 pm
Presented by ADPSR

New Practices San Francisco Studio Visit: Public Architecture
January 22, 4:00 pm
Public Architecture, 1211 Folsom Street, 4th Floor, San Francisco

ARE: Building Design & Construction II
January 23, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
HOK, 1 Bush Street, Suite 200, Rincon Room, San Francisco

Simulating Architecture with Video Game Technology
January 27, 5:30 pm

New Practices San Francisco Studio Visit: Axelrod Design
January 29, 4:00 pm
Axelrod Design, 417 Montgomery Street, San Francisco

Building Design & Construction III
January 30, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
HOK, 1 Bush Street, Suite 200, Rincon Room, San Francisco

New Practices San Francisco
On View November 5 - January 29, 2010

New Practices San Francisco is the 2009, West Coast premiere of AIA New York’s annual portfolio competition and exhibition. New Practices San Francisco is a platform for recognizing and promoting new and emerging architecture firms within San Francisco that have undertaken innovative strategies – both in projects and practice. Distinguishing this award from others given to new practices is the attention focused on how the winning firms are uniquely shaped to better facilitate the type of projects that they undertake.

The exhibition showcases the work of winners CMG Landscape Architecture; Edmonds + Lee Architects; Faulders Studio; Kennerly Architecture + Planning; Min|Day; Public Architecture; and honorable mentions Axelrod Design and Envelope A+D.

• MTC Seeks Policy Advisors
  The Metropolitan Transportation Commission is recruiting for 27 individuals to become members of the Policy Advisory Council, a new advisory committee created by the Commission in November 2009. The mission of the new citizen panel will be to advise MTC on transportation policies in the San Francisco Bay Area, incorporating diverse perspectives relating to the environment, the economy and social equity. Application deadline February 1, 2010. For more information, visit www.mtc.ca.gov/get_involved/advisory.

• Get Your Project Images Featured on AIA San Francisco's Monthly Event Postcard
  Share your images with us! AIA San Francisco is interested in receiving photos, renderings, drawings of buildings, landscapes, sites that you find architecturally inspiring. Images must be 72 dpi and no larger than 2MB. Upload your submissions to www.aiasf.org/ftp. Be sure to label AIA San Francisco Event Postcard Submission in the subject line. Entrants must have permission to use image for publicity purposes.

• How Good Are Your Drawing Skills?
  AIA San Francisco is partnering with Next American City and SPUR for an interactive charrette aimed at examining what it takes to make a great street, then using those principles to re-envision Market Street. Reimagining Market Street: Creating Our Own Champs-Elysees will take place February 23, 6:00 pm at 654 Mission Street, San Francisco. Participants will break into small groups to brainstorm ideas in the areas of public space, transit, bikes, public art, commerce (planning and development), and commerce (shopping). For the event, Next American City is looking for six architects to join the conversation and help produce a visual for these emerging concepts, which will appear online following the event. For further information, email Erin Cullerton at ecullerton@aiasf.org.

• 2010 Business Environmental Awards
  Acterra's Business Environmental Awards recognizes businesses and organizations for outstanding environmental leadership within the San Francisco Bay Area. If your company has recently completed an exceptional green building project, you may be eligible to apply for the 2010 Sustainable Built Environment award. This category recognizes designs that conserve natural resources and promote health and well-being for the occupants of buildings and other built environments. Applications are due on or before January 22, 2010. For more information, visit www.acterra.org/bea.

• 2010 METROPOLIS Next Generation Design Competition
  Good design determines how well products, spaces, and systems work from the beginning. We think that great design ideas can make things work even better. One Design Fix for the Future challenges you to prove us right—whether you are an architect, interior designer, product designer, landscape designer, graphic designer, communication designer. We’re looking for ONE design fix you can make now in your designed environment—the products you use, your home, your workplace, your city, or any commercial application—that, in scale or as inspiration, can improve our future. Submissions due by January 29, 2010. For more information, visit www.metropolismag.com/nextgen/index.php.

• 2010 AIA Architectural Photography Competition
  AIA St. Louis presents the 2010 Photography Competition. All entries must be submitted on a CD ROM. The top 14 entries will be exhibited at the 2010 AIA National Convention. Images for the 2012 Engagement Calendar will be selected from all submitted entries, and will include the 14 winners. Submissions due by March 1, 2010. For more information, visit www.aia-stlouis.org/photo_contest.asp.

For information on competitions/RFPs visit our website at www.aiasf.org/Job_Resources/CompetitionsRFPs.htm.

• Thom Mayne, FAIA, was appointed to President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities.

• Congratulations to POLLACK architecture on receiving the Best of the Year 2009 Award hosted by Interior Design Magazine.

See where AIA Members are being mentioned:

• EHDD Architecture was a recipient of the Livable Buildings Award and honored for its design of Chartwell Elementary School. Architects and Third Graders Agree... (Metropolis)

• Min | Day is the recipient of Architectural Record's 2009 Design Vanguard: A firm finds fertile ground for innovation in the Midwest, as well as on the left coast.

Want to be IN THE NEWS? Email here for consideration.

The first decade of the 21st century marked the San Francisco landscape in ways that nobody would have predicted a decade before.

New glass towers stand south of Market Street, many filled with residents and one set disconcertingly close to the Bay Bridge. The old rail yards of Mission Bay are home to a UCSF campus and upscale condominiums, the latter lining a once unpleasantly fragrant creek. Lauded international architects have placed bold buildings in provocative locations.

In this city, the process of getting a project approved makes it easier to cut deals than to let architects do their best work, and too much of what's been built is inept or cynical or both. Even so, the decade saw a heartening number of memorable additions to the landscape. Some are Big Buildings by Big Names, but most are locally produced, modestly scaled.

What follows is one arbitrary list, in chronological order, of the decade's best. Because it is confined to San Francisco, you won't find such regional gems as the C.V. Starr East Asian Library at UC Berkeley by Tod Williams and Billie Tsien. Also, the criterion extends beyond pure architecture to works that exemplify the qualities and potential of a city where neighborhoods count for more than icons.

To read full article CLICK HERE.

Mandatory Continuing Education on Disabled Access Requirements

Specifically, how many CE hours is required?
To renew a license in 2011 and beyond, all California architects must take 5 hours of CE.

Fulfill these requirements with online courses available through AIA California Council. Click here for more information.

NEW MEMBER BENEFITS

AIA Trust
Schinnerer is now offering a 5 percent premium credit to AIA members on their professional liability insurance policies. If your members firm has billings of $5 million or less, acceptable loss ratios and at least 50% of the firm’s professional staff are AIA members, they can reap significant savings. For example…a 30-person firm in New Jersey can save $5,088, a 13-person firm in Virginia can save $1,155, a sole proprietor in Illinois can save $300, and a 20-person firm in Arizona can save $3,070 – all on their professional liability CNA insurance premium by earning the 5% AIA Membership credit at their policy renewal. Call George Boldarini at 301-951-5401 or e-mail George.Boldarini@Schinnerer.com and ask for further details or visit the AIA Trust website at www.theaiatrust.com.

AIA San Francisco welcomes the following new members:
Vasco Isamu Agnoli | Angelene Wang Kai-lin Baldi | Erin B. Berta| Dilmohan S. Chadha| Maria D. Chiarella | Andrew J. Cunningham | Matthew P De Mott | Milagros Del Castillo | Christopher N. Dionne | Janine-Opal Fischer| Bruce M. Fullerton | Michelle Geckler | Thomas M. Giles | Emily Gillmar | Justin D. Glover | Fred Goykhman | Jerry James| Jessica L. Johnson| John Keane | Jamie Keegan| Caroline M. Klitgord | Jason Robert Kohler | Bill Lamb| Waylon M. Lau| Vivian W. Lee | Christine Lindinger | Mark G. Maloy | Antonina P. Markoff | Sandra Ford Mendler | David Noel Peartree | Tiffany R. Redding | Charles C. Shin | Sandra Speer Speer | Tahkeru S. Stewart | Brian D. Stromquist | Justin S. Szeremeta | Tuong Vi T. Tran | Kelly P. Turbin| Jacob Tian Shyng Wong

San Francisco Wood Solutions Fair
Jan. 21: South San Francisco Convention Center

Earn up to 6 AIA credits free of charge!
Click here to register.

Wood Solutions Fairs allow architects and others to obtain the maximum amount of information on the design and construction of non-residential wood structures in a single day—at no cost.

Attendees receive: