The Architects Show (Save the Date)

From AIA Westchester + Hudson Valley:

The 600+ member American Institute of Architects Westchester + Hudson Valley Chapter is pleased to announce a three day event featuring an exhibition of architectural work by member firms and an exposition showcasing products available in our regional marketplace. The event is titled “The Architects Show” and will be open to the general public as a vehicle to present the work of area architects and highlight the professional services they provide to the region. “The Architects Show” will be held at the Westchester County Center, Central Avenue, White Plains and will commence with an opening reception on the evening of April 7th, 2011 for AIA members, invited guests, and participating sponsors.

The exhibit and exposition will be open to the general public Thursday, April 7 through Saturday, April 9. In addition to the display of Architect’s work “The Architects Show” will feature a building products and construction services exposition, bringing together consultants, product manufacturers, and construction service providers to highlight the latest, state of the art products and services in the building industry.

“The Architects Show” will also include:

• An exhibition of student work from metropolitan area architectural schools and information on the academic architectural programs available in the area.

• Special interactive events for the public including an “Ask the Architects” question-and-answer session with a panel of architects, and hands-on displays and information centers on how to select and work with an Architect.

• Opportunities to talk directly with product manufacturers on the latest energy efficient building products and their use as part of sustainable design solutions in residential and commercial building projects.

• Continuing education classes for design professionals

For more information click on the below:

General Public Press Release
Chapter members Exhibit information
EXPO information

Event Schedule:

April 6 (Wednesday): Event Setup
April 7 (Thursday, 12 noon – 10 pm): Opening Night
April 8 (Friday, 10 – 6 pm): Exhibition/CES Courses
April 9 (Saturday, 10 – 6 pm): Exhibition/CES Courses/Panel Discussion
April 10 (Sunday): Event Breakdown

Additional information is available from:

Valerie Brown
Executive Director AIA Westchester + Hudson Valley
Telephone 914.232.7240
E-Mail chapteroffice@AIAWHV.org
www.aiawhv.com

AIAWMH Design Awards… With Pictures!

A few weeks back my team and I attended the AIA Westchester / Mid-Hudson annual design awards, A Celebration of Architecture. It was held at ArtsWestchester (formerly Westchester Arts Council) in the heart of downtown White Plains. Attendance was excellent. The enthusiasm and “celebration” of our profession was inspiring.

This year, in addition to the awards ceremony and usual cocktail “gala” which follows, the chapter (specifically Ira Grandberg and his team) organized an exhibition of Westchester Mid-Hudson architects’ work. Dozens of firms participated and it was very interesting to see the diverse and varied architecture created by our local talent. The Celebration of Architects exhibition was a great success, but I think the week’s end three day duration was WAY too short for it to have any significant effect on the general public (just my 2 cents).

Unfortunately, the design awards ceremony was less than inspiring. A last minute malfunction of the video projector left an audience of 250+ without a visual presentation to accompany barely audible project descriptions and sometimes lengthy acceptance speeches. What is a design awards presentation without visuals? Although I feel the overall event was a success, the missing presentation was beyond disappointing for the attendees and probably even more so for the honored firms. (As a former chapter Director, I sympathize with the members responsible for the glitch. I appreciate the effort required to stage such an event and the disappointment they must have felt as well.)

Today, the chapter released an online slide show presentation of the honored projects. I send out a much deserved congratulations to the firms that received awards. The architecture and design presented is as inspiring as the enthusiasm felt throughout that ballroom a few weeks back.

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Above Photo:

Headquarters for Mackenzie Keck Construction, Inc., Rockaway, NJ
Category: Commercial
Architect: de la Garza Architecture LLC
Photographer: Deck Higgins Photography / Randhir Singh

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Cans for Kids

From OOCK:

This year the AIA Westchester/Mid-Hudson Chapter created the Design Club, an after-school architectural education outreach program for inner city youth. Select member architects serve as volunteer teachers to enrich elementary students in the field of architecture. In its first year, the club has already seen positive results at Martin Luther King Elementary School located in Yonkers, NY. Children learn through hands-on projects about the science behind building, physics and geometry. Topics range from climate and insulation to bridge building, decoration and biomimicry. The club also takes students on educational field trips; this year was to The Guggenheim Museum.

Read more.

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AIA Westchester Design Awards Open to the Public

AIA Westchester / Mid-Hudson, our local chapter of the American Institute of Architects, are holding their annual design awards program this Thursday evening (11/19) at the Arts Exchange in White Plains.

After the the awards, the chapter will be celebrating at the Gala Party where you’ll have an opportunity to meet the award winners, schmooze with design professionals and view the opening exhibit, A Celebration of Architects. It’s going to be a great evening and its open to the public.

From AIAarchitect.net:

Following the Awards Presentation there will be a Gala Opening Party celebrating both the awards and the opening of the “Celebration of Architects” Exhibit.

The Exhibition will present the work of Chapter Architects to the public. It will be open to the public on Friday November 20th thru Sunday November 22nd, 2009. The hours will be: 11am to 7pm (Friday and Saturday) 11am to 4pm (Sunday)

Architecture has a large impact on our lives that many of us don’t realize. Our goal is to shed some light on the profession of Architecture and how buildings we design impact and shape the environments in which we live and work. We hope that those who attend the Exhibit will leave with a better understanding of Architecture and the built environment.

Contact AIA Wescthester / Mid-Hudson for more information.

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AIA Westchester / Mid-Hudson: A Celebration of Architects

We finished up our boards for the local AIA chapter’s A Celebration of Architects exhibition scheduled for November 20 – 22.

Be sure to add the dates to your calendar. The event is one weekend only.

From AIA Architect Network:

On Thursday, November 19th, 2009, following their annual Awards ceremony, The American Institute of Architects – Mid Hudson Chapter, will present a major public exhibition entitled “A Celebration of Architects….. The Art of Architecture” exhibiting the work of regional architects.

This exhibition will be held at the Westchester Arts Exchange (ground floor gallery), 31 Mamaroneck Avenue, White Plains, New York. The exhibit will be opened to the public, free of charge, Friday, November 20th thru Sunday, November 22nd, 2009.

Download the event flyer here.

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How Design Works for You

From AIA.org:

If you’ve never worked with an architect before, you likely have questions. Does your project really require an architect? At what point should you involve a design team? What is it like to work with an AIA architect, and how do you get the most out of the experience? Here you can find answers and tools to guide you through the five stages of design, and watch clients and architects describe how the process worked for them. Prepare yourself for a rewarding relationship with an AIA architect. Good design makes a difference.™

Working With An AIA Architect
Learn about the architectural design process and your role in it.

Watch How It Works
See clients and their AIA architects discuss their relationships and the process that led to their finished projects.

AIA Tools for You
Find tools to help you select an AIA architect and get the most out of your working relationship.

Poured and Pressed Glass

Last evening, the Fivecat crew and I hopped in the Explorer and took “the long way” (I took a wrong turn) up to Peekskill for the annual AIA Westchester Mid-Hudson kick off event at Wood Designe’. The evening always starts off with an open house at the Wood Designe’ woodshop. The CNC machines are on display and several vendors are available to pitch their wares.

One very interesting vendor was 3form. Among several dozen innovative products was their poured and pressed glass. Pretty amazing stuff.

From 3-form.com:

We’ve redefined this classic material, turning it upside down, arresting your attention in the 3form signature style.

Their poured glass is a premium product that creates amazing textures and incredible depth. Their pressed glass uses everyday natural materials, such as grass (image above) or flower pedals, and uses them as an interlayer between two thin layers of glass.

Now we just need a project where we can use it.

2007 AIA Westchester / Mid-Hudson Design Awards Gala

AIA Westchester / Mid-Hudson, my local chapter of the American Institute of Architects, will be hosting their annual Design Awards Gala on Thursday, November 1st. This year the event will take place at Dia:Beacon Riggio Galleries in Beacon, New York.

From AIAarchitect.net:

In May 2003, the Dia Art Foundation opened Dia:Beacon, Riggio Galleries, a museum to house its renowned but rarely seen permanent collection, comprised of major works of art from the 1960s to the present. Located on the Hudson River in Beacon, New York, Dia:Beacon occupies a nearly 300,000-square-foot historic printing factory.

Dia: Beacon’s renovation was designed by Open Office arts+architecture collaborative, and received an AIA Westchester/Mid-Hudson, First Honor Design Award in 2005.

The galleries will be open for viewing from 3PM to 5PM.

Galia Solomonoff, AIA of Solomonoff Architecture, will be leading an informal tour and talk through the building between the hours of 4:00-5:00. Galia was principal of the former Open Office arts+architecture collaborative, the award winning architectural firm, whom designed the renovation of Dia:Beacon.

The Design Awards celebration will start at 6PM. The event is open to the public, but reservations are required.

For more information download an invitation.

See you there…

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Photo by David Joseph linked from Lyn Rice Architects website.

AIA Teams Up with Google Earth

From AIA National:

In celebration of the AIA’s 150th anniversary, we are excited to announce a partnership with Google Earth that will help the public connect with architecture like never before.

Through two new Google Earth layers, Blueprint for America and America’s Favorite Architecture, the AIA expands the conversation with the public about the impact of architecture in their lives. We also show how AIA architects are working with local citizens to enhance their communities across the country.

Check out the post from the AIA President, RK Stewart, FAIA, on the Official Google Blog.

And here is the official AIA press release.

It’s National Architecture Week

 

In honor of its 150th anniversary, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) will lead the celebration surrounding America’s first National Architecture Week, April 9- 14, 2007.

In conjunction with the week’s events, the America’s Favorite Architecture exhibit will open to reveal a visual showcase of the results of a poll in which the public chose 150 of their favorite structures, which will travel around the country later in the year.