| 40 Projects Get Design Excellence Awards
The best new designs from Chicago's internationally acclaimed
architecture were recognized by the Chicago chapter of the
American Institute of Architects.
AIA Chicago, the second largest chapter in the nation, presented
40 Design Excellence Awards for Distinguished Building, Interior
Architecture, Urban Design and Divine Detail. Winners were
selected from 285 entries overall.
The 2006 Design Excellence Awards were selected by juries
of architects from across the country.
The biggest winner is Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP,
which will take home five awards.
Three other firms will collect three awards apiece: DeStefano
and Partners Ltd., Goettsch Partners and Perkins + Will.
One firm, Valerio Dewalt Train Associates Inc., will be recognized
with two Honor Awards, the program's highest achievement.
In all, 13 Honor Awards will be announced, along with 21 Citations
of Merit and six Special Recognition Awards.
One change to this year's Design Excellence Awards program
is the addition of the Urban Design Award category.
It recognizes distinguished achievement in urban design, community
development, or city, suburban or campus planning. Individual
projects, planned developments, places, design elements, and
programs that contribute to the quality of urban development
were eligible for consideration. Four projects will be honored
in this new category.
Get more information about the winning entries and firms by
visiting www.aiachicago.org
on the Internet.
U.S. Conference of Mayors:
Halve Fossil Fuels by 2030
The U.S. Conference of Mayors has formally adopted the 2030
Challenge, an ambitious initiative calling for a 50 percent
reduction in fossil fuel energy consumption in new and renovated
buildings.
Cities that manage to meet the 2030 Challenge will not use
oil, natural gas or coal in the heating, cooling, lighting
or construction of new buildings.
"We know these targets are readily achievable and that
most buildings can be designed to use only a small amount
of energy at little or no additional cost through proper siting,
building form, glass properties and location, material selection
and by incorporating natural heating, cooling, ventilation
and day-lighting strategies," said Edward Mazria, senior
principal of Santa Fe, N.M.-based Mazria Inc. Odems Dzurec.
"The additional energy a building would then need to
maintain comfort and operate equipment can be supplied by
renewable sources such as solar (photovoltaics, hot water
heating), wind, biomass and other viable carbon-free sources."
The measure was sponsored by Chicago Mayor Richard Daley,
in addition to the mayors from Albuquerque, Seattle and Miami.
AIA: Inquiries for New Projects
At Highest Level Since 1995
Inquiries for new projects are at their highest levels since
December 1995, according to data from the Architecture Billings
Index, an economic indicator of nonresidential construction
activity from the American Institute of Architects.
Any ABI score above 50 indicates an increase in billings.
Inquiries in September for new projects had a score of 67.7,
its highest mark since December 1995 (68.7). The overall September
ABI was 51.4.
Other key September ABI highlights:
Regional Averages: South (59.3), West (57.6), Northeast
(51.7), Midwest (51.1).
Sector Index Breakdown: commercial / industrial (58.3),
institutional (57.8), mixed (54.6), residential (45.4).
Demand for commercial / industrial projects and institutional
projects continue to set the pace for the sustained positive
conditions, the AIA said. Based on the approximate nine- to
12-month lag time between architecture billings and construction
spending, the recent growth in billings points to a healthy
future in the nonresidential construction market throughout
2007.
AIA Chicago Announces Move To 35 E. Wacker
Drive
The Chicago chapter of the American Institute of Architects
is planning a move and has signed a 10-year lease for new
space at 35 E. Wacker Drive in Chicago.
The move to a new home is part of a larger strategic effort
aimed at strengthening AIA Chicago's network of services
for architects and the public.
Formerly known as the Jewelers Building, the 35 E. Wacker
building was completed in 1927. It originally housed an
automobile elevator and one of the nation's largest internal
parking garages to provide security for its jeweler tenants.
Today, the building is a registered Chicago landmark.
"It's a majestic building with architectural significance,"
said Zurich Esposito, AIA Chicago's newly appointed executive
vice president.
High on Esposito's list of goals for the organization is
creating greater public awareness for the professionals
represented by AIA Chicago and providing more opportunities,
services and support to the architecture community.
AIA Chicago launched a design competition for young architects
and designers in early 2006. Twenty-six teams answered the
call to design conceptual plans for the organization's new
space. A team of four emerging design pros, collectively
named "Interface," was chosen for the commission.
The Chicago office of HOK will serve as associate architects
for the project.
Over the next four months, the young team of designers (all
under 30 years old) will oversee the build-out of a 5,000-sq.-ft.
second floor space with stunning views of the Chicago River
and some of the city's most notable architectural landmarks.
The Interface concept incorporates significant elements
of sustainability in its design; AIA Chicago hopes to obtain
LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council
for its new office.
The members of Interface are Daimian Hines and Natalie Johnson
(both of HOK Chicago), Daniel West of KEO International
Consultants in Abu Dhabi, and Andrew Senderak of Gensler
in Chicago.
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