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President's Message
Well we just got through what I call Goldilocks month, too cold, too hot and just right. How quickly weather can change in lovely Michigan sometimes all in one day. This was also the busiest month for me with AIA Michigan.
It began with the AIA MI Honor Awards on Friday the 8th of June held at The Roostertail in Detroit. If you did not attend, you missed a great time. We were greeted by two small burros at the entry to the dock/walkway that led to the reception. The reception was held outside, under a tent and on a dock landing overlooking the Detroit River. This gave everyone a chance to meet with old friends and acquaintances. The reception was a Mexican theme complete with Tequila shooters, margaritas, cervezas and an assortment of Mexican foods. Oh, and one could not forget the Mariachi band that serenaded us throughout the first hour program. The food and entertainment were great, and it helped set the mood for the evening.
The awards portion followed the reception inside at the Rooster Tail. We had awards to present and the show went on. First were the individual awards and then came the design awards. I hope you had a chance to view the winners. I would encourage everyone to consider nominating an architect/firm next year in your areas. I know there are many architects who are deserving of these awards. Maybe you will be here next year.
The following week was an AIA MI Board meeting. This was held in Grand Rapids. I know that I promised updating you on the boards discussion of the future of AIA Michigan. We ran out of time, but will be extending the August meeting to ensure that this discussion takes place. Prior to heading home, we met with some of the Grand Rapids members. Thanks GR; it was great spending time with you.
Week three was the AIA Conference in New York. Many MI delegates met at the business meeting where all of the proposed resolutions were passed. I could go on and on about the Conference, but will not. We all know that New York is an interesting place. It was a bit difficult (time consuming) going from the Javits Convention Center to The New School to Radio City Music Hall and back to the Javits Convention Center. One had to get used to the subway, taxis and Uber's if you wanted to make your classes on time. It was a bit discouraging. I attended the first Keynote speaker at the Javits Center instead of going to Radio City Music Hall (which I had a ticket for) only because after the speaker I needed to be back at the Javit's Center. From 11th Ave and 38th Street to 6th Ave. and 50th Street, about a 45-minute walk x2 if you move quickly.
Since I am a Michigan grad, I attended the U of M reception. We were treated to the new construction at the Hudson Yard development. There we got to tour a few condo layouts on the 24th floor. If you have around $32 million, you could own one of these extravagant residences in a New York skyscraper. It also comes with a $14,000 monthly residence fee. Me, myself, I will keep my twenty acres on the bay and continue to cut my own grass. Good bye New York.
Oh, and I cannot forget to mention that I attended my first "New York" on Broadway play, "Come from Away". This musical play was excellent, a beautiful story, funny, sad and heart warming. Fellow architect Jeff Scott's daughter Michelle works for the company that put the play on and got us box seats and a backstage tour, what a treat. If I ever get back to New York I would certainly like to attend another.
Have a great 4
th of July and remember to take some time off to enjoy family and friends.
Also, don't forget the Mid Summer Conference in August. This is the 75
th year that AIA MI has been traveling to the Island. If you have ever thought about attending, this is the year. It will be special. See you on the Island!
Yours in AIA,
AIA Michigan President
Dan LaPan, AIA
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Executive Director's Message
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Cathy Mosley, Hon. Aff. AIAMI
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The
2018 Hanley Wood/AIA Opportunity Fund application
is now open for components. The grant awards $5,000 to two AIA local or state chapters to support development of charrettes, continuing education, membership recruitment and youth education. Deadline: June 30
Submit application >
The
State Government Network (SGN) Annual Meeting will be held July 10-13 at the Park Hotel in Madison, Wisconsin. All interested members are invited to attend and catch up on the latest policy trends, learn from other's experiences and reconnect with fellow volunteers. Registration is now open and there is no fee for members to attend.
Register >
Floridians and the world-wide public at large can vote online for their favorite community buildings in the fifth annual Florida People's Choice Competition, launched today by the Florida Association of the American Institute of Architects (AIA Florida) and the Florida Foundation for Architecture. Voting is open now until July 20. The buildings on this year's ballot were built in the past five years and contribute to the happiness and prosperity of Florida residents. Please click here to vote!
Update your Advocacy and Action Profile - Making an impact for your profession just got easier with the new and improved AIA Advocacy Action Center & ArchiPAC site. It has a new look, upgraded features to make it easier for you to engage your legislators, and new tools and resources so you can develop your skills as an advocate to build power for architects. Visit the site today and make your voice heard.
Learn more >
Available -
Brightwood's 5.0 Study Guides! Please call 313-965-4100 or email
Evelyn Dougherty
to borrow the study materials!
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Emerging Professionals Corner
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Samantha Szeszulski, Associate AIA
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Last week, we were in New York City for the A'18 Conference on Architecture. I always come back from conferences and conventions feel excited, motivated, and rejuvenated about architecture & the profession. Since New York is one of the greatest cities in the world, and one of my favorite cities, this time was no exception. The events of the week has some truly wonderful venues - from Javits Convention Center, which comes from the firm of Pei Cobb Freed & Partners, to the New School and Radio City Music Hall.
This year was filled with some fantastic sessions. I attended a great session called Health, Housing, & Equity, which was a panel of professionals both within the field of architecture and from other fields. They provided some staggering facts about how the zip code you live in can be the greatest indicator of your life expectancy - even more so than genetics. I attended another session titled "From Young Female Designers to Firm Leaders: The Boston Experiment" which featured the Girl Uninterrupted Project which developed a manual for young female designers on how to jumpstart their careers. My favorite session was a part of the Pro Series - Social Entrepreneurship as a Practice Model. I'm passionate about the idea of socially focused practices, but the conversations I've been a part of often seem to lack the very important details about how to accomplish these ideas within a sustainable practice.
Outside of the sessions, there were some other pretty exciting happenings. The Young Architects Forum and National Associates Committee's Advocacy workgroup help a Social Impact Design round-table on the Expo Floor that was well attended and filled with great conversation. The Voices for Women Architects Group held a Voices of Plurality Flash Mob outside of the convention center to bring attention to issues of equality, equity, and inclusivity in the profession.
And of course, I got to do a little bit of site seeing. I visited the top of the Empire State Building and Rockefeller Center, both of which had amazing views. I popped in side of St. Patrick's Cathedral. I walked the Highline & visited Chelsea Market. By far my favorite part of the trip was visiting Central Park, where I spent the majority of my day on Sunday. The two other times I've visited the city were both in February, so this was really my first chance to experience Central Park. I sat around at Bethesda Fountain, watched turtles in the lake, ate gelato at the Model sailboat pond, and experienced all the buskers.
Overall it was an amazing week! If you've never been to the AIA Conference on Architecture, or to New York City, I highly suggest you do both. Next year, the conference is in Las Vegas - maybe I'll see you there!
Best Regards,
Samantha Szeszulski, Associate AIA
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Grapevine
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John Galwaa, Associate AIA is now
John Galwaa, AIA - CONGRATULATIONS John!
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Ernesto Whitsitt, Associate AIA is now Ernesto Whitsitt, AIA - CONGRATULATIONS Ernesto!
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Caitlin White, Associate AIA is now Caitlin White, AIA - CONGRATULATIONS Caitlin!
- Mary Walsh, Associate AIA is now Mary Walsh, AIA - CONGRATULATIONS Mary!
- Christopher King, Associate AIA is now Christopher King, AIA - CONGRATULATIONS Christopher!
- TMP Architecture, Inc. is proud to announce that Bryan I. Peterson, AIA, CSI, CCS, CCCA and Richard Skowron, AIA have joined the firm's architectural staff.
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New Members!
Members who joined, rejoined or transferred to AIA Michigan!
May 2018
Anna Anderson, AIA
Christopher J. Garcia, Assoc. AIA
Jacob Klee, Assoc. AIA
Stephanie L. Kortman, Assoc. AIA
Brian Liming, AIA
Erika Lindsay, Assoc. AIA
George A. Morkos, Assoc. AIA
Matthew Northcott, Assoc. AIA
Ayomide Mosunmola Okunlola, Assoc. AIA
Lauren Patricia Pedigo, Assoc. AIA
Pierre R. Roberson, AIA
Mary Rooney, Assoc. AIA
Albert T. Sachteleben, Assoc. AIA
Carrie Elizabeth Smith, Assoc. AIA
Jefferson Lee Stall, Assoc. AIA
Miss Courtney Sturgis, Assoc. AIA
Nicole L. Tischler, Assoc. AIA
Shujie Xie, Assoc. AIA
Miss Jiaqi Zhang, Assoc. AIA
George I. Bailey, AIA
Nathan D. Meade, AIA, LEED AP
Welcome to AIA Michigan and we look forward to meeting you at future events!
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Discover what you can learn
AIAU brings the industry's best learning to you. Our
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Contact the Staff
Cathy Mosley, Hon. Aff. AIAMI
Executive Director of AIA Michigan:
Events and Programming, Finances, Communications, Membership, Government Affairs, Sponsorship
Evelyn Dougherty, Hon. Aff. AIAMI
Operations Director: Event Planning and Registration, Documents,
Continuing Education, Membership, Job Board
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