Columns E-News - 2023 1QTR

2023 | First Quarter Edition

AIA ARKANSAS E-News

AWARDS & RECOGNITION

CALL FOR DESIGN AWARD ENTRIES

To salute excellence in architecture, AIA Arkansas conducts an annual Design Awards Program. This program honors works of distinction designed by AIA Arkansas members. The program also brings to public attention outstanding examples of architecture.

Entries are due Friday, April 14th.

How to Enter:

The Design Awards Program is in electronic format. You may access the entry form by clicking the link below. Upon receipt of your entry form and fee, you will be provided information to access the Design Awards project submission page as well as presentation board requirements. Project's will be submitted electronically through our website and are due by Monday, May 30th. Presentation boards are not due until the convention.

Click here for more information regarding the Design Awards Program

CALL FOR CHAPTER AWARD NOMINATIONS

Every year, AIA Arkansas recognizes members, individuals, and organizations that exemplify the pursuit of the Chapter’s mission.

The categories of nominations are:

Fay Jones Gold Medal Award
Dick Savage Memorial Award
Emerging Professional Award
Award of Merit
Diversity Award

For information about each category or to view a list of past recipients, visit AIAAR Chapter Awards.

Nomination Procedures: All current members of AIA Arkansas are invited to submit nominations for the 2021 Chapter Awards. There is no limit to how many years an eligible nominee may be submitted for an award; however, a recipient may receive a specific award only once.

Submission deadline is Friday, April 28, 2023
Awards will be conferred at the annual Design Awards Celebration scheduled for Thursday October 20, 2023 in Hot Springs

Nominator Responsibilities: Nominations should clearly demonstrate how the nominee's sustained efforts, exceptional achievements, and significant contributions over an extended period, meet the purpose and criteria of the specific award and elucidate the nominee's impact on the community and/or the profession of architecture.

POINTS OF INTEREST

CALL FOR ALLIED PRESENTATION PROPOSALS FOR THE 2023 STATE CONVENTION

AIA Arkansas is now accepting proposals from our Allied members for presentations at the 2023 AIA Arkansas State Convention in Hot Springs, AR. Only current AIA Arkansas Allied Members are eligible to submit presentations. Companies that are not current members will not be reviewed by the convention committee. Visit www.aiaar.org to submit your presentation by the deadline.

SUBMIT ALLIED PRESENTATION

ADN June Freeman Lecture Series: April 18th | 6:00pm

Forgotten Little Rock: An Exploration of Little Rock’s Historic Neighborhoods

AIA Credit: Pending

bpi host: Hands-On Schluter Contest & CEU -April 20th

RSVP to: gnoland@bpiteam.com

Read more
www.aiaar.org

Architect & Engineer Salaries

Average $74,420 in Arkansas

Arkansas Business recently reported that the annual mean wage for architects and engineers in Arkansas in 2021 was $74,420, compared with a national annual mean wage of $91,740, according to the latest available data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The highest annual mean wage was to be found in Central Arkansas: $75,730. The next-highest was in northwest Arkansas, where it stood at $75,520. Nationwide, the highest wages can be found in the District of Columbia, California, New Mexico, Alaska and Maryland, where they range from $117,160 to $103,850.

RSVP NOW

In Arkansas Business Q&A, Boone

Speaks to Current Design Needs

Craig Boone, AIA, of Architecture Plus in Fort Smith was recently featured in the Executive Q&A in Arkansas Business. Here are the questions the business journal asked him along with his answers.

What features are must-haves in multifamily housing these days?

As millennials enter the workforce, they are finding that the single-family housing market has outpriced them, so they are turning to the multifamily market as an option. This move is causing the multifamily housing providers to reinvent their product. The growing number of home-based employees is forcing providers to compete by providing more technology amenities. Features such as high-speed internet, app-based lighting, climate control, video doorbells and security are no longer considered as upgrades but necessities.

In addition, common spaces have become an important part of multifamily living. Gone are the days of a swing set and a barbecue grill. Tenants are now looking for spaces that are flexible in use and enhance the sense of community. Community rooms, pools and exercise rooms are now expected in multifamily complexes. Other key considerations are the proximity to basic life needs. As they transition away from vehicles, tenants are looking for housing that is close to stores, restaurants and health care that can be reached by walking or by bicycle.

How has educational facility design changed over the years?

The biggest change in educational facility design is safety and security. Architects are always looking at new ways to make our schools safer while still maintaining a pleasant and vibrant learning environment. Access control, interior and external monitoring and electronic locking are just a few ways we are making schools safer. By reviewing plans with school administration and school resource officers, we can adjust designs to meet each school’s safety needs. COVID-19 taught us the importance of indoor air quality. Since the outbreak of the pandemic, architects and engineers have worked to improve the air students breathe. By replacing older HVAC systems with new, more efficient units with better filtration, indoor air quality has been greatly improved.

What green features are customers demanding?

As our customers become more educated and aware of climate change and its effects, we are seeing more of a push for green building features. Water efficiencies, water recycling, indoor air quality, use of recycled materials, solar energy, eco-friendly equipment and building automation are just a few of the items that clients are pushing us to consider. Those owners not only set goals regarding the future of our planet but also the long-term savings in building operations.

What building that you worked on are you most proud of? Why?

During the past 30 years, I have had the opportunity to work on numerous projects and building types, and each has its own special place for me. The biggest thing I am proud of is not the buildings, but the relationships that they have brought. As an architect I must always keep in mind that even the smallest project is important.

2023 AIA National Photography Competition

This competition is open to AIA Members, Registered Architects, and Architecture Students of Accredited Universities. The top photographs will receive a cash prize and this year we are excellent to announce the new Student Awards that is limited to photographs entered by university students. In addition, all recognized photographs will be promoted by our media sponsor Architecture Record Magazine and will also be displayed at the Architecture Record booth at the upcoming AIA Conference on Architecture 2023 in San Francisco.

The 2023 AIA National Photography Jury consists of a variety of industry experts, including:

Julie Snow, FAIA, NOMA – Founding Principal, Snow Kreilich Architects
Alex Bachrach – Publisher, Architectural Record/BNP Media
Professor Ila N. Sheren, Ph.D. – Washington University in St. Louis, Department of Art History and Archeology

More information and entry details can be found on the AIA St. Louis website using the following link - AIA National Photography Competition. Again, we are extremely grateful for our Media Sponsor Architectural Record Magazine and Presenting Sponsor Louisiana-Pacific Corporation for helping to produce this competition.

Opportunity Knocks

The Air Force Civilian Service is looking to hire

two Full-Time Architects

Smart Minds, Cool Jobs and Awesome Rewards! Fueled by innovation, talent and ambition, the Air Force Civilian Service is seeking civilian professionals prepared to support the United States Air Force.

The Air Force Civilian Service is looking for two Full-Time Architects (GS-0808,12) to work at the 19 Civil Engineer Squadron on Little Rock AFB in Jacksonville, AR. Superior qualifications will be sought for individuals with exceptional qualifications. This position can close at any time.

Interested in an amazing opportunity with the 19th Civil Engineer Squadron (CES), Engineering Flight? The 19 CES, Engineering Flight has immediate openings for two GS-0808-12 Architects at Little Rock AFB, Arkansas. The staff is comprised of mechanical, electrical and civil engineers, architects, geospatial data production/management, surveying, community planning, programming, energy management and construction management professionals.

For More Information & How to Apply Click Here

UA FAY JONES SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN

Taggart Architects Honors

Jerry E. Currence with Scholarship

North Little Rock firm Taggart Architects has contributed $50,000 to create an Advance Arkansas scholarship that benefits Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design students at the U of A. This endowed scholarship, called the Taggart Architects Advance Arkansas Endowed Scholarship in Memory of Jerry E. Currence, honors the memory and legacy of Jerry E. Currence and his commitment to design excellence, the profession of architecture as well as the community in which he lived and worked. The purpose of the scholarship will be to support new students from Arkansas who exhibit financial need, records of academic success and a strong desire to complete their degree at the U of A.

Currence was president and co-owner of Taggart Architects at the time of his death in 2015 at age 56. He was a 1984 graduate of the Fay Jones School with a Bachelor of Architecture. In school, he was awarded the Edward Durell Stone Medal, as the final-year architecture student with the highest overall grade point average in design studio work. During his time at the U of A, he was a member of Kappa Sigma fraternity. Bill Gray, Currence’s longtime friend and business partner and current president and CEO of Taggart Architects, said Currence was free-spirited and adventuresome, with a love for riding motorcycles and the outdoors. He never met a stranger and was a fun, interesting guy to hang out with.

“He was an outstanding person, dad, husband, design student and professional architect,” Gray said. “He was loved and well respected by family, friends and the architecture profession. I want our firm, the local architecture profession and the Fay Jones School to always remember who he was.” Gray, who graduated from the U of A in 1983 with a Bachelor of Architecture, recalls when he and Currence ran into each other soon after college. Currence recruited Gray to come work at what was then called Burt Taggart and Associates. Gray accepted the offer. “The rest is history. We became the yin and yang of the firm,” Gray said. “It was a great partnership. I really miss him.”

During his career, Currence became a very astute healthcare designer, and the firm began doing healthcare work all over the country. Currence worked on a range of projects, including many notable office buildings, recreation centers and educational buildings across the state. “I think he was very proud of all the work we did for Pulaski Technical College (master planning and building design) and partnering with some national firms to lead the Alltel Arena project (now Simmons Bank Arena) and Dickey-Stephens Park,” Gray said. “Jerry came from a very modest background. I want Arkansas students to realize it’s not where you come from, but where you are going. I hope this scholarship benefits and inspires other students in Arkansas that need encouragement and financial help to take the next big step to realizing their dream.”

The Marygrove Early Education Center in Detroit

Faculty-Led Projects Earn Awards From Architect's Newspaper

Several Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design faculty and their projects were recognized in the 2022 AN Best of Design Awards. The annual competition is sponsored by The Architect's Newspaper. The honored projects were designed by Marlon Blackwell Architects, the professional architecture practice of U of A professor Marlon Blackwell, and the U of A Community Design Center, an outreach program of the Fay Jones School directed by U of A professor Steve Luoni. In addition, Somewhere Studio, the professional architecture practice of U of A professors Jessica Colangelo and Charles Sharpless, received an honorable mention for the Young Architects Award.

The AN Best of Design Awards is a premiere North American awards program open to design professionals for interiors, buildings, landscape, urbanism and installations in the United States, Mexico and Canada. The Marygrove Early Education Center in Detroit, designed by Marlon Blackwell Architects, was the winner in the Education—Kindergarten, Primary, High School category and was also a finalist for the project of the year. The ARK: Rural Botanical Garden for Arkansas, designed by the Community Design Center, was the winner in the Unbuilt—Landscape, Urban Design and Master Plan category. The Architect's Newspaper recognized Somewhere Studio with the Young Architects Award honorable mention for their focus on public space design projects that explore new strategies for space activation and material reutilization, including Salvage Swings (2019), The Shelter Project (2021) and Mix and Match (2022).

Peter MacKeith, left, dean and professor of architecture, and John Folan, professor and head of the Department of Architecture, in the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design.

Faculty, Projects Recognized With 2023 Education Awards

For the third time in the last four years, a Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design faculty member has been recognized with the Distinguished Professor Award by the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture. Peter MacKeith, dean and professor of architecture in the school since 2014, won this top honor in the ACSA's 2023 Architectural Education Awards program. In addition, John Folan, professor and head of the Department of Architecture since 2019, received two ACSA awards for work executed in public interest design: the Collaborative Practice Award and the Faculty Design Award.

"Recognition by the ACSA of faculty accomplishment at the Fay Jones School is recognition of the entire school community — all our faculty colleagues, our good students and the fundamental support of the school staff," MacKeith said. "The school has a foundational commitment to teaching: the faculty are passionately devoted to their work with students. This has been continuously inspiring to me, and is a memorable dimension of the school for our graduates of any age. In this sense, all of our faculty distinguish themselves and all our students and alumni are distinguished by their degree and lasting affiliation with the school."

"These recognitions illustrate that we have faculty who are operating at a very high level. And honestly that's a reflection of the students too. It's a culture," Folan said. "Faculty can't operate at a high level and introduce pedagogy that is recognized through those channels unless the students are capable of meeting those demands. So, it's not about individuals; it's a reflection of the culture."

AIA NATIONAL

How to update your AIA NATIONAL member profile

Log into My Account from aia.org.
Click the ‘Edit’ link at the bottom of the ‘Manage’ box on the right side of screen.
Click ‘Email’ on the left navigation of the screen.
Update email address(s) and click the ‘Save’ button.
For an email address that is associated with the ‘Preferred email type’ only – a verification email will be sent to the new email address with an embedded link that must be clicked within 24 hours in order to complete the update process. If the link isn’t clicked within 24 hours, it no longer works and the member will need to start the process again (back to #1 above).

Note: If no preferred email address exists on their record, members will need to reach out to memberservices@aia.org to add their email address.

ALLIED CORNER

HP Engineering Awarded

ISO 9001:2015 Certification

HP Engineering, Inc., a dynamic and industry-leading Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing (MEP) and Structural design firm with an office at Rogers, proudly announces they have obtained the coveted ISO 9001:2015 certification from Perry Johnson Registrars, Inc. ISO 9001:2015 is the world's most widely recognized quality management standard. HP Engineering explicitly selected the ISO 9001:2015 certification to validate its ability to exceed customer quality expectations while meeting legal and regulatory requirements. All major internal processes were examined and evaluated during the certification process to ensure HP Engineering could provide efficient, high-quality services.

"At HP Engineering, we pride ourselves on producing high-quality building system designs to enhance the quality of life for our customers. Our world-class quality management process helped us secure our ISO 9001 certification," Chief Technical Officer Steve Williams said. “Our customers can expect the same great design, quality, and reliability aimed for their satisfaction. Our processes allow for building systems design not only for today but for the future." The certification process involved time and dedication from the HP Engineering staff. After over a year of internal information gathering, process improvement, and audits by Perry Johnson Registrars, the ISO 9001:2015 certification process is complete. This certification prioritizes quality to meet the ever-changing demands of the construction industry, remaining compliant with legal and regulatory standards with a focus on accountability in all organizational processes creating an environment of continuous improvement and efficiency.

"Our goals for becoming ISO 9001:2015 certified included creating repeatable and high-quality internal processes that allowed for improved building system design and increased customer satisfaction," said Brandon Pinkerton, Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of HP Engineering, Inc. "We are proud our internal processes meet the ISO 9001 quality, and we will not let this certification be the end of our

improvement. You can expect HP Engineering to continue to improve and evolve to meet the needs of the construction industry."