| Volume 12, No. 1 - February 5, 2018 |
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 Clarendon Design Studio, by HDR Architecture (more info) |
ABI Ends 2017 on Positive Footing |
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This issue of BLAST is sponsored by K.C. Company Commercial - Pella Windows & Doors |
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Where We Stand: Professional Licensure |
On January 25, the AIA released its first ‘Where We Stand’ statement of 2018, addressing a troubling trend of states rolling back licensing requirements for a host of professions, including architecture, with the unintended potential for lowering the standard of care many of these same professions give the public. Efforts to roll back licensure requirements that may impact architects through legislation or executive action are already taking place in at least 25 states, including Virginia. Read the full press release. In 2017 the AIA began issuing Where We Stand statements on issues affecting the profession and the general public. Last year, statements were issues on climate change, infrastructure, immigration, and sustainability.Ramsey Homes Demolition Tours The City of Alexandria and the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority are planning an open house and exploratory deconstruction tour of the Ramsey Homes in the Parker-Gray Historic District in Alexandria on February 9 & 10. The four buildings at Ramsey Homes were originally constructed in a modernist design and built by the federal government for African-American defense workers in 1941. They are noteworthy examples of an early use of a precast concrete structural system using “Fabcrete” concrete panels. Visit www.vhdllc.us for the full history report. Chapter members are invited to join City and ARHA staff to explore partially demolished walls and examine the historic precast structural system before complete demolition. 1 AIA HSW LU is offered. Check the Chapter calendar for details. |
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WIA Lecture Series: Make No Little Plans March 28, 6:30p  Planning is underway for the 6th Annual Women in Architecture Lecture Series. Additional lectures are in the works. Mark your calendar to attend this inspiring lecture at the National Building Museum.In celebration of Women’s History Month, Hilary Bertsch, AIA, Principal at Perkins Eastman Architects; Maria Casarella, AIA, Senior Associate, Cunningham | Quill Architects; and Emily Hotaling Eig, Founder and President of EHT Traceries, share their experiences working as design leaders on three of DC’s most complex, large-scale projects – The Wharf, St. Elizabeth’s East Campus, and the McMillan Plan. Panelists will discuss their inspirations, design processes, challenges, successes, and lessons learned from working on these dynamic urban spaces. Tailor Your Chapter Emails Several of our committees send emails focused on particular topics or groups, like Small Firms or Women in Architecture. Much like the AIA’s Knowledge Communities, these emails share information geared to a special interest. AIA Northern Virginia offers six specialized email lists and all members are welcome to sign on to receive any or all of the following options. Just send a request to aianova@aianova.org:
Architecture Billings End Year on Positive Note Fourth quarter activity strongest of 2017 The Architecture Billings Index (ABI) concluded the year in positive terrain, with the December reading capping off three straight months of growth in design billings. The AIA reported the December ABI score was 52.9, down from a score of 55.0 in the previous month. This score still reflects an increase in design services provided by US architecture firms (any score above 50 indicates an increase in billings). The new projects inquiry index was 61.9, up from a reading of 61.1 the previous month, while the new design contracts index decreased slightly from 53.2 to 52.7. Learn more. |
| A’18 AIA Conference on Architecture - Registration is Open A’18, Blueprint for Better Cities, explores how to design cities, towns, and communities that are smarter, healthier, more equitable, and sustainable. Get ready for three immersive days of what’s new and now in architecture and design, hosted in one of the most iconic cities in the world. At A’18, some of the most creative architects, designers, and firms will share how they’re creating their own blueprint and making a difference in cities of every size all over the world. Nearly 100 tours of the city’s best architecture in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island will be offered. Registration is now open. |
| Awards and Opportunities Due February 5 – The SPP Review (Small Project Practitioners) Submissions Due February 9 – Extended Call for AIA's Diversity Recognition Program Submissions Due February 20 – AZURE Magazine’s AZ Awards Submittals Due March 5 – DesignDC 2018 Call for Proposals Due March 5 – Association for Preservation Technology International (APT) Call for Abstracts Due March 19 – AIA/AAH Healthcare Design Awards Submittals Due April 1 – 2018 AIA National Photography Competition Submittals |
Design News
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| Job Board As a benefit to our members, we maintain a Job Board of local postings. Pay us a visit for new postings from: MTFA, John Milner Associates Preservation, RNL - now part of Stantec, Little, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Cunningham Quill Architects, U+ Design LLC, Cole & Denny Architects, LeMay Erickson Willcox Architects, and Rust Orling Architecture. |
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Clarendon Design Studio |
The 28,000-square-foot Clarendon Design Studio is a two-level collaborative environment designed to promote transparency, light and interconnected space. It is located in the heart of a transit-oriented community featuring an abundance of natural daylight for 150 employees. Conceptually, the layout draws inspiration from the L’Enfant Plan in the way it expresses pathways (diagonal circulation within a regular grid) and destinations (focal points at the terminus of primary pathways), while creating layered vistas between workspaces. The interior space is organized around an open stair that physically and visually connects the two floors, while fostering spontaneous interaction and discovery. The stair links four staff neighborhoods, two on each level, and descends into a central library. Each neighborhood adjoins shared collaboration spaces, meeting rooms and technology hubs with a centralized café.Sustainable design strategies were employed throughout the LEED® Platinum project. The staff is learning how energy and water is consumed in the studio and continues to make adjustments to increase efficiency. The material palette reinforces the planning concept and contributes to the sustainable goals. Sealed concrete floors and exposed ceilings articulate circulation zones, while floating ceiling planes and floor treatments delineate the occupied areas. Clear glass partitions transmit borrowed light into the core spaces and showcase the creative process. Accents of color and walnut wood provide visual warmth. The studio is an architectural exploration as much as it is a workplace. It demonstrates how the built environment can be a powerful tool to create identity and rebrand an office culture. |
 Photography ©Todd Mason for Halkin | Mason Photography |
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FEBRUARY CALENDAR 8 | Design Awards Committee Meeting Noon, Alexandria. [info] 9 | Ramsey Homes Demolition Tour 2:00p, Alexandria. [info] 10 | Ramsey Homes Demolition Tour 2:00p, Alexandria. [info] 12 | AIA Northern Virginia Board Meeting 4:30p, Alexandria. [info] 12 | Portfolio Review Alexandria. [info] 13 | Chapter Open House 4:30p, Alexandria. [info] 24 | ARE Exam Series: Project Management 10:00a, Arlington. [info] 26 | Architecture in the Schools Classes Begin [info] 27 | Young Architects Forum Happy Hour 6:30p, Tysons. [info] 28 | 360 Mentoring General Session Arlington. [info] Upcoming Dates to Note: March 8 - Women in Architecture Lunches March 23 - ARE Prep: Programming and Analysis March 28 - Women in Architecture Lecture Series AIA Northern Virginia Calendar | AIA|DC Calendar | AIA Potomac Valley Calendar | AIA Virginia Calendar | Branch Museum Calendar For additional information on any of these events, please contact the Chapter House at (703) 549-9747 or aianova@aianova.org. The Chapter House is located at 1101 Duke Street, Alexandria 22314. |