| Volume 5, No. 4 - April 5, 2011 |
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 Boxhead, by Carter + Burton (more info) |
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Design Awards Gala Venue Unveiled by Scott Matties, AIA, Design Awards Committee Chair |
| The 2011 Design Awards Gala is set for Saturday, June 4th, 2011, at Founders Hall on the Arlington Campus of George Mason University. Designed by SmithGroup and built by Manhattan Construction, this multi-use facility provides classroom space, administrative offices, student services, a campus bookstore and library overlooking a vital urban plaza. This selection continues the tradition of holding the Gala at a location that highlights the best new architecture in Northern Virginia while reinforcing the Chapter's commitment to sustainability by choosing a location with excellent access to mass transit (2 blocks from either the Clarendon or Virginia Square stations on the Metro Orange Line). While there remain a few details to confirm, the Design Awards Committee has been working to implement some new ideas to enhance the Gala experience while reducing the cost of attendance at the event. The location is an important component of this strategy promoting synergy with local restaurants in the Virginia Square/Clarendon neighborhoods providing Gala-goers some great choices for before and after party festivities. At the Gala itself, a tasting event of Virginia wines will be paired with complementary hors d'oeuvres. This year's Gala will be a much more interactive and participatory event that will allow attendees to not only learn more about winning entries, but also learn more about the jury session from which winners are selected. We look forward to seeing everyone at this year's Gala! As always, the latest information is available from the Chapter's Design Awards page. |
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Enjoy Architecture Week |
| Give our Pecha Kucha Night a try on Tuesday, April 12 at the Light Horse Restaurant in Alexandria. This exciting event will include eight architects and artists speaking on topics ranging from singular works of art and architecture to cities and ruins. Scheduled presenters include: Gabriel Pons; Thom White, AIA; Marlene Shade AIA; Jonathan Fitch; ASLA and Theresa del Ninno, AIA. Doors open at 6:00p for Happy Hour and the presentations will begin at 7:00p. April 8 - Canstruction® Build-Out Night 5:00p-midnight at Ballston Common Mall. Structures will be on display through April 16. [info] April 10 - Walking Tour of Historic Old Town Alexandria 1:00-3:00p. 2 AIA/CES HSW LUs. Free, but requires reservations. [info] April 12 - Pecha Kucha Night 6:00p doors, 7:00p presentations; at the Light Horse Restaurant, 715 King Street, Alexandria. Free, although attendees will be purchasing their own refreshments. Reservations are not necessary. [info] April 14 - Award Winning Projects: An Exhibit and Lecture 6:30-8:00p, at WAAC, 1001 Prince Street, Alexandria. The exhibit highlights our 2010 design award winners and features a lecture by Geier Brown Renfrow Architects focusing on their award winning Lab School Library Retrofit in Washington, DC. 1 HSW/SD LU. Free, reservations are not necessary. [info] April 30 - Rebuilding Together Alexandria Day Volunteer Opportunity - Working with Rebuilding Together Alexandria, volunteers from our Chapter will participate in National Rebuilding Day. Please take the time to participate. [info] Professional Women's Clothing Drive During Architecture Week our Women in Architecture Committee is organizing a clothing drive for professional women's clothing to be donated to Dress for Success. Business attire, shoes and wire hangers are needed. We are looking for volunteers to collect items at their firm and the WIA committee will arrange to pick up the clothing at the end of the week. If your firm would like to participate, please e-mail wia@aianova.org. Clothing will also be accepted at the AIA Northern Virginia Chapter House. |
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In Practice... |
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In Studio with Maginniss + del Ninno Architects, PC The In Studio series offers a look into the work of a local architect and includes a studio tour. Our first tour of 2011 features Theresa del Ninno, AIA, LEED® AP of Maginniss + del Ninno Architects, PC. Theresa will discuss the firm’s recent work, including the new LEED® NC Platinum Gaithersburg Youth Center, community centers in Purcellville and Manassas, and the 'greenovation' and gym addition to Polk Elementary School. The tour is on Thursday, April 7, from 6:30-7:30p, at Maginniss + del Ninno Architects, 209 Commerce Street, Alexandria 22314. This free series is organized by our Women in Architecture Committee and earns participants 1 HSW/SD learning unit. For additional information on Maginniss + del Ninno Architects, please visit their website. For additional information on the tour, click here. ArchEx 2011 Call for Presentations Virginia Society AIA is accepting presentation proposals for Architecture Exchange East, to be held November 2-4, 2011, at the Greater Richmond Convention Center. Submissions are due by 5:00p on April 29. The Proposal Form may be completed online or downloaded from www.archex.net. Suggestions for potential speakers or questions about the conference can be directed to Wayne Conners, Director of Professional Development, at wconners@aiava.org or (804) 237-1769. Neighborhoods Go Green! Exhibit on Display at AIA Headquarters The exhibit uses LEED® for Neighborhood Development as a framework to discuss key elements of a green neighborhood, revealing the enormous potential of a whole neighborhood approach. Co-curated by the Chicago Architecture Foundation with Farr Associates and USGBC, the exhibit continues in DC through April 21. Additional information is available here. 2011 Brick in Architecture Awards Call for Entries This awards program, organized by the Brick Industry Association, showcases the best work in clay face and paving brick from architects across the country in multiple categories. The 2011 competition will be conducted entirely online with entries due by April 29. Complete submission information may be found here. |
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Boxhead |
 After selling Studio Loggerheads, Jim Burton designed and built his second experimental home for a growing family. The home is sited between setbacks and a rock ledge in Clarke County Virginia. Boxhead's program includes an open plan blending living space with a formal dining area served by an extended concrete counter system. A small den next to the central kitchen allows the children to play and be supervised while meals are prepared. A master suite at grade and a loft for the upstairs bedrooms allows for privacy from the more public spaces. A studio is accessed from the family room by a hidden stair.The design features a strategy of boxes within boxes each box becoming more precious down to the stainless and frosted glass cabinets. The long, thin proportion of the structure balances natural light from the south and north while helping with cross ventilation. Inspired by local agrarian structures, traditional materials and modern systems come together in a new way. Metal siding protects the northwest side from storms. Stucco blends with the hardwood trees and dark-stained cedar siding complements the board fences.  Dynamic insulation, thermal mass strategies and special height variations help the house adapt to the changing climate. Passive solar strategies were utilized with a double layered concrete block wall, interior block walls, dark paneling and the concrete floor to provide a heat sink. The reduction of new materials and waste is achieved by exposing the OSB Sips panels. Reclaimed concrete cutouts were repurposed in the master bathroom.Learn more at www.carterburton.com. |
 photography by Daniel Afzal (interior images) and Jim Burton, AIA (exterior image) |
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April 6 - 2011 Firm Pin-up Series April 7 - 2011 Firm Pin-up Series April 7 - In Studio with Maginniss + del Ninno Architects, PC April 8 - Canstruction® Build-Out Night April 10-16 - Virginia Architecture Week 2011 April 12 - AIA Northern Virginia Board Meeting April 15-17 - ARE Prep Series: Structural Systems Workshop with Professor David J. Thaddeus, AIA April 25 - Women in Architecture Planning Meeting April 27 - AIA Northern Virginia Lunch Series April 29 - AIA Northern Virginia Design Award Submittals Due April 30 - Rebuilding Together Alexandria Day April 30 - ARE Prep Series: Building Systems I - Electrical + Plumbing May 3 - Architecture in the Schools Exhibit Opening May 12-14 - AIA National Convention in New Orleans |