An AIA Publication 2nd Quarter 2004 the nebraska 2004 Jury Members Announced Henry Smith-Miller, AIA, of Smith-Miller + Hawkinson, New York, New York, is the 2004 AIA Nebraska Design Awards Jury Chair. He will be joined by Ronnette Riley, FAIA, of Ronnette Riley Architects, New York, New York. The third jury member is to be announced. Following is a summary of the jury members credentials. Ronnette Riley, FAIA, of Ronnette Riley Architects www.ronnetteriley.com Henry Smith-Miller, AIA, of Smith-Miller + Hawkinson www.smharch.com Inside... 2 Chapter News Ronnette Riley, FAIA, is a vibrant designer and energetic member of the New York architecture community. As principal of one of the few woman-owned architecture firms in the country, Ms. Riley is passionate about her field and deeply committed to her clients. She is a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects, and the Institute of Urban Design and actively engaged in numerous professional organizations. With a Bachelor of Art in Architecture from the University of California at Berkeley and a Master of Architecture from the Graduate School of Design at Harvard University, Ms. Riley is licensed in several states and is NCARB certified. Before founding Ronnette Riley Architect in 1987, Ms. Riley spent eight years in the architectural practice of Philip Johnson and John Burgee. She served as Project Architect for the Lipstick Building at 53rd and Third in Manhattan, responsible for design through final construction, see Riley on page 4 Henry Smith-Miller began his private practice in 1977 following a seven year association with Richard Meier and Associates where he was a project architect for several nationally recognized architectural projects: The Atheneum at New Harmony Indiana, the Albany Mall Art Museum, and the Bronx Developmental Center. He received an undergraduate degree from Princeton University, a Masters in Architecture from the Graduate School of Architecture at the University of Pennsylvania, and a Fulbright Grant to study architecture in Rome, Italy. Henry Smith-Miller has held visiting adjunct professor positions at Columbia University, the City University of New York, the University of Virginia, the University of Pennsylvania, Harvard University, the Thomas Jefferson Professor in Architecture at the University of Virginia, and the Saarinen Chair at Yale University. He has recently taught a graduate studio with Kenneth Frampton at Columbia University. He has also served on the Board of Creative Time and is a member of the Associate Council of the Museum of Modern Art in New York. see Smith-Miller on page 6 9 architect Member News VIBRANT x DESIGN Shaping Communities September 23-24 Lincoln, NE New Construction Extended Use Masonry Unbuilt Details ART X ARCHITECTS Call for entries available www.aiane.org 8 AIA Nebraska Design Awards Program: Excellence in Architecture Entry/Awards Schedule Thursday, July 8, 2004, 5:00p.m. Submission of Entries due to AIA Nebraska. Thursday, September 23, 2004 Critique of selected entries, Henry Smith-Miller, FAIA The Loft at the Mill, Lincoln Friday, September 24, 2004 Winners will be announced at the AIA Nebraska Design Conference Banquet Van Brunt Visitor s Center, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Practice 10 Management
2 the nebraska architect Chapter News Evolution: A special thanks to the following contributors to this year s conference: AMI Environmental 704 South 75th Street Omaha, NE 68114 402/397-5001 Fax: 402/397-3313 mscaturro@amienvironmental.com ASI Modulex 6958 N. 97th Circle Omaha, NE 68122 402/572-5055 Fax: 402/572-5155 tcarey@asimodulex.com CAD-1, Inc. 12130 N. Pennsylvania, Suite 101 Denver, CO 80241 303/427-2231 Fax: 303/428-9720 alicia.dominguez@cad-1.com Centurion Stone 13620 B Street Omaha, NE 68144 402/699-5224 Fax: 402/408-1830 centurionstone@cox.net Concrete Industries P.O. Box 29529 Lincoln, NE 68529 402/434-1800 Fax: 402/434-1899 rockyb@concreteindustries.com DK & B Construction Specialties 6105 Weir Street Omaha, NE 68117 402/731-5604 Fax: 402/731-4414 lisa@dkandb.com Emanuel Construction Specialties, Inc. 416 S. 14th Street Omaha, NE 68102 402/342-2920 Endicott Clay Products Co. 57120 707th Road Fairbury, NE 68350 402/239-8079 2004 AIA Western Nebraska/ AIA Nebraska Spring Conference Opening Reception, Ian Nicolson Audobon Center: Sponsor: Spectra Engineering Architects: Melinda Pearson, AIA, and Pat Birch, AIA Wine Tasting: Geo Spenser Vineyard, Gibbon Trolly Transportation: Kearney Visitors Center Gerhold Concrete Co. Inc. P.O. Box 964 Columbus, NE 68602 402/564-2857 Fax: 402/564-5133 allan.fuchs@gerholdconcrete.com Graphics by Design 50390 869th Road Page, NE 68766 402/338-5598 dheiss@gpcom.net Hawkins Construction 2516 Deer Park Blvd. Omaha, NE 68105 402/221-7639 Fax: 402/231-7800 tmumford@hawkins1.com Heartland Pella 2224 N. Broadwell Grand Island, NE 68803 308/384-0800 Fax: 308/384-4560 Hirshfields 4726 105 Court Urbandale, IA 50322 515/988-3207 Fax: 515/252-9853 k.schleicher@worldnetatt.net M.E. Group, Inc. 2820 N. 48th Street Lincoln, NE 68504 402/464-3833 Fax: 402/464-3919 nmaniktala@megroup.com Marvin Windows & Doors / Chicago Lumber 1324 Pierce Street Omaha, NE 68108 402/342-0840 Fax: 402/344-8323 patduesman@alltel.net Metal Logos & More! 5853 South 77th Street Omaha, NE 68127 402/339-3264 Fax: 402/339-2311 sandy@metallogos.com Midland Garage Door Mfg. Co. 13661 Giles Road Omaha, NE 68138 402/895-6575 Fax: 402/895-6609 Mortar Net USA, Ltd. 1449 Melvin Dr. Toledo, OH 43615 866/540-7400 Fax: 419/381-2659 SSCHENCK@MORTATNET.COM Nebraska Masonry Institute 11414 W. Center Road, Suite 211 Omaha, NE 68114 402/330-5260 Nebraska Public Power District 1414 15th Street Columbus, NE 68602 402/563-5084 Fax: 402/563-5466 rwirby@nppd.com Oharco Distributors, Inc. 8109 F Street Omaha, NE 68127 402/342-4489 Fax: 402/829-0310 Reimers-Kaufman Christensen Concrete, Kearney Crete & Block 6200 Cornhusker Hwy. Lincoln, NE 68507 402/434-1855 Renze Display 2023 Harney Street Omaha, NE 68102 402/342-1111 Fax: 402/342-2864 mcompton@renze.com S&W Equipment Co., Inc. 5011 South 16th, # 9 Lincoln, NE 68512 402/423-6600 Fax: 402/423-6605 bob@s-wequip.com Scenes from the conference (clockwise from top) Hirshfield s exhibitor and AIA NE Photographer, Kurt Schleicher. Exhibitors Debra Heiss, Graphics by Design and Sandy Dubbs, Metal Logos & More! Participants gather during the luncheon: (from left) Neil Janssen, AIA, Pat Birch, AIA; Roger Bruhn and H. David Nelson, AIA
Schmit-Greteman Assoc. 14927 Industrial Road Omaha, NE 68144 402/333-1511 Fax: 402/333-3718 kefferding@tnemec.com Stephenson School Supply P.O. Box 5225 Lincoln, NE 68505 402/488-7663 Fax: 402/488-7688 j.aitken@stephenson schoolsupply.com Stetson Building Products 2820 W. Old Hwy 30 Grand Island, NE 68802 402/331-0333 Fax: 402/331-5999 angie.janovich@stetsons.com United Products P.O. Box 493 Fremont, NE 68025 402/727-7525 Fax: 402/727-8017 larryreimnitz@unitedproductsline.com Chapter News 3 More from Evolution... (left) Senators Joel Johnson, District 37 and Jim Cudaback, District 36, open the Conference, with Mike James, AIA, Nebraska President & Dan Keiter, AIA, Western Nebraska President. (below) Exhibitors Gene Krejci, Christensen Concrete and Larry Joe, Endicott Clay Products. Why Specify Precast Concrete Products in the Upper Midwest? 14 Great Reasons! Clear Lake, IA (641) 357-5217 Maple Grove, MN (763) 425-2060 Grand Forks, ND (701) 772-6687 Maple Grove, MN (763) 545-7473 Concrete Industries, Inc. Lincoln, NE (402) 434-1800 Omaha, NE (402) 895-3848 All members of the Midwest Precast Association are certified by the Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute. This certification ensures only the highest levels of quality. For more information on PCI certification levels and other precast product information visit our website or call your local producer. ONE GOAL QUALITY Savage, MN (952) 890-4444 Des Moines, IA (800) 826-0464 Sioux Falls, SD (605) 336-1180 Prestressed Concrete, Inc. Newton, KS (316) 283-2277 Maple Grove, MN (763) 425-5555 Lino Lakes, MN (800) 336-6546 PRODUCT INNOVATION Omaha, NE (402) 291-0733 Wells, MN (800) 658-7049 PEOPLE w w w. m i d w e s t p r e c a s t. c o m
11 State News
4 the nebraska architect Chapter News Scholarship Support Announced Riley cont. from page 1 (l-r) Pat Birch, AIA, President-Elect, AIA NE, Dustin Wekesser, Jean Vacha, Andrea Bower, Sara Kay, Executive Director, AIA Nebraska AIA Nebraska awarded scholarships for academic year 2004-2005 to four University of Nebraska students enrolled in the Architectural Studies Program. Awards were based upon the student s gpa, portfolio and community and student involvement. AIA Nebraska jury members included Pat Birch, AIA, Scott Pfeifer, AIA, Scott Sullivan, AIA, James Cannon, AIA, and Mark Hoistad, AIA. Dustin Wekesser - Architectural Excellence Presented to a 3 rd year student, graduate of a Nebraska High School and currently enrolled in the Bachelor of Science in Architecture Studies at UNL. Jean Vacha - Cultural Exploration Presented to 4 th or 5 th year student enrolled in the Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies Program at the College of Architecture, University of Nebraska. Summer Brings Service, Travel David Orrick AIAS President As yet another school year passes, the American Institute of Architecture Students is geared up for a summer filled with both community service and traveling opportunities. With relief from the everyday grind of architecture school, many of our members see the summer as a great chance to catch up on some of the experiences and opportunities that the AIAS offers. The largest service project at hand this summer is a product of last summer s Bright Lights design charrette. Entitled Designing My World, this charrette teamed AIAS members with local seventh grade students with the ultimate goal of designing a trailhead for a bike path in Lincoln. With the recent completion of construction documents, this project looks to start construction early in June. Throughout the summer we also look to continue with the other service projects that we have recently implemented into our programming. We will once more be working at this year s Bright Lights design charrette. This will take place July 12 th through the 16 th. This year the goal of the charrette participants is to design a trailhead for the bike paths near Haymarket Park here in Lincoln. We will also continue volunteering for Habitat for Humanity beginning in June. Once fall is upon us, we will begin pilot- Andrea Bower - Cultural Diversity/Gender Equity Present to a 3 rd year student qualified based on his/her minority/diversity status. Patrick Moore - W. Cecil Steward, FAIA, Architectural Excellence Presented to a current 5 th year Graduate Student; applicant must be either a Nebraska high Schools or a current Nebraska resident. The scholarship is named for W. Cecil Steward, FAIA, to honor his accomplishments during his tenure as Dean of the College of Architecture at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Debra Hansen - Cunningham Bronze Medal AIA Nebraska and the College of Architecture award the Bronze Medal for excellence in academic and design achievement to a 6 th year Architecture student. This award is the student counterpart to the AIA Nebraska Gold Medal. and the Republic Bank Center, now the Bank of America in Houston. Prior to joining Johnson/Burgee, Ms. Riley worked with several design leaders including Peter Marino Architects, Voorsanger & Mills, Emilio Ambasz, all in New York, and Fisher-Friedman Associates of California. Ms. Riley is recognized for integrating both innovative and traditional materials and methods into intelligent and well-crafted spaces, and for her ability to manage the collaborative process of construction on time and on budget. Her firm s reputation for comfortable design and technical competence has led to many repeat clients and steady growth in institutional, retail, commercial and residential projects over the years. ing the service program Freedom by Design. Through an intensive application process, we were one of six AIAS chapters across the country accepted to pilot this program! Headed up by our past president, Pam Grell, this project will eventually place AIAS members in the homes of local residents with mobility challenges. The AIAS member then puts their design skills to work, making adjustments to the home that encourage a more mobile friendly environment. Travel is another opportunity that many of our members will be taking advantage of this summer. In June, AIAS Nebraska will send seven members to this year s AIA Convention in Chicago. I am personally ecstatic about our chapter s involvement in this event. Comprised largely of second-year students, this youthful group is ready to take full advantage of the many learning opportunities that this convention yields. We look forward to seeing some of you there! Three of us will be attending this year s AIAS Grassroots leadership conference in Washington D.C. Past leaders of our organization have illustrated the importance of this conference, stressing its value in strengthening the operation of our chapter while networking our leaders. We approach this conference with the same esteem and excitement that has become a trademark of AIAS Nebraska, and we look forward to the experiences it will lend.
Keep Scheduling Those Exams Jeff Dolezal, Assoc. AIA Associate Director, AIA Nebraska My fellow Associates, Alright losers, I ve managed to knock out 5 of 9 ARE exams since my last column. I totally grabbed the bull by the horns and took one every Tuesday for five straight weeks. My plan of attack was as follows: 1. Building Planning (graphic) 2. Site Planning (graphic) 3. Building Technology (graphic) 4. Materials & Methods (multiple guess) 5. Construction Documents (multiple guess) My brain now hurts, bad, and my wife is ready to divorce me. But hey, I will be licensed by the end of this year! Pre-Design is my next target, giving myself three weeks to prepare. This leaves me with just the two Structural Exams + the M/E. I told you I was serious. Now, don t be discouraged if you fail one. I actually failed Site Chapter News Planning. This does disturb me since that s what I do quite often at work, hmm. I thought I totally failed Materials and Methods, but through a divine act of god, I somehow passed. My advice is to study hard and stay the course. Just keep scheduling those exams! We had our first Young Architects Forum March 25 th. It was a smashing success. Some future topics include: Design Competitions, AIA Design Submittal Critiques, Cook-outs, How to get Published, ARE Candidates All nine divisions of the ARE ALS/Kaplan guidebooks are available on loan for a 30-day period through AIA Nebraska. We require a $75 deposit which will be refunded once the guidebook is returned. 5 ARE updates, Cool Product updates, and sharing experiences. Our next event will be held in Lincoln, hopefully July 15 th, date to be confirmed. I will send out an e-mail once the date and location is set. If you are interested in being on the mailing list send me a shout out: jdolezal@rdgusa.com See you then! Congratulations to the newly licensed AIA Nebraska Members: Heidi Higgason, AIA, of HDR Jennifer Honebrink, AIA, of Alley Poyner Benjamin E. Perry, AIA, of HDR Cleve Reeves, AIA, of BVH Jeff Shuey, AIA, of HDR Neal Suntken, AIA, of BCDM Neil Sutton, AIA, of HDR
6 Chapter News AIA Partners to Share Creativity Mike Kros, AIA President, AIA Omaha Chapter Well, it s been a busy first half of the year. The 20 th Street Design Charrette was held April 17 th at the Omaha Children s Museum. AIA Omaha partnered with Lively Omaha to bring together some talented people for this charrette. We had Architects, Planners, Students and other interested people who formed teams and devised some creative design ideas for improving part of 20 th Street. We were fortunate enough to have some TV and newspaper coverage of the event. Thanks to Steven Shogrin (chair of the event), Tamara Say, Connie Spellman and many others who helped make the first part of this charrette a success. The information from this charrette will be used as a tool for Lively Omaha when talking with the owners on 20 th Street and the city about how to improve the area. We were successful in raising the contract limits for the city of Omaha. I worked with City s Public Works Department and ACEC in helping raise the contract limits to a more reasonable level. These raised limits will help keep cost down for firms submitting for city work. The City council approved to amend Section 10-187 of the Omaha Municipal Code, summarized with the following. Contract amount > $20,000 Council has to approve (no change) Contract amount < $50,000 No proposal, City may select from list $50,000 < Contract amount < $150,000 Proposal required, no interview It is now pending the mayor s approval. As most of you know, there have been a couple of issues on Capitol Hill that would directly affect the practice of Architecture. The Jobs Bill is an important issue. When I was in Washington DC for Grassroots, this was one of the issues that the AIA Nebraska group discussed with our Senate and House representatives. I also followed up with letters and emails. The Senate has passed the Hutchison Amendment. The passing of that amendment reinforces that AIA and more importantly, the individuals making up the AIA, can greatly influence national and local government. I would encourage everyone to stay involved or get involved with your local government and the issues in your community. A few of the hot local issues are Omaha by Design, Big Box / Master plan issues in Papillion and Destination Midtown. Architects have a unique ability to look at the big picture and help determine what would be good in the long run, not just today. We do this with an artistic and creative eye. One person can make a difference, so don t be afraid to speak out for the improvement of your design community. Hopefully you were able to stop by the Sand in the City event, June 11-12, AIA Omaha partnered with the Nebraska Children s Home Society. AIA Architects and firms teamed up with corporations to create sand sculptures. These sculptures proved to be a fun and creative way to show the public what AIA Architects can do with sand. Just think what they could do with concrete, steel or other materials. The sculptures were on display Saturday June 12 at Miller Landing (just up the river from Gallup University). I am always open to your comments, suggestions and involvement. Smith-Miller continued from page 1 Smith-Miller + Hawkinson Architects is a New York City-based architecture and urban planning firm founded in 1983. The firm has conceived public and private projects across the United States, ranging form residential commissions and parks to corporate buildings, public transportation terminals, theaters and museums. The 31,000 square-foot, $62 million expansion of the Corning Glass Center opened in upstate New York in June 1999 and is the first major public building completed by the firm. Smith-Miller + Hawkinson has begun work for the General Services Administration on the US Land Port of Entry at Champlain, New York, and the US Land Port of Entry at Massena, NY. MID-STATE ENGINEERING & TESTING, INC. Geotechnical Engineering Environmental Assessments Construction Quality Control Construction Materials Testing Pavement Evaluations 279 Road D Columbus, NE, 68601 402-562-7824 midstate@plattevalley.net 11 East 11th Street Kearney, NE, 68847 308-237-0187 midstateeng@nebi.com
2004 Western Nebraska AIA Chapter President Daniel Keiter, AIA RVW, Inc. dkeiter@rvwinc.com President Elect Jeffrey L. Hinrichs, AIA Wilkins Hinrichs Stober Architects LLC jeffwhsa@citlink.net Secretary/Treasurer James R. Brisnehan, AIA Cannon Moss Brygger & Assoc. brisnehan.j@cmbaarchitects.com Director Larry Mares, AIA RVW, Inc. lmares@rvwinc.com 2004 AIA Omaha Chapter President Michael J. Kros, AIA DLR Group mkros@dlrgroup.com Vice-President/President Elect Robert R. Krupa, AIA CSI CDT RDG Planning and Design bkrupa@rdgusa.com Secretary Tamara D. Say, AIA Bahr Vermeer & Haecker, Architects tsay@bvh.com Treasurer Roger L. Doehling, AIA The Schemmer Associates rdoehling@schemmer.com Directors John P. Dineen Jr., AIA HDR jdineen@hdrinc.com Jared D. Gerber, AIA Robert Torson Architects rtorson@quest.net Associate Directors Michael P. Hamilton, Assoc.AIA RDG Planning and Design mhamilton@rdgusa.com Greg Staskiewicz, Assoc. AIA DLR Group gstaskiewicz@dlrgroup.com Past President Martin J. Janousek, AIA Leo A. Daly mjjanousek@leoadaly.com Chapter/State News Improving Economy nars were well attended and we would like to continue with more seminars this fall on more specific Randy Stramel, AIA code and President, AIA Lincoln Chapter permit issues. Your suggestions and comments are valued and the board welcomes the membership s input. Presidentelect Ron Skoog has been doing an excellent job of organizing all of the programs this year and we all owe him a big thank you. Let him know that you appreciate his efforts the next time you see him. The AIA Lincoln Board of Directors is starting what will be a long 2004 AIA Lincoln Chapter President Randy Stramel, AIA Architectural Alliance architex@inetnebr.com President Elect Ronald Skoog, AIA The Clark Enersen Partners rskoog@clarkenersen.com Secretary Annette Zacherson, AIA tazam@earthlink.net Treasurer Kristi Nohavec, AIA The Clark Enersen Partners knohavec@clarkenersen.com Directors John Badami, AIA John Badami Architect archjb@inetnebr.com Doug Elting, AIA Davis Design doug.elting@davisdesign.com Past President Bob Koza, AIA The Clark Enersen Partners bkoza@clarkenersen.com Associate Director Eric Maxwell, Associate AIA emaxwell@sinclairhille.com 7 The economics scene today is looking much better than it has been for many months. This is of course the view of one sole practitioner in Lincoln, Nebraska. This assessment is however supported by most of the professional architects I ve had an opportunity to talk with concerning current work loads and near term projections. The national and especially international scene is still volatile but the outlook is brighter. AIA Lincoln just finished the last of four learning seminars with the City of Lincoln Building and Safety Department. All of the semiterm goal to update or rewrite the organization s by-laws. We plan to start by looking at the model by-laws developed by AIA National. In addition AIA Omaha has been working on their by-laws for the last two years and we hope to take full advantage of their work as well. Finally on a lighter, but no less important, subject our beloved Hinsdales at the Architecture College are in need of some TLC. November 1 st has been a special day for me since my first Hinsdale day celebration in 1974. We re exploring possibilities for cleaning, restoring or otherwise improving the current condition of the Hinsdales. We are soliciting ideas and assistance from the AIA, AIAS, College Faculty and Alumni. Help us rally round the Hinsdales. Enjoy your summer and do good work. Legislative Wrap-Up - Gordon Kissel, Kissel/E&S As you know, the Nebraska Legislature adjourned on April 15, 2004. The session was a difficult one because of the short time available to the senators to deal with major issues. A number of bills and issues dominated the session. The constitutional amendment to allow casino gaming in Nebraska, the budget shortfall, and mental health reform and water policy reform were some of the major issues passed by this legislature. The budget concerns had several proposals that would have had a detrimental impact on the practice of architecture. We were able to convince the Revenue Committee to kill these proposals. As the Revenue Committee examines areas of the sales tax exemptions we can expect a continued effort to expand the sales tax base to include more services and especially professional services. In the end the Legislature passed much of the Appropriations Committee s package that addressed the budget shortfall. LB 1089 was the primary vehicle used to make budget adjustments. Some of the major proposals in the bill included: operating budget reductions for state agencies of 1% or ½%; a one time $43 million use of federal Medicaid assistance; $8 million reduction in employee health insurance costs and several other initiatives. A few bills of particular interest to architects include: LB 599 permits the Board of Engineers and Architects to: (1) adjust the dollar amount of structural works and public works projects every five years based on the Consumer Price Index; and (2) increase the exempted square footage amount of family dwellings and commercial buildings and the occupancy amount in farm buildings by rule and regulation, except such amounts shall not exceed the limitations provided for in the state building code. The bill became operative following the Governor s signature. LB 1017 requires an architect or engineer to certify to the Department of Revenue that a construction project is a major renovation project before a taxpayer will be eligible to have such project exempted from the sales tax requirement. The bill becomes operative on July 1, 2004.
8 State News AIA Nebraska on Capitol Hill Summary of Legislation Discussed: Tax Fairness & Job Creation Jobs Bills H.R. 2896 & S. 1637 Repeals a tax incentive for U.S. exports, which violated international trade rules, replaces it with a new tax incentive to create jobs and stimulate economic growth. For example, the House version of the bill would reduce the corporate tax rate, for certain firms, from 35 percent to 32 percent. At the time of our visit, the House version of the bill applied the new tax incentive to architecture and engineering firms (for projects located in the United States). The Senate version did not. New developments Recently the U.S. Senate approved an AIA-supported amendment to the corporate tax bill that put architects into the legislation s tax cut provisions. The amendment, sponsored by Texas Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, would extend a $200 million tax cut to architects and engineers. To become law, the tax cut must survive a House-Senate conference committee and then must be signed by President Bush. After the Senate accepted the Hutchison amendment, it approved by a 92-5 vote S. 1637, the Jumpstart Our Business Strength (JOBS) Act, which also repeals export tax breaks that European Union leaders say violates international trade rules. AIA hopes that the scope of tax cut approved by the Senate, which applies to C and S corporations, partnerships, sole proprietorships, partnerships, and LLCs, is upheld in the conference committee. Currently, the House version of the bill differs from the Senate version in that it only applies to C Corporations. Transportation Equity Act Reauthorization Highway Bill HR 3550 AIA Nebraska spoke to the Nebraska delegation about adoption of the amendment proposed by U.S. Rep. Tim Johnson (R-IL) that directs the Secretary of Transportation to arrange with the American Institute of Architects to conduct a study on transportation s role in improving our communities. The amendment specifies topics to be investigated (e.g., the degree to which well-designed transportation projects have positive economic, social, and environmental effects; the degree to which projects encourage public involvement to achieve quicker, more certain, and better project results) and best practices for accomplishing various objectives (e.g., enhancing mixed-use development; improving public health and safety; providing more diverse choices in housing, shopping, transportation, employment, recreation). The study would provide information to local government officials, transportation project sponsors, and residents on how to use transportation investment to improve our communities. New Developments The U.S. House has passed the $275 billion transportation bill (H.R. 3550) by a vote of 357-65. The bill, which was amended down from the $375 billion spending level, lays out federal highway and transit priorities for the next six years. The Senate bill (S. 1072), which was passed earlier in the year, authorizes $318 billion for a six year period. The two bills will now be sent to a conference committee where the differences will be ironed out. Uncertainty awaits the transportation measures as the White House has threatened a veto for any funding levels exceeding its original proposal of $256 billion. The House version includes a provision (Sec. 1115) that would authorize a $1.5 million per year pilot program to support planning/public participation activities related to highway and transit projects, including proposals advocated by the AIA: public meetings facilitated by design and planning experts, and use of innovative planning and/or design visualization tools. The Senate version of the bill includes a new context sensitive design provision (Sec. 1605) encouraging states to design projects that preserve scenic, environmental or historic values consistent with the context of the locality. It has another provision (Sec. 1503) directing the Secretary of the Department of Transportation to consider studies and reports on better integrating development of highways with communities and the environment. Local Impact Several projects are included in the highway spending bill affecting Nebraska: Antelope Valley - $4 million & South Beltway - $14.6, both located in Lincoln Expressway, Nebraska 35 from Norfolk to South Sioux City - $13 million Missouri River Bridge replacement - $9.5 million (from top) Legislative invasion! AIA Nebraska members visit with Senator Ben Nelson, Nebraska at AIA National Grassroots in Washington, D.C. Bob Krupa, AIA, RDG Schutte Wilscam Birge; Mike Hamilton, Associate AIA, RDG Schutte Wilscam Birge; Pat Birch, AIA, Schoenleber Shriner & Hittle; Senator Ben Nelson, Jeff Hinrichs, AIA, Wilkins Hinrichs Stober Architects; Mike Kros, AIA, DLR Group; Greg Staskiewicz, Associate AIA, DLR Group; Sara Kay, Executive Director AIA NE. Out and about Bob Krupa, AIA, Pat Birch, AIA, and Mike Kros, AIA visit in between Capitol Hill visits Night on the town Following an evening at the AIA National Headquarters, Sara Kay, AIA NE Executive Director, Pat Birch, AIA, Mike Kros, AIA, Bob Krupa, AIA and Mike Hamilton, Associate AIA 2004 Unicameral Wrap-up LB 599 (Tyson) Change and eliminate requirements for use of engineers and architects LB 599 permits the Board of Engineers and Architects to: (1) adjust the dollar amount of structural works and public works projects every five years based on the Consumer Price Index; and (2) increase the exempted square footage amount of family dwellings and commercial buildings and the occupancy amount in farm buildings by rule and regulation, except such amounts shall not exceed the limitations provided for in the state building code. The bill became operative following the Governor s signature. LB 1017 (Landis) Redefine a term relating to contractors for sales tax purpose LB 1017 would require an architect or engineer to certify to the Department of Revenue that a construction project is a major renovation project before a taxpayer will be eligible to have such project exempted from the sales tax requirement. The bill would become operative on July 1, 2004. Contact AIA Nebraska for further information.
New AIA Members David M. Peace, AIA Bahr Vermeer & Haecker Architects Trenton L. Reed, AIA Reed Design Architects Matthew Vande, AIA Reinstated Mark A. Brim, AIA DLR Group Jennifer Honebrink, AIA Alley Poyner Architecture, P.C. John Sohl, AIA Vetter Health Services Stanely Gould, AIA Miller & Associates James B. Hohenstein, AIA HDR Architecture, Inc. Michael E. Daily, AIA Bahr Vermeer & Haecker Architects Martin Shukert, Associate AIA RDG Darrell L. Stelling, AIA DLR Group New Associate Members Chad Cogdill, Associate AIA FHA Architects Megan K. Jarosz, Associate AIA Reed Design Architects Eugene A, Macapinlac, Associate AIA RDG John F. Manning, Associate AIA The Clark Enersen Partners, Inc. Jackson B. Martis, Associate AIA Frasier & Stokes, P.C. Gregory A. Munn, Associate AIA Bahr Vermeer & Haecker Architects Chris S. Peterson, Associate AIA studionrg Nicholas D. Pischel, Associate AIA studionrg Alison M. Topp, Associate AIA Cramer Kreski Designs Tangwei (Vivian) Zhao, Associate AIA Schoenleber, Shriner & Hittle In Memory Louis A. Cutler, AIA Richard Freeman, AIA Lucinda Ludwig, FAIA Gary A. Springer, AIA Member News Member & Firm News 9 Mutual in Omaha and San Francisco Jeff Day, AIA and E.B. Min, the principals of Min Day were featured in 08.03 Architectural Record, For and about the new generation of architects. The article focuses on the energy created within the firm, despite the principals living half a country a part. John M. Duensing, AIA, has joined Leo A Daly as a senior project manager Savage and Palandri Architects changed their studio name to the Architectural Offices - Bryan Zimmer, AIA, Bill Stott, AIA and Joe Saniuk, AIA have joined Randy Palandri as Partners, while Jack Savage has retired. Randy Brown, AIA, was honored at the AIA National Convention by receiving a National Residential Architect Design Award 2004 for an extensive remodel of a Barrington Park home. Peter D.D. Hind, Associate, joined studionrg Dynamic Architect Remembered Lucinda Ludwig, FAIA, died after a seven month battle with cancer. Lucinda, licensed in all 50 states, was both a successful and dynamic member of the business community of Omaha and a loved and cherished friend, mother and wife. In her capacity as Vice President and Corporate Director of Business Development at Leo A Daly Company she was an inspired leader known for her positive attitude, determined vision and for a ready smile. A graduate of Washington University (Summa Cum Laude), Yale University Graduate School of Architecture and Harvard s Graduate School of Business Certificate for Leadership and Professional Service Firms, Amanda Harshbarger Lucinda worked as an architect in Lexington, KY, San Francisco, CA and Cincinnati, OH before moving to Omaha in 2000. She was President of Design Forum Architects in Dayton, OH for eight years. In 2002 she received the prestigious honor of Fellowship in the American Institute of Architects. She also served on the Steering Committee of the National American Institute of Architects Practice Management, the Omaha Planning and Zoning Board of Appeals since 2001. She is survived by her husband, Gary Shaffer and her children, Emily Ludwig Shaffer and Ryan Ludwig Shaffer of Omaha. She also leaves behind a father, Arnold Ludwig of Lexington, Lucinda Ludwig, FAIA KY and a brother, Daniel Ludwig of Berkley, MA. Memorials can be made in her name to the National Brain Tumor Foundation, 414 13th St., Suite 700, Oakland, CA 94612, (800-934-2873). Goodbye, Amanda Change is inevitable. Change once again is occurring at the AIA Nebraska office. Executive Assistant, Amanda Harshbarger is returning to full time motherhood, July 30; her second child is due August 10. Amanda has been a great asset to AIA Nebraska and will be sorely missed by everyone. She has been a tremendous team player, a quick learner and has had the ability to pick up the pieces at a moment s notice with a pleasant attitude. Thank you, Amanda.
10 Practice Management LEED Certification for National Park Service Building Nearing Completion Sustainable design is certainly not a new concept for architects and the AIA. With the construction of our built environment annually consuming approximately 40 percent of our natural resources, now more than ever, the design and construction industry is being influenced to act more responsibly. Some of these influences are market driven; users are now demanding greener solutions, owners see a green building as bragging rights within their market, and suppliers compete for Energy Star and Green Seal ratings. Of course, a great influence has come recently from government agencies now mandating sustainable design practices. This was the mandate for the new National Park Service Regional Office (NPS) now nearing completion in downtown Omaha. GSA required a U.S. Green Building Council LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) Silver certification for this project. The LEED documentation process began in early design and will continue through commissioning. Though final approval is pending, it appears that enough credits have been achieved to reach a LEED Gold certification. Some lessons learned by the design team during the LEED process include: LEED certification requires participation and commitment among all parties: owner, users, contractor, subs, and all disciplines of the design team. LEED only requires commissioning for HVAC and electrical systems. USGBC initial project registration fee for this project was $750. Final LEED certification submittal fee will cost $1,500. Both fees are based on building square footage formulas. Architectural design is only one part considered during this process. Certification relies heavily on sustainable civil, mechanical, and electrical engineering design practices. In addition, the contractor must provide proof-documentation that supports the desired LEED criteria. This process is new, but initial studies show that the total project premium for constructing a LEED certified building averages about two percent. LEO A DALY served as the design firm for this project. AIA-Nebraska members involved include Lloyd Meyer, AIA who served as Principal-in- Charge. Chris Johnson, AIA, Cindy Tooker, AIA, and Edward Vidlak, AIA, also participated in the design process. Though this will be Nebraska s first LEED certified project, other AIA-Nebraska firms with USGBC registered projects in Nebraska include Schemmer Associates for the new Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center in Nebraska City, and Sinclair Hille for the new Nebraska Heart Institute in Lincoln. Additional information about LEED may be obtained at www.usgbc.org. - Ed Vidlak, AIA
The Nebraska Architect is the official newsletter of AIA Nebraska. Opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of AIA Nebraska or the American Institute of Architects. Advertisements or products and services appearing in The Nebraska Architect do not constitute an endorsement. AIA Nebraska 102 Architecture Hall University of Nebraska Lincoln, NE 68508 P.O. Box 80045 Fax: 402/472-1654 www.aiane.org skay2@unl.edu or aharshbarger2@unl.edu Editor: Sara A. Kay Graphic Designer: Aaron Franco AIA Nebraska A Society of The American Institute of Architects P.O. Box 80045 Lincoln, NE 68501-0045 402.472.1456 www.aiane.org PRSRT STD U.S.Postage PAID Permit # 855 Lincoln,NE Michael A. James, AIA A letter from the president Architects Are Involved Leaders I can t believe how quickly the year is going. We have had more involvement with the government affairs committee and our lobbyist than ever before. With the tax shortfall in the State as well as the pending lawsuit over the low level waste site, the State of Nebraska is looking for any and all avenues to increase revenue. As our society is moving from a commodity based economy to a service based, we can expect the service industry to be responsible for more and more of the tax base. With that in mind, we need to be involved with our legislators and the tax process. We thank all of you who have contributed to the Government Affairs fund to help with the study on tax on services. The study has been very beneficial to our legislators and is being distributed to other AIA components by AIA National. If you or your firm have not contributed to this fund, we would encourage you to do so. It is far easier to affect our State Legislature as a group through our lobbyist, than each firm and individual to do so privately. I have recently discussed the status of the Disaster Assistance Taskforce of Nebraska (DATNE) with Mark Evans the co-chair. This organization was formed more than 10 years ago by several members of the AIA in conjunction with building officials in Bellevue and Omaha. This group is responsible to the State of Nebraska Department of Emergency Management in the event of disasters. We have been fortunate in the past that we have not been called to serve, but with the tornado season here, that may change in a heartbeat. Previously we had a list of architects, engineers and building officials around the state that had volunteered to be a part of this organization. We have decided to update our list of volunteers both in the professional as well as the building officials. The resource kits will be updated, replenished and distributed to the four regions of the state. The training manual has been updated and was distributed to all counties. I will be contacting all members who had served on this taskforce originally. I urge all of you wishing to be a part of this valuable service to contact me for more information and to be included in the list of volunteers. We are intending to hold another training session later this year for all building officials and architects. The Spring Conference was a wonderful success this year in Kearney. This is a great opportunity to share ideas, receive continuing education units, build friendships and further the exposure of our profession. The reception, hosted by Spectra Engineering, was held at Rowe Sanctuary and was a huge success. So get involved - AIA is Your Organization. 2004 AIA Nebraska Executive Committee Officers President: Michael A. James, AIA Michael A. James and Associates President Elect: Patricia Birch, AIA Schoenleber, Shriner & Hittle Secretary: Edward Vidlak, AIA Leo A. Daly Treasurer: Bruce D. Carpenter, AIA HDR, Inc. Directors: Larry D. Smith, AIA Avant Architects, Inc. Scott D. Sullivan, AIA Erickson Sullivan Architects, PC/Foodlines Associate Director: Jeff Dolezal, Associate AIA RDG Schutte Wilscam Birge, Inc. Lincoln President: Randy G. Stramel, AIA Architectural Alliance/LTD Omaha President: Michael Kros, AIA DLR Group Western Nebraska President: Daniel Keiter, AIA RVW, Inc. Student Chapter President: David Orrick, AIAS President Past President: Paul Jeffrey, AIA Bahr Vermeer & Haecker Architects, LTD Ex Officio: R. Wayne Drummond, FAIA / Mark Hoistad, AIA University of Nebraska, College of Architecture Executive Director: Sara A. Kay