LEXINGTON, Ky.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

The Kentucky Board of Architects (KYBOA) reported that 97 percent of architects used the online renewal system, http://boa.ky.gov, to renew their licenses this year, forgoing the traditional paper renewal forms.

KYBOA began offering online renewals in 2009 using Kentucky.govs secure, online eGovernment platform. Architects quickly gravitated toward the new process, but this years adoption rate marks a new high. Between June and August, more than 2,300 licensees went online to update their information and renew their license. To date, this is the largest number of licensees to take advantage of the online system.

Even in our first year we had a great response to moving the license renewal process online, said KYBOA Executive Director T. Rexford Cecil. The system was so successful that we immediately started working to move our Certified Interior Designers annual renewal online.

The Board reports that Kentucky interior designers also favor the convenience of the online service with an impressive 76 percent of designers using the online system this year.

The online renewal process is convenient for licensees, but it also helps streamline KYBOAs operations significantly. Renewals that are processed online allow KYBOA staff to focus more time on their mission of protecting the publics health, safety and welfare, rather than processing thousands of paper renewal forms sent through the mail.

The amount of time the online process saves our licensees and staff is astronomical, said Mr. Cecil. But its not just time savings. With budget restrictions, Boards have to try and save money anywhere they can. Not having to mail out over 2,000 wallet cards and receipts each year is a huge benefit.

Prior to offering renewals through their website, KYBOA staff manually processed each renewal - between 2,200 and 2,450 a year - then updated the KYBOA master database of licensees. Staff also used to print and mail wallet cards and payment receipts for each renewal. Now, the online applications automatically update the Boards database and, after a successful payment, users can save and print wallet cards and receipts immediately.

The online platform used by KYBOA is self-funded, meaning that tax dollars are not appropriated to build or maintain the services. Instead, the services are funded by small fees added to each online renewal. These convenience fees fund the development and ongoing support of the platform and ensure that the solutions provided through Kentucky.gov are easy to use and adopt. Over the next year, the Board plans to upgrade their online services to the latest Kentucky.gov technology, which will make their website and online applications more mobile-friendly and provide the KYBOA staff with more tools to manage their day-to-day operations efficiently.

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Most Kentucky Architects Use Kentucky.gov to Renew Licenses Online

A total of 20 well-known architects and designers, including Zaha Hadid, Guy Holloway, and FAT Architecture, were recently tasked with producing a unique dollhouse each for UK charity KIDS. Each of the diminutive houses is set upon a plinth measuring 75 x 75 cm (30 x 30 in), and is meant to sport a unique feature to make life easier for children with disabilities.

The designs stray slightly from this remit on occasion, but the results are superb, such as Jack in a Box by Guy Holloway, which hides an inflatable structure within an unassuming dollhouse.

Guy Holloway's "Jack in the Box," after being inflated (Photo: Thomas Butler)

The Grimms House, by James Ramsey Raad Studio, is a dollhouse-cum-illustrated fairytale book for blind children, featuring the story of Hansel and Gretel written in braille, and another notable highlight is A dolls house made of three-sided rooms, by Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands. This latter example is designed for children with sight and sensory loss, and boasts rooms that react to movement and respond to touch.

A Dolls' House is curated by UK property developers Cathedral Group, and a selection of the 20 dollhouses are currently on display at Senator, London. On November 11, all the dollhouses will be made available for auction at Bonhams, in London, in aid of KIDS. The charity supports disabled children, young people, and their parents.

Source: A Dolls' House

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Small but perfectly formed: Architects and designers create dollhouses for charity

The new Episcopal Church cathedral in Port-au-Prince, Haiti would make a strong statement of hope on a busy corner in the countrys capital, which is still recovering from the 2010 earthquake. Artist rendering: Kerns Group Architects

[Episcopal News Service Chicago, Illinois] The architects of a dramatic new cathedral for Haiti unveiled their design Oct. 15 for the Episcopal Churchs Executive Council.

The new Port-au-Prince cathedral is to be built on the same site as the previous Holy Trinity Cathedral that was destroyed in the 2010 earthquake. It would seat more than 1,200 people, which is more than double its previous size, and include an entry/narthex with a bell tower incorporating the bells that survived the quake; a round, flexible worship space; and a hospitality and administration area. Worshippers would sit in a circular fashion around and above a central altar platform, with the new altar positioned in the exact location of the altar of the previous cathedral.

One of three proposed chapels would house the three surviving cathedral murals from among the 14 world-famous ones that adorned the walls of the previous cathedral depicting biblical stories and religious scenes in Haitian motifs. The ground-breaking paintings, completed in 1950-51, were crafted by some of the best-known Haitian painters of the 20th century.

More than 1,200 worshipers would sit in a circular fashion around and above a central altar platform, with the new altar positioned in the exact location of the previous altar of the previous cathedral. Artist rendering: Kerns Group Architects

The new cathedral is designed to U.S. earthquake- and hurricane-resistance standards, and will be capable of generating its own electricity, providing its own purified water and supplying its own telecommunications. The intent is for it to be self-sufficient in the event of a future emergency and to serve as a safe haven to those in need of help.

Episcopal Diocese of Haiti Bishop Jean Zach Duracin told the council that all during the planning process there have been trade-offs between cost, time and scope.

The bishop said that, once completed, Holy Trinity Cathedral will be the iconic symbol of the Episcopal Church in Haiti.

The first phase of this project is mental, he said. The last phase will be physical. We have various skilled people involved in this mental process. We have consulted widely, especially in Haiti and elsewhere for this creative vision. The key to creativity in this project has been to begin with the end in mind, with a vision and a blueprint of the desired result. Today we are presenting that blueprint setting that vision.

Duracin asked for councils continued support of the dioceses efforts to rebuild.

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Architects unveil plan for Haitian cathedral

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A development by Carillion Igloo. Ash Sakula architects. The Malings, Ouseburn Valley, Newcastle. Low energy, sustainable homes.

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The Malings, Newcastle - architects' sketch animation - Video

The Boston Society of Architects has selected Olmsted Hill Residences, designed by CBT Architects Inc., for recognition in the 2013 John M. Clancy Award for Socially Responsible Housing. Olmsted Hill, completed in 2012, is recognized for excellence in the planning, design, construction, and maintenance of socially responsible housing.

The award was established in 2004 by the principals of Boston architecture firm Goody Clancy. The intent of the award is to recognize and honor the decades of creative commitment John Clancy FAIA brought to the planning, design, and construction of multifamily housing for diverse populations at all income levels. Projects eligible for the award include residencies completed and occupied since 2002 that are multifamily in nature and provide for low- or moderate-income residents as a major portion of the project.

As a subdivision of the Fisher Hill Estate, Olmsted Hill was named after the neighborhoods original designer, Frederick Law Olmsted. CBT Architects worked with Brooklines New Atlantic Development to bring more than 24 affordable housing units to the site of a former reservoir. The Olmsted Hill Residences are developed on a site surrounded by single-family homes, a luxury condominium development and a college campus. The 24 affordable housing units were planned as three buildings intending to appear as an estate, consisting of a Main House, a Guest House and a Gate House.

CBT incorporated pitched shingle roofs, clapboard and shingle siding, porches, and dormer windows to fit the development into an area of expensive homes while still adhering to the projects budget.

The three award levels offered by the BSA for Socially Responsible Housing are Honor Level, Award Level and Citation Level. The level of award that Olmsted Hill has received is undisclosed and will be announced at the BSAs Annual Award Gala on Jan. 30, 2014, at the InterContinental Hotel in Boston.

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Boston Society of Architects honors Olmsted Hill Residences in Brookline

Landscape Architects - FFC Landscape Architects

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Landscape Architects - FFC Landscape Architects - Video

A group of Springfield architects has put their imaginations to work on the question of downtown living options.

Six architectural firms envision a church as student housing, clinical research in the former Illinois Lottery building, high-end apartments overlooking Old Capitol Plaza and townhouses on sections of Adams Street.

The idea grew out of last years Sustainable Design Assessment Team recommendations on revitalizing downtown Springfield. A shortage of housing is a major challenge, according to the team of urban planners.

Local architects were encouraged to be creative. But money was an object, said Cindy Davis, who is helping coordinate the project.

We want people to imagine what it would be like to live downtown or to be a developer for residential, said Davis, a member of the local SDAT follow-up committee. These are real ideas the architects have put the numbers to.

Davis is co-owner of Resource One, an office furniture and design company at 321 E. Adams St. The architectural drawings will be on display at the business as part of the downtown Farmers Market the next two Saturdays, Oct. 19 and 26. The drawings also are viewable by clicking on the "More photos: Imagine Downtown Springfield" link at the top of this article.

The committee plans follow-up presentations to developers and real-estate groups. Davis said it is possible a town hall meeting will be held on the topic.

Fewer options

There were more people living downtown in 2010 but fewer choices of where to live, according to figures from the U.S. Census. Reports of waiting lists for downtown apartments are common.

In 2010, 1,027 people lived in the area bounded by Third, Ninth, Madison and Edwards streets. The figure was up by nearly 100 from 2000.

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Architects envision downtown development

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Architects of the Future - One Community Progress Update #32
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Friday, October 11, 2013, 11:59am

The Boston Society of Architects (BSA) has selected Olmsted Hill Residences, designed by CBT Architects Inc., for recognition in the 2013 John M. Clancy Award for Socially Responsible Housing.

The John M. Clancy Award for Socially Responsible Housing was established in 2004 by the principals of Boston architecture firm Goody Clancy and is awarded to projects that demonstrate excellence in the planning, design, construction and maintenance of socially responsible housing. Projects eligible for the award include residencies - completed and occupied since 2002 - that are multifamily in nature and provide for low- or moderate-income residents as a major portion of the project.

As a sub-division of the Fisher Hill Estate, the Olmsted Hill development is named after the neighborhood's original designer, famed landscape artist Frederick Law Olmsted. CBT Architects worked with Brookline's New Atlantic Development to develop the design. The 24 affordable housing units are spread across three buildings, a main house, a guest house and a gate house, mimicking the look of a country estate. It was completed in 2012.

"We are honored to be recognized by the BSA for the John M. Clancy Award for Socially Responsible Housing," Ellen Perko, associate principal at CBT, said in a statement. "Our goal was to offer affordable and sustainable family housing while seamlessly integrating the development into a neighborhood comprised of historic private residences."

The firm will be formally presented with the award at the BSA's Annual Award Gala on Jan. 30, 2014 in Boston.

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CBT Architects Wins Award for Socially Responsible Housing