Citing serious concerns, a group of high-profile architects advising Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa on the downtown football stadium are recommending a redesign of the Los Angeles Convention Center hall that is part of the project.

Several members of the "Vision Team," a group of eight architects assembled by Villaraigosa to consult on the project, believe the plan has major flaws, including having visitors enter the new hall through a dark, unsafe space created by stretching the building over Pico Boulevard.

They believe this will so negatively impact Pico Boulevard and the Pico-Union neighborhood that an overhaul is required.

"This is not good city design," Norman Millar, president of the Burbank-based Woodbury University School of Architecture, and one of the Vision Team members, said in an interview this week. "Plain and simple. It's a no-no."

The Vision Team's recommendations, compiled in a formal report released this month, comes as the City Council is set to vote Friday on the project's environmental impact report - the crucial vote that will allow Anschutz Entertainment Group to move forward.

The new hall of the convention center has been AEG's selling point to city officials skeptical of the $1.5 billion football stadium plan. Long derided as a "white elephant," the convention center was built in 1971 and expanded in 1993. The structure is divided into two halls, making it difficult to schedule shows requiring contiguous

But the Vision Team's report raises questions about the new hall's design and how it will impact the downtown area. The team's warnings follow similar concerns voiced by Councilman Ed Reyes over the last six months that the convention center hall design is not pedestrian friendly and would create a barrier between the Pico-Union neighborhood and the rest of the downtown.

The councilman, who sits on the council committee that reviewed the stadium proposal, said he was never made aware of the Vision Team's report. Told of their recommendations Wednesday, Reyes replied, "Wow."

"It would have been to everyone's advantage to see how we can provide the best-case scenario," Reyes added.

The new hall is designed by international architecture firm Populous and overseen by a team of AEG and city officials. L.A.-based firm Gensler is designing AEG's 76,000-seat football stadium. | See photo gallery.

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Architects call for redesign of L.A. Convention Center hall, part of AEG NFL project

SEATTLE, Sept. 26, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Over the last two decades, Seattle-based LMN Architects has established itself as an industry leader in the design of convention centres throughout the United States. Following the recent accolades for the award-winning, LEED Platinum-certified Vancouver Convention Centre in Vancouver, BC, the firm is expanding its international presence in the convention centre arena with two new projects in Canada. In collaboration with other firms, LMN will be involved in significant design projects for convention centres in Winnipeg, Manitoba and London, Ontario.

"We look forward to helping Winnipeg and London create new visions for these significant representations of their cities, and collaborating with local firms who bring unique understandings of their communities," says LMN Design Partner Mark Reddington, FAIA.

The Winnipeg project is a high-profile, multi-story expansion of the current Winnipeg Convention Centre. The expansion will include an upper-level exhibit hall, incorporating a signature event room dubbed 'The City Room' which extends over York Avenue, along with a ballroom, new pre-function spaces, and support areas on the adjacent expansion site.

Team selection included a two-stage North American competition. The selected team consists of design-build contractor Stuart Olson Dominion Construction Ltd., developer Matthews Southwest, and LMN leading the design with local Winnipeg architectural firms Number TEN Architectural Group and LM Architectural Group.

LMN was also selected to complete a space needs analysis and utilization recommendations for the London Convention Centre in London, ON. LMN will collaborate with both feasibility analysis firm HLT Advisory, Inc. and Toronto-based design firm Dialog. The team was selected by the London Convention Centre to evaluate the existing facility and regional competition venues, and determine what improvements can be undertaken to increase space utilization and event revenue.

The Winnipeg and Ontario projects join LMN's significant portfolio of convention centre designs. In addition to Vancouver Convention Centre West, recent projects include the Cleveland Convention Center and Medical Mart, Dena'ina Convention Center in Anchorage, Cincinnati's Duke Energy Convention Center, and the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center New Orleans Hall A Renovations. The London study assignment further adds to the list of recently completed similar facilities studies at both the Oregon Convention Center in Portland, OR and the Monterey Conference Center in Monterey, CA.

About LMN

LMN provides comprehensive planning and design services to create convention centers, cultural arts venues, higher education facilities, commercial and mixed-use developments, interiors, and urban plans that celebrate and enrich communities. The firm is widely recognized for distinctive, integrated design solutions that are highly responsive to specific social, cultural, economic and environmental influences. For more information, visit http://www.lmnarchitects.com.

Media Contact:Megan Hilfer, PARSONS, 206-789-5668, megan@parsonspr.com

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LMN Architects Awarded Two Canadian Convention Centre Projects

KPMB Architects Design Innovative Research Facility at University of Waterloo described as 'architectural genius' by Stephen Hawking

TORONTO, Sept. 25, 2012 /PRNewswire/ - Opening ceremonies were held last week in Waterloo for Canada's new 'mind space', the Mike and Ophelia Lazaridis Quantum Nano Centre (QNC). The massive 26,010-square-metre Centre at the University of Waterloo, designed by Kuwabara Payne McKenna Blumberg (KPMB) is a showcase for Canadian innovation and industry in the fields of quantum computing and nanotechnology - the first of its kind in the world to bring together the two disciplines under one roof.

"Breakthrough science is advancing at dizzying speed today, with quantum physics at atomic and sub-atomic scale", said Mike Lazaridis, founder of the Centre, "Simultaneously, rapid movement is happening in nanotechnology, where fabrication of materials, devices and systems 100 nanometres or smaller is being explored. This critical nexus of quantum computing and nanotechnology brings the world closer to the cusp of previously unimagined solutions and insights."

The state-of-the-art new QNC located on the University of Waterloo's main campus in the Math/Computer/Science district is a five-storey building that houses the Institute for Quantum Computing, the Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology and the university's undergraduate program in nanotechnology engineering - a total of 400 academics are accommodated.

Stephen Hawking, world-renowned physicist, who participated in the official opening, commented that the new Mike & Ophelia Lazaridis Quantum-Nano Centre "is a work of architectural genius". Since 1999, Professor Hawking has partnered with the University of Waterloo.

The Quantum Nano Centre was conceptually inspired by the famed Newton Institute in Cambridge, U.K. IQC and Nanotechnology Engineering each occupy their own building and are joined by a six-storey central atrium which acts as an indoor pedestrian route and an informal gathering space. The design organizes 'mind spaces' - lounges, offices and meeting rooms - around the edge of the atrium where interdisciplinary interaction can flourish.

As Marianne McKenna, KPMB Architects founding partner and partner-in-charge of the Quantum Nano Centre project said, "Waterloo, Ontario has evolved into Canada's Technology Centre, the equivalent of Silicon Valley in California. KPMB is proud to have played a role in the physical renaissance of the Kitchener-Waterloo region. With the opening of the Lazaridis Quantum Nano Centre, Waterloo has gained immense intellectual capital that will have a multiplier effect on the economy of the region and of Canada."

KPMB took an Integrated Design Team Approach to the project. As Mitchell Hall, KPMB Design Architect and Principal-in-Charge led the design team said. "We first engaged researchers, both theorists and experimentalists, in deep discussions to understand the ways and patterns of their work. This advance research later provided the groundwork for the development of the interior and exterior of the complex."

Designed to meet stringent scientific standards - with controls for vibration, temperature fluctuation and electromagnetic radiation - the facility is of the highest international caliber. One of the signature features of the facility is a 929-square-metre cleanroom with fabrication facilities for quantum and nanodevices, as well as an advanced metrology suite, extensive teaching and research laboratories.

The exterior is distinguished by a hexagonal honeycomb lattice of structural steel, a pattern inspired by the stable hexagonal carbon structure of the nanotube. The podium of the building is clad with burnished concrete block to relate to the primarily masonry fabric of the University of Waterloo.

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Lazaridis Quantum Nano Centre Creates 21st Century 'Mind Space'

Press Release September 21, 2012

Legarda Cites Role of Engineers, Architects in Building Disaster-Resilient Communities

Senator Loren Legarda today called on Filipino engineers and architects to help strengthen the country's resilience to disasters by ensuring the structural integrity of buildings and critical infrastructure.

Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Climate Change, made the statement at the Greentech Summit 2012 Opening Ceremony held at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City, which was attended by about 1,000 professional architects and engineers all over the country.

"As key stakeholders in nation building, we hope that our architects and engineers will fully utilize their talent, skills, and expertise to build infrastructure that will shield our people from natural hazards," she stressed. The Senator explained that since the Philippines is located both on the Pacific Ring of Fire, a region prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, and the typhoon belt, infrastructure development is a vital component in building a disaster-resilient nation.

"Our engineers and architects should lead efforts towards promoting disaster-resilient development by ensuring the structural integrity of buildings and critical infrastructure, especially to reduce the impact of strong tremors," she said.

Legarda added that engineers and architects, especially those involved in government projects, need to look into widening waterways as a measure to prevent flooding, in addition to seawalls, water pumps, and infrastructure designed to combat flood control problems.

"Our engineers and architects are key players in advancing the country's development initiatives, which we must strengthen by ensuring that the buildings and infrastructure we build will be resilient to natural hazards," Legarda concluded.

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Legarda Cites Role of Engineers, Architects in Building Disaster-Resilient communities

Pryor & Morrow Architects and Engineers, P.A. announce the recent architectural registration of two staff members.

Michael Taylor has been with Pryor & Morrow since 2003 and completed his professional degree in 2009. He is originally from Central Arkansas and currently resides in Caledonia. He joined Pryor & Morrow in 2003 while pursuing his degree. Taylor has been project manager for various projects including: The Wise Center Exterior Renovation, Necropsy Renovation and Verner G. Hurt Research and Extension Building for Mississippi State University, and The Tennessee Williams Home Renovation located in downtown Columbus for the Columbus Convention and Visitor's Bureau. He graduated from Mississippi State University's School of Architecture.

Stephens Daniel has been on staff at Pryor & Morrow since 2010 and completed his professional degree in June 2005. He is originally from Petal and a current resident of Tupelo. He joined Pryor & Morrow Architects and Engineers' in 2010 and specializes in financial, residential, educational building design, and manages projects for BancorpSouth.

Registered architects are responsible for accommodating client needs, following building and life-safety codes and administrating the construction process. Local building departments often require that buildings of a certain size or complexity be designed by a registered architect. He graduated from Mississippi State University's School of Architecture.

A person seeking to become a registered architect in Mississippi must obtain a professional degree from an accredited institution of higher learning, must complete the three-year Intern Development Program (IDP) and must pass all seven components of the Architect Registration Examination (ARE).

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Business brief: Architects registered

OKLAHOMA CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Architectural firm Elliott + Associates Architects announced today that it has won three 2012 American Architecture Awards. Awarded annually by the European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies and the Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design, the awards honor Americas top new contemporary architecture projects. The 2012 Jury for Awards was organized by the Federation of Korean Architects in Seoul, and 87 projects were selected by a distinguished group of Korean architects and educators.

The highest and most prestigious distinguished building awards honoring new and cutting-edge design, the American Architectural Awards have grown to become the most significant and most comprehensive distinguished awards in the United States.

Of the 87 winning entries in 2012, three were from Elliott + Associates: the 9,400 square-foot Kirkpatrick Oil Field Office in Hennessey, Okla., which became the centerpiece of the towns Main Street revitalization effort; Chesapeake Energy Car Park Two, a five-level structure that uses light and color to turn a utilitarian building into a destination on the Chesapeake Energy campus in Oklahoma City; and the 54,570 square-foot, $13 million Stuart Wing and Adkins Gallery at the University of Oklahomas Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art in Norman, Okla. Other winners included major infrastructure projects such as airport terminals and museum galleries by the top echelon of American architecture firms.

We believe architecture can complement the natural beauty of the landscape from rural Hennessey to the urban core of Oklahoma City, from car parks to art galleries, said Rand Elliott, FAIA, principal of Elliott + Associates. To be recognized with Americas top firms is humbling, and we are grateful to be listed among them.

In October 2012, The Chicago Athenaeum, together with The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies, will present a special exhibition of all awarded American buildings at its annual symposium, The City and the World in Istanbul, Turkey, in conjunction with the Istanbul Biennial contemporary art show.

About Elliott + Associates Architects

Since the firms opening in 1976, Oklahoma City-based Elliott + Associates Architects has received 272 international, national, regional and local awards including ten National AIA Honor Awards. The firms work has been featured in more than 70 books and 350 periodicals published in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, Japan, Italy, France, Australia, Hong Kong, China, Turkey, The Netherlands, Portugal and Russia. Proudly, Elliott + Associates Architects is the only architectural firm in the history of the state of Oklahoma to win a National AIA Honor Award. Elliott + Associates Architects is among the top nine most honored firms since the inception of the National AIA Honor Awards program in 1949.

To download high-res photos of each of the projects, click here.

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Elliott + Associates Architects Wins Three 2012 American Architecture Awards

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Sep 21, 2012) - The Government of Canada is making it easier for internationally trained architects to find jobs in their fields through support for a newly launched program. Speaking at the International Interior Design (IIDEX) Canada Expo and Conference today, the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, helped to launch the federally funded Broadly Experienced Foreign Architects (BEFA) Program and underscored the importance of helping skilled newcomers succeed in the Canadian job market.

"Our government''s top priorities are job creation, economic growth and long-term prosperity, and we recognize that internationally trained professionals help fill skills shortages in key occupations," said Minister Finley. "This is why we are working with partners like Architecture Canada so that newcomers can find meaningful work in their fields faster and help to contribute to Canada''s economy."

The BEFA Program was created through over $1.9 million in federal funding, announced by MinisterFinley in September 2010. This program will streamline the licensing process for internationally trained architects through a national online assessment tool and standard interview process.Internationally trained architects will be able to find out sooner whether their qualifications meet Canadian standards of practice, or if they need to undergo further training and skills upgrading.

"The architectural community sees great benefits from having internationally trainedarchitectslicensedasprofessionals in Canada. With it comes new connections, ideas and perspectives that can only enrich our profession, said Sheena Sharp, President, Ontario Association of Architects. "Wewould like to thank Minister Finley and her officials at Human Resources and Skill Development Canada for their financial support in the creation of the BEFA program. We believe that this program offers foreign trained architectsa fair and effective process to presenttheirwork experience and competenciesto be assessed againstpan-Canadian standards of competency for practice in Canada."

Under the Pan-Canadian Framework for the Assessment and Recognition of Foreign Qualifications, the Government of Canada is working with the provinces and territories and other partners, such as regulatory bodies, to improve foreign credential recognition.

The BEFA Program is an example of how the Framework is bringing meaningful change to the way that newcomers'' qualifications are assessed in Canada. Through pilot versions of this program, several candidates were successful in becoming certified architects in Canada.

To learn more about Canada''s Economic Action Plan, visit http://www.actionplan.gc.ca.

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This news release is available online at: http://www.actionplan.gc.ca.

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Government of Canada Helps Internationally Trained Architects Build a Better Future

The Kauffman Centre in Kansas City.

ONE of the world's most respected architects has been lured to Melbourne to design an $80 million state-of-the-art school of music for Monash University.

Buildings by Boston-based ''starchitect'' Moshe Safdie look like radical visions of the future (by someone with a very earthly love of concrete). One of these distinctive sculptural spaceships is due to land in mid-2016 at the entrance to Monash's Clayton campus.

Construction is due to start in early 2014, and will include a 600-seat concert hall, atrium and outdoor amphitheatre, as well as a jazz club, recording studio and teaching facilities.

Funded by Monash, the state and federal governments and philanthropists including property developer Albert Dadon, the design is also a collaboration with local firm Fender Katsalidis.

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''Located at the gateway of Monash Clayton, it will also be a community facility - a great coup,'' says Mr Dadon, who is also a successful musician.

The design concept for the new Sir Zelman Cowen School of Music will not be revealed until October 23, but Mr Safdie describes it as an ''extroverted [complex that] affords a dramatic view into the life within the building''. Mr Dadon calls the design ''futuristic without being science fiction''.

The architect says lessons learnt from the Kansas City performing arts centre he designed, which opened last year, will be applied to the Monash building. These include handling the acoustic challenges of optimising natural and amplified sound, but may also hint at its outward appearance: the Kauffman Centre has a distinct resemblance to the Sydney Opera House, with the ''sails'' modified by Mr Safdie's signature stepped angles, and an extensive use of glass.

The announcement is evidence of a wider trend of high-profile international architects working on local university projects, says former Architecture Australia editor Justine Clark.

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Architecture stars align to bring music school to Monash

Facing a generation gap within the architecture industry, BlueScope Lysaght, a maker of steel building materials, has decided to encourage young architects in Malaysia by establishing the inaugural Malaysia Young Architect Award (MYAA).

Open to all practising architects below the age of 35, the company strongly believes that recognising and rewarding exceptional local talent will ignite their enthusiasm and raise the overall standards of excellence within the country.

There is an abundance of architecture talent in Malaysia, but a gap exists in terms of experience and exposure. Many have revolutionary ideas when it comes to concepts, but are limited by industry demands which are still rather conservative.

We are hoping that the MYAA will be a platform for these up and coming talents to showcase their ability and influence clients and developers to be open to more progressive and modern designs, said BlueScope Lysaght Malaysia president Heon Chee Shyong.

Underlining the prestige of the award, BlueScope Lysaght is allocating a prize of RM20,000 for the winner as well as a RM5,000 prize for the Top Choice award, based on online votes.

The organisers have also recruited a jury comprising world-renowned architects and designers to judge the winning design.

True to the spirit of MYAA, the jury panel itself varies in terms of age and design philosophies, originating from Australia, China, Bangkok, Singapore, and Malaysia.

The jury panel includes: Australias Environa Studio principal architect and director K.A. Tone Wheeler, PI Architect principal Tan Pei Ing, Dezignwerkz Asia chief executive officer Jasmeet Singh Sidhu, Kun Lim Architect design principal Kun Lim, Thailands GreenDwell sustainable design director Siritip Harntaweewongsa and Chinas MAD Architects founding principal Ma Yansong.

According to Jasmeet, the local architecture industry is competitive regionally, but improvements can be made to raise levels of excellence.

Malaysia has around 2,000 architects registered with Lembaga Arkitek Malaysia but there are another 2,000 or so who have yet to obtain their licence to practice on their own.

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Nurturing young architects

BOSTON, Sept. 13, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Margulies Perruzzi Architects (MPA), one of Boston's most innovative architectural and interior design firms, today announced that it has completed the design of 100,000 square feet of office space in Boston for Pioneer Investments, a leading innovator in the global investment management industry.

Providing space planning and interior design services, MPA substantially updated the office design and additional support space consisting of five floors at Pioneer's Boston office located at 60 State Street. MPA crafted a master plan to help Pioneer strategize how to best utilize this space on a long-term basis, and completely redesigned the 16th floor, embracing an open layout with fewer private offices and creating a model for Pioneer's future space planning. The renovations were part of Pioneer's recent lease renewal at 60 State Street.

MPA redesigned workspaces, conference rooms, lobbies, reception areas and selected new finishes, furniture, and lighting. The project included a major reconfiguration of Pioneer's IT/mission critical spaces and the addition of a conference center featuring a suite of conference rooms with a large breakout area. In order to allow Pioneer's operations to continue during construction, MPA phased the renovation schedule and utilized available swing space.

"Having worked together for 12 years on several renovations, MPA understands our business and commitment to our clients," said Thomas P. Murphy, Head of Corporate Services at Pioneer Investments. "It was important to us that Pioneer evolve its office design to promote better communication and collaboration between staff, while providing an elegant space to welcome clients. MPA has designed a beautiful and efficient space that will serve as a prototype for future growth."

Pioneer hired MPA to design its offices when it originally expanded beyond the 60 State Street building in 2000, and has since worked with MPA on numerous renovations within 60 State.

About Margulies Perruzzi Architects

Consistently ranked as one of Boston's top architectural and interior design firms, Margulies Perruzzi Architects creates buildings and corporate interiors for clients who value design. The firm services the corporate, professional services, healthcare, research/lab, and real estate communities with a focus on sustainable design. Clients include Manulife/John Hancock, Nuvera Fuel Cells, Reliant Medical Group, Sapient, Hobbs Brook Management and Forrester Research. For more information, please visit http://www.mp-architects.com.

Media Contact Michele Spiewak Rhino Public Relations 617-851-2618 MPArchitects@rhinopr.com

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Margulies Perruzzi Architects Completes Office Design for Pioneer Investments