Architects have produced preliminary designs for Flathead Valley Community Colleges $5 million Rebecca Chaney Broussard Nursing and Health Sciences Center.

The designs were presented to the board of trustees on Tuesday.

College President Jane Karas introduced Corey Johnson of CTA Architects, who said the firm has produced about 50 percent of the construction documents.

At four and a half months to be at 50 percent is a pretty good clip, he said. We are right on target to hit a summer construction schedule.

Johnson said the schedule calls for going to bid in mid-April and awarding a construction contract in mid-May.

David Koel, senior design architect, went over preliminary drawings of exterior and interior features. He said the firm began by identifying unifying elements of campus buildings as concrete, metal and glass along with maroon colors.

Koel said the architects worked to create a really nice appearance that a major donation building requires while making it blend in with the other buildings on campus such as the nearby Arts and Technology building. His exterior design uses concrete columns, metal and a lot of glass for a modernistic look for the 30,000 square-foot, one-level building.

The project is largely funded by a $4 million gift the largest in the colleges history from the Broussard family. The family made the gift as a memorial to the late Rebecca Broussard, who was formerly a nurse and deeply committed to education.

They gave the donation with the proviso that the community give an additional $1 million for the center that will house allied health programs as well as a student health clinic. Karas said the match fund has now reached $610,000.

The college chose an area on the south end of the original campus buildings. Karas said earlier that it may displace some parking.

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Architects working on FVCC health center design

by Charli Engelhorn staff writer Moab Times Independent

Students at Helen M. Knight Elementary School participate in a lesson in the schools library. The architectural firm that designed the school recently received an honorable mention award from Learning by Design magazine for outstanding educational facility design. Photo by Scott Zimmerman

The accolades continue to come in for the Grand County School Districts Helen M. Knight Elementary school building and MHTN Architects, the Salt Lake City-based company that designed the facility. MHTN Architects recently received an honorable mention award from Learning by Design magazine for outstanding educational facility design for HMK .

The firm received one of five honorable mentions out of 30 K-12 facility designs submitted to the magazine, with three other facilities taking the grand prizes, according the a news release issued this week by MHTN.

This award is a great honor for our firm and Grand County School District and its patrons, said Peggy McDonough, president of MHTN Architects. The design of Helen M. Knight was created through collaboration with the district, its teachers and students, which resulted in an extraordinary learning environment connected to the culture of Moab.

The judges said the school resembles a contemporary cliff dwelling and has a nice visual connection to the environment. They noted that the connection goes beyond aesthetics and serves as a landscape for learning, with aspects such as an interior rock garden that allows students to study local plant life.

With just the right moves, what could easily be a simple double-loaded corridor creates little found space that makes all the difference, judges said, according to the news release.

MHTN was also recognized for their use of sustainable local materials.

MHTN and the district were previously recognized for the facility and community design process in August 2011 by the Council of Educational Facility Planners International. HMK was one of four schools in the country named as finalists for the prestigious James D. MacConnell Award, given for the level of community engagement and design standards for the construction of a learning facility. Although HMK and MHTN did not win the award, the architects and district officials did attend the awards ceremony in Nashville, Tenn., where their accomplishments were acknowledged.

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HMK architects receive honors for facility design by national magazine

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

As the Florida AIA (American Industry of Architects) prepares to celebrate its 100th anniversary later this year, the Florida Natural Gas Association has kick-started the festivities early launching their first annual Creative Energy Award.

Aiming to reward and recognize the creative use of natural gas energy and/or appliances in existing Architecture, the award will go to the Florida Architect who illustrates the most creative overall building design enhanced by the most relevant use of natural gas along withmerits of style, function and ingenuity.

In addition to receiving a $500 American Express gift card, the winner will be recognized with an engraved plaque at the AIA 2012 Convention and a feature advertorial in the 2012 Winter Edition of Florida/Caribbean ARCHITECT magazine.

With entries being accepted now through July 12th, interested Architects can enter at the FNGA web site by completing a simple form and submitting a few photos that convey their creative use of natural gas. The winner will also be recognized at the AIA 2012 Annual Convention in July, but he or she does not need to be present at the Convention in order to win.

The (FNGA) is non-profit organization that promotes and encourages the growth of the natural gas industry in the state of Florida. It also seeks to protect the interests of the industry, its members and consumers. Our members include distribution companies, transmission, gas supply marketers and affiliate members. With a membership of more than 100 companies, FNGA represents every segment of the natural gas industry.

For more information, please contact Jenna Bernardo, FNGA staff member, phone. (321) 779-1010, jenna@mtninc.com.

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The FNGA Fuels Some Friendly Competition Among Architects With Their First Ever ‘Creative Energy Award’

Fentress was the highest-ranked newcomer to Interior Design Magazine's Top 100 Giants list

Denver, Colorado (PRWEB) February 29, 2012

A few of Fentress recent projects include:

Fentress Architects provides architecture and interior design services for projects of all types and sizes, including aviation, convention centers, higher education, laboratories, justice centers, government agencies, as well as corporate and commercial space. In the last year alone, Fentress Architects completed $22.23 million in interior design for projects that consisted of a total of 8.3 million square feet.

Visit http://www.interiordesign.net/article/547396-2012_Top_100_Giants.php to see Interior Design Magazines full list of the Top 100 Giants for 2011.

Fentress Architects is a global design firm that passionately pursues the creation of sustainable and iconic architecture. Together with their clients, Fentress creates inspired design to improve the human environment. Founded by Curtis Fentress in 1980, the firm has designed US$26 billion of architectural projects worldwide, visited by over 300 million people each year. Fentress is a dynamic learning organization, driven to grow its ability to design, innovate and exceed client expectations. The firm has been honored with more than 385 distinctions for design excellence and innovation, and in 2010, Curtis Fentress was recognized by the American Institute of Architects with the most prestigious award for public architecture, the Thomas Jefferson Award. Fentress has studios in Denver, Colorado; Los Angeles, California; San Jose, California; Washington, D.C.; and London, U.K. http://www.fentressarchitects.com

Please contact Angela Potrykus at 303.282.6192 or potrykus(AT)fentressarchitects(dot)com for more information or images.

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Angela Potrykus, PR Fentress Architects 303-282-6192 Email Information

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Fentress Architects Among Nation’s Top Interior Design Firms

DETROIT, MI--(Marketwire -02/29/12)- SmithGroupJJR, one of the nation's leading architecture, engineering and planning firms, is pleased to announce that Paul Urbanek, FAIA, LEED AP BD+C, vice president, has been elevated to the American Institute of Architects (AIA) College of Fellows. This tribute reflects Urbanek's significant contributions to the profession of architecture, the education of future architects, and his long-standing commitment to the AIA.

AIA's membership totals over 80,000, with fewer than 2,700 receiving the prestigious distinction of fellowship or honorary fellowship. Urbanek will be recognized at an investiture ceremony at AIA's National Convention and Design Expo, to be held May 17, 2012 in Washington, DC.

Since joining SmithGroupJJR in 2000, Urbanek has led design efforts for many of the firm's most notable and award-winning projects. Significant works include the University of Louisville Clinical & Translational Research Building, Louisville, Ky.; Indian Springs Metropark Environmental Discovery Center, White Lake, Mich.; renovation and expansion of Cranbrook Art Museum & Collections Building, Bloomfield Hills, Mich.; and First Automotive Works 4.5 million-square foot Research & Development Center, Changchun, China.

Urbanek is currently design principal for Oakland University's new 128,000-gsf Engineering Center in Rochester, Mich.; Michigan State University's Facility for Rare Isotope Beams in East Lansing, Mich.; and an international design competition for a new technology park in Beijing, China.

Urbanek was also a lead designer for the Memorial at Cameron, a tribute to be erected in Cameron, La. commemorating the 550 lives lost during Hurricane Audrey in 1957. In February 2012, the project was honored by ARCHITECT magazine as winner of a prestigious Progressive Architecture (P/A) Award.

Urbanek earned a bachelor of science in architecture and a bachelor of architecture from Lawrence Technological University, and was recognized as the school's 2011 Distinguished Architectural Alumni. He is a registered architect in Michigan and a LEED accredited professional.

Urbanek resides in Royal Oak, Mich.

About The American Institute of Architects For over 150 years, members of the American Institute of Architects (www.aia.org) have worked with each other and their communities to create more valuable, healthy, secure, and sustainable buildings and cityscapes. Members adhere to a code of ethics and professional conduct to ensure the highest standards in professional practice. Embracing their responsibility to serve society, AIA members engage civic and government leaders and the public in helping find needed solutions to pressing issues facing our communities, institutions, nation and world.

The Fellowship program was developed to elevate architects who have made significant contributions to architecture and society and who have achieved a standard of excellence in the profession. Election to fellowship not only recognizes the achievements of architects as individuals, but also their significant contribution to architecture and society on a national level.

SmithGroupJJR is one of the largest architecture, engineering and planning firms in the U.S., ranked #1 for design quality based on design awards won in Architect magazine's 2011 annual best firms ranking. The firm is also the recipient of the 2011 Landscape Architecture Firm Award from the American Society of Landscape Architects. A national leader in sustainable design, SmithGroupJJR has 363 LEED professionals and 71 LEED certified projects.

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SmithGroupJJR's Paul Urbanek Elevated to Fellow of the American Institute of Architects

In its latest edition of the brown bag series 25 Architects in 25 Weeks, the District Architecture Center will continue to welcome architecturally enlightened discussion among non-architects.

Washington, DC (PRWEB) February 28, 2012

Stephen J. Vanze, FAIA, of Barnes Vanze Architects, will lead attendees in a discussion of traditional architectural principles and their application in a sometimes not-so-traditional context. Mr. Vanze is a 2011 Home & Design Designers Choice Award Winner for Traditional Residential Architecture and plans to share his approach on how a traditional building can conscientiously fit in with its DC Metro surroundings.

We are truly lucky to have Mr. Vanze share his time and insights with the public here at the Center, says Mary Fitch, Executive Director of AIA|DC. His practical and clear explanations of architecture resonate well with both architects and homeowners alike.

The 25 Architects lunch series is typically hosted on the first and third Thursday of every month. Its held at the District Architecture Center, located at 421 7th St. NW, Washington, DC 20004.

About the District Architecture Center

The District Architecture Center is home to the Washington Chapter of the American Institute of Architects and the Washington Architectural Foundation, two organizations that advocate for architecture and the built environment, educate both professional architects and the public, and inspire design excellence through workshops, tours, exhibits, lectures, and special events.

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Mary Fitch District Architecture Center 202.347.9403 Email Information

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Lunch Program on “Traditional Architecture” Aimed at Non-Traditional Audience

Architects of the town's budget publicly balked at a $150,000 request Monday for the design of a new community pool in Byram, saying that the scope and overall cost of the public-private project need to be fleshed out first.

The Board of Estimate and Taxation Budget Committee shared its concerns about what it characterized as a lack of details about the project with key supporters of the pool initiative, led by the Junior League of Greenwich, during a Town Hall briefing.

Given the finite amount of taxpayer dollars for capital projects and unforeseen soil contamination at Greenwich High School that could cost millions to clean up, committee members said they cannot go forward with funding for the pool design in the near term.

"It sends the wrong signal to the town at this time," said Joseph Pellegrino, the committee's chairman.

The powerful arm of the BET will hold its deliberations on a broader $368 million spending package Wednesday, the first of three rungs of the budget process that will continue with the full finance board in March and then the Representative Town Meeting in May.

Using a combination of private donations and town money, the project's supporters hope to build a 6,000-square-foot pool at Byram Park that can hold up to 300 swimmers.

The capacity of the existing pool there, which is prone to leaks and has no dedicated restroom facilities, is 40 people.

"We are still committed to the concept of this project," Anne Miller, the Junior League's president, told the committee.

Pellegrino sought to allay concerns that the committee does not believe in the merits of the project.

"By not supporting the $150,000, (the committee) is not killing the project," said Pellegrino, a Republican who is in his first term as the group's chairman.

Democrat William Finger echoed Pellegrino's comments.

"This is a worthwhile project," Finger said. "I think that we have a very good basis going forward."

Democratic Selectman Drew Marzullo, who did not attend the meeting, characterized the decision as penny wise and pound foolish.

"What I don't get is the notion that $150,000 for continued plans out of a $300 million budget is somehow going to break the bank," Marzullo said in an interview. "The majority of the money (for the pool) will be raised by private donations. I'm concerned that if the perception is that if the town is not behind this project, fundraising is going to be very difficult to do."

Pellegrino urged the project's supporters to get their ducks lined up so that they could return to the finance board in the fall or next spring for a financial commitment.

"I'm looking for the scope of the project," Pellegrino said. "I'm looking for the cost of the project."

Initial estimates have put the pool's price tag at $7 million, a portion of which would be offset by private donations.

"It's going to be a long, hard slog to raise this kind of money," Miller told the committee.

The forces behind the pool initiative had planned to use the $150,000 on blueprints that could be incorporated in a fundraising appeal.

"We just don't want to come to a full stop," Miller said of the progress of the pool initiative.

Marzullo hasn't stopped lobbying for the pool money.

"I encourage both the Democrats and Republicans on the BET to support this project," Marzullo said.

The timing of the pool initiative is less than ideal, with budget architects having earmarked $3.57 million in the proposed budget for an environmental cleanup project at the high school.

The Comprehensive Annual Financial Report of the town estimated that the price tag of the cleanup could grow to as much as $13 million, fallout from the discovery of polychlorinated biphenylss, after breaking ground on a $30 million performing arts center for the school. A full accounting of the PCB cleanup costs won't be available until at least the fall, however.

"At that point in time, we will have a better feel for our cash flows," Pellegrino told the pool's supporters.

The town has already budgeted $55,000 in the current fiscal year for preliminary work on the pool, which the project's supporters were able to augment with $45,000 in prior donations to the Greenwich Parks and Recreation Foundation.

Of that $100,000, only $25,000 has been spent to date.

Citing the pro bono work of local landscape architect John Conte and others, Miller said the pool's supporters have been able to keep initial costs in check, a trend that they hope to continue.

"We don't see this at all as the end of the road by any stretch," Miller told Greenwich Time in an interview after the meeting. "We're going to take a different route than obviously we were hoping."

Miller said it is not out of the question that the Junior League could kick in some of its own money to help the cause, though it would take a vote of the membership of the women's organization.

The town isn't the only one eager for a reckoning of the costs of the entire project, according to Miller.

"There's going to be a reality check point where if it comes in at $2 million we're in, but if it comes in at $20 million, we would have to reconsider," Miller told the committee.

neil.vigdor@scni.com; 203-625-4436; http://twitter.com/gettinviggy

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Budget architects balk at $150K for Byram pool

KANSAS CITY, MO (KCTV) -

Unless they are torn down, stadiums are one of the few things in life that don't change. Your dad took you to the ball game at the "K" (or Kauffman Stadium) and you'll take your son. Everyone ages and changes, but stadiums are one of the few constants, and many of them, the best ones, come from the minds of people in the fair city of Kansas City.

It's one of the most influential and important sports businesses in the world and it's right in the middle of the old brick buildings and lofts in Kansas City's River Market area, but athletes with seven-figure salaries don't work here and neither do their agents.

"This is where it happens. It's an amazing legacy," said Greg Sherlock.

"When I got this opportunity, I was like, ‘Yeah. This is what I want to do," said Mike Sabatini.

Architects Sabatini and Sherlock work for Populous, formerly HOK Sport Venue Event, and design some of the best stadiums in the world.

"I know everybody just drives by, you can see it along the road, and is pumped about it," said Sabatini.

Sabatini designed jetBlue Park in Fort Meyers, FL. It's the spring training home of the Boston Red Sox and it opened just last week.

"It's Fenway on the inside, on the exterior it's all about Florida and for them, is was more about ‘we want to build Fenway south," he said.

With one minor change: fans can actually sit in the green monster in the shade at jetBlue Park.

"It's a very contemporary-looking building and it really fits the culture of Miami," said Sabatini.

It started with a tiny sketch, morphed into a wooden model and, on April 4, Marlins Park, the new home of the Miami Marlins, will open. It's a $350 million retractable-roof stadium that is hurricane proof.

"You can only imagine when you're putting a retracting roof that spans 600 feet on two rails, 10 stories up in the air, how complex of a problem that gets to be from an engineering perspective," said Sherlock. "This outfield wall, it's got this retracting - it's a transparent that retracts. It creates a picture frame of the city itself: the skyline of Miami is right there in the distance."

Populous has built Olympic stadiums in China, soccer stadiums in Guadalajara and baseball stadiums in the Beltway. Most of the greatest stadiums on Earth have come from the business located in the River Market.

"I like to tell the story where it really started when the leaders-to-be envisioned the two purpose-built facilities, Arrowhead and Kauffman Stadium. Back in the late 60s was a pretty monumental time in professional sports history and America," said Sherlock.

Populous did the Kauffman Stadium renovation and, this summer, its handy work in its own backyard will be front and center when the All-Star game is in town.

"They'll (Major League Baseball) come to town and put on their show and they're showcasing one of your jobs," said Sabatini. "Now you're on the grandest stage of all - the world."

"I'm still waiting for that ticket," said Sherlock.

Copyright 2012 KCTV (Meredith Corp.) All rights reserved.

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Architects at Populous design some of the best stadiums in the world

Amid complaints that architects and engineers on public school projects are not fairly paid for their work , a Jefferson Parish School Board committee is looking into revising the contract they sign when they accept a job.

Much of the issue centers on unreasonably low bids by some construction contractors, who later increase the budgeted amount through change orders. Architects and engineers typically take in 7 percent to 10 percent of the original construction budget, but on Tuesday they said their fees should be based on the actual cost of construction, including change orders.

"Oftentimes we are the victim of a contractor who bids a project too low," architect Russell Burgdahl of Burgdahl & Graves told the School Board's facilities committee. "All it does is increase our work level because he is constantly coming up with ways to add money to the job."

Governments are allowed to choose any qualified architect or engineer, regardless of price, and critics say this leads to politicians picking their campaign contributors for the professional work.

But state law requires public entities to accept the lowest qualified bid on construction work. While none of those appearing before the committee Tuesday suggested doing otherwise, Steven Graves of Burgdahl & Graves said, "Sometimes, it's our worst nightmare."

Graves suggested that professional service fees be based on an average of all the bids received. "That would make sense," he said. "Then you find the true value of the project."

Neither the professionals at Tuesday's meeting nor committee members gave examples of the change-order problem.

But a Feb. 1 capital project status report on Jefferson schools lists several projects with multiple change orders. Examples are six change orders on a roofing project at Harry S Truman Middle School in Marrero, five on two projects at Ella Dolhonde Elementary in Metairie and 11 for an athletic complex and other work at East Jefferson High in Metairie. In all three cases, contractors exceeded the budgeted amount by hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Architects and engineers said change orders are often necessary, especially when they involve renovations to some of the school system's oldest campuses.

"When we are assigned a project, it may be a 50-year old building," said Rick Meyer of Meyer Engineers. "And we may find an unforeseen item that needs to be repaired. There will be change orders. We just hope they are reasonable."

Board member Etta Licciardi, who chairs the facilities committee, described the meeting as "productive and enlightening.

"I understand your concerns," she said. "And it is certainly my hope that the document we end up with will meet your needs and the needs of the school system."

Afterward, she and board member Larry Dale said revisions to the professionals' contract are long overdue.

Besides changing the fee structure, the committee is studying such issues as project schedules, professional liability insurance, liquidated damages and errors and omissions.

Licciardi said the committee plans to consult the American Institute of Architects and the Louisiana Office of Facility Planning and Control's contract to come up with the fairest agreement.

. . . . . . .

Barri Bronston can be reached at bbronston@timespicayune.com or 504.883.7058.

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Jefferson Parish schools committee hears complaints from architects, engineers

February 27, 2012 - American Institute of Architects (AIA) and National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS) have signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) underscoring mutual interest in design, construction, operations, and maintenance of high-performance buildings and desire to collaborate on issues surrounding said topics. Upon signing this MOU, NIBS President Henry L. Green said, "We are very pleased to work with AIA on such an important effort."

National Institute of Building Sciences
1090 Vermont Avenue
Washington, DC, 20005-4905
USA

Press release date: February 23, 2012

The American Institute of Architects and the National Institute of Building Sciences Sign Agreement to Work Together on Promoting Building Industry Research and Knowledge

Robert Ivy, FAIA, Chief Executive Officer of The American Institute of Architects (AIA) and Henry L. Green, Hon. AIA, President of the National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS) are pleased to announce the recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding underscoring the two organizations' mutual interest in the design, construction, operations and maintenance of high-performance buildings and the desire to collaborate on issues surrounding these topics.

"Through cooperation and coordination on the issues impacting the entire building community and the pursuit of high-performance buildings, the Institute and AIA can work towards improving our nation's buildings. We are very pleased to work with AIA on such an important effort," said Green upon signing.

One of the first projects the two organizations will work on collaboratively is the joint development of an on-line portal for building industry research and knowledge. Intended to be accessible to the public, this initiative will include the participation and contribution of a variety of building science and performance disciplines. NIBS and AIA anticipate this partnership will culminate in providing a centralized location for the knowledge and research efforts underway that are relevant to the building industry.

About the new partnership and the outline of work planned, Ivy said, "The AIA has long recognized the power of knowledge to inform design. For many years, the AIA Knowledge Communities have provided ample testimony to the value of that orientation. The AIA-NIBS research portal will enable practitioners to use knowledge creatively in ways for which they have impatiently hoped. Now the wait is over."

Later this year, NIBS and AIA will also collaborate on an industry summit bringing together leaders in the fields of architecture, construction and engineering. The summit will focus on elevating awareness and understanding of how design adds value to the building process, whether it's expressed through increased property value or the health, safety and welfare of the building's users.

Additionally, AIA and NIBS are working together on High Performance Buildings: Combining Field Experience with Innovation, the third Building Enclosure Science & Technology (BEST) Conference, April 2-4, 2012, in Atlanta. The Conference is part of the Building Enclosure Technology and Environment Council's (BETEC) mission to explore the advancement of energy efficiency of buildings as well as the durability of buildings as affected by moisture and the indoor environment. The AIA and NIBS have been partners in the Building Enclosure Councils since 2004.

About the National Institute of Building Sciences

The National Institute of Building Sciences, authorized by public law 93-383 in 1974, is a nonprofit, nongovernmental organization that brings together representatives of government, the professions, industry, labor and consumer interests to identify and resolve building process and facility performance problems. The Institute serves as an authoritative source of advice for both the private and public sectors with respect to the use of building science and technology. For more information, please visit http://www.nibs.org.

About The American Institute of Architects

For over 150 years, members of the American Institute of Architects have worked with each other and their communities to create more valuable, healthy, secure, and sustainable buildings and cityscapes. Members adhere to a code of ethics and professional conduct to ensure the highest standards in professional practice. Embracing their responsibility to serve society, AIA members engage civic and government leaders and the public in helping find needed solutions to pressing issues facing our communities, institutions, nation and world. Visit http://www.aia.org.

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AIA and NIBS Sign Agreement to Promote Building Industry Research and Knowledge