“While it seems safe to assume that the design of U.S. homes will undergo fairly significant changes over the coming decade, it’s equally likely that these changes will be determined by fundamental economic and demographic developments….” writes Kermit Baker and Jennifer Riskus, the authors of  “The Coming Decade for Residential Design,” an article in AIA ARCHITECT looking at how home design will change in the near future. The article highlights the results of the AIA’s Home Design Trends Survey. COLUMNS wanted to see how the survey and the trends compared to the local residential architectural trends, so we turned to AIA Pittsburgh’s CRAN (Custom Residential Architects Network) and had some local members respond to the national information. Local architects Mary Cerrone,...

Summer starts with a few tours and a few free webinars, Join YAF to visit The River House, or attend the next AIA+2030 session and tour Chatham University’s Eden Hall Campus, a 2015 Design Pittsburgh award-winning project. Looking forward, stay tuned for Design Pittsburgh related announcements in the upcoming weeks and months, including submission categories and the Young Architects Studio Competition. Finally, do you have a new project or interest to share? Consider submitting to present at PechaKucha Night Pittsburgh, Vol. 24 on July 14. Proposals are due on July 6.  Free membership for New Grads! Are you a recent graduate of a NAAB-Accredited architecture program? Than you are eligible for up to 18 months of free membership with the...

“Everyone has the potential to be a leader and everyone should have the opportunity to learn to be an effective leader.” What is Leadership? was the question posed in the AIA Pittsburgh Foundation for Architecture’s essay contest last month. The newly reestablished Foundation is focusing on providing leadership development for architects and emerging professionals, and the organization’s first initiative was to send one individual to AIA Convention, chosen via essay. The above quote is just one line from the award-winning essay written by Jessica Stuck, AIA. Keep scrolling to read Stuck’s entire essay, as well as snippets from the other entries. What Is Leadership? by Jessica Stuck, AIA The definition of leadership is often over-generalized and cliché. Effective leaders can be found in...

April was a busy month here at AIA Pittsburgh. While May is a little calmer, don’t be fooled – there are plenty of events in the works!  Looking to get involved? How about a social outing? YAF is hosting their annual Pirates tailgate this month. Or possibly you’re heading to Philadelphia for the AIA Conventional?  And don’t forget about the AIA +2030 Series – Session 2 is this month, with more sessions to follow. Enjoy the warmer weather and longer days and check back often for new opportunities.  AIA Increases Focus on Research – AIA is making a renewed commitment to research. With the release of the Practice-Relevant Research Roadmap, the AIA seeks to 1) increase research literacy, 2) enable and support...

Congratulations are in order for AIA Pittsburgh’s Bill Bates and Jeff Murray, who have both been selected to be inducted into the College of Fellows and will be honored at an investiture ceremony at the 2016 National AIA Convention. The Fellowship program was developed to elevate those architects who have made a significant contribution 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. Bill Bates, FAIA of Eat n’ Park Hospitality Group, Inc. has been an active member in the AIA for decades, first serving a leadership role as...

The year has officially begun. The winter may not look like what we are accustomed to, but time is still marching forward, as is planning here at the AIA. With each new calendar year comes some newly elected members of the Board of Director, as well as a new chapter president. This year we welcome Michael McDonnell, AIA to that leadership role. YAF also welcomes new officers and fresh ideas moving forward. And finally, while it may feel like spring recently, Build Pittsburgh is still two months away. Be sure to save the date for Build Pittsburgh 2016 this April 21st. There are sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities still available! February 8 – ARE Review Series: Building Systems Part I February 11...

It’s a new year, a time to start over, a reset. How will you take advantage of this yearly opportunity? Did you make a resolution? How about to be more involved, more active, more engaged? Join one of AIA Pittsburgh’s committees or knowledge communities and make your voice heard! AIA Pittsburgh has eight active committees. Member participation – your ideas and input – is what makes this organization great.  There are also the local Knowledge Communities which help make it easy to connect with your colleagues who share your same interests. Think about whether or not the Custom Residential Architects Network (CRAN) or the Technology in Architectural Practice (TAP) communities are a good fit for you. And finally, AIA National...

The American Institute of Architects is the leading professional membership association for licensed architects, emerging professionals, and allied partners, and has been since 1857. The AIA serves as the voice of the profession and the resource for our members in service to society. We help support architects through advocacy, information, and providing community, both on a local, state, and national level. With over 85,000 members, perhaps it’s time for you to join, too! Join the AIA for 2016 now and get the rest of 2015 free. And, if you renew by December 31, 2015, you’ll be entered automatically to win one of three  prize packages including free registration to AIA Convention 2016 in Philadelphia, including hotel, airfare, and registration. Refer...

Danielle Jones, AIAS is the Midwest Quadrant Director for the American Institute of Architecture Students who originally hails from Western Pennsylvania. She has also been selected as the AIAS representative for the 2016 AIA National Honor Awards jury. Columns caught up with Jones over the summer to ask her about her experiences, both as a student and as an active member of AIAS.  How did you get involved with AIAS? How would you describe your experiences with the organization? Any surprises? I became involved with AIAS my freshman year of Undergraduate at Kent State University. A very influential classmate named Belana Antar came to me the second week of school and encouraged me to attend meetings and become a member. After...

Anyone that knows me has probably noticed that I spend a lot of time talking to a lot of young professionals. And it surprises me that, even with the massive effort NCARB has undertaken to educate the community about the pending changes in the exam process (including publishing the Test Specification), there’s still a great deal of confusion and misunderstanding about what’s actually going on. So let’s all take a collective breather –take five, if you will – and review some of the more important facts about ARE 5.0… 1. The new version of the exam is still over a year away.  ARE 5.0 is not set to launch until late 2016, well over a year from now.  Anyone that...