Name: Chuck Parker Firm: Stantec Architecture and Engineering LLC (Philadelphia office) Family: Wife – Paula; 2 daughters – Dulcinea (28) and Kendra (25) Years in practice: 44 Education: BArch from CMU (Went back for my Doctorate a few years ago but it didn’t work out) Your first job: Cutting neighborhood lawns (age 9). Project you’re proudest of: Magee-Womens Hospital 4800 / 5800 ICU / Med Surg Expansion. It was a 2-story addition in a very difficult area to expand vertically and was a collaborative project delivery between Stantec, AES, FMRW, PJ Dick, and UPMC which was also LEED Silver and won the 2013 MBA Building Excellence Award in its category. What have you always wanted to tell your clients? Good, Fast, Cheap: You Can Only Pick Two! What’s the...

Presley’s Place just received the People’s Choice Award at AIA Pittsburgh’s Design Awards, demonstrating that there is a growing recognition of the strong impact design has on mental and physical health. Located at the Pittsburgh International Airport, Presley’s Place is named after the son of airport heavy equipment operator Jason Rudge, who originally pitched the idea of a sensory room to Allegheny County Airport Authority CEO, Christina Cassotis, through an employee suggestion box. That simple suggestion led to the design and construction of a 1,500-square-foot space that serves as a respite for travelers with sensory processing issues, and their companions, who may have a need to de-stress while traveling.  Pittsburgh International’s space isn’t just a room, it is an entire...

There is growing recognition of the importance of good design in the region and the important effects of the built environment in society.  This was a record-breaking year for Design Pittsburgh and there is only more to come. Design Pittsburgh Numbers: 470 Attendees (most ever!) 93 Project Submissions 23 Awards Given 4,139 People’s Choice Award Votes (512 more than last year and most ever!) Media Coverage: (We’ll post more here as it is published) Pittsburgh Post-Gazette “Presley’s Place wins People’s Choice Award at architects’ gala” NEXTpittsburgh “Check out the winners of this year’s AIA Design Pittsburgh Awards”

Name: Lee Davis, AIA Firm: ESa Family: Wife – Julie; Daughter – Simms Years in practice: 15 Education: Bach of Arch from University of Tennessee Knoxville Your first job: Domino’s Pizza Delivery…until my parent’s car insurance carrier caught wise Project you’re proudest of: Gulch Crossing Office Building – Relocating our firm after 30+ years was a painful endeavour, but a rewarding conclusion What have you always wanted to tell your clients? “That’s a terrible idea.” What’s the most annoying thing architects do? In spite of wearing goofy, outlandish glasses, I’m going to have to say “wearing goofy, outlandish glasses”. Favorite tool (can be digital, drafting, physical,…): Litter Picker Arm Grabber Favorite building: Case Study House 22 Favorite outdoor space: Capitoline Hill Architect you’d like to have a drink with: Mies van de Rohe Best gift...

DESIGN + INNOVATION: Certificate of Merit PROJECT NAME: Penn51 Façade CLIENT: 11 to 3 LLC ARCHITECTURE FIRM: mossArchitects DESIGN TEAM: Andrew Moss, AIA; Darren Lloyd, Rebecca Murden ENGINEERS: Conway Engineering CONTRACTORS: P2 Contracting, LLC PHOTOGRAPHERS: Anthony Musmanno INTENT: The Penn51 project, one of many 1-3 story building facades along the Bloomfield and Garfield commercial corridor, is nestled in the center of the Penn Avenue business district; an area that has been the focus of revitalization, with a strong emphasis on the arts. The design solution seeks to reinterpret the facade as a folded skin that simplifies and unifies its previously disconnected property while adding an artful reinterpretation and visual activity to the busy commercial avenue. The design aims to connect...

Name: Nathan Johnson, AIA, LEED AP Firm: 4RM+ULA Family: Married, 4 kids Years in practice: 18 Education: Cornell University Bachelor of Architecture, 1998 Your first job: Women’s Club bus boy. What’s the best part of your job? Different every day. What would you change about your job? More time. Project you’re proudest of: Rondo Commemorative Plaza (on the boards) Most embarrassing moment: At 5 years old taking family picture in Tuscon Arizona, I backed into a cactus, and did not tell my mom for hours that I had a cactus needle stuck in me.  Whenever my Mom wants a good laugh she tells the story. Favorite tool (can be digital, drafting, physical,…): Microsoft Surfacebook Architect you’d like to have a...

ARCHITECTURE: Honor Award PROJECT NAME: Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, Knoxville Branch CLIENT: Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh ARCHITECTURE FIRM: GBBN Architects DESIGN TEAM: Anne Chen, AIA; Amanda Markovic; Julian Sandoval ENGINEERS: Sci-Tek Consultants, Inc.; WBCM; WNA Engineering, Inc. CONTRACTORS: Shannon Construction Co. PHOTOGRAPHERS: Massery Photography, Inc. DESCRIPTION: Formally described as a bunker, this project transforms a brutalist 1962 building into an inviting destination for a diverse community. The deeply recessed entrances were moved forward to provide ample glazing that facilitates views to the street and daylight to the interior. Small additions at the front and side of the original building maximize the interior plan, providing a dedicated area for teens and expanded children’s area with an outdoor deck. JURY COMMENTS: With...

The days are getting shorter, but AIA Pittsburgh is finding ways to fit more into them!  September is full of events all around town, particularly the unveiling of the Design Pittsburgh 2016 exhibit!  Design submissions will be available to view via the online digital exhibit in the next few weeks, with the physical exhibit making its debut at the Cultural District’s Gallery Crawl on September 23rd! An autumn evening spent Downtown, taking in art and design… you won’t want to miss it! September 9 – Design Boards Due: Design Pittsburgh boards are due to the AIA Pittsburgh office by 5 pm. September 14 – YAF Steering Committee Meeting September 18 – 22 – Wine & Design: Annual CRAN Symposium: The...

It’s July, it’s hot, and you’re counting down the days (or hours) until vacation. Things may feel slower, even sluggish, on these 90° days, but the AIA is still at it, putting your dues dollars to work! AIA Pittsburgh is working full-throttle as Design Pittsburgh approaches. The Call for Submissions has been announced and we look forward to viewing your standout projects for our annual Design Awards Competition. Another new initiative is the AIA Pittsburgh Foundation for Architecture’s Leadership Institute for Emerging Professionals. Applications are due at the end of the month, so don’t miss out on this great opportunity! AXP not IDP: The Architectural Experience Program (AXP), formerly the Intern Development Program (IDP), has officially launched this week. See...

Each autumn, AIA Pittsburgh presents its signature program, Design Pittsburgh – a celebration of architecture and design, honoring those who create it. Haven’t been? Never entered the competition? Or don’t want to take the time? Here are five good reasons why you should… Get your work in front of a wide and varied audience. Last year, AIA Pittsburgh welcomed over 1,000 individuals during the 2013 Design Pittsburgh program, including architects, sponsors, media partners, businesses, community and cultural leaders, and design enthusiasts. Additionally, there were over 2,300 individuals who viewed the Design Award Submissions online and voted for the People’s Choice Award. There’s a different jury every year. Submitted a project last year that didn’t take top prize? Each year you’ll have...