Surrounded by family, friends, and faith, Elmer Burger, AIA passed away on Sunday, December 22, 2019. Elmer attended Carnegie Mellon University and received his BFA and BArch from the Rhode Island School of Design. He was employed by several architecture firms in Boston, Washington D.C., and Pittsburgh during his career. He retired as the University Architect/Planner of Point Park University in 2018. Elmer served as President of AIA Pennsylvania in 2008, was previously on the AIA Pittsburgh Board of Directors, was an active member of the Master Builders Association, and was often invited to be a guest critique at Carnegie Mellon University. His notable works include the Camp Kon-O-Kwee dining hall, PNC First Side, UPMC Hospital Palermo, the Masonic Temple...

AIA President Bill Bates, FAIA, announces that the organization is launching a comprehensive review of the process used to select its award recipients “to promote the highest professional standards among members and within the profession” at A’19 in Las Vegas. This past June more than 20,000 architects from all over the US and beyond gathered in Las Vegas for A’19, and took a stand for a sustainable future. Architects designing for a better future means taking on the critical challenges facing cities, and our world, today. This was a key message of A’19 as the theme of Blueprint for Better was interwoven throughout the conference. Blueprint for Better, an initiative of AIA National, highlights how architects are working with clients and...

S. Philip Hundley, AIA, Medal of Distinction honoree Richard DeYoung, FAIA, Chip Desmone, AIA, John Martine, AIA, and Michelle Fanzo at the AIA PA Awards viewing party held at Bohlin Cywinski Jackson. This past Thursday, November 15th, the AIA Pittsburgh community gathered to watch the AIA Pennsylvania Architectural Excellence Design Awards.  The awards were live-streamed during a viewing party at Bohlin Cywinski Jackson’s downtown Pittsburgh offices. Remarks from president-elect of AIA Pennsylvania, Chip Desmone, AIA kicked off the evening.  Mr. Desmone let the crowd know that AIA Pittsburgh was proudly celebrating four Special Award Recipients this year: Timothy Khalifa of Carnegie Mellon University was the Student Award Recipient, Rich DeYoung, FAIA received the Medal of Distinction, Urban Design Build Studio was selected as  Impact...

Dello Russo has worked in general contracting and at the National Aviary and Girls Scouts Western Pennsylvania Marissa Dello Russo is AIA Pittsburgh’s new Membership Marketing & Communications Associate. Dello Russo earned a degree in Communication/ PR from Slippery Rock University and brings a wealth of communications and membership experience to her new role from her previous position at the Girl Scouts and National Aviary.  Additionally, experience as an assistant project manager for her family’s general contracting company in Riverhead, NY makes her a natural fit to step into this position at AIA Pittsburgh. “I am excited to learn and grow with the AIA and participate in the large-scale events that go on each year,” says Dello Russo who is also looking...

Quintin Kittle, AIA, Emily Dritz, Michelle Fanzo, Mike Gwin, AIA, and Ken Doyno, AIA enjoying some downtime at A’18. in New York City. This past June, architects from all over the world gathered in New York City for A’18, AIA’s Conference on Architecture.  Local members in attendance remarked that New York City was the perfect place to set the stage for this year’s theme: Blueprint for Better Cities. AIA Pittsburgh President Mike Gwin, AIA had the unique experience this year in that he attended a lot of conversations with architects running for office at AIA National (see the winners here) and through those candidate conversations what became clear were several main themes and elevated priorities for the AIA: Relevancy: How...

Click here or on the image above to view the video of Kermit Baker’s presentation This week AIA chief economist, Kermit Baker, released his Top 10 factors influencing the built environment and discussed the impact they will have on business. Following is a summary of his findings, while the above video provides a deeper dive into his thinking. Top 5 Challenges for the A/ E/ C community 1. Labor force: Few women and young people (under 35) are attracted to the construction labor force, 3.1% and 33.2% respectively. Immigrants, however, are attracted to the work, but half of the immigrant workforce in construction is undocumented and are vulnerable to deportation. 2. Construction costs: Costs are rising faster than inflation. Overall...

Kellner has worked in the nonprofit field her entire career, most notably spending 10 years at The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and five years with the American Diabetes Association. Kira Kellner is AIA Pittsburgh’s new Manager, Programming and Development, replacing Rachael Kelley who left in April to become the executive director of the Housing Innovation Alliance. Kellner brings a wealth of fundraising and event planning experience for other notable nonprofits making her a natural fit to step into this highly demanding role at AIA Pittsburgh. In her spare time, Kellner serves as the race director of the Brentwood Firecracker 5k, one of the largest 5k races in Western Pennsylvania, which takes place on the 4th of July in Brentwood, PA. In...

AIA today reaffirmed its commitment to climate change mitigation and announced it was opposing the Administration’s decision to withdraw the United States as a signatory to the Paris Agreement. That accord, signed in late 2015 within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), commits the international community to fighting harmful greenhouse gas emissions.The United States must remain a leader in the battle to cease harmful and needless practices that damage the planet and its climate, acting out of both environmental concerns and national economic interests. Instead of helping our economy, as the Administration contends, withdrawing from the Paris Agreement will put us behind our major global competitors.” “The United States must remain a leader in the battle to...

Mancini’s Bread Company (“Mancini’s”) invites submission of a Statement of Qualifications to provide construction design services for the Mancini’s Bakery Expansion Project. The commercial bakery will renovate about 2,500 square feet of the existing ground floor bakery and add about 6,000 square feet of new, one and one-half story, masonry and structural steel construction to the existing bread bakery facilities, located in McKees Rocks, PA, 15136. Download the full RFQ due May 26: Architects RFQ for Mancini’s bakery expansion.

Through her 25 years of varied experience, Fanzo cites an ongoing fascination with cities and the built environment. Michelle comes to AIA Pittsburgh with an accomplished background in public policy, international affairs, and journalism. Michelle spent nearly two decades working with the United Nations, non-profits and governments to develop initiatives and policies to improve peoples’ lives and their communities. Highlights include being part of Kofi Annan’s Executive Team when he was UN Secretary-General and directing a grassroots NGO in Afghanistan that helped empower women and strengthen civil society. Since founding Four Corners Consulting in 2009, Michelle has supported international organizations, foundations, companies and non-profits on a wide variety of policy and program issues. She is a non-resident Fellow at the World...