Jim G. Ward, RLA, AICP (Click to enlarge)

The 2007 Design Awards Gala was held by AIA Orlando on Saturday, February 24th at the Country Club of Orlando.  This beautiful setting allowed AIA members and guests to relax and enjoy the evening of prestigious awards.  Boards of the submitted design projects were displayed in the adjoining room, and projected on screens during the banquet.

The awards presentation was humorously hosted by Committee Chairman Bob Burke, AIA, John Ehrig, FAIA, and 2006-7 AIA Orlando President Steve Murphy.  The ceremonies began with the presentation of the Service Awards to specific individuals and companies who have contributed significantly to the community and the profession.

Jeffrey Manuel, ASLA (Click to enlarge)

AWARD OF MERIT
This award is given to recognize an individual citizen, public official, or member of an allied profession, who is not an architect, who shall have advanced the cause of good design and planning and/or has enhanced the public awareness of the value of architects and architecture to society. This year we awarded two people for their

service in the community.

Jim G. Ward, RLA, AICP
Chief of Urban Design
Orange County Planning Division

Jeffrey Manuel, ASLA
Glatting Jackson Kercher Anglin, Inc.

CONTRACTOR OF THE YEAR AWARD
This Award is given to a company or firm in the State of Florida who has exemplified a sincere and genuine interest in encouraging and effecting outstanding craftsmanship and workmanship in the performance of work on a specific project.  Such a company may be a general contractor, sub-contractor, manufacturer, etc. This year the award went to Centex Construction for their service on the Polk Community College & USF Lakeland Technology Building. The architect on project was HuntonBrady Architects.

Ronok Doolen Nichols, AIA (Click to enlarge)

Young Architects Forum Achievement Award
This award will be given to a young architect/intern who consistently demonstrates excellence and exceptional promise. The award looks at the nominee’s leadership qualities, role within a team atmosphere, special abilities and community involvement. The award went to Ronok Doolen Nichols, AIA from Heery-HLM Architects

After the Service Awards were applauded, the Gala continued with the announcements of the Awards for Design Excellence winners.

Engineering III (Click to enlarge)

In The Built Category:

AWARD OF EXCELLENCE - UCF Engineering III, Orlando, Florida

Submitted By: Baker Barrios Architects, Orlando Florida

Jury Comments: Simple geometric vocabulary.
Tasteful iconic roof gesture expresses the organization of the plan. The addition of this building, into the existing context, completes, enhances and defines the urban space.

AWARD OF EXCELLENCE - United States Federal Courthouse, Eugene, Oregon

Submitted By: DLR Group, Orlando, Florida

Jury Comments: Interiors are spectacular. Great consistency between the sculptural exterior and spatial relationships of the interior space. Contemporary organic quality that is pervasive throughout.

The 2007 New American Home (Click to enlarge)

AWARD OF MERIT - The 2007 New American Home, Orlando, Florida

Submitted By: BSB Design, Oviedo, Florida

Jury Comments: Perfect solution to creating an exterior space in a high density environment. Image of the architect is not dictated by the sustainable aspect of the program.

AWARD OF MERIT - El Paso County Courthouse Addition, Colorado Springs, CO

Submitted By: DLR Group, Orlando, Florida

Jury Comments: The building creates a lighted urban square which preserves the spirit & view of the mountain beyond. Interior, lighted art activates the space.

AWARD OF MERIT - Hillsborough Community College-Brandon Campus, Tampa, Florida

Submitted By: Huntonbrady Architects, Orlando, Florida

Jury Comments: Interior atrium is very successful spatial connector. The building seems to work well bridging the existing campus to the area of future development.

United States Courthouse (Click to enlarge)

In The Unbuilt Category:

AWARD OF EXCELLENCE - United States Courthouse, Las Cruces, New Mexico

Submitted By: Heery-Hlm Design, Orlando, Florida

Jury Comments: Simple parti of two bars activated by a transparent central atrium.
Atriums simple juxtaposition of its angular geometry creates dynamic spatial conditions of collective value.

AWARD OF EXCELLENCE - Smartcar Dealership, Orlando, Florida

Submitted By: Fielding W. Featherston, Orlando, Florida

Jury Comments: Urban sculpture mindful of a small site. Incredible sense of clarity.
Successful example of an urban infill project. Innovative solution for the required program.

Daytona International Speedway (Click to enlarge)

AWARD OF EXCELLENCE - Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, Florida 32120

Submitted By: Baker Barrios Architects, Inc., Orlando, Florida

Jury Comments: Dynamic in movement plan. Rich in interpretation of program elements. Successful layering of form and spatial conditions. Sophisticated and mindful of the client.

AWARD OF MERIT - Cape Coral Public Safety Facility

Submitted By: Architects Design Group, Inc., Winter Park, Florida

Jury Comments: Achieves sustainability without sacrificing its creative architectural aesthetic.Extremely rigorous and well resolved plan.

AWARD OF MERIT - Lake County Middle School ‘DD’, Clemont, Florida

Submitted By: SCHENKELSHULTZ, Orlando, Florida

Jury Comments: Very pleasant and simple. Courtyard creates a nice educational sense of community.

This year’s Design Awards Gala was a great success, with many creative and deserving winners.  This exemplifies the high caliber of design and community involvement of the members of AIA Orlando.  Be sure to mark your calendars for next year’s design award submittals and banquet.

Scenes from the 2007 Design Awards Gala

The Country Club of Orlando was a beautiful back drop for this year’s Design Awards for Excellence Gala. We had over 250 members, friends and guests at this event.

AIA Grassroots 2007 (Click to enlarge)

By Robert Miller, FAIA

On February 7-10th, members from the AIA Orlando board attended the AIA Grassroots 2007 conference in Washington D.C.  Representatives from Orlando included Karen Jones, Executive Director; Carl Shea, President-Elect; Mike Lingerfelt, State Director and Bob Miller, Director Government Affairs. The purpose of the AIA Grassroots annual meeting is to educate new local chapter board members and to advocate change on a Federal level by presenting the issues to members of Congress.

AIA Orlando board members spent an entire day meeting individually with Congressmen John Mica, Ric Keller and representatives from Corrine Brown and Tom Feeney’s offices. The Advocacy Day was a tremendous success. AIA Orlando presented the primary issues affecting architects and the clients we represent. This year, the primary issues were threefold:

Federal Building Energy Efficiency*
The AIA believes that the federal government should encourage energy efficiency, especially as it relates to the built environment. Congress, with its authority over federal buildings, can promote energy efficient practices by establishing energy efficiency requirements for newly constructed or significantly renovated federal buildings.

 

Sustainable Design & Water Quality*
Buildings make significant contributions of contaminants to water bodies by diverting rainfall from reaching permeable soil and channeling it to storm water runoff. The AIA advocates strengthening federal regulatory requirements to better control these sources of pollution. Thus the AIA supports legislation that would provide incentives to construct and retrofit buildings and their surrounding landscape that minimize their contribution to water quality degradation. However the first step in this endeavor is to introduce the reauthorization of the Clean Water Act that would require localities who receive funding from the State Revolving Fund (of the Clean Water Act) to consider the use of green infrastructure in water projects.

 

Energy Efficient Commercial Building Tax Deduction*
The 109th Congress approved legislation that provides a tax deduction (26 U.S. Code §179D), for construction energy efficient commercial buildings and for installing energy efficient systems in existing buildings. This deduction, however, expires on December 31, 2008; the AIA believes this deduction should be extended until at least 2013 and that Congress should increase the size of the deduction to make it more effective.

AIA Grassroots 2007 (Click to enlarge)

Congressman Mica & Keller along with representatives from Congresswoman Brown and Congressman Feeney’s offices concurred with the AIA issues and expressed their support.

In addition to the Federal issues, the important local issue of transportation was addressed at each congressional visit. As the senior ranking member of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Congressman Mica shared his vision for transportation opportunities throughout Central Florida.  Congressman Mica, represents Florida’s 7th Congressional District, covering 6 counties from Winter Park to Jacksonville.

For more information on AIA congressional issues or Grassroots please visit www.aia.org.

*Excerpts taken from the AIA Congressional Issue Agenda at www.aia.org

C.T. Hsu (Click to enlarge)

The American Institute of Architects has elevated Orlando architect C.T. Hsu to its prestigious College of Fellows, an honor awarded to members who have made contributions of national significance to the profession.  He is among the 76 members elevated this year, and one of only two in Florida, who will receive their Fellowship medals during an induction ceremony at the AIA National Convention in San Antonio, Texas in May.

“Out of a membership of more than 75,000, there are fewer than 2,500 AIA members distinguished with the honor of fellowship,” according to the AIA.  “It is conferred on architects with at least 10 years of membership in the AIA who have made significant contributions in the following areas: the aesthetic, scientific, and practical efficiency of the profession; the standards of architectural education, training, and practice; the building industry through leadership in the AIA and other related professional organizations; advancement of living standards of people through an improved environment; and to society through significant public service.”

Hsu was nominated in the category reserved for those who make the profession of ever-increasing service to society and sponsored by Maitland architect Robert D. Miller, FAIA.  In support of Hsu’s nomination, Miller noted that “nearly 200,000 people have benefited from Hsu’s volunteer leadership, ranging from pre-Kindergarten students to disabled adults.  He has devoted more than 5,000 volunteer hours in the past decade in service to others, including serving on the boards of directors of 17 charitable and civic organizations and leading six of them as board chairman.  He has donated funds and services equaling $1,091,000 and directly or indirectly raised more than $15 million to address critical community needs.”

Hsu received his Masters of Architecture degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and his Bachelor of Architecture degree from Tung-Hai University in Taiwan.  He is the founder and president of C.T. Hsu + Associates, an Orlando-based architectural planning and design firm that focuses on a mix of mid to large scale projects in the education, government, transportation and mixed use development sectors.  Hsu has been an AIA architect member since January 1980.

The Orlando Chapter of the American Institute of Architects is one of the largest AIA chapters in Florida with more than 500 members, including allied and associate members.  The chapter is dedicated to serving its membership by creating opportunities for professional development and fellowship.

On March 8, 2007 the Construction Industry Council (CIC) met at the Central Florida Builders Exchange. In addition to CIC members and representatives from both Orange County and the city of Orlando, Joe Ranaldi (Starmer Ranaldi Planning and Architecture) and Larry Trobough (Technology Research & Consulting, Inc.) attended as representatives of AIA.

Since this was the first CIC meeting in some time, Larry Roberts of Roberts Engineering, Inc. as the council’s Chair, reviewed the purpose of the council and past efforts. The purpose of the Council is to allow representatives from design, construction, and government to come together in a non-confrontational arena to share information and experiences in an effort to improve the planning and permitting processes.

Orange County and City of Orlando representatives provided information in regard to the permitting services including quantity and dollar volume for various permit types, as well as information on some of the more common problems with plans submitted for permitting. Some of the current hot topics include lack of fire hydrants and fire department access. The city of Orlando currently sees incompleteness of project documents, life safety code violations (including Florida Fire Prevention Code violations), and fire flow calculations not being provided as the top three reasons for commercial plans rejection.

According to Orange County representatives, the current turn around time for permits is eighteen days per submittal with the typical project consisting of two and a half submittals. The average time that plans review has a project is currently forty-five working days. But there are issues that affect the length of time required. Items such as the designer’s experience with the permitting process or the type of project can modify the time required to complete the permitting process. There are also external factors that can have an affect on the length of time required to obtain a permit. Changes to impact fees, the end of the year when a higher number of projects are typically submitted, and the May to June time frame where the number of seasonal permits for fireworks are very high can all lengthen the total turn around time.

Of particular note was information that Orange County has approved the addition of eighteen new positions within the permitting department. Nine of these positions will be Plans Reviewers. The other nine positions will be Inspectors. Interviews for these positions are already underway. City of Orlando representatives indicated that they also have received approval for a similar number of new positions.

The meeting also included a discussion on how specific review comments need to be looked at in order to provide greater clarity and ease of design team response. A couple of specific items were provided as examples, and in one case Orange County representatives noted that the change was simple and would be implemented immediately. Everyone agreed that this item should be discussed at each meeting with an on-going list of specific items being tabulated and addressed one at a time.

The meeting concluded with a discussion related to areas of interest and how those topics could be included in upcoming forums that are put on from time to time. The council is currently looking at a May forum that will include discussion of the Orange County DRC process. The forum in August will focus on the city of Orlando and Baldwin Park. And the forum in October will revolve around various utilities and their permitting processes.

New Barrier Island Sanctuary Center (Click to enlarge)

VOA Associates serves as Design Architect for the new Barrier Island Sanctuary Management & Education Center, a 5,600-square-foot recreation and environmental education center located in Melbourne Beach just three miles north of Sebastian Inlet. The project, which is being undertaken by the Brevard County Environmentally Endangered Lands (EEL) Program, is currently under construction, with completion slated for fall, 2007.

The Center's primary objective is to provide educational opportunities within the Archie Carr Refuge, named for the world-renowned sea turtle expert and ecologist and founder of the Caribbean Conservation Corp., who passed away in 1987. Programs will focus on barrier island habitats and species, with particular attention paid to highlighting sea turtles and providing guided turtle walks. The facility will house space for interactive educational exhibits as well as an auditorium, classroom, observation deck, overlook and gift shop.

The structure will showcase sustainable building design and construction practices, while protecting the native dune vegetation. The site design reduces the developable footprint by carefully locating major elements of the project within already disturbed areas. Other relevant design features include a unique configuration of curved roofs and walls that serve to shelter the entry from prevailing winds as well as create an organic sea-shell appearance and the utilization of special glazing and exterior lighting that will not attract turtles during the nesting season.

Other project highlights include a boardwalk connecting visitors to an already-in-place, mile-long nature trail; a special handicap-accessible coastal viewing platform where the physically disadvantaged will have visual access to the beach, allowing all visitors to see nocturnal turtle nesting on the shores of the Center; and native landscaping and xeri-spacing techniques.

HuntonBrady Architects recently completed interior design services for the Orlando office of Parsons, a global engineering and construction firm.  The 10,000 square foot office, located in the Baldwin Pointe Office Building, houses 50 employees in an open-office, flexible workstation layout. HuntonBrady Architects’ Interior Design team worked closely with Parsons to create an environment conducive to flexibility and collaboration throughout the office.

C.T. Hsu + Associates has completed a preliminary master plan for Threshold, a local organization that serves the needs of children and adults with autistic spectral disorders.  The work was performed pro bono to create a new residential and educational component for the organization’s east Orlando campus, as well as a renovation plan for its existing clinic.

For nearly thirty years, Threshold has served the needs of Central Florida’s children and adults with autism spectrum disorders that can encompass a wide range of functions from language and communication and self-help skills to motor coordination and scholastic achievement. Its Childhood Development Center provides intensive 1:1 instruction for students with autism and developmental disabilities who have significant delays in communication skills and who exhibit severe behavior problems.

Southeast Spine Center (Click to enlarge)

HuntonBrady Architects has been chosen by Lakewood Ranch Commercial Realty to design and build the Southeast Spine Center medical office building within the Lakewood Ranch community in Bradenton, Florida.  Brasfield & Gorrie, a full-service general contractor, has been selected as the construction manager.

The three-story, 100,000 square foot project will include a spine clinic, a physical therapy suite, a bio-skills laboratory, a future 100 seat auditorium, an education center, an imaging center, and administrative offices.  It is scheduled to open in 2008.

Douglas E. Walton, AIA (Click to enlarge)

Douglas E. Walton, AIA, recently joined RLF as a healthcare architect and project manager.  With more than 30 years of experience, Walton brings industry knowledge and resources to complement RLF’s healthcare work, with both the private sector and the federal government.  For the past 25 years, he has managed his own Orlando-based firm – Walton Architectural Associates, Inc. – designing over 400 healthcare projects.  In addition, he has served as an architectural consultant for the State of Florida Agency for Health Care Administration, design director for additions at Holmes Regional Medical Center, and a consulting design architect for Navy and VA hospitals.
 
He has worked on replacement hospitals, women’s centers, clinics, ambulatory surgery centers, emergency departments and cath labs at hospitals in Central Florida, including the VA Healthcare Center, Wuesthoff Hospital, Florida Hospital Fish Memorial and Winter Haven Hospital.  In addition to his professional work, he has served on many boards and committees, including State Director, Florida AIA 1985, 1996-1998 and 2000-2002.  Walton also served as a member of the Orange County Fire and Life Safety Board of Adjustments and Appeals 1998-2000.

Two of Walton’s former associates will be joining RLF as well.  Damian Serrano, Assoc. AIA and Luis Herrand bring more than 35 years of architectural experience to RLF.

Susan Gantt, AIA (Click to enlarge)

Architects Design Group, Inc. (ADG) is pleased to announce two new Project Architects have joined the Winter Park staff.  The husband and wife team of Susan and Edmund Gantt, AIA bring over 40 years of combined architectural experience to ADG, and their addition enhances the company’s experience in public safety, cultural and historical projects.

Both Susan and Edmund Gantt graduated from Virginia Polytechnic & State University with Bachelor of Architecture degrees.  Both have been practicing architecture in Florida for many years, and are members of AIA.  Susan also holds a General Contractor’s license in Florida, and is involved with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the City of Orlando Municipal Planning Board, and a host of other community action committees.

Edmund Gantt, AIA (Click to enlarge)

Prior to joining ADG, the Gantts had their own firm, The Gantt Partnership/Architects, P.A.  Since 1994 they focused their professional practice on cultural, public safety, and other municipal projects as well as the rehabilitation of historic properties and land use planning.  With the two firms having such a similar concentration, it was a natural fit for Susan and Edmund to join the staff of ADG. 

Danny Gordon (Click to enlarge)

HuntonBrady Architects is pleased to announce the following senior staff promotions: Danny Gordon has been promoted to Associate Principal.  He has over 13 years of experience designing and master planning commercial, educational and medical office buildings throughout Florida.  Gordon is considered an expert in the design of investment-grade office buildings. He has degrees from the University of Florida and Clemson University.

Thomas Hagood, Drew Krecicki, and Karen Moorefield have been promoted to Associates.  Thomas Hagood has over twelve years of experience in education, commercial and municipal projects. He graduated from North Carolina State University. Drew Krecicki has 24 years of experience in educational and healthcare projects. He holds degrees from the University of Virginia and the University of Pennsylvania. A director of corporate development for the firm, Karen Moorefield has over 18 years of project administration, marketing, human resources, and business development in the Orlando architectural community.  She leads marketing efforts for the firm’s commercial, corporate consulting and interior design divisions.

On February 20, 2007, R.C. Stevens Construction Co. celebrated the opening of their new branch office at 640 Brevard Avenue, Suite 103 in  Cocoa, FL.   R.C. Stevens’ focus in Brevard County will be to provide design/build services for healthcare, commercial and manufacturer/process facilities.  Founded in Orlando in 1926, R.C. Stevens Construction Co. is a full-service general contractor and construction manager specializing in commercial, industrial and institutional projects.