(Click to enlarge)

On a beautiful day in September the 17th Annual AIA Golf Tournament, which benefits the Valencia Community College Foundation, was held at Orange County National Golf Club, Crooked Cat and Panther Lake. Over 200+ golfers participated and $16,000 was raised for scholarships at the college. Over the past five (5) years, more than $90,000 has been raised through the AIA Golf Tournament to benefit Valencia students.

Prizes were awarded to the following persons: Dave Powers, Whitt Wyatt, Kevin McGrath, Mike Dunn (First Place Winners); Bob Caron, Scott Harter, Jim Caron, Jay Watt (Second Place Winners); and Pete Pace, Bob Bissell, Mike Chatham, Bill Beckham (Third Place Winners). Longest Drive winners were John Billingham and Mike Swartout (Men) and Carole Hingtgen and Maureen Michel (Women). Closest to the Pin prizes went to Douglas Dufresne and Kevin Griffin ; Carole Hingtgen and Flimiko Smeltz (Women). Congratulations to all of our winners!
 

Michael Lingerfelt, AIA Golf Chairman assisting players at the event (Click to enlarge)

AIA Orlando wishes to thank Tournament Sponsors Valencia Foundation & National Graphic Imaging; Corporate Sponsors ABC Fine Wine & Spirits, C.T. Hsu & Associates; and Beverage Cart Sponsor Pertree Constructors, Inc., Aegis Law Firm; Tee Sponsors Starmer Ranaldi, Williams Company, HHCP, Welbro Building Corporation, TLC Engineering for Architecture, Winter Park

Construction, Triangle Reprographics, Nodarse & Associates, McCree Inc., BRPH Companies, Inc.,

O’Donnell, Naccarato, Mignogna &Jackson, Rhodes & Brito Architects, National Gypsum, HOAR

Steve Lambert & Jay Bowler (Click to enlarge)

Construction, Turner Construction, D&B Tile Distributors; Greens Sponsors Burton Braswell Middlebrooks, Siemens Building Technologies, Inc., Galen Miller, Tailored Foam of Florida, Brasfield and Gorrie; and Friends of AIA Bermello, Ajamil & Partners and Central Florida Builders Exchange. Also, we would like to thank the Prize Sponsors Mapei Corporation, Solomon Colors, Imaging Technologies, CADD Centers of Florida, Schluter Systems, Noble Company, Protecto Wrap, StonePeak Ceramics, for all of their donations to the event.  A tournament of this magnitude would not have been possible without the generous support of these fine companies. The AIA sincerely thanks you.

By Tom Griffin, AIA

Steve Murphy, AIA, President of the AIA Orlando Chapter, presided over the Annual Business Meeting on October 30 at the Orlando Museum of Art.  He reiterated AIA Orlando’s many activities during 2006, and our members involvement in several community groups such as Coalition for the Homeless and Habitat for Humanity.  He mentioned our significant donations to Valencia Community College Foundation and A Gift For Teaching.

Through the efforts of Nathan Butler, AIA and John Ehrig, AIA, our chapter was awarded a grant from AIA National to produce a DVD about the Art and Architecture program of excellent design for low-income housing that has been so successful in Central Florida.  Congratulations!

Hamid Khanli, AIA gave the Treasurer’s Report – AIA Orlando is financially sound and on budget.  Carl Shea, AIA reported on AIA Orlando’s membership.  We have 442 Architects, 78 Associates, and 95 Allied Members.

Officer elections were held with the following members chosen to lead the chapter in 2007:

Carl Shea, AIA – President Elect
Hank Wolf, AIA – Secretary
Bob Miller, FAIA – Public Outreach and Government Affairs
Nathan Butler, AIA – State Director – AIA Florida Board
John Ehrig, FAIA -  State Director – AIA Florida Board
Bob Burke, AIA – Chapter Director – Awards & Recognition
Kristopher Stenger, AIA – Young Architects Forum Representative
Larry Trobough – Professional Allied Representative

They will be joining the other AIA Orlando Board Members remaining for 2007.  Congratulations and thanks for your hard work and leadership in our chapter.

C.T. Hsu (Click to enlarge)

This summer, AIA Florida honored C.T. Hsu + Associates as its “2006 Firm of the Year.”  This award recognizes outstanding achievement by an architectural firm in the areas of design, community service, education, and service to the profession and AIA.  At our AIA Orlando meeting on October 30, C.T. Hsu, Tim McNicholas, and Nathan Butler talked about their firm’s evolution (from survival mode to maturity), and their plans for the future.

Ran-Getsu of Toyko Restaurant (Click to enlarge)

The Survival Years: 1984-1989

C.T. Hsu went to architectural school at the Tung-Hai University in Taiwan, and graduate school at M.I.T.  He worked for a while with Brooks, Hensley, Creager Architects, P.S. in Spokane, Washington.  When he moved to Orlando in 1984 to set up his own firm, he modeled his practice after BHC.  The overwhelming challenge was “survival.” The firm had no name recognition, no track record, difficulty hiring qualified people, cash flow tribulations, and cultural differences to overcome.  They needed to get any architectural work that they could.  Simultaneously, CT got M/WBE certified, became involved with mainly the Asian American community, and participated in Leadership Orlando, where he would meet many current and future business leaders.  He also created a “sister company” Florida Crown Investments (FCI), to augment the practice with real estate investments and possible development opportunities.

Edgewater High School Expansion project (Click to enlarge)

Their breakthrough came in the way of Ran-Getsu of Toyko Restaurant on International Drive. The successfully completed project led to CT’s first ever AIA-related function: serving on the Host Committee for the AIA National Convention in Orlando, which celebrated AIA Gold Medalist and internationally renowned Japanese architect Kenzo Tange at Ran-Getsu. The project also led to the firm’s designing more prominent restaurants on International Drive.

Suzhou Performing Arts and Exhibition Center (Click to enlarge)

The Growing Years: 1990-1999

During this time, the firm started pursuing international work in Brazil and elsewhere in South America, China and other Asian countries, and the Middle East.  They set up a West Coast office, and had the opportunity to team up with other local architectural firms on big projects.  C.T. Hsu + Associates doubled the size of their office. In this time of quick growth, their challenges included lots of travel to service international commissions, branch office maintenance, international fee collection, and staff development. Award-winning designs generated during this period included Edgewater High School Expansion project, Seminole County Softball Complex, Universal Studios Transportation Center, and Suzhou Performing Arts and Exhibition Center.

Orange County Convention Center West Entrance (Click to enlarge)

The Maturing Years: 2000-Present

The firm now has a steady size of about 25 people.  They are refocused on Central Florida, and work to constantly improve the firm through best practice goals, full-fledged staff development, and community leadership.  Their challenges include the growing desirability and demand for (1) the Design/Build delivery method; (2) proficiency with new design tools such as B.I.M. (Building Information Modeling), and (3) fully integrated services including real estate development, land acquisition, design, and construction for “turnkey” projects.  Award-winning designs generated during this period include Boone High School Comprehensive Needs project, Orange County Convention Center West Entrance, Festival Bay, and Valencia Community College Public Safety Institute Campus Building 1.

Tim McNicholas (Click to enlarge)

The firm is also working on developing the next generation of professional and community leaders in the firm.  Principal Tim McNicholas was an early intern at C.T. Hsu + Associates who took a leave of absence to get his graduate degree in architecture at Harvard University, and came back to help lead the firm.  Others have followed in his footsteps.  Senior Associate Nathan Butler mentioned that when he moved to Orlando, he immediately got involved in YAF, which continues to be a focus for introducing promising architects to the firm.  Other areas of staff development include “C.T. Hsu University,” in-house mentoring, professional memberships (especially AIA), continuing education, and a strong focus on community involvement.

The Future

C.T. Hsu + Associates expressed several intentions for the future.  They are committed to help more Orlando architectural firms attain AIA Florida’s Firm of the Year recognition. They also intend to enter the healthcare market in the near future, particularly in Florida.  Finally, they are determined to further explore the need for a world-class Design Center in Orlando – similar to the large centers in Dania Beach, Fort Myers, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas – that would not only provide one-stop shopping and design solutions for architects and interior designers, but also bring a host of local and international benefits to the Orlando/Central Florida community.

"Ending Hunger is our MANE objective" Burke, Hogue & Mills and Bellomo-Herbert & Company. 5,664 Food Items. Awarded: Juror’s Favorite, The Animal Planet Award, Best Use of Labels, The Big Canhuna Award, The Peoples Choice (Click to enlarge)

By Michael Alford

The annual design build competition to raise food and awareness for The Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida was held at the Orlando Fashion Square Mall October 17-22nd. SESCO Lighting was the gracious host of this year’s awards gala and celebration, with Mix 105.1’s Dana Taylor emceeing the event. This year's ten entries donated over 29,000 cans of food and an additional $3,100.00 to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida which will help the ongoing efforts to feed the hungry throughout Brevard, Indian River, Lake, Marion, Martin, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Seminole, St. Lucie and Volusia counties.  A special thanks to the Society of Design Administration, AIA Orlando, GES Exposition Services and everyone who helped make this year another successful community service! For additional information regarding next year's competition email Deborah Rusnock at drusnock@burkehoguemills.com or check out the canstruction Orlando web site at http://www.canstruction-orlando.com/.

If YOU watched from the sidelines, YOU missed an excellent opportunity. ONE CAN and YOU CAN make a difference. See you next year…

Largely through the efforts of John Ehrig, FAIA and Nathan Butler, AIA, the AIA Orlando Chapter applied for and was awarded a $15,000 AIA 150 grant to pursue our Art in Architecture program on a national level. Our goal is to facilitate the replication of this program in AIA chapters across the country.  We will be creating a DVD describing the development of an Art in Architecture program.  Additionally, AIA Orlando will develop a presentation for 2008 AIA Grassroots. By sharing what we learned we can help AIA change hundreds of lives one home at a time.

Art in Architecture began as an initiative to address the following community issues:

• A ‘Not in my back yard’ view toward affordable housing
• A shortage of affordable housing units
• Rising costs of housing, real estate, and transportation costs
• Promotion of home ownership and equity building
• Limited affordable housing access to existing urban amenities

AIA Orlando has successfully interfaced with numerous local elected officials, community organizations and local media to complete two Art in Architecture developments. The Art in Architecture initiative benefits communities in the following ways:

• Enhancement of community pride
• Economic enhancement of existing communities
• Providing working class families with affordable access to existing urban amenities
• Creating new neighborhoods and streetscapes that are well designed, promoting the value of good design at the local level
• Fosters the strengthening of relationships between local government and community groups to address housing issues

AIA Orlando is currently working with community leaders in the City of Ocoee, Florida to create Art in Architecture III.  This program will be a development of 54 new affordable housing units, and as such it will include facilitated visioning sessions as well as charrette programs to incorporate community input.  The resource material that will be developed in this initiative will document the process used to facilitate these working sessions.

All of the grant funding from AIA will be used for the production of the DVD and other collateral material which will then be provided back to AIA for national distribution.

By AIA Orlando Charrette Staff

Downtown is growing!  During the past 5 years, Orlando’s city center has become more active, vibrant, and…populated!  With all the new residences and businesses blossoming in the Downtown area, come new demands on our roads.

In July 2005, the City joined in partnership with the Florida Department of Transportation, to develop a new “blueprint” to address the current and future Downtown transportation challenges of the “City Beautiful”.  Over the past year a series of public workshops have taken place to identify the key issues, and formulate long-term solutions.  The key topics of concern include:

• Parking;
• Transit;
• Walking/Biking;
• Roadways and Traffic; and,
• Freight Mobility.

The most recent public workshop was hosted by Mayor Buddy Dyer in the Overlook Room at City Hall on October 5, 2006.  The workshop included an informal open house setting, in which the community had the opportunity to review concepts, and action steps for implementing solutions with planners and City staff.  Participants were encouraged to provide feedback and comments.

Downtown Transportation Map (Click to view pdf)

The preliminary plan, as seen in the map attached extends beyond the traditional Downtown boundaries to include an area that stretches south from ORMC, north to Florida Hospital, and west from the Citrus Bowl, east to Thornton Park.

The final downtown transportation plan will be available December 2006.

Project highlights:

• Traffic redirection on parts of Orange Ave.
• Introduction of two-way traffic on the north end of Orange Ave.
• Introduction of two-way traffic on parts of Magnolia Ave.
• "Orlando Urban Trail" – a new bike/ pedestrian trail adjacent to I-4
• Intersection improvements
• Commuter rail stations
• Extended bus routes
• Exploration of introduction of street car routes

AIA Orlando’s free events made possible through Chapter sponsorship!

It has been a goal of the AIA Orlando Board of Directors to provide free meetings to our members. Many AIA Chapters around the country charge a fee for most chapter meetings. This year AIA Orlando had eight free events and the goal is to provide even more services in the future. The main reason we are able to provide free meetings to our members is because of sponsorship and the many companies that participate every year! Therefore, we would like to take this time to thank and recognize our Chapter Sponsors this year for their support!

Your support of AIA Orlando enables our organization to provide stimulating and educational programs to our membership. It is critically important that we in return provide your company with recognition, exposure and access to our membership. We intend to continually improve our Chapter Sponsorship program and your feedback is essential for AIA to achieve this objective. If you can assist in our efforts please contact Karen Jones at (407) 898-7006 with any suggestions or feedback. Your input is very important to us.

2006 AIA Orlando Chapter Sponsors

January Event:

Induction Meeting & RLF Presentation, Thursday, Jan. 27 Free Event
Sponsor: RLF, Inc.

February Event:

Louis I. Kahn: The Eternal & the Circumstantial Free Event
Sponsor: Kincaid Construction

March Event:

AIA Orlando & YAF Social & Meeting, Mentoring Beyond IDP, Thursday, March 30th Free Event
Sponsor: City of Eatonville

April Event:

Design Awards Gala, Sat., April 29th

Sponsors: ADG, Inc., Avid, Bloodgood, Sharp & Buster, Bobes Assoc., Brasfield & Gorrie, Burke, Hogue & Mills, C.T.Hsu & Assoc., CDM, Clancy & Theys, CEG, DLR, FBI, Genesis, HHCP, HLM-Heery, HuntonBrady, Jack Jennings & Sons, Lamm & Co., Matern, Nodarse, PBS&J, R. Miller Arch., Schenkel Shultz, Sesco, Tech Consulting Research, The Ultimate in Framing, TLC, Triangle Repro, Turner, URS, Workscapes
                                   

May Event:

Design Party, Wednesday, May 24th

Sponsors: Philco Construction, Matern Professional Engineering, Rick Swisher Architect, Inc., Wharton-Smith, Gap Architectural Products, Daly Design Group, Inc., VOA Architects, Burton Braswell Middlebrooks, Planning Design Group, LLC, Thomas W. Ruff, Poali Furniture, The Frederick Watkins Company, Sesco Lighting, The Sherwin Williams Co., Options Business Furniture, Inc., Duraports, Inc., Knoll, Workscapes, NGI Printing, Starmer Ranaldi, Commercial Design Services, Greater Orlando CSI

Healthcare Committee Meeting, Thursday, May 25th Free Event
Sponsors: Forbo Flooring, STERIS Corporation, Johns Manville, Solar Direct, Kohler Company, Steelcase & TW Ruff, Formica Corporation, Workplace Resource of Florida, Commercial Flooring Distributors, Lighting Partners of Central Florida, M.J. Harris, Inc., Knoll, Inc., FBI-Haworth

June Event:

What’s Up Downtown & Virtual Orlando, Thursday, June 22 Free Event
Sponsor: Clancy & Theys Construction

July Event:

UCF Project Tour, Thursday, July 20th Free Event
Sponsors: Design Weave; Finfrock Design-Manufacture-Construct, Inc.; Fugleberg Koch; Graphics Systems; Harris Civil Engineers; Jack Jennings & Sons, Inc.; KLG, LLC; Palmer Electric Co.; Rogers & Sark Roofing Technologies; Service Painting Corporation; Sesco Lighting

August Event:

OCPS Update: Design & Construction, Thursday, 24th Free Event
Sponsors: Centex Construction , Skanska, McCree Design Builders, Inc. , Wharton Smith, Inc. Cummings General Contractors

September Event:

17th Annual AIA Orlando Golf Tournament, Friday, 22nd
Sponsors: Valencia Foundation, National Graphic Imaging,  ABC Fine Wine and Spirits, C.T. Hsu & Associates,  Pertree Constructors, Inc., Aegis Law Firm, Starmer Ranaldi, Williams Company, HHCP, Welbro Building Corporation, TLC Engineering for Architecture, Winter Park Construction, Triangle Reprographics, Nodarse & Associates, McCree Inc., BRPH Companies, Inc., O’Donnell, Naccarato, Mignogna & Jackson, Rhodes & Brito Architects,  National Gypsum, Burton Braswell Middlebrooks, Burton Braswell Middlebrooks, Siemens Building Technologies, Inc., Galen Miller, Tailored Foam of Florida,  Brasfield & Gorrie, Bermello, Ajamil &Partners, Central Florida Builders Exchange, Noble Company, Schluter Systems, CADD Centers of Florida, Imaging Technologies, Solomon Colors, Mapei Corporation,  StonePeak Ceramics,  Protecto Wrap, D&B Tile Distributors 

October Event:

AIA Orlando Annual Meeting and Special Lecture, Monday 30th Free Event
Sponsors: Allan and Conrad, Inc., Welbro Building Corporation, TLC Engineering for Architecture, Advanced Structural Design Inc., Clancy & Theys Construction Company, TKW Consulting Engineers, Engineering & Environmental Design, Inc., Geotechnical and Environmental Consultants, Inc., Skanska USA Building, Williams Company, Nodarse & Associates, Inc., Foster Conant & Associates

November Event:

AIA Orlando Induction Meeting and Presentation from Maurizio Maso, AIA, Thursday, 16th Free Event

Sponsors: Centex Construction, TLC Engineering for Architecture, Williams Company, PPI Construction Management, Inc., Burton Braswell Middlebrooks Associates, Inc., Harris Civil Engineers, LLC., Skanska USA Building Inc., Cost Management Inc., Haworth

Jonathon Schuchmann, P.E.

Jonathon Schuchmann, P.E. (Allied AIA) is a Principal/Senior Engineer with Structural

Design Concepts, Inc., a new structural engineering firm in the Orlando area.  He grew up in Minnetonka, Minnesota and graduated from the Milwaukee School of Engineering located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  Jon has been working in Florida since 1998 and was married to his wife, Audrah, in December 2004.

Florida Department of Transportation District Ones’ Regional Transportation Management Center (RTMC) is nearing construction as Bermello Ajamil & Partners, Inc. finalizes permitting. Located at Daniel’s Parkway and Interstate 75 at the rest area in Lee County, the $34.5 million, three-story, 49,500 square foot facility for District One, Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) and Motor Carrier Compliance Office (MCCO) will house all management offices in one facility.  The RTMC will serve as the regional hub for traffic management and state law enforcement functions throughout Collier, Lee, Charlotte, Sarasota, and Manatee counties.  The facility will house staff for all three agencies operating 24/7 supporting FDOT, FHP dispatch and 511 service throughout I-75 and Alligator Alley.  The facility offers the latest in technology with a stress reduction center, media parking area and media center, state of the art electronics, and fiber optics and the future home of the FDOT satellite center for I-75. The design/build team is comprised of Miller Electric, The Haskell Corporation, Bermello Ajamil & Partners, Inc. and other subcontractors and consultants. Haskell plans to break ground on the new management center near the beginning of November, 2006.

B&A’s most recent awarded projects include: Master Plans for (The World), the islands of Ireland and Antarctica, and Dubai Maritime City, Dubai; South Miami Hospital Expansion and Renovation and the Orange Bowl Stadium Renovation in Miami.

Winter Park, Fla. – RLF – a Winter Park-based architecture, engineering and interiors firm – recently finished upgrading the emergency power distribution system at the Florida Hospital Orlando campus. The project connected the existing hospital to the new Energy Office Building designed by TLC Engineering. The connection provides additional capacity and redundancy for emergency power in the event of a utility company power outage or failure, keeping the hospital fully functional during hazardous weather conditions.

“Over the past two years, all emergency power loads within the existing hospital have been reconnected to the new paralleling switchgear located in the Energy Office Building,” explained Ken Mason, P.E. vice president/director of electrical engineering with RLF. “Because the project was designed with multiple construction phases, the work was completed without any major disruptions to the hospital.”

In addition to local health care projects, RLF works with the Department of Defense on health care facilities throughout the country and overseas.

The Orlando-based Florida Division of Clancy & Theys Construction Company, one of America’s leading contractors, was awarded the contract for Lake County Public Schools’ $19.4 million, 122,000-square-foot Elementary School I in Clermont, FL. Designed by SchenkelShultz Architecture, completion is scheduled for July 2007.

Clancy & Theys Construction Company, founded in 1949, operates five divisions in the Southeast including Orlando, FL, Charlotte, NC, Raleigh, NC, Wilmington, NC, and Newport News, VA. With 2005 revenue exceeding $400 million, Clancy & Theys is nationally ranked among Engineering News-Record magazine’s Top 100 Construction Managers-At-Risk, Engineering News-Record’s Top 400 Contractors and Building Design & Construction magazine’s 100 Largest Commercial Contractors.

The Florida division has been in operation since 1991, specializing in construction management, design/build, and general contracting for the commercial, municipal, distribution, education and resort markets. The division is located at 2101 Park Center Drive, Suite 150, Orlando, FL 32835, telephone 407-578-1449. The company’s website is www.clancytheys.com.

Hillsborough exterior (Click to enlarge)

What college student doesn’t know his way around a mall? HuntonBrady Architects just unveiled its Student Services Building at Hillsborough Community College in Brandon, Florida which is designed around a “one stop shopping” idea for user-friendliness when navigating the confusing world of registration, admissions and academic advising The 60,000 square foot building’s 2-storied atrium is designed to mimic a retail mall where student services are treated as retail stores.  HuntonBrady Architects, an Orlando based architecture, planning and interior design firm, received a design award from the Orlando Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) in 2005 for the project. The building opened to students in April 2006.

The building houses offices for admissions and records, counseling and advising, bursar, career placement and testing, food services, a bookstore, and student government. It also includes an auditorium and conference rooms, as well as classroom space for electronic and manufacturing technology vocational programs. HCC’s Student Services Building creates a “pivot point” for future campus growth, and adds new materials and geometries to the campus. Its dramatic two-story atrium creates a collegial environment conducive to interaction and learning.

It’s that time again! The AIA Orlando Chapter announces a call of entries for 2007 Awards for Design Excellence. This is the opportunity to display your talents and accomplishments in the celebration of design. Although, there is one change to the judging this year, you will be judged in two categories: Built and Unbuilt. There are many types of projects or submittals where Honor and Merit awards may be presented. AIA Orlando will also present awards for “Young Architects Forum Achievement”, “Test of Time”. “Divine Detail”, and “Contractor of the Year”. Recipients of the “Nils M. Schweizer Award” and the “Chapter Award of Merit” will also be honored.

We look forward to your continued support of AIA Orlando and to your participation in this year’s awards program as we recognize and honor architects’ contributions intend to enrich our community.

For more information about this program feel free to contact AIA Orlando by email at info@aiaorlando.com or by phone at (407)-898-7006. (pdf)

Design Awards Program Schedule

Friday, January 8, 2007:

Completed entry form and fee due. AIA Orlando Member: $80.00
Mail Entry Form and Payment to:

AIA Orlando

930 Woodcock Rd., Suite 226
Orlando, FL 32803

Monday, January 22, 2007:

Black Binders, CD’s, and 16” x 16” presentation boards due at the AIA Chapter Office by 12:00 noon.

Thursday, February 1, 2007:

Jury convenes to judge entries.

Saturday, February 24, 2007:

Awards for Design and Excellence Gala. Orlando Country Club, Orlando, Florida.