Carl W. Shea, AIA

As we come to the close of another year, it is only natural for one to take stock of the year that is about to pass, and look forward to the year that is to come.
I also find myself in a reflective mood.
Like many of you, I am concerned about the many challenging issues of the present, but hopeful for the promise of the future.

For AIA Orlando, like the past several years, 2008 has been a very busy year - from the annual Grassroots Convention in Washington, D.C. in February, to the inaugural “Architecture Month” here in October, and many other successful events in between.
In July we hosted the National AIA Convention selection committee, and found out recently that Orlando was selected as the host for the 2019 National AIA Convention.

For some of our Board Members it has been a year of transition as well. Nathan Butler is joining Michael Lingerfelt, and moving up to the AIA Florida State Board as Vice President in 2009. John Ehrig accepted a position on the state regulatory Florida Board of Architecture and Interior Design. Rick Krent, our Programs Comm. Chair, accepted a job position in Dubai, UAE.
Many of our Board Members will continue their service in the coming year, and we will welcome a few new ones as well.

Of course, unfortunately, as is the case most of the time, you also have to take the bad with the good.
As we all know, the economy is in rough shape these days, and for those members who need our help, we have job listings, and resume posting on the AIA Orlando web-site.
And, as we do each year, we made several charitable donations - including help for some of our less fortunate fellow citizens through the Coalition for the Homeless.
I know many of you help your fellow architects, and the community throughout the year, but this year especially, however you can, please lend a hand to help others – there are many in need.

In closing, I would like to thank our members, the Board, our staff, and our sponsors for a very successful 2008. We look forward to your continued support in 2009.
I am sure there will be many wonderful opportunities for us all to continue to help better our community in the coming year.

It has been an honor and a privilege to serve as your President this year.
Have a wonderful Holiday Season, thank you & God bless …

Carl W. Shea, AIA
AIA Orlando President

AIA Orlando's first year for Architecture Month in October provided many opportunities for members and the community to interact. The open houses at Morris, Cuhaci & Peterson, and Burke Hogue & Mills were all well attended. The Kick-off event at Valencia offered an opportunity for students to interact with Orange County Commissioner Bill Segal and developer Chuck Watters from Hines, who both shared their thoughts on the new performing arts center for downtown Orlando.

The Brandism panel brought people together at the Orlando Museum of Art for a lively discussion and lecture on the forces shaping architecture as a whole and the Orlando community. Canstruction was held at the Fashion Square Mall, and once again it served as a way to promote awareness and understanding throughout the community. A tour of the new OUC office building served as an opportunity to see some new forms of green design in action. The jointly held event between the Orlando and Tampa Bay chapters at Florida Southern College served as a friendly networking social and also enjoyable historical and educational experience, as the film maker Michael Miner showcased the Florida Premier of his new film documenting Frank Lloyd Wright's work at the FSC campus.

The month concluded with the ever-popular Design Party at the History Center, bringing together industry professionals from a variety of organizations.

AIA Orlando would like to thank the many organizations that also listed events on the calendar this year. The chapter has already begun plans for next year, and we look forward to even more exciting events in 2009. We hope to grow this event into a truly cross-community project that benefits all the organizations involved.

The AIA Orlando Chapter is a thriving local component of the American Institute of Architects. AIA Orlando is one of the largest and active chapters among the 13 components in the state of Florida. We currently have 475 AIA Architect Members, 99 Associate AIA members and 86 allied professionals. The total membership for the AIA Orlando Chapter is 660.

AIA Orlando provides many services to its members and the architectural community in the Central Florida area. We provide an annual design awards program to recognize outstanding architectural within our community. We host an annual golf tournament that benefits the Valencia Community College Foundation. To date the golf tournament has raised over $115,000 in scholarship donations for students in financial need. The AIA Orlando Chapter also provides assistance to the Valencia Community College Architectural program through financial assistance for student travel to UF for pinup. There is also a new American Institute of Architects, Students Chapter at Valencia Community College and the AIA Orlando Chapter will partner with the AIAS Chapter on future meetings and events.

The AIA Orlando Chapter continues to provide continuing education seminars and lunch-n-learns for the membership. The chapter also has many lectures and free events for the membership, students and the community.

Currently, the AIA Orlando office consists of two part-time staff (Allison Barnes and Kristi Adkins) and full-time Executive Director, Karen Jones. The architectural community can purchase AIA Contract Paper Documents from the AIA Orlando Office. Interns and Associate AIA members can check out ARE Study materials to help prepare for the ARE Exam. We provide resources on our website such as job & resume postings.

The AIA Chapter has a current budget of over $280,000 that provides resources free events and administrative services to the membership. The chapter also has a reserve CD account which is intended to serve as a cushion should there ever be a dramatic downturn in the economy or difficulty in transferring funds on schedule from AIA National to our local component.

The AIA Orlando Chapter is a thriving local component of American Institute of Architects. AIA Orlando Board, Committees and Staff are always working on new ideas that will benefit the membership and architectural community. I encourage every member to get involved with our local chapter and join one of the many AIA Orlando committees or serve on the board.

Green Outlook Report tracks dramatic growth, forecasts green building over next five years

The U.S. green building market is accelerating at a dramatic rate, says McGraw-Hill Construction's Green Outlook 2009: Trends Driving Change report, released today at the Greenbuild International Conference and Expo in Boston, MA. The value of green building construction starts was up five-fold from 2005 to 2008 (from $10 billion to $36-$49 billion), and could triple by 2013, reaching $96-$140 billion.

McGraw-Hill Construction's Green Outlook 2009 estimates the value of the U.S. green building market over the next five years, providing the first-ever comprehensive insight into the future of this fast-growing segment of the construction industry, based on data found in the McGraw-Hill Construction Network -- powered by the Dodge database, construction industry surveys, data analysis and analysis of other indicators, including increases in LEED certification and government regulation.

"Green growth is phenomenal across the globe," said Harvey M. Bernstein, Vice President of Industry Analytics, Alliances and Strategic Initiatives, McGraw-Hill Construction. "The business opportunities afforded by green building, even in the midst of a global economic crisis, are real and recognized by industry players. Furthermore, green building has great potential to help tackle unemployment through green jobs, and can address other societal issues, such as creating healthier places where we live and work."

Green building is the bright spot in an otherwise tough economy. U.S. Green Building Council members report green building to be less affected by the down market compared to non-green building, and homebuyers are willing to pay more for a green home. Perceived economic benefits are driving green building, including higher revenues, lower lifecycle costs, and lower operating costs, but builders and buyers are also motivated by health benefits, new government regulation, and pressure from global competition.

"Green building creates green jobs that save energy and money," commented Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO, and Founding Chairman, U.S. Green Building Council. "Our community can help solve climate change and the economic crisis while building a new energy economy by putting the greening of existing buildings at the top of our agenda." McGraw-Hill Construction attributes green building's rapid expansion to growing public awareness, an increase in government regulations, and recognition of bottom-line advantages. Since 2005, the perceived benefits of green building have increased and differentiated as people become more knowledgeable about green building. The decrease in operating costs is the most often cited benefit (13.6%, up from 8-9% in 2005), followed by the increase in building values (10.9%, up from 7.5% in 2005).

More information and specific green building projects can be found in the Green Outlook 2009 Report and on the GreenSource website. You may order a copy of the report or visit Greenbuild booth #1410. Two green building SmartMarket Reports will also come out this week: The Green Home Consumer and Commercial & Institutional Green Building.

About McGraw-Hill Construction
McGraw-Hill Construction connects people, projects and products across the design and construction industry. For more than a century, the Company has remained North America's leading provider of construction project information, plans and specifications, product information, industry news, and industry trends and forecasts. In print and online, the Company offers a variety of tools, applications, and resources that easily integrate with its customers' workflows. Backed by the power of Dodge, Sweets, Architectural Record, Engineering News-Record (ENR), GreenSource and 11 regional publications, McGraw-Hill Construction serves more than one million customers within the $4.6 trillion global construction community. To learn more, visit http://www.construction.com/.

About The McGraw-Hill Companies
Founded in 1888, The McGraw-Hill Companies (NYSE:MHP) is a leading global information services provider meeting worldwide needs in the financial services, education and business information markets through leading brands including Standard & Poor's, McGraw-Hill Education, BusinessWeek and J.D. Power and Associates. The Corporation has more than 280 offices in 40 countries. Sales in 2007 were $6.8 billion. Additional information is available at http://www.mcgraw-hill.com/.

Robert Miller, FAIA

The Florida American Institute of Architects awarded Robert Miller, FAIA its prestigious Charles M. Clary Government Service Award. Charles W. Clary, FAIA, from Destin, is a former member of the Florida Senate. The award is given to an AIA Florida architect who, by their interest, activity and concern for the profession of architecture, shall have advanced the cause of good design and planning, and/or contributed to the dignity and value of the architectural profession as an elected or an appointed or employed government official.

Miller’s service to society began in 1968 as a spokesman for the environment at the University of Florida School of Architecture. Since obtaining his architectural license at the age of 29, he has steadfastly sought to honor the profession by serving society through government and volunteer opportunities. During the past fifteen years he has personally invested more than 7,000 hours as an elected City Councilman, as well as Chairman and Board Member on more than twelve government and faith-based volunteer organizations.

Miller was selected to receive the award by a jury of his peers. The award was bestowed upon Miller at the AIA Florida Convention at The Breaker’s in West Palm at their annual convention August 2, 2008.

Miller is the President of R. Miller Architecture, Inc. in Winter Park and former Councilman for the City of Maitland.

Maurizio Maso, AIA

Orlando, FL -The University of Florida School of Architecture faculty has named HuntonBrady Architects Design Principal Maurizio Maso, AIA, the 2008 Distinguished Alumnus. He was honored this spring at a ceremony at the University of Florida College of Design, Construction and Planning in Gainesville. Maso received both his Bachelors and Masters degrees in Architecture from UF, and frequently returns as a guest critic. He is also a member of the UF Professional Liaison Committee.

Maso’s award-winning projects grace the landscape of Florida, including buildings for Seminole, Valencia, Daytona, Hillsborough, Broward and Central Florida Community Colleges; Florida Hospital; and numerous other commercial, government and religious clients. His most recent work includes the design of the new College of Medicine building for University of Central Florida, which will open in fall 2009.

Beverly Currin, IIDA, Interior Designer with the Orlando, Florida office of VOA Associates Incorporated, has been promoted to Vice President. Ms. Currin is a registered Interior Designer whose broad range of experience for corporate, healthcare and public clients includes new construction, large-scale interior renovation projects, design development, space planning, client presentations and interior construction. Her portfolio features projects for prestigious corporate clients throughout Florida and the Southeast, including CB Richard Ellis, CNL Financial Group, Inc., Morrison Commercial Real Estate, Lincoln Property Company, Parkway Properties, Eola Capital, and Suntrust Corporate Real Estate.

Joanna Del Moral, Director of Business Development with the Orlando office of VOA Associates Incorporated, has been promoted to Vice President. Ms. Del Moral joined VOA in October 2004 as an Associate. As Vice President, she continues to lead the firm's marketing efforts in the development of new business, including research and assessment of new and emerging markets and potential clients/projects. Ms. Del Moral has been instrumental in securing projects worth over $150 million in construction value and in developing new business within the Gaming, Healthcare, Hospitality, and Entertainment markets worldwide.

ORLANDO, FL (October 7, 2008) – C.T. Hsu + Associates has designed a new freestanding store prototype for Goodwill Industries of Central Florida with the first 12,000-square-foot location now open in Winter Springs, Fla.

“The architecture of the building is breathtaking,” according to Goodwill Industries. “It sports Goodwill's new designs and colors, along with extensive mission marketing.” C.T. Hsu + Associates also is working with the organization to identify strategic properties in other highly visible locations that will best serve both clients and donors.

Since 1959, Goodwill Industries of Central Florida (www.goodwillcfl.org) has been providing vocational and job placement services to people with disabilities and other barriers to employment so that they may gain long-term employment, improve their lives, and become full participating members of our community.

Orlando, FL (November 5, 2008) – Throughout the year the employee-owners of DLR Group recognize peers for their commitment to the firm and willingness to accept increased ownership roles. The following employees were recognized by DLR Group at its regional annual meeting.

Promoted to Senior Associate in the Firm:
Janice Poley leads the firm’s marketing strategies for the justice, corporate, hospitality, and K-12 education practices on a regional level and has seven years experience with the firm.

Mark Kaiser, AIA has extensive experience in project management, planning and design, construction documents, and permitting and construction administration with several Florida school districts. Kaiser is serving as project manager overseeing DLR Group’s $27.6 million Winter Park Ninth Grade Center Renovation/Addition project with the Orange County School District.

Promoted to Associate in the Firm:
Cindi Gardner is the Administrative Leader for the Orlando office and has over fourteen years experience in the Architectural/Engineering/Construction industry in Central Florida.

Lisa Rambo serves as the Orlando Brand Communications Manager and has more than ten years experience in marketing and communications.

Wayne Skala, AIA, LEED-AP offers clients more than 30 years of experience in planning, project management and construction administration for public safety, detention, commercial, and education projects. He has practiced internationally and has conducted seminars on the International Building Code. Skala is both CDT Certified and LEED accredited.