Please assist the Building Enclosure Council in selecting a new Director to serve on their committee!

VOTE FOR THE BEC BOARD OF DIRECTORS OPEN POSITION HERE!

Voting must be completed by 5pm on November 25th, 2019.

GET TO KNOW THIS YEAR’S CANDIDATES…

Maria Michalowski, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP BD+C

International Masonry Institute | See her Resume Here

Statement of Intent:

I would like to be considered for the Building Enclosure Council Board. Previously, I sat on several Boards prior to raising my children. Presently, I sit on the Commercial Owners Association of America as one of the Programs Co-Chairs. I am also a Mentor for the ACE mentoring program 2019/2020. Now that I am an empty nester again, it is time to give back to my profession.

I am the Michigan Director for the International Masonry Institute. At IMI we empower the Design and Construction Community to design and deliver efficient and economical masonry building systems. IMI has a uniquely diverse team of professional experts and highly trained skilled craftworkers. In other words, “Phone a Friend” from IMI or IMTEF. We offer an integrated suite of services from project inception through completion. IMI is constantly morphing to keep up and stay ahead of our time. At IMI we are passionate about masonry and our built environment. We desire to build a world that is fair, safe and equitable to all.

With that being said, the Building Enclosure Council goes hand in hand with the Masonry enclosures. I believe I would be an asset to the Building Enclosure Council.

Bio:

Maria has spent over thirty years in the Architectural and Construction Industry. Her first taste of construction was riding a bulldozer on her father’s lap at four years old digging their swimming pool. Maria began her career working for her father as a finish carpenter on his commercial projects. Upon entering school as a non-traditional student, Maria continued until she obtained her Master of Architecture from Lawrence Technological University

Maria’s breadth of experience ranges from small residential additions to over 70M dollar commercial projects. Her extensive training began with the small firm of Richard Zischke and Associates while going to school at Lawrence Technological University. Maria started as a draftsman and worked her way up to Project Manager with Richard Zischke and Associates. From there she gained experience as an Estimator, Director, Developer and Vice President. Maria has worn several hats in her long career and has overseen and mentored many employees. During her lengthy career Maria has designed and built over thirty new buildings, sixty renovations and conducted over ten Property Capital Needs Assessments.

Maria has spent ninety percent of her career in the private sector, as an Architect, Builder, Developer and Owner’s Rep for Oakland University. She is a Registered Architect and a Licensed Builder. In addition, she is also a registered LEED AP through the United States Green Building Council. Her passion is sharing her knowledge. This passion led her to teaching at ITT Tech in their School of Drafting and Design and leading their Bachelor of Construction Management program for several years. She has also served as an adjunct Professor at Lawrence Technological University. Presently Maria works for the International Masonry Institute where her breadth of knowledge is being utilized at full capacity.

Ryan Grabow, Senior Associate

Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. | See his Resume Here

Statement of Intent:

Thank you for considering me for the BEC Board Member position. I have worked in the Architecture and Engineering disciplines since high school and believe I can contribute to the technical development of the community. My work at WJE closely aligns with the technical performance of the building envelope and provides insight into both historical and current construction practices. Additionally my previous experience at architectural design offices provides me an understanding of the pressures facing the design side of the profession.

Over the past decade since returning to Michigan after several years in Florida, I have enjoyed numerous BEC presentations, including co-presenting one, and have manned our sponsorship booth at the symposium for many of those years. I believe I can benefit the BEC, and through the BEC can benefit the AEC community in the region.

Bio:

Ryan Grabow performs investigations and designs for new construction, renovations, building maintenance, and litigation support. He was a team leader for one of WJE’s largest nationwide projects where he developed processes to improve the efficiency of processing, tracking, and analyzing of construction issues across thousands of locations. Mr. Grabow’s projects include work done on various structures including museums, healthcare and retail buildings, offices, elderly care and residential facilities, and utilities.

Mr. Grabow previously worked for the architectural design firms Burt Hill/Pollock Krieg Architects in Fort Myers, Florida and J. K. Janiga Architects in Pinckney, Michigan. In addition, he managed the Architectural Computing Resource Center for Lawrence Technological University in Southfield, Michigan.

Please Join AIA Detroit for our Annual Meeting on Tuesday, November 12th, at 6:00pm. The meeting will be held at the Detroit Mercy School of Architecture, in the Exhibition Space. This meeting will include the annual report to the membership on significant accomplishments, events, and programming throughout the past year, as well as Chapter Volunteer Awards and the election of the 2019 AIA Detroit Board of Directors.

We hope you will attend! The Annual Meeting is one of the few times throughout the year that we, as an organization, can reflect on our progress and discuss the future of AIA Detroit with our members. It is an opportunity to see everything that our staff and volunteers have worked so hard on, as well as a chance be face-to-face with AIA Detroit leadership in an intimate setting where questions and feedback can be discussed. We encourage you to RSVP for this free event as we wrap up another successful year at AIA Detroit!

If you cannot make the meeting in person and wish to participate in the election, you must request an absentee ballot by sending your name and AIA Number to elections@aiadetroit.com by 6pm on November 11th, 2019. Absentee ballots must be completed by 12pm on November 12th, 2019.

RSVP Here for the 2019 Annual Meeting

GET TO KNOW THIS YEAR’S SLATE OF CANDIDATES… (more…)

Updates from Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) – Bureau of Construction Codes (BCC) are:

1. 2018 IBC adoption is currently in progress targeting for approval by legislature by the end of this year to make it effective early 2020.  Note Michigan Residential Code will not be adopted at the same time. LARA code update status can be viewed: https://www.michigan.gov/lara/0,4601,7-154-89334_10575_17550_17583_85703—,00.html
2. Code input process has changed from a committee process to a form submission process to encourage participation.  Use newly revised Proposed Rule/Code Change Request form to submit proposals to modify current codes and rules when applicable rulesets are opened up for review and modification via email to: LARA-BCC-Rules@michigan.gov
3. LARA stakeholder list for signing up for announcement: https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/MILARA/subscriber/new?preferences=true
4. School project review process change: BCC has a new process to check Architect’s license automatically when plans are submitted for review.  BCC works with BPL (Bureau of Professional Licensing) to ensure compliance.
5. Code development tracking system: LARA BCC has launched new system that allows us to see rules changes and their effective date. Administrative Rulemaking System can be viewed: https://dtmb.state.mi.us/ARS_Public  Searches can be filtered by department (e.g. LARA) and bureau (e.g. Bureau of Construction Codes).
6. Health Facilities Engineering Section is now separated from BCC as a result of restructuring.

Former AIA President Pioneered Sustainable Design Practices in Historic Preservation

Carl Elefante, FAIA, FAPT, LEED AP, a principal with Quinn Evans Architects and a renowned leader in historic preservation practice, has announced his retirement effective September 2019. Elefante, who has been with Quinn Evans since 1996, will serve as principal emeritus and continue to consult on selected design initiatives, including the firm’s ongoing work to preserve and restore the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.

Elefante’s career has spanned 47 years, highlighted by numerous national awards and professional leadership roles. He served as the 94th president of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) in 2017-2018, and earned fellowship stature in both the AIA and the Association for Preservation Technology International (APTI). Earlier this year, Elefante received the Clem Labine Award from Traditional Building magazine in recognition of his pioneering work in applying sustainable design concepts to complex historic preservation projects and advocating for beauty in the public realm. (more…)

Detroit, Mich. – Albert Kahn Associates, Inc. (Kahn) announced today its appointment of Johannes Palm, Stephen White and Jeffrey Gaines to its board of directors. These new appointments follow a year of growth for the company, with goals to expand the expertise leading the company to include internal top talent in the fields of architecture and engineering who have proved invaluable to the organization’s operations. These new members join Kahn President and Chief Executive Officer Alan Cobb, along with Executive Vice President, Chief Strategy Officer and Treasurer Clift Montague, Vice President and Corporate Director Rick Dye, and Senior Vice President and Corporate Director Pete Lynde at the board table, with Senior Vice President Robb Sharrow filling out the organization’s leadership.

As put by Cobb:

”Kahn is excited to have such passionate and talented individuals helping to lead its success. This past year has been a productive one, and I have no doubt these new board members will continue advancing the company in inspiring and innovative ways.”

These appointments expand Kahn’s board of directors from five members to seven to reflect the growth the organization will be taking on in the next few years, and to assist in facilitating this transition. Goals of this leadership team also include continuing to position the company to best serve its clients while sustaining Kahn’s 124 year legacy of collaboratively creating environments around Detroit and world-wide.

About Johannes Palm, PE, LEED AP^® BD+C:

As Director of Mechanical Engineering, Johannes (Hans) Palm has spent his full career as a mechanical engineer with Kahn, during which time he was named a Senior Associate prior to being named Principle and to his appointment to the Board of Directors. Palm also serves as one of Kahn’s internal auditors, and is also is a member of the Sustainable Design Committee and Advanced Project Planning Committee. Palm holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Wayne State University.

About Stephen White, ASLA, LEED AP:

As Director of Urban Design & Landscape Architecture, Stephen White has been at Kahn for 21 years, having spent his early career with Bezaire & Associates Landscape Architects as a planner before joining Kahn in 1998. White’s work puts a large focus on user experience and placemaking, with knowledge encompassing all elements of landscape architecture, urban design, master planning, environmental site design and recreational planning. White has over 27 years of diverse experience in both the public and private sectors, and holds a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from the University of Toronto.

About Jeff Gaines, AIA, AICP, LEED AP^® BD+C:

As Director of Design, Planning and Sustainability, Jeff Gaines has been at Kahn for 20 years, with over 30 years of expertise in the fields of architecture, planning and urban design. During his career, Gaines has served as Chair of the Board of Directors for the Detroit Regional Chapter of the U. S. Green Building Council, and is also actively involved in the Detroit Chapter of the American Institute of Architects and the Michigan Chapter of the American Planning Association. He has taught at the University of Michigan, University of Detroit Mercy and Lawrence Technological University. Gaines holds both a Master of Urban Planning and a Master of Architecture from the University of Michigan, and a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Cincinnati.

Peter J. Exley, FAIA, elected 2021 AIA president-elect

The State of Michigan Board of Architects Rules Committee is currently reviewing several proposed Architects rules changes for discussion during the upcoming Board of Architects Meetings. One topic of interest is the proposed changes for PART 5 License Renewal and Continuing Education. If adopted, the State of Michigan would allow HSW credits for serving on local, state and national committees and boards, including AIA, qualifying up to 3 HSW credits per two-year cycle if specific conditions are met. Anticipated adoption timeframe for proposed rules is around 8 months.

See LARA public meeting notice attached for more information: https://aiadetroit.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/news_Architects_Public_Notice.pdf

For the first time at a local chapter-level, the AIA Center for Practice is bringing together a diverse pool of firm leaders to discuss the future of architecture practice. Pair up with like-minded professionals for this roundtable discussion facilitated by an experienced colleague. You’ll hear from peers about the most pressing issues in firm leadership development and explore different approaches to training, advancement, and performance evaluation. Share your most pressing issues affecting your firm’s prosperity and explore different approaches to business development, financial performance, innovative business models, leadership development, and workplace culture.

This enlightening discussion will leave you with concrete information, new ideas and connections to advance your practice.

Learn More Here

National Architecture Week 2019 aims to recognize and celebrate the ways architects positively impact our lives! During this week, we will be sharing AIA Detroit updates, articles, and photos that align with AIA National’s daily themes. You, too, can join the celebration and national conversation by sharing articles, photos, videos, and resources that align with the daily themes on your social media accounts! Use #ArchWeek19 and #blueprintforbetter.

NATIONAL ARCHITECTURE WEEK DAY 7: THE IMPACT OF TECHNOLOGY

Computational Design represents a new design paradigm that our industry is struggling to understand. Whether it manifests as generating novel forms with grasshopper, automating BIM documentation with Dynamo, or parametrically exploring building performance using open source code, Computational Design is disrupting our profession. We recognize that greater computational power, data, and automation offer new ways of thinking about our design problems, but we often lack the skills required to leverage these newfound capabilities in our practices. Most architects feel more comfortable with a pen than with code–but innovation doesn’t stop, and neither will our competitors. Detroit firms must embrace technological change. We have the talent and the bold disposition required to innovate within the architectural profession, and we will accomplish more if we support each other. The AIAD TAP committee has a forum dedicated to exactly that. Join Computational Design Detroit (co.de.D), and participate in the conversation as we address disruption in Architecture.

Subscribe to the Technology in Architectural Practice interest group to stay up-to-date on upcoming Computational Design Detroit [co.de.D] programs and other news!

National Architecture Week 2019 aims to recognize and celebrate the ways architects positively impact our lives! During this week, we will be sharing AIA Detroit updates, articles, and photos that align with AIA National’s daily themes. You, too, can join the celebration and national conversation by sharing articles, photos, videos, and resources that align with the daily themes on your social media accounts! Use #ArchWeek19 and #blueprintforbetter.

NATIONAL ARCHITECTURE WEEK DAY 2: SUSTAINABILITY & RESILIENCE

Detroit 2050: A Panel Discussion on the Future of Sustainability
A special Earth Day installment of our AIAD:COMMONS series will feature a panel of thought leaders with unique perspectives in the field of sustainability relative to the built environment. Hosted by AIA Detroit’s Committee on the Environment.

RSVP Here

DISCUSSION TOPIC
In less than a decade, the City of Detroit has seen rapid transformation of its inner core with renewed interest in public infrastructure and private investment. With a level of development not seen in nearly a century, Detroit is uniquely positioned to be a more sustainable and equitable city. And with the establishment of the Office of Sustainability in 2017, civic government is now playing a larger role in shaping what that future looks like.

This panel discussion will focus on both the current and future visions for sustainability in the City of Detroit. Looking many facets of design ranging from large scale infrastructure and development to block by block initiatives, how will the decisions we make now shape the future?

Learn More and RSVP Here

See the AIAD COTE 2019 Calendar Here