7.10 AIA-VT Newsletter
AIA-VT Honors Retiring Executive Director Hanne Williams
Over 130 members and colleagues of The American Institute of Architects, Vermont Chapter (AIA-VT) gathered May 21 for a spirited celebration at Mad River Glen... More...
Young Architects Forum - Vermont
The Young Architects Forum is a program of the AIA and the College of Fellows organized to address issues of particular importance to recently licensed architects... More...
Remembering Stewart Sutcliffe
Mr. Stewart L. Sutcliffe, age 62 of Fayston, Vt., passed away suddenly at his home on Monday, June 14, 2010. More...
Don't even try to impede progress
If you’ve had the misfortune to read one or two of my expository thinking sessions in this publication then you know... More...
AIA-VT Honors Retiring Executive Director Hanne Williams
- AIA-VT at Mad River Glen
By Carol Miklos, Executive Director, AIA-VT
Over 130 members and colleagues of The American Institute of Architects, Vermont Chapter (AIA-VT) gathered May 21 for a spirited celebration at Mad River Glen, Fayston to show their deep appreciation for retiring Executive Director Hanne Williams’ 40 years of dedicated service to their organization. Williams, who concurrently served as AIA-New England’s executive director from 1978-1988, worked with 23 different AIA-VT presidents over the years of her employment. Other than the three years she spent as a teacher, Williams’ work with AIA-VT was her life’s career.
“Hanne was the glue that held our group together,” said AIA-VT Board of Directors President Daniel Johnson. “She also helped us develop strong relationships at the national and regional levels and for that we are forever indebted to her. We are sad to see her go, but wish her the best for her future.”
AIA-New Hampshire Executive Director Carolyn Isaak gave moving comments about the critical support she garnered from Williams when first starting her career with AIA. “Hanne came to my rescue…she taught me how to use the membership management system and filled me in on the nitty-gritty details of managing an AIA component…She’s been an exemplary role model and an inspiration, offering…a wonderful perspective on the issues that AIA components deal with day-to-day and in the long term,” said Isaacs. Isaacs read similar, heartfelt comments from Williams’ counterparts across the U.S, who praised her dedication to AIA as well as her gracious and fun-loving nature.
Attendees enjoyed food, drink, and the rollicking blues music of the Dog Catchers, a band that includes AIA-VT member Jesse Beck. The event also provided AIA-VT with the opportunity to introduce Carol Miklos, the organization’s new executive director. Carol brings over 25 years of nonprofit management and communications experience to AIA-VT. She was previously with the Vermont Cancer Center at UVM and Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility.“We’re very excited about Carol joining our organization and look forward to beginning a new chapter in the AIA-VT book,” said Johnson. “We’re also very appreciative of the numerous member sponsors—too many to list individually—who helped make this a truly special event.”
AIA-VT, the Vermont Chapter of the American Institute of Architects since 1948, is dedicated to enhancing the quality of our built environment and thereby our quality of life through advocacy, outreach, education, fellowship, and design and scholarship award competitions. The organization has nearly 300 members, including architects, associates, and professional affiliates.
For more information about AIA-VT, visit www.aiavt.org or call 802-425-6162.
- Lauren Davis presenting a plaque of appreciation to Hanne
- Hanne and a few of her adoring fans
Young Architects Forum - Vermont
By Mo Gagnon, AIA
The Young Architects Forum is a program of the AIA and the College of Fellows organized to address issues of particular importance to recently licensed architects (within 10 years or fewer after licensure). It was initiated in 1991 through the formation of a national Young Architects Forum (YAF) AdvisoryCommittee to encourage the development of national and regional programs of interest to youngarchitects. It also led to the creation of YAF groups in local AIA chapters.
As the YAF Regional Liaison for New England, my role is to maintain connections through Young Architects Forum Directors in each AIA chapter and provide guidance on particular issues, programs, and events ongoing in New England. Additionally, I have the opportunity to address broader issues we face in our profession.
Having worked for a small firm in NH for several years, I lacked a connection with other interns and young architects who I could use as sounding boards for ideas or frustrations. It was only after I became involved with some AIA sponsored events that I made these connections. I know there are many similar situations in Vermont, and so my primary objective is to ensure that young architects throughout the state have the ability to connect with each other and get involved with activities locally and regionally. I encourage you to attend conferences and seminars, participate in AIA sponsored events, or perhaps just get together outside of the office occasionally. Get to know others in the profession.
Another primary goal worth pursuing is to foster professional growth and leadership development among our interns and newly licensed architects in Vermont. Friends who share ideas, interests, and activities can evolve into a network of professionals with a common voice. It is through these activities and from this voice that we find future leaders for our region and for our profession.
I feel that our interns and young architects in Vermont would benefit greatly from the creation and development of a YAF group. If we have enough interest by interns and architects, then with the support and encouragement of AIAVT, we can promote collaboration among architects of all ages in Vermont and build a solid network of professionals.
If you are interested in joining a YAF group in Vermont, please contact me (mo.gagnon@lbpa.com), or email Cam Featherstonhaugh at cam@maclayarchitects.com. For more information on YAF, please visit the AIA website at www.aia.org/professionals/index.htm.
Remembering Stewart Sutcliffe
Mr. Stewart L. Sutcliffe, age 62 of Fayston, Vt., passed away suddenly at his home on Monday, June 14, 2010.
Born in Lynn, MA . Stewart was the son of the late Stewart H. and Hazel I. Sutcliffe who passed away this past May 28, 2010. He was a graduate of Lynn English High School Class of 1965 and Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY., 1970. An avid skier, Stu moved to Vermont after graduating from college and apprenticed with an architectural firm before receiving his state license. He then established his own firm and practiced what he loved for 40 years. He was a past president of the Vermont chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA). Stu loved skiing, photography and travel.
He will be missed by his family and the many friends he acquired over the years. He leaves a cherished aunt, Shirley Emerton of Saugus, MA his long time partner, Jeffrey Rice of Fayston, Vt., cousins David Emerton of Lynn, Robert Emerton of Haymarket, Va., Leanne (Staples) Emerton of Ipswich, Margot Marino of Plymouth, Ma., Nancy Cannon of Brewster, Ma., Richard Lecour of California. and George Argetes of Michigan.
Don’t even try to impede progress
By Shawn Brennan, AIA
Preface quote from Abe Simpson: “I used to be with it. Then they changed what “it” was. Now what I'm with isn't “it”, and what's “it” seems weird and scary.”
If you’ve had the misfortune to read one or two of my expository thinking sessions in this publication then you know there is no one better qualified to talk about technological development in the field of architecture than yours very truly. I embrace new technology like a straight jacket of love and understanding, and I have seen the future of architecture my friends – it is BIM. Make no mistake that progress will happen whether you flock to it like an i-Phone addict craving a fix from any and all new apps, or if you’re like me and are really jazzed when you get a new Mars plastic eraser because the pointy corners haven’t been worn down yet so you can get to those hard to reach places. Don’t get me wrong, I know technological breakthroughs can work wonders. According to news articles I receive daily via email I too could be small ashamed no longer with V!agr@ enlargeness, or get unbelievably cheap Rep1icaR0lexWatches. Now that’s progress. But that has nothing to do with architecture. BIM does, and BIM is the wave of the future, the software messiah that will save us from our incompetent selves.
There was a time (I know you YAF members out there will scarcely believe this) when a person had to actually think and plan BEFORE they started drawing. Oh yes, and lineweights weren’t colors based on layer settings, they represented actual lines of objects in three dimensional space. Somebody put me in that straight jacket, right?! Believe it or not, three dimensions existed before BIM. Luckily CAD fixed this planning and thinking dilemma by allowing the user to draw whatever they wanted because they could always go back later and move it around and stretch it this way and that. So what if the lineweights look like they were selected by an i-Pod Shuffle, because it isn’t so bad that the dimension strings are the darkest lines on the sheet, or that we spend our time dimensioning items that are existing to remain. We’ll just fix these things later with all of that extra time at the end of the project we have because we’re using CAD instead of slaving away over a drafting board.
Now we’ve taken the next step so we’re not even drafting anymore, we’re modeling! That is progress slapping you in the face saying “let’s take this sucker 3-D baby!” Admittedly there is a steep data entry curve at the start of the project, but of course we all start our designs knowing exactly how the building is going to be constructed so building a model will be a piece of cake. Besides we can always go back later and fix it with all of that time we’ll save. Just watch out because it’s pretty darn easy for people to get sucked into figuring out how to model in three dimensions every door lever in the place…oops, the second floor just disappeared again, but just look at that nifty door latch! As I mentioned, some people have a hard time with lineweights so it occurs to me that having them thrash around in a team shared, complex three dimensional computer model containing every drawing of the project is perhaps a questionable idea. Once we do have this technological marvel of a model all built, what will we do with it? We will print out two dimensional drawings and give them to the Contractor just like before! Brilliant! And aren’t those two 2-D drawings looking fabulous? You can’t beat a poor representation of CAD’s poor representation of drafting. Perk up because according to BIM salesmen the next wave of the future is Contractors having computers on site rather than using prints. A paperless jobsite to match the promise of yesteryear’s paperless office. I’m sure we’re all going to feel groovy giving the Contractor our building models representing all of the construction knowledge that Timmy the whiz bang BIM operating intern built into those door levers. No worries, you’ll have plenty of time to check the model top to bottom with the time BIM will save you. Hey, they probably even have an app for that.
