Below is an article by Enoch Sears, Assoc. AIA, LEED AP. The article was pulled from the newsletter to give you a feel for the content. The newsletter is meant to keep the chapter members and general public up to date with what is happening in the chapter. The printed copies are available at local architecture firms. You can also download the PDF.

New Initiatives Promise a Facelift for Fresno 1
Message from the President | Extras 2
Feature Article – Public Transit 3
Feature Article – Affordable Housing 4
Upcoming: Canstruction | Education 5
Firm and Member Profiles 6
Project Profile 7
Codes | Emerging Professionals and
Government Affairs 9
in other words… | Your Voice 10
2010 AIASJ Student Competition 11
Calendar of Events 12

Project Profile: Tulare Public Library and Council Chambers

by Enoch Sears, Assoc. AIA, LEED AP

In his book Purple Cow: Transform Your Business by Being Remarkable, marketing guru Seth Godin states that the key to success is to find a way to stand out – to be the purple cow in a field of monochrome Holsteins. If the secret to success is truly being remarkable, or as Godin clarifies, “worth making a remark about,” then the City of Tulare has struck pay dirt. Godin’s metaphor is a great way to introduce a very remarkable building set in the center of the cow capital of the United States; a true “purple cow” among Holsteins.

Designed by Architect and Partner Paul Halajian of Taylor Teter Partnership, the Tulare Library and Council Chambers goes beyond creating a building of purely sculptural quality. The designer has evidently thought deeply about referencing the local context and carrying the design methodology throughout the building. Salient design features include brightly painted steel beams, metal siding, projecting clerestory windows, and two circular towers. By pairing two seemingly contradictory elements, common industrial materials and a building of civic pride, the designer critically challenges commonly accepted paradigms of beauty while also referencing the local agricultural context.

The bold design is playful and intriguing. Some people have kidded Library Director Michael Stowell that the projecting cantilever over the City Council Chambers is a wing or giant skateboard ramp. “Once they enter the building, however, they begin to see the reasons for these elements and how they add to the design”, he comments. He is quick to mention how the aesthetics, day-lighting and design of the space will contribute to a better experience for patrons. “We are especially excited about how the teen area will engage the youth of our community,” he states.

As for the interior, Taylor Teter Architect and project team member Jamie Dronyk counts the unique inverted bowstring trusses among her favorite elements. The trusses create soaring spaces and allow natural day-lighting to bathe the interior while also exposing the beauty of the structure. The trusses themselves are constructed of parallams which have been glue-laminated, curved, and matched to steel pipe webs. Attention to detail is also apparent on the West side of the building where the exterior finishes continue through to the interior space with thoughtful detailing.

The project aims for a LEED Gold certification. The Mayor, City Council, Library Board and Library Director of Tulare are to be commended for their forward-thinking emphasis on sustainability. “Tulare’s goal is be known as a great place live, learn, play, work, worship and prosper,” states Mayor Craig Vejvoda. Halajian is pleased with the effort to gain LEED certification and stated that it was not difficult to sell the client on this goal.

The project was originally submitted under the California Library Bond Act of 2000, but was ultimately not funded under the bond. The City decided to move ahead and raise the funds elsewhere. The building encompasses approximately 31,400 sf at a construction cost of $11.6MM.

Already the building has benefited the community by encouraging dialogue about the built environment, paving the way for future innovative projects. Over the years, the strong post-modern design is sure to spark debate between residents who choose to see a skateboard ramp versus those who see an engaging and inspiring civic space. I see a purple cow.

Enoch Sears works with Christiansen Group in Visalia. He is a recent addition to the AIA San Joaquin Chapter, having relocated from Houston, TX where he was recently licensed as an architect.

It has been quite a while since our last archop gallery exhibit which was in Visalia, and even longer since our last gallery exhibit in Fresno. We were tied up for nearly a year in an effort to do a permanent park installation and landscape architecture demonstration. That endeavor was a failure in terms of our mission to improve the built environment through exhibitions and discussion of quality design (more on that later).

Though, now with National Architecture Week in full swing, we are jumping back into the exhibit game. Traditionally, all of our exhibits have been a single venue on an Art Hop night. This will be our 1st solo hop and 1st time with 2 separate exhibits. So, come on out and let us know how we do.

Thursday 4/15 5:30-9pm, we have 2 exhibits planned:

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AIASJ 2009 Design Awards

Location: 1724 Broadway Street, across from the Rainbow Ballroom.

Time: 5:30-9pm

Description: The AIA San Joaquin chapter host bi-annual independently juried design awards. These awards set the bar for quality design happening in the region. Come see these top designs and mingle with the architects.
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Emergency Housing

Location: The Loft Gallery, 852 Divisadero, #102

Time: 5:30-9pm

Description: Exhibit of some of the world’s best designed solutions for emergency housing. This is an important topic due to devastating earthquake in Haiti and is also applicable to Fresno’s homeless. Exhibit is curated by Marvin Armstrong AIA, and FCC student, Noam Saragosti.

Other details: We will have hors d’ oeuvres from Charlotte’s Bakery in the Tower District. Rainbow Ballroom has packed shows on Thursdays. So as the night wears on, parking may be easier near the Loft Gallery or the diagonal parking by Tokyo Garden.
See the map below for the suggested walking path.
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View archop exhibits 4/15/2010 in a larger map

Below is an article by Jamie Dronyk, AIA, LEED AP. She is the new Director of Info and PR of the AIA San Joaquin. Her first major undertaking in that office was revamping the chapters quarterly newsletter. The newsletter is meant to keep the chapter members and general public up to date with what is happening in the chapter. The printed copies have been mailed out and will available at local architecture firms. You can also download the PDF. The article below by Jamie was pulled from the newsletter to give you a feel for the content.
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The Belmont Merchant’s Association Steps up to the Plate to Make Their Mark

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There are some new kids in town; they call themselves the Belmont Merchant’s Association (BMA).

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In March of 2009, a group of property owners along the Belmont corridor between Freeway 41 and Chestnut Avenue came together to form the association in an effort to implement a revitalization of the area and take back their community.

“I’ve been on this street for 40 years; I’ve seen the good times and the bad and I plan to stay around until the job is finished and things are set right” commented Roger Hanke, President of the Association.

Last December, the BMA, with the support of Triangle Associates, City Councilman Henry T. Perea, and the Fresno Redevelopment Agency, invited an assortment of community members and leaders to a roundtable discussion in which ideas to transform and improve the corridor were exchanged.

Landscape Architect Terry Broussard presented a conceptual plan envisioning how the corridor might be developed into three themed districts, all of which incorporate mixed use, open space, and pedestrian friendly development.

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I had the fortunate opportunity to be invited by the BMA to speak at one of their monthly meetings. I focused on ways in which they can utilize design and planning principles to eliminate misperceptions that are in and of themselves causing a violent cycle of increased real and perceived crime.

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In a city as large as Fresno has become, it is incumbent upon smaller communities to do their part to maintain their own relevance in our growing metropolis. The key to success is knowing that you don’t have to do it alone. I invite you to call upon local design professionals and together we can make Fresno relevant one community at a time.

Video of AIA National President, George H. Miller FAIA, highlighting Architecture Week 2010 Celebrations that will take place across the country.

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Check out the schedule of local events. We will also be posting videos of Fresnans talking about the significance of architecture and why design should mater to you. If you’d like to record a video, find us at one of the events or email it to curator@archop.org

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“Design is a tool, a resource, a power for the creation of beautiful, more sustainable, safe, healthy, and livable communities. Not for a privileged few but for everyone.”
George H. Miller, FAIA, AIA President

National Architecture Week has come again. This is a celebration supported by the American Institute of Architects. Last year, we went on a blogging marathon. This year, AIA San Joaquin is hosting a full slate of engaging events related to architecture. Please check out the schedule and map below. And get ready for an architecture overdose. Also AIA National has a facebook page and will host a twitter chat on 4/14

4/11 Sunday
Archi-Brunch meets Designer Breakfast
Location – Iron Bird Cafe
Time – 10:30-noon
Details – Informal discussion between Fresno’s leading graphic designers of the Fresno Design Alliance and architects of AIA San Joaquin.

4/12 Monday
Pecha Kucha Night Fresno Vol 7
Location – Starline
Time – 7:00 door, 7:30 presentations
Details – In conjunction with Creative Fresno
Theme is Fringe.

4/13 Tuesday
Grassroots day
Location – All neighborhoods
Time – All Day
Details – Make a point to talk to your neighbor, friend, or coworker not in the architecture field about the importance of architecture. Maybe just tell everyone to read www.archop.org

4/14 Wednesday
Film – Visual Acoustics
Location – Revue Cafe
Time – 7pm screening
Details: Narrated by Dustin Hoffman, VISUAL ACOUSTICS celebrates the life and career of Julius Shulman, the world’s greatest architectural photographer, whose images brought modern architecture to the American mainstream.

4/15 Thursday
City Council Proclamation of Architecture Week
Location – Fresno City Hall
Time – 8-9am
Details – A proclamation of Architecture Week will be presented from City Council to AIA San Joaquin

archop exhibits
Locations – 1724 Broadway, Tho Loft Gallery (852 Divisadero St. #102)
Time – 5:30-9pm
Details – curated exhibit to raise awareness about emergency housing, the 2nd exhibit will showcase the recent winners of the AIASJ design awards.

4/16 Friday
Panel Discussion – Decade in Review: Top Ten of Fresno Architecture
Location – Unitarian Church
Time – 6:30 social 7-8 panel
Details – A collection of architects of the Top Ten buildings from last decade, will discuss the design of the buildings, their process and design philosophies.

4/17 Saturday
Walking Tour – Mid-century Downtown
Location – Starts at Fulton Mall & Mariposa Mall, meet at the Clock Tower
Time – 2pm
Details – Highlight prominent and/or well design mid-century modern architecture in Fresno’s downtown.

View National Architecture Week – Fresno in a larger map

The American Institute of Architects has long set the bar for quality design in the United States. The organization awards buildings and architects that are contributers to a high quality built environment. Awards are given by the national, state and local chapters of the organization. The AIA San Joaquin has a bi-annual awards program.

Projects that are eligible for award are to be built within the San Joaquin region or by an architect from the region. The architect submits their project along with a fee. An independent jury then deliberates on what submissions are deserving of awards.

This years awards ceremony packed the Sky Room of the Holiday Inn of Downtown Fresno with over 160 individuals attending the banquet. The keynote speaker was John Dugan the City of Fresno Director of Planning and Development. Mr. Dugan recounted his first perceptions of Fresno, detailed the departments current efforts and called for architects to get involved in the process.

Also at the banquet, the AIASJ presidency was transfered from Rod Andreasen AIA to Paul Halajian AIA. Mr. Halajian noted in his speech that his effort over the next two years will be to build the relevance of the AIASJ to both the profession and the public.

2009 Award Winners
Honorable Mention:

Coalinga Community Swim Complex – Darden Architects

Merit

Willow-International Center – Darden Architects

Zumwalt Residence – Arthur Dyson Architects

Honor

Clovis Performing Arts Center – Darden Architects

William Jessup University Student Apartments – Taylor Teter Partnership

Ranchos Middle School – Taylor Teter Partnership

H Street Lofts – Taylor Teter Partnership

Excellence

Riverbank High School Gym – Darden Architects

Alex G. Spanos Elementary School – Darden Architects

Below is biographical information about the independent jurors that selected the American Institute of Architects San Joaquin Chapter 2009 Design Awards. A review of the experience was written by Fresno Bee arts writer Donald Munro and can be found here.

Dan Fletcher, AIA

Dan Fletcher is a principal in the firm of Fletcher + Hardoin Architects located in Monterey California. Fletcher + Hardoin was established in 1988 providing architectural services for high end residential and visitor serving commercial. Some of the firm’s most recent projects include the restoration and conversion of the 14th century Borgo Villa Saletta in Tuscany into a Raffles hotel and spa, the renovation of historic Robles del Rio Lodge in Carmel Valley and the recent completion of Wild Bird a residence on the Big Sur coast. Fletcher + Hardoin has been recognized for their design excellence with many awards from AIAMB, Gold Nugget awards for their custom residences, hardbound publications and a feature segment on HGTV’s Homes Across America Dan Fletcher received the Robert Stanton Design Award for significant design contribution to the field of Architecture in the Central Coast of California.

Michael R. Pratt, AIA – Principal Lionakis

Mike Pratt is a “Hands-on Principal” and is the leader of Lionakis’ Modesto Healthcare Team. He has over 25 years of professional experience and brings invaluable leadership skills and agency expertise to any project. Born and raised in the central valley, Mike returned to practice architecture after graduating from Cal Poly State University SLO in 1976. His previous and continued service on numerous community boards and commissions fits well with Mike’s observation that the “citizen architect” brings a uniquely valuable perspective to any discussion. He is also involved with the AIA Sierra Valley Chapter activities and is the current president of the AIACC Architectural Foundation.

Norman Millar, AIA – Dean, School of Architecture – Woodbury University

Norman Millar is an educator and practicing architect. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Design from the University of Washington (1976) and a Master of Architecture degree from the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Design (1978). He received a Certificate from The Ross Minority Program in Real Estate at the Lusk Center for Real Estate in the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California (2006). He has been a registered architect since 1983, licensed to practice architecture in California, Washington and Hawaii. He established his Los Angeles practice, Norman Millar Architects, in 1985.

Norman Millar is the Dean of the School of Architecture at Woodbury University having run the architecture program there since 1999. Prior to that, he taught at several Los Angeles institutions including the SCI-Arc, USC, Pasadena Art Center, and UCLA. He is also a regent for the California Architecture Foundation. He also serves on the a Hollywood Design Review Advisory Board and the advisory boards for the Los Angeles Forum for Architecture and Urban Design, the Los Angeles Chapter of the AIA, and the architecture departments at several Southern California community colleges.

Donald Munro – Fresno Bee

Donald Munro has worked for nearly 20 years covering arts and culture for the Fresno Bee. Prior to that he worked as an entertainment writer and editor at the Anchorage Times. He has an undergraduate degree in journalism from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, and a master’s degree from the Graduate School of Journalism at Columbia University. In 2002-03, he was a 10-month fellow with the National Arts Journalism Program sponsored by the Pew Charitable Trusts. He’s twice been selected to participate in National Endowment for the Arts critics institutes: the first in theater, and the most recent, in October, in classical music and opera.

This morning I will be on a jury of a design competition that is organized by the Fresno City College AIAS club. Below is a model of the site in SketchUp that was provided to the student competitors.

Jury will include Michael Fennacy, AIA. He is an architect with Darden Architects. and on the AIASJ board. The 3rd member of the jury will be Shaunt Yemenjian, Assoc. AIA. Shaunt is a LEED Accredited Professional and a principal with spacio|design.

Below is the project brief and user provided to the student competitors. I will post the designs after the jury review.

2009 DESIGN AWARDS CALL FOR ENTRIES

The American Institute of Architects has a long tradition of recognizing individuals and organizations for their outstanding achievements in support of the profession of architecture and the AIA. In keeping with that tradition, the AIA San Joaquin hold biannual design awards program. The application process for awards is now open.

CATEGORIES

This awards program will include seven (7) categories.

Public   |   School, Hospital (In-Hospital: O.S.H.P.D.), Civic, Etc.
Commercial   |   Retail, Office, Medical (Out-Patient), Mixed-Use, Churches, Etc.
Interiors   |   Commercial Interiors
Residential – M   |   Multi–Family Development
Residential – S   |   Single Family Home
Remodel/Renovation   |   All categories
Lived Well   |   Projects 15 years & older – all categories

To be eligible the project shall have been designed by an AIA member, be located within the AIA San Joaquin boundaries, or by an AIA San Joaquin member, not previously awarded (by AIASJ) and be under construction or completed within the last four years.

Please note: Projects entered under ‘Lived Well’ category shall have been in use for at least 15 years and conform to the eligibility requirements except that it may have been previously awarded.

JURY AWARDS

The “Award of Excellence,” the “Award of Honor,” and the “Award of Merit,” will be awarded at the jury’s discretion.

DEADLINE DATES

9 October 2009 Call for Entries

13 November 2009 | 2009 Design Awards entry forms with fees must be received by AIASJ.

11 December 2009 | Completed Submission Packets must be received at the AIASJ office.

22 January 2010 | 2010 AIA/SJ Chapter Installation & Awards Banquet at ‘The Skyroom’.

ENTRIES

Upon receipt of entry forms and fees, the Chapter will forward to each entrant a Submission Packet containing the requirements for each project submitted.

A Concealed Information Form, Project Description Form, and request for: Digital Slides of Site Plans, Floor Plans, Elevations and Sections, Color Photographs, will be required. Digital Slides of the existing buildings are also encouraged for Remodel/ Renovation projects. .

Digital Slides, CD-ROMs and selected Photographs of Award Winning Projects will be retained by the AIASJ Chapter for future use.

If you have questions, please contact 2009 AIASJ President Rodney Andreasen at 559.437.4750

20 years ago the American Institute of Architects San Joaquin Chapter began hosting a family friendly sandcastle competition. At the time the AIASJ president was William Hobbs AIA. The 1st chairman of the “Sand Committee” was Skip Carlstrom, AIA, CSI. Skip recounts that the AIASJ which represents architects and firms withing Fresno, Kings and Tulare Counties “wanted to hold a function that portrayed the talent and expertise of each of these firms and to do so in a fun manner that the public would also enjoy.”

The event for it’s first seven years (1989-1996) was held on a beach at Millerton Lake. Sand more suitable for building sand castles was trucked in and dumped in piles on the beach for architects and their teams to sculpt. Teams were ofter multidisciplinary, including: landscape architects, interior designers, engineers, contractors, and building material suppliers.

The event drew 2,000-3,000 spectators according to Skip. Families came and spent a day on the beach watching the teams toil away. One year, the competition began supplying a kids pile for children to play in. It was first sponsored by the Fresno chapter of NAWIC. The kids pile became a kid tested, mother approved tradition of the competition, provided to this date.

After a year in which several dump trucks got stuck on the beach unloading th 12+ tons of sand, the event began searching for a new, more accessible home. It spent one year at a golf course, then settled in for several years in a parkinglot at River Park. Every year, as many as 12 teams compete, sand is sculpted and awards are given by guest judges and public voting.

For its 20th year, the competition goes into the heart of Fresno for the first time. It will be held at Roeding Park between Storyland and the Chaffee Zoo. Come celebrate and have fun with us. There will be music, raffles, a giant sandbox to play in and nearby family fun at Storyland, Playland and the Zoo. This event is free but normal park admission applies.

AIASJ 20th Annual Sandcastle Competition
Saturaday, September 12th 8am-12pm
Roeding Park between Storyland and the Zoo

The Business Journal has been contacting me allot lately for information about architecture in the San Joaquin Valley. Most of this interaction has happened because of Twitter. I think this is fantastic. One of archop’s goals has been to get architecture more regularly and accurately feature in local media. The Business Journal is setting the bar.

Most recently, Gabriel Dillard contacted me to request my employer’s participation on an Executive Roundtable focused on architecture. I diligently passed on the questionnaire to Russ Taylor AIA, partner and architect at the Taylor Teter Partnership. I also passed the questionnaire off to the board members of AIA San Joaquin.

After transcribing Russ’s responses, I put my fingers to the keys to put down some of my thoughts on the questions from an archop perspective. While I’m not a licensed architect or an executive, I fired it off to Gabriel. Below are my responses to his questions.

1. Please tell us a little about your firm.

archop is a project of the American Institute of Architects: San Joaquin Chapter. It was launched in October of 2007 as a response to the need for an improved built environment in Fresno and the greater San Joaquin Valley. The program emphasizes the importance of quality architecture, landscape architecture and urban planning by: showcasing gallery exhibitions; designing and building full scale installations; holding panel discussions on relevant architectural topics; and organizing public workshops for outreach, educational and research purposes.

2. How has the economic downturn affected business?

As a not for profit effort aimed at improving our built environment we find ourselves surrounded problems that need solutions, public art, homelessness, inner city park space. We have been able to tackle these problems with a budget under $5,000 per year. Financial donations have become increasingly rare. Our response to that is to identify scrap or surplus building materials and utilize those in our installations. Substantial contributors include: Western Building Materials, Patton Air Conditioning, Better Flooring, CBC Lighting, Shipman Fabrication, Trinity Construction, and White Pine Lumber. Economic issues have also increased our volunteer base.

3. What advice would you give business owners trying to find the right architect for their project?

While experience, referrals, and past performance should remain architect selection tools, I’d add web content is an interesting litmus test. Our world is increasingly digital and that will not change. An architecture firm with well designed web site (functionally and aesthetically) and developed web communication tools, understands the ways this technology has changed today’s economy.

4. What are the current trends in architectural design in this area, and what can we expect in the future?

I see two current trends in the region. The first is rampant in our city. That is what I call artificially flavored architecture. It is the use of branded styles that are only skin deep. Examples are Tuscan and Italianate which hardly resemble their European counterparts and achieve their look with veneers and foam details. They are popular simply because of marketing and pop culture.

A trend that gives me hope is the acceptance of sustainable design strategies into the mainstream market place. I want this to develop further and a new local vernacular will emerge that embraces our climate and locally available materials.

5. What kinds of clients are you serving these days?

We do not serve clients in the traditional fashion. In this sense my inspiration comes from my former employer Public Architecture. We treat the entire public as our clients. It is our responsibility to engage and educate the public so that they can recognize good and bad design in their daily lives and call upon political leaders, developers, and architects to provide a quality and healthy built environment for our city and region.

We are also pursuing design workshop projects with the Institute of Public Anthropology (1, 2) and research grant partnerships.

6. What kinds of projects are you designing these days?

To date archop has held 7 exhibits, 5 panel discussions, 4 public workshops, and built 2 installations. The current installation is the redevelopment on an underused park in central Fresno underneath a freeway overpass. The park will demonstrate successful planning strategies to invigorate the park and low water low maintenance landscape to ensure long term sustainability.

If you are involved in architecture feel free to answer any of the above questions in the comments. All others comment on what you’ve read here if so inspired.