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AIA Michigan NewsletterJuly 2013

In This Issue

President's Message and

Executive Director's Message

Chapter Focus: AIA Northern

Michigan

Chapter Focus: AIA Northern

Michigan Board Member

The Grapevine

New Members!

AIAMI CEPR Tour at Blu Homes!

Upcoming Events

Monthly Poll Question:

What would you like to see at

Annual Meeting Day 2013?

As always, we want to know how

we can serve our members more

effectively, so please tell us what

you do and don't like about AIA

Michigan's services here.

Quick Links

AIA Michigan Website

AIA Michigan Calendar

AIA Michigan Job Board

AIA National Website

Michigan Architectural

Foundation (MAF)

Sponsor Information

Opportunities to sponsor the

AIA Michigan Monthly E-

Newsletter are now available!

President's Message:

Dear Members, Last month, I traveled to Denver to join our

fellow members at the AIA Convention. The

general sessions are always terrific and this

year especially so. Congratulations to AIA

Denver, AIA Colorado and the national staff

for a successful convention!

Optimism and the need to be "of service"

were the reoccurring themes throughout the convention. We

started out with updates on the AIA repositioning initiative.

Some of it we have heard before - the public likes and respects

architects but doesn't have a clue what we do or the impact we

make. Some of what we heard was new - there will be an

Emerging Professionals summit this fall (stay tuned) and an

Inclusion Study has been started which will come out next

spring.

Tod Williams Billie Tsien & Associates Architects were honored

with the AIA firm of the year. Their philosophy is based on

seeing "architecture as an act of profound optimism". It makes

me proud to be a member of the AIA with this kind of firm

receiving one of our top honors!

We had three inspiring, amazing and very different key note

speakers. The first was Blake Mycoskie who started Tom's Shoes

and subsequently the "One for One" movement. He wrote a book

recently called Start Something That Matters. He stresses that

Philanthropy and Profit can work together. Please read his book,

buy his shoes (and now sunglasses!), check out his story and

learn how giving can be a great strategy.

Cameron Sinclair was the second keynote. He is the co-founderand CEO (Chief Eternal Optimist) for Architecture for Humanitywhich "seeks architectural solutions to humanitarian crises andbrings professional design services to communities in need". Itis hard to capture in a few sentences what he spoke about andwhat Architecture for Humanity does. It touches communities allover the world which have suffered from disasters and usesdesign to create lasting change in underserved communities.

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Contact christine@aiami.com for

information!

There are two wonderful books about this organization and itsmission: Design Like You Give A Damn: Architectural ResponsesTo Humanitarian Crises and the follow up Design Like You Givea Damn [2]: Building Change from the Ground Up. The third speaker was General Colin Powell. He was engaging

and humorous as he urged us (okay, maybe ordered us...) to

believe in ourselves, invest in ourselves and set expectations

for ourselves. He of course has also written a book! It's called It

Worked for Me: In Life and Leadership.

The last thing I'll share from my experience at the convention is

a quote from Wendell Berry, paraphrased by Billie Tsien which

says "If we do good work we can join hands with those who

came before and those who come after."

This is the time to join hands!

Sincerely,

Tamara E. L.Burns, AIA

Executive Director's Message:

Happy July to everyone, I hope you are enjoying your summer. We have a lot of

great events coming up that I am excited about but this month I want to focus on

providing the membership with a Repositioning update:

Starting on July 22, the AIA will conduct the first of its quarterly, virtual Town

Halls for members to share the latest news about Repositioning in their home

cities. It will also be an opportunity for the Institute to answer questions about

current progress and initiatives surrounding Repositioning. You can access the

virtual town halls here.

Connect, Innovate, Engage, and Lead-the keywords that Repositioning takes as its early

foundations-will be introduced by Robert Ivy, FAIA, Mickey Jacob, FAIA, and Tina Litteral, Hon. AIA

during the first town hall. You can read a summary of each of those four focus areas here.

The AIA Foresight Report for 2013 points to a lot of positive change taking place already in the

profession-with "change" being the operative word. Key findings include the need, across all

sectors, for adaptability in a fast-paced business environment and an optimistic outlook for today's

architects in tomorrow's marketplace. Relevance wins the day for architecture firms-no matter what

size. But, design innovation will determine the level of influence architects will ultimately have in

this changing landscape. You can read the full report here.

Chapter Focus: AIA Northern Michigan

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The AIA Northern Michigan chapter is on a summer meeting hiatus until September, but that does

not mean that the chapter isn't busy with exciting events this year.

The chapter is providing design support for a mansion (constructed entirely of appliance boxes!) for

the Traverse City Film Festival 2013 "Kids Fest". The mansion is based on the film, "Victor and the

Secret of Crocodile Mansion" and the event runs July 30th through August 4th of 2013.

The Northern Michigan chapter has awarded a $1,000 scholarship to Elliot J. Evans of Suttons Bay.

Evans will be attending the University of Michigan Taubman College of Architecture and Urban

Planning this Fall.

Other chapter events include: hosting an AIA Marathon Day in October and providing design support

and assistance for the Canstruction installation. The regular schedule of Lunch and Learns every

month will resume in September and run continuously through June.

Meet your AIA Michigan Board Member from the Northern Michigan Chapter:

Mark Humitz, AIA is a southeast Michigan native by way of Dearborn.

He went to The University of Michigan for his Master of Architecture

degree and continued to live in Ann Arbor for 13 years after his

graduation. Mark has worked for a variety of small and medium-

size firms in Detroit, Ann Arbor and now Traverse City. He has worked on

projects including residential renovations, new custom residential homes,

university sports facilities, speculative office buildings, retail bank

facilities and large regional malls. Mark has been married for 28 years and

has two children: 23 year old son and a 21 year old daughter.

The Grapevine

Allegretti Architects' Laketown Residence project, (a 2013 AIAMI Design Award winner), is

referenced in the article, "How to Build Houses that Don't Harm Michigan's 'Critical Dunes

Areas'" on the Michigan Radio website. Click here to read the article.

Tracy Sweeney, AIA, was recently elected into Lawrence Technological University's

Architectural Alumni Cabinet. The Cabinet is composed of nine regular members elected by

alumni for three year terms.

Rocco Romano, AIA, Principal at TMP Architecture, is retiring mid-month (July) and can be

reached at roccor712@yahoo.com going forward.

Click here to read Tom Walsh's article: "SmithGroupJJR Has Been Designing Buildings in

Detroit for 158 Years and Counting" in the Detroit Free Press. The article discusses the

company's history and features Carl Roehling, FAIA and Jeff Hausman, AIA.

Jay Pettitt, FAIA: 1926-2013

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Jay S. Pettitt, Jr., FAIA, died peacefully at his home on Crystal Lake

on July 9, 2013. Heworked at Albert Kahn Associates from 1951 to

1988 and held many positions at the firm, including Vice President,

Director of Architecture and was a principal of the firm. One of his

most notable accomplishments was overseeing the replacement of the

University of Michigan Hospital. He was active in AIA Michigan

and served as President in 1967.

Through the years, Jay enjoyed many weekends sailing and downhill

skiing with his family. He was an avid Michigan football fan and

attended all home games for many years. He is survived by his

children, J. Stuart Pettitt (Debbie), Laura Pettitt (Bob), Lynn Pettitt (Mike), Carol Friendly (Ian),

seven wonderful grandchildren and his adorable great granddaughter. The family extends it thanks

to the many friends and caregivers who supported Jay during his recent illness.

A memorial service will be held on August 5, 2013, at 11:00 am at the First Congregational Church

U.C.C. of Benzonia. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Benzie County Animal

Shelter, the Michigan Architectural Foundation or The Maples. The Bennett-Barz Funeral Home, in

Beulah, is in charge of arrangements.

New AIA Michigan Members!

Welcome to our new members who joined, rejoined, or transferred to AIA Michigan in June 2013:

Nkiru W Agomuoh, Assoc. AIA; Mary L Bachelor, AIA; Mark T Gibbons, Assoc. AIA; Anastasia

Kostrominova, Assoc. AIA; Alexander Kraus, Assoc. AIA; Elizabeth Kreska, Assoc. AIA; John P.

Minear, AIA; Nicholas C. Seehafer, AIA; Rodney A. Vander Zand, AIA

Welcome to AIA Michigan and we look forward to meeting you at future events!!

AIA Michigan CEPR Tour and Happy Hour at Blu Homes in Ann Arbor!

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Upcoming Events

- August 2, 2013: AIA Michigan CEPR Tour and Happy Hour at Blue Homes, Ann Arbor

- August 8-10, 2013: AIA Michigan/AGC Mid Summer Conference, Mackinac Island

- September 20-21, 2013: AIA Michigan Design Retreat, Torch Lake

- October 25, 2013: AIA Michigan Annual Meeting Day

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Is there something new you want us to know about you or your firm?

Is there an event or project you want to share with the AIA Michigan Membership?

Email christine@aiami.com and check out our calendar for the latest events!

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