A forgettable space near freeway becomes award-worthy sustainable housing

It’s not easy being green. Or award-winning. Or space-conscious savvy. But take what was formerly a run-down, mostly empty apartment complex near the 10 Freeway in Santa Monica and set the architectural firm Daly Genik to work. Soon, a barren somewhat decrepit and forgettable space becomes stage to a well-designed, 36-home, energy-efficient building. Welcome to the Tahiti Housing Complex: a 2012 AIA California Council Merit Award winner.

What was once an asphalt jungle near a busy freeway on-ramp is now a place of bamboo-forested courtyards surrounded by two and three bedroom homes, connected by staggering walkways—some ground-level and some raised.

Designed to exceed LEED standards, the site is organized so that all storm water is directed to a central water retention and recharge basin. Over this reservoir is a timber bamboo forest that is the central landscape element, crisscrossed by bridges at two levels. The cool microclimate established by this bamboo grove enhances natural ventilation in the units and enhances the ecology and natural environment by reclaiming site area that was formerly basic asphalt paving.
The project was initiated by a locally based, nonprofit organization committed to developing and managing affordable housing in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. A key mission of the organization is to provide housing to lower wage working families. The project improves a problematic condition by increasing density on the site, providing critically needed housing for low-income families in a tight urban condition, and creating a cooler environmental condition by greening the site.
For more information on the Daly Genik firm, visit their website: www.dalygenik.com.

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Each year, the California State Legislature introduces over 2,000 new bills by the third week of February. Each of these are intended to provide some benefit or opportunity for at least some constituencies of our society, however, they can also create unintended consequences or responsibilities for others who may be unaware.

The legislative process is exceedingly complex. How can we as architects be informed about all of these potential benefits or risks to our profession, our businesses, our communities, and our environment?

We can’t, at least not individually. Collectively though, we can be informed – and not just to be aware – we can even have an influence in the outcomes of these bills. This is the role of the AIA California Council’s Legislative Affairs program, under the direction of Mark Christian, Hon AIACC.

Recently, Mark reviewed each of these bills and flagged those that potentially may have impact on areas of interest to the AIACC. He summarized each of these selected bills and categorized them into areas such as: Building Standards, Business, Liability, Project Delivery, Sustainable Design, School Facilities, Public Works, etc.

These different categories of bill summaries were then evaluated by one of three AIACC Committees: Advocacy Advisory Committee (AAC), Committee on the Environment (COTE), and Urban Design Committee (UDC), depending on the related subject matter and areas of expertise of the volunteer committee members.

Though the bills introduced each year are unique, there are common values that our AIACC committees embrace to evaluate these numerous bills. One of our fundamental viewpoints is that the Building Standards Commission should be the clearinghouse for evaluating and introducing new code requirements, and not the State Legislature. With respect to laws relating to furthering project delivery methods, the AIACC is generally in favor of supporting choice by a public owner. We are also very sensitive to bills that could be interpreted differently than intended and result in inconsistent applications in different regions. Another formative area we support are bills that seek to advance the values of our profession in terms of sustainable design and sustainable communities.

Mark and I worked together to facilitate the review of these bills with these committees, leading to the eventual recommendation to support, oppose, recommend a revision or amendment, or to continue to watch the bill as it develops.

These committee recommendations were then presented to the AIACC Executive Committee to obtain their input and support in recommending these to the Board of Directors of the AIACC. After reviewing these positions with the Board via an informal “town hall” style meeting (conference call), these recommendations were then formally presented to the Board for approval.

At the May 3, 2013 meeting of the AIACC Board of Directors, the Board approved the recommended positions on the final list of legislation of interest to the AIACC. Summaries for these bills in their respective categories and their Board approved recommended positions can be found here.

Our next steps will be to contact the legislative authors and their staff, and meet with them to review our support, oppose, or request to amend, positions. Mark, along with the AIACC’s contract lobbyist will continue to follow through to provide information and testimony at legislative committee hearings, until such time as the process for each of these bills comes to conclusion, frequently many months later.

If you have any questions in the meantime, or would like to learn more about the legislative voice of the AIACC, please contact me at (408) 977-9160, or via email at Lee.Salin@HMCarchitects.com or Mark Christian at (916) 448-1708 or via email at mchristian@aiacc.org

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Introducing the first zero-energy classroom in north America

The Marin Country Day School (MCDS) is the first zero-energy classroom building in North America. “Zero energy” – meaning it consumes less energy than it produces – is the new benchmark for energy performance. The project received LEED® Platinum certification from the U.S. Green Building Council in April 2010, and now has 2013 AIACC Merit Award as well.

Life at MCDS is close to nature; the entire campus is located within its own watershed. Students walk outside from building to building and the school’s iconic image is a pair of colorful galoshes kindergartners use to tromp through the stream that runs alongside the campus. The new buildings, inseparable from their landscape, hold close to these campus traditions. The library and classrooms are integrally connected to outdoor learning spaces and fit within the existing campus footprint to preserve natural surroundings. The courtyards, including the terraced Step-Up courtyard, bring this landscape into the heart of the campus. A restored stream returns the east edge of the campus to a more natural state.

MCDS’s vision was to create a library and classrooms that would not simply be a structure for learning, but also become an integrated part of the curriculum. These buildings connect to the ecology of their place; the same bioswales that provide Upper School students with a quiet retreat into the landscape also filter the sediments from surface runoff, cleansing the water, recharging the aquifer and reducing pollutants reaching San Francisco Bay.

Rainwater that falls on the roofs is collected and stored in an underground cistern that feeds grey water to toilets and acts as a heat sink to cool the building. Strategically located overhangs shade the buildings, while thoughtful building orientation and operable windows enable the building to be naturally ventilated and passively cooled. All these natural systems are the result of careful engineering to provide exceptional comfort while maintaining connection to the outdoors.
Energy use may be computer-monitored in real time to both improve building operation and provide students with information on their own environmental footprint. Exceptional day lighting, natural ventilation, and healthy indoor air quality all help create a high performance learning environment in support of the educational mission of MCDS.

Project lead Scott Shell, FAIA, LEED® AP, BD+C is a nationally recognized expert on high-performance buildings and sustainable design, and has written and lectured widely on these topics. He emphasizes an interdisciplinary approach to design to create beautiful, comfortable, and healthy spaces with excellent natural lighting, thermal comfort, and indoor air quality. Learn more at http://www.ehdd.com.

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Capital outlay is the State of California’s investment into the future. From buildings to infrastructure, state agencies and departments undertake a complex process to obtain legislative authorization and funding. Each agency is led by a professional team, responsible for conceptualizing projects, cost and budget control, programming, site planning and master planning, and other activities related to managing the State’s construction process. The capital outlay program managers from seven organizations in California – the Association of Capital Outlay Managers (ASCOM) – gather together quarterly to discuss mutual issues of concern. Members in this group include representatives from the: Department of Rehabilitation, California State University, DGS, Administrative Office of the Courts, Department of Water Resources, University of California, Cal Fire, and Department of Corrections.

Recently, I was invited to join them for a “conversation” to discuss issues facing the State and how the architectural profession can respond. Public procurement issues, adopting best practices from the public sector, and the AIACC’s advocacy for restoring design leadership in State Government were topics of interest among the group. Committed to protect the State’s investment while exploring opportunities for excellence, I was impressed on the overall sentiment of looking for ways to improve the project delivery process for all participants.

As we collectively prepare for a post-recession economy, this is an excellent opportunity to reflect on current practices and to learn where and how to increase efficiency, reduce waste and better position the State.

The AIACC believes that California’s number one market sector, the design and construction industry, lacks an advocate within the administration to coordinate and manage policy decisions regarding the State’s infrastructure investment, as well as identify issues and concerns of the industry in general. As a consequence, the State’s infrastructure needs, and the impacts on the general public and other state and local public agencies, are not comprehensively considered. Further, infrastructure – related decisions do not benefit from critical policy deliberations and the collaborative input of an architectural perspective.

While there was concern about how this “advocate” would interface with the existing agencies and processes, we discussed the need for “coordination” within the state; something the ASCOM supports as they convene to increase coordination and communication internally.

The discussion about the current issues surrounding public procurement was more challenging. In the challenging economic environment, I regularly hear from architects about the tremendous investment firms are making to compete for public work, the changing process in terms of selection (ie: less stringent pre-qualifications process and an increase in firms on the “short list”), and the frustration firms are having with the process which is leading to decisions not to pursue public projects. This situation is neither beneficial to the health and longevity to the profession nor restoring a culture of innovation to the State and steps must be taken to address these issues. To that end, the AIACC will pursue development of guidelines to assist public agencies during the procurement process and embark upon an educational campaign with firms and agencies about the issues so together we can create healthy and sustainable buildings for the citizens of California.

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California women leaning in: Haley Gipe, Darden Architects; Evelyn Lee, MKThink; Phoebe Schenker, EHDD; Liz Ogbu, Center for Art & Public Life, CCA; Chelsea Johnson, David Baker + Partners; Adrianne Steichen, Pyatok Architects; Leigh Christy, Perkins + Will; Allison Albericci, SOM; Kati Rubinyi, The Planning Center. And the author, Mia Scharphie, formerly of Public Architecture, now at the Harvard GSD

“Patterns of self-doubt are culturally ingrained from an early age, and are incredibly pervasive among female designers . . . . The everyday patterns of behavior women fall into have insidious and far-reaching consequences. When we undervalue our work and our worth, the people around us don’t see it either.” An insightful essay by Mia Scharphie in The Christian Science Monitor.

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Ever want to attend an AIA Convention but not had the time or wherewithal to devote to days away from your life here? Now, that can be remedied with the AIA Virtual Convention.

The AIA Virtual Convention is a great way to keep abreast of the 2013 AIA National Convention in real time! Here is how you can join:

• Buy a one-day Simulcast Pass or a three-day Simulcast Pass to attend any one of the days, or all three days of the Convention in real time on your desktop, laptop, or smart device
• Receive live streaming of 10 seminars of continuing education, straight from the Colorado Convention Center
• Purchase a three-day pass, and receive on-demand access to all 10 Seminars runs until July 31, 2013
• And visit our 3D Virtual Expo to interact with live exhibitors, industry peers and earn rewards for participation

AIA California Council Virtual Convention

All Virtual Convention Simulcast passes offer Learning Units (up to 12.5 LUs) and some courses even fulfill ADA, HSW and GBCI criteria.

As a member of AIA California Council you get an exclusive 10% discount by using this unique discount code CAXXVC2013. You may be also eligible for an additional 10% discount from AIA National if you register by May 31, 2013. AIA is offering special discounted pricing for Students and Young Professionals as well.

And don’t miss the Virtual Expo, an interactive 3D environment that mirrors the live trade-show experience. Create an avatar and explore the exhibition floor, chat live with exhibitors and other expo visitors, exchange business cards, and enter sweepstakes for your chance to win free education courses, Amazon gift cards, iPads and more!

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A deeper look at the award-winning design of the Shanghai Advanced Research Institute

Upon navigation to the Moore Rubell Yudell website, the first sentiment to fade in on a list of scrolling philosophies is: “Building & Inhabiting in Harmony with Nature.” A perfect illustration of this concept is Merit Award for Urban design they received in 2012 for the Shanghai Advanced Research Institute.

An innovative, memorable and humane place for study and research, the SARI design process began with a Master Plan solution. The Master Plan solution incorporates state-of-the-art educational and technological practices while providing an abundance of flexible learning spaces. The areas of SARI focus on faculty-student interaction in a wide variety of settings. The Master Plan allows for flexible programmatic implementation in the future and creates a truly sustainable community that honors and supports the campus’ occupants while simultaneously establishing world-recognized leadership in addressing global climate change.

This campus design includes the following project elements: academic facilities, cultural, commercial, retail, housing and sports/recreation. The result of a collaboration the team from Moore Ruble Yudell included Buzz Yudell, FAIA, Partner; John Ruble, FAIA, Partner; Michael Martin, AIA, Principal; James Mary O’Connor, AIA, Principal; and Anthony Wang, AIA, Senior Associate.

Grown from an in-depth exploratory process, The Master Plan gathers the best features from earlier versions and creates a complete, coherent whole. Each component of the campus’ program has been carefully evaluated to determine its academic, social and spatial needs guiding its proper placement within the campus fabric. Relationships between academic colleges, research facilities, cultural support and the residential community, as well as influences from other related research facilities and the surrounding context, have influenced the placement of each.

Undertaken as a part of a regional Master Plan developed by the City of Shanghai, the previously cleared and partially developed site includes primary roads, underground utilities, a network of waterways and a number of related planned and constructed research facilities. The context of existing and planned research and urban features set the stage for the visioning of a new academic environment that is both connected to its surrounding context and developed to have its own sense of Identity and Place. Addressing these linked requirements directly guided the shaping of the master plan solution.

Mixing Land Uses / Building Densely
The Master Plan solution mixes land uses in a dense pattern of study and work, residential and recreational opportunities, and reduction of energy and resource consumption in a variety of ways including limiting private transportation needs, support for shared and alternative transportation, consolidation of essential services and energy transmission, reduction of goods distribution and the preservation of open space. This rich matrix of use is essential in fostering a sense of community and identity within a sustainable environment.

Linking each primary program element is a diverse collection of pedestrian, vehicle, and water routes leading through a variety of landscaped and covered streets, quads and courts. Circulation patterns are developed with special attention and care weaving these into a meaningful whole creating –

• Clarity of organization and way-finding
• Unifying elements such as arcades, paving, special plantings, art, and lighting all create a whole and understandable campus setting
• Connections exist on numerous levels—underground, surface and bridges above

The collection of spaces envisioned provides settings for educational and social networks. The outdoor and indoor environments work synergistically to support both resident and visitor populations. This social network intends to address the needs of two people talking on a bench, to groups gathered to discuss their latest research over coffee, to large presentations or performances. Spaces that are provided include:

• Social Gathering within a high-tech environment – characterized by The Gallery, a lively covered street providing a setting for lounges, study, cafes, group gathering and event spaces of a wide variety of sizes
• Performance or presentation settings distributed throughout the university and research settings
• Quiet, contemplative settings – from intimate courtyards to The Great Lawn
• A wide variety of refreshment and dining options distributed throughout the campus – both within the academic and research environments to the active, café lined Village Promenade
• Recreation fields, both formal and informal recreation, as well as indoor venues including the multipurpose gymnasium and supporting settings for physical training
• Opportunities to connect sub-grade and surface patterns of activity – programmed space, parking, the new metro line – through a rich collection of light wells, sloped grading, generous ramps and stairs

Project Description
The Master Plan uses the strong spatial organization of three landscaped greens of varying characters radiating from the formal entry to establish clear zones of use that are interlinked through primary cross-connecting circulation patterns. The weaving of circulation systems—both exterior and interior—creates a coherent structure in which to develop academic, research, residential, service and recreational uses. While the campus is provided with a strong, unifying structure, each component is envisioned to have its own unique identity creating a collection of memorable places.
Strategies that develop a memorable, high-performance and economically viable campus environment include:

• Choreography of scales, types and orientations of buildings of buildings and the spaces they shape, including landmark elements placed at strategic locations.
• Cladding materials to create a unifying sense of color, texture, quality while addressing the demands of the climate, economy and long-term maintenance.
• Building facades that respond to solar heat gain, daylight, natural ventilation, reduced uncontrolled air infiltration and shading opportunities as well as the use of energy efficient integrated heating and cooling approaches.
• Appropriate structural and campus-wide energy-use systems.

In business for more than 30 years, Moore Ruble Yudell work as a spirited collaboration. The founding partners—Charles Moore, John Ruble, and Buzz Yudell—shared a passion for an original architecture that grows out of an intense dialogue with places and people, celebrates human activity, and enhances and nurtures community. With a Santa Monica office of 60 people, these values continue to guide their process, providing the core principles for a wide-ranging exploration of planning and architecture. To learn more, visit www.moorerubleyudell.com.

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Attention California architects! It is time again to recognize the very best architecture in California for the 2013 AIACC Design Awards. Awards will be conferred in five categories: Architecture, Interior Architecture, Urban Design, Small Projects and Sustainable Design. Open to AIA members and non-members, projects built in California or to California architects’ projects outside the state, this program provides the most successful way to communicate the value of design to the public.

There have been several changes to the program in 2013

• The Sustainable Design category. All awards are eligible to submit additional documentation for consideration for a special award.
• The 25 Year Award: nominate your favorite project that has made a significant and lasting impact on your community. The submittal package no longer required and there is no fee to enter!

Schedule:

Registration Deadline: May 9, 2013
Submittal Deadline: May 23, 2013
Final Jury Meeting: Mid July

Awards Celebration: October 2013 (specific location TBD)

The 2013 Design Awards Jury will review all entries.

Gabrielle Bullock, AIA – Perkins + Will
Merrill Elam, AIA – Mack Scogin Merrill Elam Architects
Vivian Lee, AIA – Edmonds + Lee Architects
Jenna McKnight – Architizer
Ronnette Riley, FAIA – Ronnette Riley Architect

REGISTER NOW!!

Nominate for the 25-Year Award

Download the Submittal Guidelines

Download the Project ID Forms

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Michael Palladino, FAIA , Richard Meier & Partners Architects, Gagosian Gallery, Beverly Hills Expansion

Do you remember the most brilliant display of stars and art observed in your life (yes, stars and art—the combination)? If you were standing on the roof of the Beverly Hills-based Gagosian Gallery this evening the question would be easy to answer. Recently, design partner with Richard Meier & Partners Architects, Michael Palladino, FAIA, commanded a project steeped in memory, revisiting their original design of this gallery. Sometimes, returning to the past is beneficial, especially to an architect. Expanding or updating a project will offer its own set of unique challenges. This one—to build adaptive reuse of retail space, and expand upon the Beverly Hills-based Gagosian Gallery’s existing space to include a roof deck, library, and art preparation area—was such for Palladino and firm.

The expansion included adding 5,000 square feet to the existing 6,600. The addition, anchored by a new 3,000 square-foot, street‐level exhibition space, was designed for better use of natural light. Palladino stated in a press release, “Over 15 years and three construction phases, the Gagosian Gallery and Richard Meier & Partners, have collaborated to create exceptional galleries that take advantage of the quality of daylight we enjoy in southern California.”
The latest addition embodies the qualities of space and light which distinguish this gallery, yet departs with its expressive reuse of an existing wood-barrel-vault roof. The natural wood ceiling, trusses and steel beam, offer a distinctive counterpoint to the airfoil wing that scoops daylight into the existing gallery. The new space utilizes skylights to balance daylight from the north and south. The expansive day-lit gallery walls, which were already known for oversize, larger-than-life art, can now accommodate even larger works in gallery space with a quality of light consistent with the original Gagosian Gallery. The glazed public street façade blends seamlessly with the existing Gallery facade and provides pedestrians a glimpse into the gallery. A single 225 sq. ft. glass and aluminum sliding door at the street allows oversized artwork to be unloaded directly into the gallery and opens exhibit space to the active Beverly Hills street.

Major interior finish details include: painted gypsum board, acid washed concrete floors and natural finish maple floors. New second-level offices and a private sky-lit viewing gallery not only address the gallery’s exhibit needs, but also to house the growing staff, as there are now more administrative employees. At the roof, a sculpture terrace provides a unique outdoor setting for installations and offers views of the city and the surrounding Hollywood Hills—views which inspire and perhaps remind the observer that while moving forward and creating something better than before is always the goal, sometimes we must return to the original to do so.

Palladino, moved to Los Angeles in 1986 to open the Richard Meier & Partners west coast office, and to design the Getty Center. Palladino earned his Bachelor’s of Arts in architecture from Virginia Polytechnic Institute, and Master of Architecture from Harvard University. He is a frequent guest lecture for institutions including USC, UCLA and LACMA. Palladino co-founded the Museum of Contemporary Arts’ Architecture and Design Council in Los Angeles. In 2008, Palladino was elevated to Fellowship in the American Institute of Architects.

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The AIACC is sponsoring legislation this year, AB 630 (Assembly Member Chris Holden, D – Pasadena), to clearly state in California law that a person must have permission to use an architect’s Instruments of Services, which is defined as planning, schematic and preliminary studies, designs, working drawings, and specifications.  AB 630 is not an attempt to create new law, but to clearly state what already is law.

The situation AB 630 attempts to address is when someone tries to use an architect’s Instrument of Services under the false belief that they own the plans and have a right to use them.  An architect can face this scenario when a client sells or loses the property in foreclosure for which architectural plans have been prepared, and even when a court appoints a Receiver to complete a project.

In these situations the purchaser of the property, or the Receiver when appointed by a court, can believe the architectural plans are a product that come with the property, and thus they have the right to use them.  However, the federal Copyright law clearly protects the rights of the architect and requires the user to have a license to use the plans when the architect retains ownership of the intellectual property.

AB 630 is an effort to create a new first step when an architect finds him/herself in this situation.  AB 630 adds clear and easy to understand language to California law stating that a person must have permission from the architect to use the Instruments of Services, and is intended to give an architect a new tool, a new first step, to inform and educate a person who is attempting to use the Instruments of Services without permission.

The passage of AB 630 is not guaranteed.  Some legislative staff are asking why AB 630 is needed when all it does is state existing law?  And some are questioning why we are proposing to place this language in the Architects Practice Act (the Practice Act is to protect the consumer, not the Architect, and we respond informing the consumer of the law in a clear way with the goal of avoiding costly litigation is consumer protection)?

If you have faced this situation and are willing to share your experience, contact me at mchristian@aiacc.org or 916.642.1708.

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Protect Instruments of Service appeared first on AIACC.