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Small Details Matter; Archinect Sessions #101 Discusses the 2017 AIA National Conference

2017-05-08T15:06:00-04:00

In this latest episode of Archinect Sessions, Ken and Donna share their experiences and thoughts on the 2017 AIA National Conference. We discuss the conversation with Michelle Obama and the keynotes by Francis Kéré (awesome), Michael Murphy (political), and Elizabeth Diller (meh). We also address the positive changes displayed by the AIA this year, along with signs of complete lack of evolution by the Institute. Ken and Donna also share their excellent run-in and conversation with Phil Freelon and his wife Nnenna.

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Ken and Donna waiting eagerly for Michelle Obama

The power couple, Phil & Nnenna Freelon

Karen E. Hudson, gran...

Bohlin Cywinski Jackson Receives Two AIA Housing Awards

2017-05-03T13:23:00-04:00

The 2017 National Conference on Architecture put on by the AIA over the weekend came with a parade of honors and awards including the Housing Awards program. Now in its 17th year, the AIA Housing Awards were established to honor the best in residential architecture and promote the importance of good housing as a necessity of life. Bohlin Cywinski Jackson was one of firms to be recognized by the program for their exception design, receiving multiple accolades.

Their Los Altos Residence was honored in the "One/Two Family Custom Residences" category. The home is a modernist reinterpretation of the Northern California ranch. With a simple layout and detailing, the firm has created a home that is both calm and restful.

The second accolade was awarded to the Stellar Residence and Townhomes at Mountainside Northstar, falling in the "One/Two Family Production Homes" category. The Residence is a challenging update on the traditional mountain chalet while using familiar materials common to the...

Michelle Obama to join the 2017 AIA Conference on Architecture

2017-03-31T12:24:00-04:00

The AIA has announced that a “conversation” with former First Lady Michelle Obama will be held on the first day of the 2017 AIA Conference on Architecture in Orlando. The press release notes the four primary initiatives that Obama engaged with during her time as the First Lady of the United States:

Let’s Move!—an initiative to combat childhood obesity
Joining Forces—a project to support the wellness of service members, veterans and their families
Reach Higher—an endeavor to inspire young people to pursue post-high school education, whether at a four-year university, a community college, or a professional training program
Let Girls Learn—an initiative focusing on helping adolescent girls worldwide attend school

The conversation will be held on Thursday, April 27. Find out more here.

Following criticism of the lack of women speakers at the 2017 AIA Conference, Elizabeth Diller added to roster

2017-03-06T19:50:00-05:00

Elizabeth Diller, the founding partner of Diller Scofidio + Renfro, will now deliver a keynote address at this year’s AIA Conference on Architecture. The announcement follows intense criticism lodged at the AIA last month following an initial announcement of a lineup without any women.

Many architects voiced criticism and some signed an open letter calling for the AIA to take more meaningful action to address gender inequity in the profession. Subsequently, the AIA added a panel with Nóra Demeter, Michael Ford, and Cheryl McAfee, moderated by Frances Anderton.

Diller will be sharing a stage with last year’s Pritzker Prize winner, Alejandro Aravena, as well as Francis Kéré, who will be designing the Serpentine Pavilion this summer. The inclusion of several significant architects follows criticism of last year's lineup, which favored non-architect celebrities over practitioners.

This year the AIA Conference on Architecture will be held on Orlando and will revolve around the theme ‘Antic...