The PA/NJ/DE Chapter of the International Interior Design Association (IIDA) presented architecture firm Francis Cauffman with its Best Interior Design Award of 2012 for the new headquarters of law firm Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor, LLP in Wilmington, DE. This is the second consecutive year Francis Cauffman has won this award. The architecture firm also received an Honorable Mention for Organization of Interior Space for the USM, Inc’s headquarters.

Richard A. Levine, a partner at Young Conaway said, “We are very pleased with the results of this project for its seamless melding of modern technology and historic character. The building itself has a great sense of nostalgia for many of our attorneys who actually began their legal careers within these walls. Francis Cauffman’s design honors the original features that many remember while creating a contemporary look and functionality that meet our needs.”

“This award is a testament of a client’s appreciation in the value of design. Our expertise in law planning and design led us to meet the challenge of integrating the changing needs of the law profession within a building from the previous century. It’s a honor to be recognized for this work,” stated Anthony Colciaghi, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP, BD+C, Principal at Francis Cauffman.

Francis Cauffman created a design that harmonized the old and the new. They refurbished natural stone and restored the central bronze stairwell in the two-story entrances. The design team created flexible conference rooms and collaborative spaces on the first two floors. The offices on the third and fourth floors are bright and airy, with large windows, and sleek nickel and stainless steel finishes.

Francis Cauffman also received an Honorable Mention for USM’s headquarters in a former Sears department store. The design consolidated several different departments under one roof while promoting interaction between them. The large floor space is divided with wooden frames to create informal team areas. Enclosed conference rooms have glass walls to let in natural light and promote openness and transparency. A large “town center” functions as a dining area and a casual meeting place.

Described by officials as Austin’s first truly comprehensive plan, Imagine Austin will guide the city’s robust growth over the next 20 years. The plan is the result of a two-and-a-half year collaboration among WRT and municipal staff; civic, cultural, and business associations; and the people of the Austin. Austin City Council unanimously adopted Imagine Austin on June 15, 2012.

WRT facilitated the planning process with an integrated service that included community engagement, data analysis, mapping, and implementation planning. Garner Stoll, Assistant Director for Austin’s Planning and Development Review Department was WRT’s lead client for the project. Reflecting on the successful process, Stoll said, “WRT is a delight to work with. They’re very knowledgeable, very experienced, have their feet on the ground, and are flexible. Our staff and their staff developed a strong relationship.”

All of Austin’s advocacy groups and racial and ethnic communities participated in Imagine Austin’s development. WRT Principal, John Fernsler noted that, “The plan is the result of one of the most democratic processes we’ve ever experienced.” Education was integral to meaningful engagement. As WRT Associate Planner, Nancy O’Neill explained, “We gave people the information they needed to enable them to make their own choices.” As a result, Imagine Austin genuinely reflects the ambitions and capacities of the city. Fritz Steiner, a member of the Imagine Austin Citizens Advisory Task Force observed, “The success of the plan is that it’s not viewed as WRT’s plan, it’s viewed as the citizens of Austin’s plan. The community engagement process was time consuming and often frustrating, but the plan is widely viewed as one that was produced by the community.”

Imagine Austin comprises 230 actions organized into eight priority programs. Each program is designed as the responsibility of an existing municipal department. “We involved all relevant city departments in establishing the vision and developing an implementation plan that cuts across departments,” explained David Rouse, WRT Principal. “Working with city staff was critical: successful implementation depends on their buy-in.” Rouse also noted that, “like icing on the cake,” Austin’s recently established Capital Improvement Office will coordinate implementation funding.

An energized Stoll reports, “Now that council has blessed the plan, we’re ready and able to run with it.”

William Whitaker, Curator at the University of Pennsylvania's Architectural Archives, presents the remaining examples of modernist architecture scattered around the Greater Philadelphia area. These buildings are only now beginning to be appreciated for their architectural achievements just as many of them have been or are being demolished. Come explore the buildings we grew up with before they are gone forever.

Since the mid-20th century, Philadelphia has faced the same challenges as most post-industrial cities in the world, namely loss of manufacturing jobs, residents, and taxes. In this lecture, we'll explore how Philadelphia has faced these challenges, in what ways it has succeeded, where we still need to make progress, and what the future holds for our fair city. Current and future public and private development projects will round out our lecture series.

In recent years, designers in the architectural, engineering, and construction (AEC) community have embraced a new methodology using building information models as the basis for a collaborative design process to meet the challenges of today’s increasingly complex and demanding project requirements.

This event is tailored to look into the multi-disciplinary project team and their best practices for using building information modeling (BIM) as a basis for a collaborative design and construction process. We will hear from leading practitioners from architectural, engineering and construction perspective.

Have you adopted BIM in your firm yet? Do you need BIM standards? Intrigued in the use of BIM in Facilities Management? Whatever your level of experience or inexperience, join us at BIM Perspectives as we explore the new technology innovations and integrations in design and construction. Learn the latest from industry leaders and hear about the advanced modeling and production techniques.

For more information and registration, please click here: http://bit.ly/13vfHRG

Buildings are faced each day by the constant challenges of comfort, convenience, cost, productivity, performance and sustainability. Owners, designers and builders face a continuous onslaught of new processes, technologies and offerings to help them achieve a building that is ready for future needs. We've been hearing buzz words like virtualization, BIM, the cloud, analytics, interoperability and demand response. Join us for the Bright Green buildings event where you'll learn about the proliferation of these technology based solutions and how they address the sustainability and technology needs of your buildings. Bright Green Buildings provide a dynamic environment in which converged technologies improve responsiveness, efficiency, performance and user management.

Speakers/panel:

- Joe Phillips, Director, Smarter Buildings / Smarter Cities, IBM Global Business Services
- Matt Mortimore, Director, Technical Services, Einstein Healthcare Network
- Frank Nicosia, Program Director, Demand Response Services, Johnson Controls, Inc.
- Jim Barrett, National Director of Integrated Building Solutions, Turner Construction

http://dvgbc.org/event/bright-green-buildings

The collaboration process between architects, contractors and owners has never been better and the stakes have never been higher. With prices and demand going up, the building & design community has had to adopt new processes and most of them revolve around team collaboration.

On Tuesday, June 11, the AIA-GBCA Joint Committee is holding a live presentation featuring the use of Building Information Technology (BIM) and Web-based Project Management Systems. Participants will include BIM and Project Management Staff from Torcon, Design Professionals from The Ballinger Company and you, the audience, at the Center for Architecture.

BIM and web-based management tools help architects, contractors and engineers make informed decisions throughout the design and construction process. A BIM model becomes a repository of building information critical to the long term use by the building owner. Web-based tools keep the project information flow moving quickly and efficiently. You’ll see for yourself how collaboration is key to the continued success of the building & design community and how these tools support the process.

This program will be helpful for anyone in the building and design industry who wants to get a better understanding of the collaboration process, especially those new to the architecture, engineering and construction fields.

3:30 – 4:00 Registration
4:00 – 5:30 Presentation and Q & A
5:30 – 6:30 Reception
 

Join our friends from the Community Design Collaborative at Erie Lanes in June for their annual FUNdraiser! All proceeds from this freewheeling event support the Collaborative's programs to strengthen neighborhoods through design. Contact Chris Mohr (chris@cdesignc.org) about sponsor opportunities. Sign up your team now and take advantage of our early bird rates!