Conference, Expo and Design Awards

The 2024 AIA Central Pennsylvania Conference, Expo and Design Awards was held in York, PA at the newly refurbished Yorktowne Hotel, 48 E Market Street, York, PA.  Built in 1925, the 11-story Yorktowne Hotel was designed and constructed to be the cornerstone of hospitality during a time of significant growth for downtown York, Pennsylvania. Over the decades, the hotel would undergo several expansions and renovations, and eventually fall victim to deferred maintenance and neglect. In 2016, concerned about the worsening condition of the building, the York County Industrial Development Authority (YCIDA) with support from the York County Economic Alliance (YCEA) purchased the hotel to restore it to its former glory.

Members enjoyed two amazing tours: The York County History Center co-led by Erin Himmelberger, AIA of Warehaus who provided insightful  commentary on this renovation project and the Yorktowne Hotel, where Todd Harvey with BHC Architects guided us through the hotel’s transformation.  After the tours we had a great hour networking with our exhibitors.  The keynote speaker, Megan Caruso from Sprocket Mural Works, captivated the group with the inspiring Sprocket Mural Works story, emphasizing the significance of urban art.  The evening concluded with the AIA Central PA  Excellence in Design Award presentations.  The award winning projects can be seen here.

Fall Lecture

Claire Weisz, FAIA will make a presentation titled “Engaging at all Scales – WXY” on November 7th for the 2024 AIA Central PA Fall Lecture. Armstrong World Industries will again host the Fall Lecture and in addition to providing a comfortable space for the presentation they also provide a great social hour afterwards where you can catch up with peers and ask the speaker questions.

 Claire Weisz, FAIA, RAIC, Hon FASLA, is the founding partner of WXY, the NYC-based architecture, urban design, and  planning firm that is globally recognized for its community-centered approach. WXY acts at every scale: from the intimacy of an interior to the complexity of a city. From  structures such as SeaGlass at The Battery, the Spring Street Salt Shed and Sanitation Garage, and the Rockaway Boardwalk to precedent- setting planning and urban design, WXY’s work reflects Claire’s belief in the importance of public space and dialogue in creating a regenerative, equitable and inclusive world.  

The member ticket is $15.00 to attend. Pre-register by November 4th.  The lecture will begin at 7pm and be followed by a social hour at Armstrong World Industries – the generous long-term host and sponsor of the Fall Lecture.

Access to the Armstrong campus is limited so please be sure to pre-register by 11/4 and  Arrive early enough to navigate security, park, & walk to the venue.

Tri State Conference

November 18 – 20, 2024, Hershey Lodge, Hershey, PA 

Back in person for the first time since 2021!  The Tri-State conference previously held in Albany, NY is coming to Hershey, PA, and this is your chance to experience it right in your backyard.  For those in central Pennsylvania, this is a golden opportunity to benefit both yourself and your firm.  Remember, registration fees increase after October 18th, so act now.    Organize an office trip to Hershey and seize this occasion to connect with esteemed peers and from New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania!

Ignite your Architectural Practice with a Dynamic Fusion of Ideas and Innovation at the Tri-State Fusion Conference.

Join us for unprecedented blend of ideas, innovation, and networking at the Tri-State Fusion Conference in Hershey, PA. Elevate your practice through inspiring keynotes, comprehensive education sessions, and networking opportunities. Earn up to 18 AIA CES credits while exploring cutting-edge trends, from AI in design to revitalizing communities. Immerse yourself in the region’s rich architectural heritage and discover the latest products and technologies shaping the industry.

This is more than a conference: it’s a launchpad for your practice’s future.  Register today and take advantage of Early Bird rates.   Don’t let this unique opportunity pass you by – be a part of the Tri-State Fusion Conference and ignite your architectural practice!

Secure your spot now and ensure your place among the finest in the industry. Register today!

ACE MENTOR PROGRAM – Call for Mentors

There is no substitute for experience — the ACE Mentor Program is driven by the  committed and enthusiastic participation of volunteer mentors who are practicing   professionals in their respective fields. ACE offers high school students the best opportunities because ACE offers the best industry mentors.  Register to mentor. 

Who are ACE mentors? 

In our experience, ACE mentors tend to be members of a local community in which an ACE affiliate is located. Clearly passionate about they  do, they often make significant contributions to their communities as role models, trusted friends and career advisors. 

What makes a great ACE mentor? 

The right mix of knowledge, passion and rapport makes a great ACE mentor. Someone who connects with the students in a way that  demonstrates a sincere desire to help, and a commitment to make a difference. ACE mentors are team players willing to dedicate up to 30  hours of their time during the school year. Mentors are dedicated professionals who are passionate about what they do and want to share  that with the next generation of the industry’s workforce. Ideal qualities for a mentor are enthusiasm and the ability to develop a rapport  with the students. Young mentors often can relate to the students more readily, but mentors of all ages have been very successful. Also, the  closer the diversity of the mentors matches that of the students, the easier it will be to form strong relationships. 

How ACE mentors gain from the experience. 

We hear again and again that ACE mentors experience a profound sense of altruistic “giving back” when involved with ACE and its young  participants — the gratification that comes with sharing knowledge and wisdom with eager students. In addition, mentoring presents a  variety of networking opportunities, as well as chances to sharpen individual presentation and other professional skills. 

Talk to your ACE coordinator. 

Mentors often come from organizations actively involved in some way with a local ACE affiliate. If you’re part of such an organization and  want to become a mentor, talk to your ACE coordinator. If your organization is not currently an ACE participant, and you’d like to become a  mentor or volunteer, please fill out our online application. 

What are the benefits to my company?: 

Besides feeding the pipeline with the next generation of construction industry workforce, your company will benefit from its involvement  with ACE. The program: 

  • Enhances your company image, within the industry and also the community 
  • Provides networking opportunities, for both mentors and principals 
  • Connects your firm to talented and motivated part-time help and to potential future employees 
  • Enhances young professionals presentation and communication skills 
  • Creates an opportunity to “give back” to your community and to your industry 

What is my firm’s commitment?: 

The main commitment a company makes is empowering its staff to give time to the ACE Mentor Program. 

Teams meet in an after-school setting during the school year. A total of 15 – 20 two-hour sessions are held at either the school or the offices  of the mentors. A firm’s time commitment is approximately 30 – 40 hours each school year. Additional time may be necessary to organize for  a mentoring session. Many firms provide refreshments for the students and supplies that may be needed to complete a related activity. 

 

Sound and Space | by Christopher Brooks

I was recently in Tel Aviv and visited the Tel Aviv Museum of Art, adjacent to Hostage Square, with several heart-breaking artworks on the Museum grounds. The museum comprises two buildings: the Paulson Family Foundation Building (1959) by Dan Eitan connected to the new Herta and the Paul Amir Building by Preston Scott Cohen (2011).

Both are high-level examples of the architecture of their time. The new wing reminded me of the exquisite new MAXXI National Centre in Rome by Zahav Hadid. 

The center of the new Herta and Paul Amir Building is a dramatic light shaft surrounded by the main stair. Visually compelling, “Lightfall” is an eighty-seven-foot tall spiraling atrium—impossible to capture in a photo.

However, Light fall has a glaring fault: it is unpleasantly noisy. In addition to being an elegant solution for fitting rectangular spaces into a triangular site, it functions as a ventilation shaft—necessary in Tel Aviv’s climate, which gets hot and muggy in the warmer months. Unfortunately, the quality of the aural ambiance is well below the impressive visual quality of this space. The architect would have benefited from working with an acoustic consultant to “tune” the sound.

We humans are overwhelmed by our sense of sight, with hearing (and other senses) often playing second fiddle. But the other senses have a profound influence on our experience in space. Think of walking in the woods along a stream smelling the flora and hearing the singing birds. Or, for a stark contrast, walking along a noisy highway.

In a concert hall, we should be enveloped in sound, yet able to hear every detail. In a lecture hall or conference room, speech should be clearly intelligible. In an office, we need to be able to work without the distraction of other conversations. In a restaurant, we would prefer not to be deafened. In a residence, we need to avoid bothering and being bothered by our neighbors. Neighborhoods need noise barriers along highways. Parks can benefit from the splash of  waterfalls or fountains.

Museums often have lecture halls, performance spaces, and offices. In these spaces the acoustic functions are clear. But what is the appropriate acoustic ambiance for the galleries, public spaces, gardens?

Currently, some of the highest expressions of architectural art are museums. Think of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Guggenheim, Louis Kahn’s Kimbell Art Museum, Richard Meyer’s High Art Museum, Tadao Ando’s Clark Art Institute, Tod Williams’ and Billie Tsien’s Barnes Foundation.

Architects often come from the visual arts; and photography strongly influences architectural design. With 3D tools, design in three dimensions has taken off to new heights. But has consideration of the sonic environment kept up?

AIA Tri-State Conference

The AIA Tri-State Conference, hosted by AIA New Jersey, AIA New York State, and AIA Pennsylvania, is coming to the “sweetest place on earth” this November.   Join your peers and industry partners for local architecture tours, engaging keynotes, relevant continuing education, vendor solutions, and an accompanying Tri-State Awards celebration. Plus, plan to take advantage of all Hershey has to offer!

Check back here for more information and registration.

Call for Member Articles

AIA Central PA would like to feature scholarly articles / blogs related to our profession in each quarterly newsletter. This is an excellent opportunity to have your article published and available to your fellow architects / engineers in Central PA. If you are interested in submitting an article or blog please send your inquiries to Brett Hallacher at bhallacher@rlps.com.  This is an excellent opportunity to showcase your expertise and contribute to the professional development of your peers.

Membership Notes

  • Thank you for being an AIA Central Pennsylvania Member!  We value you as a member and appreciate your feedback.  Please let us know what we can do to continue to support you.  Please reach out to Susan Frear at any time.  Remember to log in and update your profile information at aia.org.  Please let Susan Frear at AIA PA know if you have any questions about dues or membership.  sfrear@aiapa.org

Upcoming Events

REGISTER FOR UPCOMING AIA CENTRAL PA EVENTS

REGISTER FOR UPCOMING AIA PA EVENTS.

Job Opportunities

View the latest positions posted to our job board!
Hiring? Submit your position HERE