| Volume 2, No. 9 - July 24, 2008
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2008 Fairfax County Exceptional Design Awards Winners Announced
photo by Craig Kuhner / Jeffery Sauers
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Every year a jury of architects, planners, landscape architects and others selects projects located in Fairfax County as Honor, Merit or Honorable Mention Award Winners for the Fairfax County Exceptional Design Awards Program. Ten winners were announced this year.
  According to the Fairfax County website, the purpose of the awards is "to recognize achievement in the total design of building and site; and to create an awareness of outstanding planning and design projects among the design professions and throughout the general public."
The lone winner of the Honor Award, the top award given, was cox, graae + spack architects for the new Upper School of the Potomac School in McLean, Virginia (pictured at right). It is the first major expansion of the Upper School (grades 9 through 12), which had its first graduating class in 1990.
The full list of winners follows. See the upcoming July/August edition of AIA Northern Virginia News for more information.
Award of Honor
cox, graae + spack architects - The Potomac School, Upper School
Awards of Merit
Randall Mars Architects - McLean Pool House
SHW Group - 11415 Isaac Newton Square
Hughes Group Architects - Fairfax Center Fire & Rescue Station 40
The RKtects Studio, Inc. - Park Village, Fort Belvoir Family Housing
Honorable Mention Awards
David Jameson Architect, Inc. - Lakeview Renovation
Susan Woodward Notkins Architects, PC - A Slice of Light
R. Randall Vosbeck, Jr. - Midtown North
SF Design Group - SF Design Group, Chantilly Office
PSA-Dewberry, Inc. - Oakton Library, Fairfax
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Braced Walls Building Code Workshop
by Al Cox, FAIA
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On July 30, 2008 from 8:00a to 3:00p, the AIA Northern Virginia Chapter and City of Alexandria will jointly sponsor a code training workshop. Local expert Brian Foley, with the Building Plan Review and Permits Division of Fairfax County, and Charles Bajnai, Chief of Residential Plan Review for Chesterfield County have agreed to present a six-hour course designed to teach architects, engineers and building officials the new and extensive regulations concerning wall bracing for residential construction. The material is derived from the 2006 International Residential Code (IRC), Section R 602.10, as amended by the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code.
The training is free but advance registration will be required. A location and arrangements for food have not yet been confirmed. Details will be announced on the aianova.org website and in a future BLAST as soon as they are available.
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Virginia Society AIA Prize for Research + Scholarship
by James P. Clark, AIA
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Recognizing the importance of both theory and applied research in architecture and the importance of discourse in the architectural process, the VSAIA has created the Prize for Design Research and Scholarship. The purpose of the prize is to encourage theoretical awareness, educational exchange, thought and research in architecture, both within academic institutions and within the offices of practicing architects who participate in theoretical pursuits. The VSAIA Prize for Design Research and Scholarship will be awarded to a faculty member at a Virginia institution of higher learning or a licensed practicing architect in Virginia for outstanding design research or scholarship in the field of architecture.
The VSAIA is proud to announce that the jury will be led by AIA gold medal winner Cesar Pelli, FAIA, RIBA, JIA. Jurors also include Joel Sanders, AIA, a practicing architect and professor, as well as Richard Hayes, AIA who is the Managing Director of Knowledge Resources at the National AIA. The deadline for the submission of prize entries is August 1, 2008. The awardee will be invited to present the winning submission at Architecture Exchange East on November 12-14, 2008. Click here to find out more.
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DesignDC : Leading ReNEWal
July 8-10
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DesignDC, an annual conference presented by AIA Northern Virginia, AIA|DC, and AIA Potomac Valley, begins next week. The theme this year, Leading ReNEWal, looks at how sustainable design and adaptive reuse, historic preservation and downtown revitalization can all work together. Sessions focus on the tools, trends and technology needed to ensure industry leadership. Whether you are an architect, designer, engineer, contractor, developer or just interested in the world of design, there is something for you to learn and apply to your professional or personal life.
 The keynote address will be delivered on Tuesday, July 8th by Marshall Purnell, FAIA, the AIA's 84th president and design principal at Devrouax & Purnell. Mr. Purnell is spearheading the AIA's goal of promoting sustainable design and resource conservation across the country.
DesignDC is being held at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center. Full conference registration for AIA members is $375, one day $250, half day $150, opening night lecture $25, trade show only $25. Learn more and register online at www.aiadesigndc.org.
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510 E Howell Avenue Interior Renovation + Shed Addition
Alexandria, VA
John White + Heather Grutzius, Associate AIA
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 This project was an experiment in time, space, and means. The owners, who work as full-time interns for local design and construction firms, were also the designers and builders for this 900 sf rowhouse renovation in Del Ray.
It was an experiment in time because all design and construction was conducted outside of work hours on weekends and evenings, vacation days, personal days, and holidays. It was an experiment in space because every square inch of floor, wall and ceiling is
 valuable in a 900 sf, two bedroom rowhouse, and you must find every creative way to add functional storage. Finally, it was an experiment in means because what little money did not go to mortgage utilities, and gasoline was spent on construction supplies, tools and materials.
The result was a kitchen with four times as much storage and working space as it had in its previous state, an open floor plan which made the small 14 ft x 23 ft floor plate feel spacious, and a functional outdoor shed that provided plenty of storage for outdoor equipment and all the tools that were collected in the process. The considerable impact with a very tight budget is what makes the project stand out.
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July 8-10 - DesignDC: Leading ReNEWal
At the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center. See the article above for more information.
July 12 - ARE Prep Series : Pre-Design
10:00a-2:00p, at DMJM Design, 3101 Wilson Blvd., Suite 900, Arlington. Additional information and registration forms are available here.
July 14 - AIA Northern Virginia Board Meeting
4:30-6:00p, at the Chapter House, 205 South Patrick Street, Alexandria. For additional information, contact the Chapter House at aianova@aianova.org.
July 16 - AIA Northern Virginia Lunch Series : Elevator Technology
Noon–1:00p, at the Chapter House, 205 South Patrick Street, Alexandria. This presentation will cover conventional and new elevator technology; an overview of elevators that do not require a machine room; highlight the differences with a traditional hydraulic elevator; better building practices; and sustainable best practices relating to elevator installations. Presented by KONE Elevators. 1 AIA/CES LU. Free; lunch provided; registration required at reservations@aianova.org.
July 22 - About Architecture : What is Smart Growth?
7:00p, at the Lyceum, 201 South Washington Street, Alexandria. Smart Growth, Transit-Oriented Development and New Urbanism. What do these terms mean for residents in the DC region and what role does architecture play in creating a smart growth future? Co-sponsored by the Alexandria Lyceum, AIA Northern Virginia and the City of Alexandria, this is the second of our new quarterly forum, About Architecture. Michael Foster, FAIA, past Chair of the Arlington County Planning Commission, will introduce a presentation by Stewart Schwartz, Executive Director of the Coalition for Smarter Growth. 1 AIA/CES HSW LU. Free; reservations are not necessary. Refreshments will be served. For additional information, click here or contact the Chapter House at aianova@aianova.org or (703) 549-9747.
July 24 - Property Condition Assessments
Noon-1:00p, at ECS Mid-Atlantic, LLC, 3859 Centerview Drive, Suite 500, Chantilly. Presentation provides valuable information on the condition of a property for the purpose of purchasing, selling, or refinancing. Items discussed will include requirements noted in ASTM E 2018, Property Condition Assessments, Baseline Property Condition Assessment Process. Presented by ECS Mid-Atlantic, LLC. 1 AIA/CES HSW. Lunch provided. Registration required; space limited to 20 participants. Contact mdoyle@ecslimited.com.
July 26 - ARE Prep Series : Graphic Divisions
8:15a-6:00p, at the University of Maryland School of Architecture, College Park. All three Graphic Divisions, Site Planning, Building Planning and Building Technology, will be reviewed. Organized by AIA Northern Virginia, AIA|DC, AIA Potomac Valley and Virginia Society AIA. AIA members $205, non-members $245, includes lunch. Click here to download a form to register by fax or mail, or click here to register online.
July 30 - Braced Walls Building Code Workshop
8:00a-3:00p, location to be determined. Local expert Brian Foley, with the Building Plan Review and Permits Division of the Fairfax County, and Charles Bajnai, Chief of Residential Plan Review for Chesterfield County will present a six-hour course designed to teach architects, engineers and building officials the new and extensive regulations concerning wall bracing for residential construction. See the article above for more information.
August 17 - AIA Day at the Nationals Ballpark
1:35p game time. Bring friends and family to enjoy a day at the new Nationals Ballpark with fellow AIA members from all three metro area Chapters. See the Nationals play the Colorado Rockies. We are working on arranging a tour of the ballpark with a discussion about proposed plans for the surrounding neighborhood before the game. Watch for additional details on the Chapter Website.
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