STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, architects and engineers from across the nation were ready to volunteer their expertise by inspecting the more than 19,000 damaged homes in city flood zones.

But they didn't come to Staten Island or volunteer their time because they feared being sued under state tort law if a homeowner disagreed with their assessment.

"There wasn't an organized effort where hundreds of architects from around the country came to lend assistance," said Timothy Boyland, vice president of the New York State Chapter of the American Institute of Architects.

"The national chapter of AIA, and chapters within the city, were calling and asking how they could help [Staten Island]. But sending architects into a situation where they could be sued, wasn't something they were going to do," added Boyland, who also has a St. George-based firm, Vengoechea + Boyland, Architecture Urban Planning LLC.

For this reason, architects and engineers in the borough support new state legislation -- the Good Samaritan Bill -- recently introduced in the state Assembly. The bill calls for relieving engineers, architects, landscape architects and land surveyors of liability "for personal injury, wrongful death, property damage or other loss" when rendering "voluntary services without compensation" within 90 days of a natural disaster or catastrophe.

With nearly all the states along the East Coast protected under similar laws, local professionals say getting the bill passed is a "must" to avoid lengthy home inspection processes in the aftermath of future disasters.

"There are 24 other states that currently have Good Samaritan protection," said Boyland. He noted that New York and New Jersey are the only East Coast states in Sandy's path that don't have a Good Samaritan law. "And these are the two states that got the worst of Sandy," he said.

In the first few days after Hurricane Sandy ravaged the borough, about a dozen local architects accompanied city Department of Buildings inspectors to job sites, said Boyland.

"We had a group of volunteers who accompanied the DOB for three days to do inspections. But after the third day, it was clear the city wasn't going to be able to provide indemnification. After three days, that program ceased," he said. "Essentially, their [architects'] hands were tied.'"

However, during those three days, 12 Island-based architects conducted more than 400 assessments for storm-damaged homes, said Anselmo Genovese, president of AIA, Staten Island chapter,

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'Good Samaritan' bill supported by Staten Island architects , engineers

WASHINGTON (AP) An effort in Congress to eliminate funding and scrap the proposed design for a national memorial honoring President Dwight D. Eisenhower drew strong opposition Friday from the American Institute of Architects, which said lawmakers should not censor an architectural work.

Earlier in the week, Utah Rep. Rob Bishop introduced legislation calling for a new design competition for the memorial, citing objections to the current design from Ikes family and the projects cost. Bishop seeks to eliminate $100 million in future funding for the current design by architect Frank Gehry.

The famous architect whose designs include the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain, and the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles has proposed a memorial park for Eisenhower. It would include statues of the president and World War II hero, framed by large metal tapestries depicting images of Ikes boyhood home in Kansas. The tapestries, held up by 80-foot-tall columns, would be a first among Washingtons memorials and have drawn objections.

Members of Eisenhowers family have called Gehrys design too extravagant. Others have bemoaned its avant-garde approach with the tapestries. The memorial is projected to cost $142 million, and millions of federal dollars have already been spent in choosing an architect and hiring Gehry.

The American Institute of Architects, representing 83,000 members, said Friday that it will vigorously oppose Bishops legislation mandating an alternate design, saying it would circumvent the yearslong process already completed.

Representative Bishops legislation allows Congress to exercise governmental authority in a wholly arbitrary manner that negates the stated selection process, said the associations CEO, Robert Ivy. It is nothing more than an effort to intimidate the innovative thinking for which our profession is recognized at home and around the globe.

Ivy said the architects association is not passing judgment on whether Gehrys design for the Eisenhower Memorial is good or bad.

In the past, when Ivy was editor-in-chief of Architectural Record magazine, he served on a design panel for the U.S. General Services Administration to advise on the selection of an architect for the memorial.

Bishop has said lawmakers need to re-evaluate the project in hopes of finding consensus on a design. His legislation also would provide a three-year extension of Congressional approval to use a planned site for the memorial at the base of Capitol Hill near the National Air and Space Museum.

Without an extension from Congress, the project is set to expire this year.

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Architects Oppose Bill To Alter Eisenhower Memorial

By BRETT ZONGKER Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) - The American Institute of Architects is opposing an effort in Congress to eliminate funding and scrap the proposed design for a memorial honoring President Dwight D. Eisenhower, saying lawmakers should not censor an architectural work.

On Wednesday, Utah Rep. Rob Bishop introduced legislation calling for a new design competition for the memorial. His office said he would seek to eliminate $100 million in future funding for the current design by architect Frank Gehry.

The American Institute of Architects, representing 83,000 members, said Friday that it will "vigorously oppose" Bishop's legislation.

The association's CEO, Robert Ivy, says Bishop's bill is "an effort to intimidate the innovative thinking for which our profession is recognized." The group says it is not passing judgment on whether the Eisenhower Memorial design is good or bad.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Architects oppose bill to alter Ike's DC memorial

It takes Ubl Design Group several weeks to make display models of buildings. With a 3-D printer they could do it in a day.

Some local architects are considering using 3-D printed models as a new way to showcase designs to clients.

The printers have made it possible to make functional 3-D objects from car parts to medical supplies by printing them out. Besides the automotive and medical industries, the technology also is being used in aerospace, manufacturing and by the military.

A designer can make a digital 3-D model using design software and send the model to the printer. The material is selected and the printer releases thin layers of the material upon each other to make the object.

Many of the printers, including those made by Minnesota-based Stratasys, can print more than 100 materials to create objects out of rubber, hard plastics, polyurthane and more.

Jeff Ubl of Ubl Design Group said his company was approached about the technology several years ago. The marketer was originally catering to manufacturers. Ubl did not get involved with the technology at the time but said now he would definitely consider it. The issues would be price.

For it to be really valuable to us it would have to be something inexpensive, he said.

These printers are starting to become more accessible, said Eric Johnson, design visualization specialist for JLG Architects. He said the price range varies by how much you need a printer to do: You can spend anywhere from $15,000 to $150,000.

Johnson said JLG has been using 3-D design software for 20 years and the company is looking into getting a printer in the near future. He said being able to use the printer to make models would be a substantial benefit to the company.

For clients its tremendous, he said. Its a great way for them to move around the model.

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Local architects considering 3-D printing technology

This model image, provided by Eisenhower Memorial Commission, shows the proposed Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial to be built in Washington. The family of Dwight D. Eisenhower responds to Frank Gehrys design changes to the Eisenhower Memorial but still voices objections to elements of design.

Associated Press

WASHINGTON An effort in Congress to eliminate funding and scrap the proposed design for a national memorial honoring President Dwight D. Eisenhower drew strong opposition Friday from the American Institute of Architects, which said lawmakers should not censor an architectural work.

Earlier in the week, Utah Rep. Rob Bishop introduced legislation calling for a new design competition for the memorial, citing objections to the current design from Ike's family and the project's cost. Bishop seeks to eliminate $100 million in future funding for the current design by architect Frank Gehry.

The famous architect whose designs include the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain, and the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles has proposed a memorial park for Eisenhower. It would include statues of the president and World War II hero, framed by large metal tapestries depicting images of Ike's boyhood home in Kansas. The tapestries, held up by 80-foot-tall columns, would be a first among Washington's memorials and have drawn objections.

Members of Eisenhower's family have called Gehry's design too extravagant. Others have bemoaned its avant-garde approach with the tapestries. The memorial is projected to cost $142 million, and millions of federal dollars have already been spent in choosing an architect and hiring Gehry.

The American Institute of Architects, representing 83,000 members, said Friday that it will "vigorously oppose" Bishop's legislation mandating an alternate design, saying it would circumvent the yearslong process already completed.

"Representative Bishop's legislation allows Congress to exercise governmental authority in a wholly arbitrary manner that negates the stated selection process," said the association's CEO, Robert Ivy. "It is nothing more than an effort to intimidate the innovative thinking for which our profession is recognized at home and around the globe."

Ivy said the architects' association is not passing judgment on whether Gehry's design for the Eisenhower Memorial is good or bad.

In the past, when Ivy was editor-in-chief of Architectural Record magazine, he served on a design panel for the U.S. General Services Administration to advise on the selection of an architect for the memorial.

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Architects oppose Utah Rep. Rob Bishop's bill to alter DC memorial to Ike

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An effort in Congress to eliminate funding and scrap the proposed design for a national memorial honoring President Dwight D. Eisenhower drew strong opposition Friday from the American Institute of Architects, which said lawmakers should not censor an architectural work.

Earlier in the week, Utah Rep. Rob Bishop introduced legislation calling for a new design competition for the memorial, citing objections to the current design from Ikes family and the projects cost. Bishop seeks to eliminate $100 million in future funding for the current design by architect Frank Gehry.

The famous architect whose designs include the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain, and the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles has proposed a memorial park for Eisenhower. It would include statues of the president and World War II hero, framed by large metal tapestries depicting images of Ikes boyhood home in Kansas. The tapestries, held up by 80-foot-tall columns, would be a first among Washingtons memorials and have drawn objections.

Members of Eisenhowers family have called Gehrys design too extravagant. Others have bemoaned its avant-garde approach with the tapestries. The memorial is projected to cost $142 million, and millions of federal dollars have already been spent in choosing an architect and hiring Gehry.

The American Institute of Architects, representing 83,000 members, said Friday that it will vigorously oppose Bishops legislation mandating an alternate design, saying it would circumvent the yearslong process already completed.

Representative Bishops legislation allows Congress to exercise governmental authority in a wholly arbitrary manner that negates the stated selection process, said the associations CEO, Robert Ivy. It is nothing more than an effort to intimidate the innovative thinking for which our profession is recognized at home and around the globe.

Ivy said the architects association is not passing judgment on whether Gehrys design for the Eisenhower Memorial is good or bad.

In the past, when Ivy was editor-in-chief of Architectural Record magazine, he served on a design panel for the U.S. General Services Administration to advise on the selection of an architect for the memorial.

Bishop has said lawmakers need to re-evaluate the project in hopes of finding consensus on a design. His legislation also would provide a three-year extension of Congressional approval to use a planned site for the memorial at the base of Capitol Hill near the National Air and Space Museum.

See original here:
Architects oppose bill to alter Frank Gehry's proposed memorial to Eisenhower

WASHINGTON - An effort in Congress to eliminate funding and scrap the proposed design for a national memorial honouring President Dwight D. Eisenhower drew strong opposition Friday from the American Institute of Architects, which said lawmakers should not censor an architectural work.

Earlier in the week, Utah Rep. Rob Bishop introduced legislation calling for a new design competition for the memorial, citing objections to the current design from Ike's family and the project's cost. Bishop seeks to eliminate $100 million in future funding for the current design by architect Frank Gehry.

The famous architect whose designs include the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain, and the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles has proposed a memorial park for Eisenhower. It would include statues of the president and World War II hero, framed by large metal tapestries depicting images of Ike's boyhood home in Kansas. The tapestries, held up by 80-foot-tall columns, would be a first among Washington's memorials and have drawn objections.

Members of Eisenhower's family have called Gehry's design too extravagant. Others have bemoaned its avant-garde approach with the tapestries. The memorial is projected to cost $142 million, and millions of federal dollars have already been spent in choosing an architect and hiring Gehry.

The American Institute of Architects, representing 83,000 members, said Friday that it will "vigorously oppose" Bishop's legislation mandating an alternate design, saying it would circumvent the yearslong process already completed.

"Representative Bishop's legislation allows Congress to exercise governmental authority in a wholly arbitrary manner that negates the stated selection process," said the association's CEO, Robert Ivy. "It is nothing more than an effort to intimidate the innovative thinking for which our profession is recognized at home and around the globe."

Ivy said the architects' association is not passing judgment on whether Gehry's design for the Eisenhower Memorial is good or bad.

In the past, when Ivy was editor-in-chief of Architectural Record magazine, he served on a design panel for the U.S. General Services Administration to advise on the selection of an architect for the memorial.

Bishop has said lawmakers need to re-evaluate the project in hopes of finding consensus on a design. His legislation also would provide a three-year extension of Congressional approval to use a planned site for the memorial at the base of Capitol Hill near the National Air and Space Museum.

Without an extension from Congress, the project is set to expire this year.

Go here to read the rest:
Architects group opposes effort in Congress to mandate changes in Eisenhower Memorial design

WASHINGTON (AP) An effort in Congress to eliminate funding and scrap the proposed design for a national memorial honoring President Dwight D. Eisenhower drew strong opposition Friday from the American Institute of Architects, which said lawmakers should not censor an architectural work.

Earlier in the week, Utah Rep. Rob Bishop introduced legislation calling for a new design competition for the memorial, citing objections to the current design from Ike's family and the project's cost. Bishop seeks to eliminate $100 million in future funding for the current design by architect Frank Gehry.

The famous architect whose designs include the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain, and the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles has proposed a memorial park for Eisenhower. It would include statues of the president and World War II hero, framed by large metal tapestries depicting images of Ike's boyhood home in Kansas. The tapestries, held up by 80-foot-tall columns, would be a first among Washington's memorials and have drawn objections.

Members of Eisenhower's family have called Gehry's design too extravagant. Others have bemoaned its avant-garde approach with the tapestries. The memorial is projected to cost $142 million, and millions of federal dollars have already been spent in choosing an architect and hiring Gehry.

The American Institute of Architects, representing 83,000 members, said Friday that it will "vigorously oppose" Bishop's legislation mandating an alternate design, saying it would circumvent the yearslong process already completed.

"Representative Bishop's legislation allows Congress to exercise governmental authority in a wholly arbitrary manner that negates the stated selection process," said the association's CEO, Robert Ivy. "It is nothing more than an effort to intimidate the innovative thinking for which our profession is recognized at home and around the globe."

Ivy said the architects' association is not passing judgment on whether Gehry's design for the Eisenhower Memorial is good or bad.

In the past, when Ivy was editor-in-chief of Architectural Record magazine, he served on a design panel for the U.S. General Services Administration to advise on the selection of an architect for the memorial.

Bishop has said lawmakers need to re-evaluate the project in hopes of finding consensus on a design. His legislation also would provide a three-year extension of Congressional approval to use a planned site for the memorial at the base of Capitol Hill near the National Air and Space Museum.

Without an extension from Congress, the project is set to expire this year.

See the original post here:
Architects oppose bill to alter DC memorial to Ike

"We were able to reuse the bowling alleys as table tops," Schaefer said.

Four and a half months and $3 million later, the former ice factory is the new headquarters of Selser Schaefer Architects, as well as one of the newest landmarks in the Kendall-Whittier district.

Thursday's grand opening also marked the 20th anniversary of the company.

Selser Schaefer, known for work such as the Tulsa Community College Center for Creativity, the new Hardesty Arts Center in the Brady District and the Tulsa Boys Home building - as well as plenty of other buildings in the area and across the nation - had been considering a move for quite some time.

The Tulsa Ice Co. building at 2002 E. Sixth St. gave the architectural firm a building with true character as well as an opportunity to join the rebirth of Kendall-Whittier.

"It's great to be part of the resurrection of the neighborhood," Schaefer said.

Ed Sharrer, executive director of Kendall-Whittier Main Street, said Selser Schaefer is a perfect complement to the neighborhood.

"The company fits with the district and complements the creativity of the other businesses here," he said. "It may help catch the eye of residents who might not have realized this district existed, and encourage them to move their companies here as well."

Selser estimated the building went up in the late 1920s, when Tulsa Ice Co. sold ice by the block for keeping food cool. After home refrigerators replaced the need for ice, the building was used as a foundry and an auto warehouse before becoming vacant in the 1980s.

Selser Schaefer used the structure of the building as a guide when putting in new features. For example, the open loading dock on the side became a patio that employees can use on breaks.

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Selser Schaefer Architects moves into renovated Tulsa Ice Co. building

ELENA | 5 studenti x 5 giorni con Sou Fujimoto Architects
11-15 marzo 2013 Per cinque giorni cinque studenti di architettura, i pi veloci a rispondere all #39;open call del MAXXI, entrano a far parte del team di lavoro...

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