BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- Seven months after assembling a roster of builders and architects for a $64 million baseball stadium downtown, Mayor William Bell's administration wants to change the design team by eliminating two local architects.

A draft amendment to the project agreement, obtained by The Birmingham News through a public information request, shows the deletion of Giattina Aycock Architecture Studio and Hoskins Architecture.

The document had been set for a vote by the five-member Public Athletic, Cultural and Entertainment Board on Thursday, but the meeting was canceled, with board chairman Robert Jones citing the need for more information on the proposed changes recommended by the mayor's office.

Several City Council members said they now have questions and serious concerns about the project's stability and will discuss the issue at a Budget and Finance Committee meeting Monday.

The baseball park's design team includes GA Studio and Hoskins Architecture of Birmingham, along with Dallas-based HKS Architects, a nationally known stadium builder. The project developers are Corporate Realty Development and Brasfield & Gorrie.

"It's our job to raise issues about it to make sure it's done properly," Jones said of the contract amendment. "I had no knowledge of it until I got the proposal."

Reasons for the proposed changes remained unclear Friday.

Officials with Giattina declined to comment, citing ongoing client relations. Efforts to reach Hoskins Friday evening were unsuccessful.

The council last August voted overwhelmingly to approve the leases and land swap agreements needed to build the ballpark and a Negro League museum near Railroad Park. But even those who voted for it are saying now they are left in the dark when it comes to details of the project.

Councilman Steven Hoyt on Friday sent Jones a letter asking him to appear before the Budget and Finance Committee Monday to present an update. Council members say they want to know the ramifications of a design team change.

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Birmingham Mayor William Bell wants 2 architects off baseball stadium team

CHARLIE GATES

Architects rebuilding Christchurch think a new government task force will accelerate the rebirth of the city centre.

The task force, known as the Christchurch Central Development Unit (CCDU), has 100 days to develop a blueprint for the rebuild of central Christchurch.

Architects believe the rebuild has not yet begun in earnest, but hope it will kick in early next year.

David Hill, of Christchurch practice Wilson and Hill Architects, said the task force needed to provide certainty.

"There is a lot of interest in the rebuild, but it is still very much in a holding pattern. It is probably to do with the uncertainty about the inner city," he said.

"I think [the new unit] is a positive step forward. Since the council recovery plan went to Cera [Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority] there has been almost four months of silence and uncertainty, but this is a positive step forward.

"There is a great opportunity out there."

Warren & Mahoney managing director Peter Marshall said the task force needed to quickly identify where major assets would be built in the city centre.

"What will really move us forward is when major building works like the convention centre and the sports hub are under way, and when there is a critical mass and commitment by institutions, investors will follow. Those big moves haven't been made yet," he said.

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Deadline drives city rebirth forward

The expansive work to rebuild and modernize the citys libraries continues to bring classy designs and prime architects to those institutions. Architect Bing Thom, along with Weincek + Associates, has been selected for the rebuilding of the Woodridge Neighborhood Library. (Linda Davidson - The Washington Post)

The DC Public Library announced Tuesday that the Woodridge Neighborhood Library is also getting an award-winning team for its replacement. Bing Thom Architects, the team that gave new life to the Arena Stage, and Weincek + Associates, the local firm that has done a number of libraries, schools and arts centers, have been selected by the library system.

The design phase for Woodridge is estimated to cost $1.48 million. The total cost is estimated at $16.5 million, according to the library.

Bing Thom, the Canadian-based firm, built the renovated Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater. The firm has received many accolades for its work around the world, including the 2011 RAIC Gold Medal for Bing Thom. Woodridge is his first library in the United States.

Libraries, including the Francis Gregory and Washington Highlands libraries, have been one of Weinceks concentrations. Led by Michael A. Weincek, Jr. the firm has designed the Cafritz Foundation Arts Center in Silver Spring, Chevy Chase Elementary in Chevy Chase, the KIPP DC:Will Academy in the District and Lakewood Elementary in Rockville.

We have been fortunate to have talented and internationally recognized architects design libraries for the District, said Ginnie Cooper, chief librarian of the D.C. Public Library system. With this architect team, the Districts new libraries will continue to inspire people in the citys neighborhoods as well as around the world.

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Bing Thom and Weincek + Associates chosen for Woodridge Library

16-04-2012 13:13 Mental Architects : New Album "Celebration" promo, 6 ????? 2012 @ The Box

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Mental Architects : New Album promo - Video

Published 12:28pm Monday, April 16, 2012

GBW Architects of Decatur was chosen over two larger firms to design the proposed new Priceville High School at the regular monthly meeting of Morgan County School Board April 12.

While the vote was unanimous, two board members expressed concern about GBWs limited experience with school building projects and seemed to lean toward a larger, more experienced firm during a work session discussion that preceded the meeting.

Two other architects, Barganier, Davis, Sims of Montgomery and Lathan and Associates of Birmingham offered proposals, along with GBW, at the previous months board meeting.

Board member Tom Earwood, who served on an architect search committee with board members Jeff McLemore and Jimmy Dobbs, pointed out that one of the architectural firms under consideration has over 1,000 school building projects to its credit.

They didnt get there overnight, he pointed out. They have a solid reputation as the largest architectural firm in the state.

I ask you, he questioned, If you needed a heart transplant, would you choose a surgeon who has never done one or a surgeon who has done 1,000?

Board chairman Carolyn Wallace picked up where he left off by suggesting that consideration for the selection of an architect should be removed from the meeting agenda and brought back up for consideration at a later date.

Theres so much out there that needs to be taken under consideration when it comes to building a new school, she pointed out. I want someone with experience before turning loose $20 million dollars.

Its been a little bit of an unfair process, she added.

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GBW Architects selected to design Priceville School

SDS Architects of Eau Claire has been hired to design the new Bloomer Elementary School.

School district voters passed the referendum for a new school by a thin margin on the April 3 election, which will cost about $17.5 million to build.

The new elementary will be built near the middle school on Jackson Street, and a portion of the referendum funding will go towards building a roadway for the school as well as a future new high school building.

SDS Architects said in a statement design for the 91,650 square-foot school has already started, with construction slated to begin in mid-October of this year. The new building is expected to open for the 2013-14 school year with a capacity for 600 students.

SDS Architects has already worked with the Bloomer School District before, building the new middle school in 2000 and remodeling the high school in 2001. The firm started working with the district last fall on a facility study for its existing elementary school, at 1715 Oak St.

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SDS Architects will design new Bloomer Elementary

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Posted April 17, 2012

New Appointment Sets the Stage for Continued Expansion in Latin America

MIAMI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--San Francisco and Miami-based SB Architects is pleased to announce that Emilio Perez has joined the firm as a vice president in the firm's Miami office. A dynamic, results-oriented leader, Emilio brings to SB Architects over 20 years of international design experience.

Specializing in the design of large hotel, resort and mixed-use properties, Emilio's extensive experience encompasses every aspect of destination planning, development and design. Emilio's background includes leadership positions with several of the world's most prominent architecture firms, including Gensler and Portman Associates. His experience ranges from Cap Cana, where he directed the overall design of the largest resort development in the Caribbean, to Celebrity Cruises, where he was responsible for the interior environment of an entire fleet of luxury cruise ships. His skill set provides a direct complement to SB Architect's diverse international portfolio, allowing him to immediately provide the firm with effective and enlightened design management and direction. Born in the Dominican Republic, Emilio is a long-time resident of Miami.

In over 50 years of design practice, SB Architects has built a project portfolio that spans the globe. The firm regularly competes with some of the largest architecture firms in the world, yet it maintains a hands-on, boutique practice, driven by collaboration, teamwork and individual client relationships. As it continues its trajectory of growth into new markets and dynamic developing areas of the world, SB Architects is leveraging its 35-year presence in Miami as it continues to expand its presence in the Caribbean and Latin America.

"We have been practicing in the Caribbean and Mexico for decades," declares Scott Lee, President and Principal of SB Architects. "Emilio's extensive experience, deep market understanding and outstanding relationships in the Caribbean and Latin America will be invaluable as we further expand our practice throughout the region."

As the firm continues to enhance the leadership in its Miami office, Jorey Friedman, vice president, will take on an expanded role in design oversight and leadership. With 28 years of architectural experience - 18 of those years with SB Architects - Jorey is integral to the continued growth of the Miami office. With her instinctive leadership style, intuitive design sense, and ability to create and sustain a consistent project vision, she is able to forge and maintain strong bonds amongst development and design teams. SB Architects' Miami office will continue to be managed by principal Kevin Dunn, a 28-year veteran of the firm.

"One of the things we do exceptionally well is to connect people and put together effective teams, and Jorey embodies that core competency," says Scott Lee. "I am extremely confident and excited about the outstanding leadership in our Miami office."

SB Architects maintains a long-standing reputation for excellence in the planning and design of large-scale, multi-phased projects, working with developers and consultant teams in all parts of the world. The firm's portfolio of work includes projects throughout the United States, in Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean, Asia and the Middle East. The firm is committed to sustainable design. All four of the firm's principals are LEED Accredited Professionals, as is nearly a third of its staff. Known for site-sensitive, contextually appropriate design, SB Architects has received over 200 awards for design excellence in over 50 years of continuous practice.

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SB Architects Appoints Emilio Perez VP

ANTWERP, Belgium, April 16, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

Danny De Munter, a Belgian architect specialized in high-end interior design and restoration, and Wim Gyselinck, have been designated to build the new city palace in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20120416/525327 )

This is not their first architectural project in the Middle East. In the past Danny De Munter has delivered with great success a palace "pied dans l'eau" in Khobar together with Brussels architect Patrick van der Stricht. The duo has now been approached to open a local engineering office.

The Flemish approach, far away from the curls and 'opera style' often associated with Middle Eastern architecture, can be best described as a combination of 'eco-neoromance' and 'eco-neomodernism'. This approach has proven to be fruitful, hence the new applications coming in from Beirut and Khatar.

Danny De Munter explains his success: "The underdog profile of our Belgian team cannot be underestimated: we work in a small team which results in a lower cost than our competitors; we work faster than them and think in a more pragmatic way. There are very few global players in this market that can work as versatile as we do and are specialized in as many fields as we are. "

About DMG Architectural Solutions

Danny De Munter and Wim Gyselinck work from their engineering office DMG Architectural Solutions in Antwerp. In the past, they have renovated the Coca-Cola building in New York, worked with Bombardier, designed with crystal manufacturer Baccarat and renovated and restored a Hausmanien complex in Paris. Also they have several references in Angola, South Africa, Switzerland and Spain.

http://www.demunter-gyselinck.be

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Belgian Architects Danny De Munter and Wim Gyselinck Design Palace in Saudi Arabia

16 April 2012

San Francisco and Miami-based SB Architects is pleased to announce that Emilio Perez has joined the firm as a vice president in the firm"s Miami office. A dynamic, results-oriented leader, Emilio brings to SB Architects over 20 years of international design experience.

Specializing in the design of large hotel, resort and mixed-use properties, Emilio"s extensive experience encompasses every aspect of destination planning, development and design. Emilio"s background includes leadership positions with several of the world"s largest and most prominent architecture firms, including Gensler and Portman Associates. His project experience ranges from Cap Cana, where he directed the overall design of the largest resort development in the Caribbean, to Celebrity Cruises, a luxury brand of Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, where he was responsible for the interior environment of an entire fleet of luxury cruise ships. His skill set provides a direct complement to SB Architect"s diverse international portfolio, allowing him to immediately provide the firm with effective and enlightened design management and direction. Born in the Dominican Republic, Emilio is a long-time resident of Miami.

In over 50 years of design practice, SB Architects has built a project portfolio that spans the globe. The firm regularly competes with some of the largest architecture firms in the world, yet it has continued to maintain a hands-on, boutique practice, driven by collaboration, teamwork and individual client relationships. As it continues its trajectory of growth into new markets and dynamic developing areas of the world, SB Architects is leveraging its 35-year presence in Miami as it continues to expand its presence in the Caribbean and Latin America.

"We have been practicing in the Caribbean and Mexico for decades," declares Scott Lee, President and Principal of SB Architects. "Emilio"s extensive experience, deep market understanding and outstanding relationships in the Caribbean and Latin America will be invaluable as we further expand our practice throughout the region."

As the firm continues to enhance the leadership in its Miami office, Jorey Friedman, vice president, will take on an expanded role in design oversight and leadership. With 28 years of architectural experience 18 of those years with SB Architects Jorey is integral to the continued growth of the Miami office. With her instinctive leadership style, intuitive design sense, and ability to create and sustain a consistent project vision, she is able to forge and maintain strong bonds amongst development and design teams. SB Architects" Miami office will continue to be managed by principal Kevin Dunn, a 28-year veteran of the firm.

"One of the things we do exceptionally well is to connect people and put together effective teams, and Jorey embodies that core competency," says Scott Lee. "I am extremely confident and excited about the outstanding leadership in our Miami office."

SB Architects maintains a long-standing reputation for excellence in the planning and design of large-scale, multi-phased projects, working collaboratively with developers and consultant teams in all parts of the world. The firm"s portfolio of work includes projects throughout the United States, in Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean, Asia and the Middle East. The firm is fully committed to sustainable design. Leading by example, all four of the firm"s principals are LEED Accredited Professionals, as is nearly a third of its staff. Known for site-sensitive, contextually appropriate design, SB Architects has received over 200 awards for design excellence in over a half-century of continuous practice.

Excerpt from:
SB Architects Enhances Leadership in Miami Office

MIAMI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

San Francisco and Miami-based SB Architects is pleased to announce that Emilio Perez has joined the firm as a vice president in the firms Miami office. A dynamic, results-oriented leader, Emilio brings to SB Architects over 20 years of international design experience.

Specializing in the design of large hotel, resort and mixed-use properties, Emilios extensive experience encompasses every aspect of destination planning, development and design. Emilios background includes leadership positions with several of the worlds most prominent architecture firms, including Gensler and Portman Associates. His experience ranges from Cap Cana, where he directed the overall design of the largest resort development in the Caribbean, to Celebrity Cruises, where he was responsible for the interior environment of an entire fleet of luxury cruise ships. His skill set provides a direct complement to SB Architects diverse international portfolio, allowing him to immediately provide the firm with effective and enlightened design management and direction. Born in the Dominican Republic, Emilio is a long-time resident of Miami.

In over 50 years of design practice, SB Architects has built a project portfolio that spans the globe. The firm regularly competes with some of the largest architecture firms in the world, yet it maintains a hands-on, boutique practice, driven by collaboration, teamwork and individual client relationships. As it continues its trajectory of growth into new markets and dynamic developing areas of the world, SB Architects is leveraging its 35-year presence in Miami as it continues to expand its presence in the Caribbean and Latin America.

We have been practicing in the Caribbean and Mexico for decades, declares Scott Lee, President and Principal of SB Architects. Emilios extensive experience, deep market understanding and outstanding relationships in the Caribbean and Latin America will be invaluable as we further expand our practice throughout the region.

As the firm continues to enhance the leadership in its Miami office, Jorey Friedman, vice president, will take on an expanded role in design oversight and leadership. With 28 years of architectural experience 18 of those years with SB Architects Jorey is integral to the continued growth of the Miami office. With her instinctive leadership style, intuitive design sense, and ability to create and sustain a consistent project vision, she is able to forge and maintain strong bonds amongst development and design teams. SB Architects Miami office will continue to be managed by principal Kevin Dunn, a 28-year veteran of the firm.

One of the things we do exceptionally well is to connect people and put together effective teams, and Jorey embodies that core competency, says Scott Lee. I am extremely confident and excited about the outstanding leadership in our Miami office.

SB Architects maintains a long-standing reputation for excellence in the planning and design of large-scale, multi-phased projects, working with developers and consultant teams in all parts of the world. The firms portfolio of work includes projects throughout the United States, in Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean, Asia and the Middle East. The firm is committed to sustainable design. All four of the firms principals are LEED Accredited Professionals, as is nearly a third of its staff. Known for site-sensitive, contextually appropriate design, SB Architects has received over 200 awards for design excellence in over 50 years of continuous practice.

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=50240360&lang=en

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SB Architects Enhances Firm Leadership With a New Vice President in its Miami Office