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AIA ARKANSAS NEWSLETTER
SUMMER 2018
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
The mission of AIA Arkansas is to develop, promote and sustain the practice and practitioners of architecture. This mission statement underscores all that we do at AIA Arkansas. I hope you have enjoyed some of the section events that have been held in your area this year, and there are many more to come. Please check out the New+Events tab at www.aiaar.org to find out what’s coming up.

This past June, AIA held the national convention in New York City. As expected, it was packed with sights to see, educational seminars and opportunities to socialize with our colleagues and allied members. With our AIA Arkansas convention coming up in October, AIA’18 was viewed through the optic of “what of this can we bring to Arkansas?” and “what can we do better?” Convention planning is wrapping up and we think you will enjoy this year’s enhancements. With that said, don’t forget to save the dates, October 18-20, for this year’s AIA Arkansas Convention! 

This year is an election year. Our state legislators and their challengers are fighting for funds and face time. AIA Arkansas does not take sides in elections or many political issues, but does take a stand on issues that directly affect the public health, safety and welfare, as well as issues that affect the profession of architecture. In the last legislative session, AIA AR joined forces with other groups to help stop a bill that would have ended up requiring that professional service selections be based on low bid vs. qualifications. The legislative committee and our lobbyist are the vehicles that AIA AR uses to keep watch for harmful legislation and stand against it when it arises.

The AIA AR ARCHPAC provides the fuel for that vehicle. We have made it easier than ever to contribute to ARCHPAC this year, just go to the website and make a donation: https://politics.raisethemoney.com/archpac. Over the next few months you will likely be receiving a phone call from one of our ARCHPAC members. Please take the time to hear them out and find a way to help your AIA AR advocate for you.

Thank you for your membership. Don’t hesitate to speak up, speak out and get involved!

Randall Palculict, AIA
AIA Arkansas President
Jackson Brown Palculict Architects
SECTION NEWS
NW Section Preparing for Summer,
Annual Bowling Tournament

The year has started off with a bang! We have hosted seven Lunch and Learns, handed out scholarships to our most recent FJSOA+D student scholarships recipients – Daniel Barker, Colt Malloy and Mackenzie Wade – and put on one of the best Baggo tournaments in member history.

A full house was on hand April 18 at JBGB in Fayetteville for the 3 rd Annual Baggo Tournament. Working with the EP Committee in collaboration with Section and Allied partnerships, we crowned this year’s winners, Tim Maddox and Seth Spradlin of deMx architecture. They will represent the NWA Section again this year at the state convention in October. A special thanks to our sponsors: EVO, Tandus Centiva, Wilsonart, HP Engineering and 3form.

A donation was made to the UA AIAS chapter president, Mary Beth Barden, for their annual Beux Arts Ball in May.

Design Boards: Work by our talented Arkansas AIA members were displayed at the U of A.

Now, the NWA AIA officers and leadership committee look forward to a full house at Fast Lanes in Rogers for the 7th Annual Bowling Tournament. We are working with our title sponsors – Plunkett Distributing and Wilsonart – on a pre-tournament CEU presentation, lunch and a great day of competition. The half-day event is scheduled for Friday, August 3.

Respectfully,
Thomas B Merritt, NW Section Chair 2018
AIA AR Emerging Professional NW Committee Leader, Randall Hurban giving Baggo instructions.
Baggo Winners: Tim Maddox and Seth Spradlin of deMx architecture.

Springdale Lunch & Learn
Design Award Boards on Display at UofA
MEMBER NEWS
WER Architects/Planners
Celebrates 40th Anniversary

On June 1, 1978, Charles Witsell and Don Evans started Witsell and Evans Architects in Little Rock. Forty years later, WER Architects/Planners is one of the largest architecture and interior designs firms in the state.

On May 31, the company celebrated with an open house at its newly renovated offices. It was a night of great fun and a walk down memory lane. We are so grateful for the clients, partners and friends we have made over these last 40 years and invite you to visit our website, werarch.com, to see a video celebrating the history, projects and people that make up WER. Cheers to the next 40 years! 
Gregory, Long, Tenorio
Join Offices of WER
WER Architects/Planners is pleased to announce the hiring of Benjamin Gregory as an intern architect and Betsy Long as an interior designer, both in our Little Rock office, and Daniel Tenorio as an intern architect in our Fayetteville office.

“We are very excited to welcome Ben and Betsy to the WER team,” said David Sargent AIA, WER Architects/Planners CEO. “Both Ben and Betsy are tremendously talented and have a real passion for the built environment. Their hands-on approach, skill and character will be a great asset to our office.”
Ben joins our office with six years of experience on projects ranging from small high-end residential renovations to large multi-building institutional projects. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from the University of Maryland and a Master of Architecture from the University of Virginia, where he was a 2015 William R. Kenan Fellow at the School of Architecture. After graduation, he spent time in Philadelphia working for an architecture firm on several institutional projects nationwide. A strong interest in woodworking, a keen sense of economy and efficiency in design, and a sensitivity to the intersections of the constructed and natural environments all influence his approach to the practice of architecture.
Betsy first joined WER as an interior design Intern in the summer of 2017 and her success led to WER offering her a part-time interior design intern position while she completed her degree. This June, Betsy was hired as a full-time Interior designer at the firm. Betsy graduated from Harding University and earned a B.A. in interior design. She is originally from Tulsa, but has become a die-hard fan of the Razorbacks. She loves the challenge of creating functional and aesthetically pleasing spaces, especially through healthcare and educational design. Betsy’s passion for cultivating her knowledge through art and architectural history complements WER’s goals and brings value to the interior design department.
Daniel first joined WER as an architecture design intern in the fall of 2017. His success led to WER offering him a part-time architecture design intern position while he completed his degree. In May, he was hired as a full-time architecture designer. Daniel graduated from the University of Arkansas and earned a B.A. in Architecture. He is originally from Little Rock. As a designer, he loves the challenge of developing abstract forms and turning them into a functional built space that addresses the fundamental needs of human interaction. Daniel’s passion for drawing, digital design and architectural history complements WER’s goals and brings value to the firm.
WER Summer Interns
WER Architects/Planners has welcomed three summer interns – Riley Vetsch and Toria Adkison to the Little Rock office and Conner Payne to the Fayetteville office. The entire WER team is thrilled to have them joining us this summer!

Riley is from Conway and is attending the University of Arkansas where she is pursuing a Bachelor of Architecture in the Fay Jones School of Architecture + Design. The ability to see the physical embodiment of an original creative process is what drew Riley to architecture in the beginning, but the challenge to give a space its worth is what leaves her wanting more. Any time she has a free second, she loves to play with her three puppies and work on any craft project she can get her hands on.

Toria will be a senior at Harding University in the fall, pursuing her B.A. in interior design. She is originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, but has called Central Arkansas home for the past three years. Her interest in interior design came from a love of art and organization and has grown into a passion for improving people’s experiences in the built environment. She would like to pursue hand rendering for interior design and architecture firms after graduation. In her free time, Toria enjoys hiking, baking, playing violin and drawing.
Conner is a third-year student in the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design at the U of A, pursuing his Bachelor of Architecture. He is originally from Grapevine, Texas, but now lives in Fayetteville with his wife Hannah and golden doodle Samson. His interest in architecture came from a love of solving complex problems and developed into a drive to create space and form that provide an opportunity for people to experience and interact with architecture in a more personable way. In his free time, Conner enjoys walking his dog and biking. 
CahoonSteiling's McFadden
Completes Registration Boards

Jamey McFadden of CahoonSteiling Architecture in Jonesboro has completed the architectural registration boards for the State of Arkansas entitling him to be a fully licensed architect. Jamey serves CahoonSteiling as a project manager responsible for project design, color renderings, and construction document production.

Before joining CahoonSteiling four years ago, Jamey attained eight years of architectural experience, serving a firm in Southwest Missouri. A member of the American Institute of Architects, he holds a Bachelor of Architecture from Mississippi State University and a Bachelor of Education from Arkansas State University. He is originally from Paragould and currently resides there with his wife Janey, a kindergarten teacher in the Paragould School District. Jamey and Janey have two adult sons, Jameson and Joe, and attend Seventh and Mueller Church of Christ, where they volunteer and teach adult classes.
SFx Offers Resources, Services
For Small Architecture Firms

Michael Lejong, AIA LEED AP BD+C, reminds AIA AR members about the resources and services provided by the AIA Small Firm Exchange (SFx). He’s the Gulf States Region representative to the SFx, an AIA member group of dedicated volunteers working to represent and advance the mutual interests of architects practicing in small firms across the United States.
 
SFx objectives are:
 
·        Advocate for small firms within the AIA and in outside organizations and agencies;
·        promote leadership in small firm professional development and practice; and
·        facilitate and support the local component round tables and small firm networks. 
 
From Michael: “We are here to help YOU! Our dedicated team collaborates on ways to ensure the work, legislation and issues important to small architecture firms are shared throughout the Institute, as well as local component groups and decision-makers. Additionally, we strive to provide resources and information on best practices for firm operations, professional practice of architecture, community interaction and outreach, and continuing education. Our objectives are geared toward joining small firms with a cooperative network where we can share resources, collaborate on ideas/issues, build leadership and open a dialogue among this diverse member constituency.” 
 
Website resources include:
·        AIA KnowledgeNet ( aia.org/sfx )
·        AIA Kinetic ( aiakinetic.org )
 
These two sites provide a place for conversation, news on upcoming events and information on the running of small firms/practicing architecture. We will be sure to send follow-up notices throughout the year as additional material is added. Please visit them to learn more.
 
Michael says to always feel free to reach out to him with any questions or comments, and that he’d be pleased to learn more about the work your small firm is doing and how SFx can support and engage small firms locally. His contact information is located on the Small Firm Representatives Directory. 
National Wallcovering/Colour & Design First in Arkansas to Earn LEED® Gold Certification Through the Arc Performance Platform
LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS – July 17, 2018: With the assistance of Entegrity, the National Wallcovering/Colour & Design facility in North Little Rock, Arkansas was recently awarded LEED Gold certification. It is the first building in the state of Arkansas to use the Arc performance platform to achieve certification through the LEED v4 Operations and Maintenance for Existing Buildings rating system. The facility achieved 64 points at the time of certification but because of the interactive nature of Arc, their score will continue to evolve and has already increased to 65. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), is the foremost program for buildings, homes, communities and cities that are designed, constructed and operated for improved environmental and human health performance.

OTHER NEWS
Governor Appoints Three
To State Board of Architects

On July 10, Gov. Asa Hutchinson announced that he has appointed Allen Homra, Gail Shepherd and Col. Addie Morris to the Arkansas State Board of Architects, Landscape Architects and Interior Designers. All three appointments expire April 26, 2023.
 
Homra, of Stuttgart, replaces Rajesh Mehta. Shepherd, of Fayetteville, replaces Ronald Shelby. Morris, of Plumerville, replaces Shirley Boldon-Bruce.
UA FAY JONES SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE NEWS
Anthony Gift Creates Center
To Focus on Use of Timber, Wood

University of Arkansas alumnus John Ed Anthony and his wife, Isabel, are contributing $7.5 million to support the construction of a new $15 million materials innovation center in the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design at the University of Arkansas, with a primary focus on design innovation in timber and wood. The couple’s gift counts toward Campaign Arkansas, the university’s $1.25 billion capital campaign, and will create the Anthony Timberlands Center for Design and Materials Innovation, subject to approval by the U of A Board of Trustees.
 
The Anthony Timberlands Center for Design and Materials Innovation will be a center of excellence for innovation in wood design and product development to expand the use of wood in architectural design, construction techniques and product design. The center will serve as home to the Fay Jones School’s planned graduate program in timber and wood and as an epicenter for its multiple timber and wood initiatives. The new applied research center will house the school’s existing design-build program and an expanded digital fabrication laboratory. Anthony holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the Sam M. Walton College of Business and is chair of Anthony Timberlands Inc.
 
 “The vision of John Ed and Isabel Anthony is matched only by their generosity – and their simultaneous commitment to the university’s educational mission and the timber-based communities of Arkansas,” Dean Peter MacKeith said. “While the students, faculty and academic programs of the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design will surely benefit from the design research and resources of the Anthony Timberlands Center, the greater benefits and value of this extraordinary design initiative will accrue to the citizens of this forested state, in both environmental and economic terms. As a home for our expanding portfolio of timber and wood-based design education activities, and as a signal of the Arkansas forests’ rich history and fertile future, the Anthony Center is both a constructed legacy and an inspirational beacon.”
Fay Jones School Launches First Graduate Program

The University of Arkansas and the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design will offer a new Master of Design Studies degree program beginning in fall 2019. It is the first graduate-level program offered by the Fay Jones School in its 70-plus-year history. The graduate program, which was approved in April by the state Department of Higher Education’s Coordinating Board, features initial areas of concentration in Resiliency Design and in Hospitality and Retail Design.
 
“These programs, developed over the last three years with input from multiple stakeholders, are the first steps in advanced architecture and design studies, and they capitalize on the strengths of the school, the university, the Northwest Arkansas region and, indeed, the state,” Dean Peter MacKeith said. “Equally, graduate-level education in these specialized areas prepares students to address opportunities and challenges nationwide and throughout the world.”
 
The concentrations have been developed with global leaders in the respective fields and are unique in their focus, expertise and resources. Resiliency Design will engage students at the scale of the community and the region, investigating contemporary issues such as water, mobility, food, housing, aging and public health, while preparing communities for the challenges of the future.
Book With Essays About Jones
Wins Preserve Arkansas Award
At Preserve Arkansas’ Arkansas Preservation Awards, presented earlier this year for achievements in promoting historic preservation around the state, the book Shadow Patterns: Reflections on Fay Jones and His Architecture received the Ned Shank Award for Outstanding Preservation Publication. Jeff Shannon, Fay Jones School professor and head of the architecture department, edited the 172-page volume of 15 essays and dozens of images.
 
Shadow Patterns is a collection of critical essays and personal accounts of Fay Jones, whom the American Institute of Architects honored with its highest award, the Gold Medal, in 1990. The book helped broaden the understanding of this internationally known Arkansas architect's work and personal qualities, including his strong will, his ability to convince other people of the rightness of his ideas, and his willingness, at times, to change his mind. The book was published by the University of Arkansas Press in collaboration with the Fay Jones School.