In this issue:
·Message from AIA California Council
·Architects Respond to San Diego Fires
·AIA Contract Documents Get Facelift
·Austin Center for Architecture wins Critics Choice
·German University Wins Solar Decathlon

Message from AIA California Council

AIA National is helping the AIACC to identify members who are potentially affected by the disaster by leveraging the geo-location technology of Google Earth and maps produced by local news source KPBS. This image approximates locations of member homes in the estimated burn areas.

Courtesy Google Earth

The AIA California Council (AIACC) and AIA San Diego are actively working with city and county building officials to simplify and facilitate the process of rebuilding the communities devastated by wildfires, using programs developed from the 2003 San Diego County fires. Local AIA chapters will be conducting workshops regarding the design, permitting, and construction process, and how to work with city and county agencies to expedite permitting, allowing residents to get back into their homes as quickly as possible. With the input of architects, the state Office of Emergency Services (OES) and the AIA, AIACC developed protocols to enable AIA volunteers to assist in the safety assessment and inspection of residential and commercial buildings.

The AIA warns residents to watch out for potential fraudulent activity regarding damage assessment, debris removal and demolition, the process of financing, and rebuilding. The AIACC and local California chapters advise victims regarding rebuilding options and what to look for in deciding what kinds of professionals they will need, and how to select the professional who is right for them. Local AIACC chapters also are providing lists of members and contact information for the public requesting information and referrals regarding architectural services. Residents wanting to speak with an architect about inspection criteria or for more information regarding post-disaster activity are asked to call AIA San Diego, AIA Los Angeles, AIA Orange County, AIA Palomar, and AIA Inland California.

For more information about disaster recovery and links to important rebuilding resources, visit the AIACC website.

Architects Respond to San Diego Fires
The San Diego and Los Angeles Chapters of Architecture for Humanity (AFH) are currently on the ground responding to the fires that recently destroyed thousands of homes. A project has been created on the Open Architecture Network. Send questions to Rebuild San Diego or log on to the AIA San Diego Chapter website for more information. If you would like to support the long-term rebuilding efforts but can’t physically contribute, you can make a tax-deductible financial contribution by logging onto the AFH website.

AIA Contract Documents Get Facelift
On November 5, the AIA will officially launch the 2007 Update to AIA Contract Documents. The Update includes revisions to A201-1997, General Conditions of the Contract for Construction, and to all of the owner/contractor and owner/architect agreements in the A201 Family of Documents. Also provided are updates to contractor/subcontractor and architect/consultant agreements, and revisions to the Small Projects Family of Documents. The update includes new AIA Contract Documents software allowing parties to execute AIA agreements and forms using digital signatures.

Owner/architect and owner/contractor agreements in the 2007 update are coordinated to match the size and complexity of the project in a more targeted way than in previous versions of AIA documents. It also includes two entirely new owner/architect agreements: one for the large and complex projects, and another for mid-size projects.

In addition to educational programs presented at local components, the AIA will provide educational materials online to assist users in adapting to the revised agreements, as well as to a new numbering system. If you are a current AIA Contract Documents software user, you can access all of the documents in the 2007 update via a free download from the AIA website. Paper users will find the revised documents at their local distributors at the same time.

For questions about document content, please call AIA National’s Document Info hotline at 202.626.7526. Call 800.365.2724 to purchase contract documents software by phone. To obtain paper documents from AIANY, call Tara Pyle at 212.358.6113. Paper copies of the older versions of 2007 updated documents will be sold at the AIANY.

Austin Center for Architecture wins Critics Choice
The Austin Chronicle‘s 2007 “Best Of Austin” poll recognized the Austin Center for Architecture as the Critic’s Choice winner. Referred to as the “Best Converted Gas Station for Hanging Out With Architects,” the Center houses the Austin Chapter of the AIA, Austin Foundation for Architecture, and the Austin Chapter of Architecture for Humanity.

German University Wins Solar Decathlon
After challenging 20 college and university teams to compete in 10 categories in designing, building, and operating the “most attractive and energy-efficient solar-powered home,” the final results from the Solar Decathlon are in. First Place went to Technische Universität Darmstat in Germany, scoring high in architecture, lighting, and engineering categories for a project made from local materials that glows at night. Second Place went to the University of Maryland, Third Place went to Santa Clara University, CA, and the AIAS Student Choice Award went to Texas A&M University. NYC’s only representative, the New York Institute of Technology’s team, ranked 12th overall, scoring highest in the architecture, engineering, and comfort zone categories. Go to the website for images and more information about all of the projects.