2018 Annual General Meeting - Approval of Minutes

The AIA UK Chapter Annual General Meeting is a unique mixture of social evening, continuing education event and business meeting all in one.  Following a tradition starting in the 1990s, this year’s AGM – held on Thursday 18 January 2018 – was hosted by our long-term sponsor, Herman Miller.  Herman Miller’s generous hospitality before and after the business meeting made for a most pleasant evening.

Prior to the meeting, Herman Miller’s representative, Bertie Wan Wyk, gave a talk on “Well Being and Social Ergonomics” as they relate to office environments.  As ever, the Herman Miller talk was both entertaining and instructive.  

The formal part of the AGM dealt with approval of the 2017 Accounts and the election of the 2018 Board of Directors and Officers.  Additionally, the 2017 President, Fatos Peja Int’l Assoc AIA RIBA gave an overview presentation of the past year and the 2018 President, Alex Miller AIA, gave a preview of his plans for 2018.   These presidential presentations as well as a summary of the 2017 Accounts, a review of Chapter membership and the list of Board Directors and Officers can be accessed through the link below to the AGM Minutes.

According to the UK Chapter Bylaws adapted at last year’s AGM, the Minutes of the AGM must be presented to the overall membership for approval.  If there are no relevant additions, comments or modifications within a month from this notification, the Minutes will automatically be approved. Please send any comments to secretary@aiauk.org.

• Please Review Meeting Minutes HERE
• Please See Full Presentation HERE

Written by: Lorraine King, AIA 

AIA UK Past President Justin Cratty AIA Receives Honour

AIA UK member and past president Justin Cratty, AIA has been recognized for his professional achievements by his alma mater.  Mahesh Daas, dean of the University of Kansas School of Architecture and Design (Arc/D), and the school's Dean’s Advisory Board announced the name of Arc/D's inaugural Young Architect-Designer Award winner, Justin Cratty.  The Young Architect-Designer Award honors architects and designers who graduated from the University of Kansas less than a decade ago who have already demonstrated leadership and significant contributions to their profession.

Justin (M.Arch., 2008) is a senior associate at Gensler in London and specializes in laboratory design.  Justin has worked on millions of square feet of laboratory space in the U.S., Europe and the Middle East; in addition, his project experience includes data centers; skyscrapers; and retail and hospitality projects.  

Justin Cratty, right, receives his award from Dean Daas, center

Carillion Group Liquidation

A number of companies within the Carillion group have today been placed in compulsory liquidation. The Official Receiver has been appointed as liquidator, with support from PwC.

James Hutchinson, from chapter sponsor Beale & Company, provides some background on this matter and sets out guidance in relation to dealing with Carillion.

To read the full article, please click here. 

To discuss any of the issues covered please contact: 
James Hutchinson
Partner
T: +44 (0) 20 7469 0408
E: j.hutchinson@beale-law.com

New Chapter Members

Please welcome the following new members who joined the AIA UK since last June.

AIA RIBA Keynote Lecture 2017

The 2017 Keynote lecture featuring Steven Holl was held on Tuesday, 12th December to a standing room only audience of nearly 500 people.  The lecture was a joint-venture between the RIBA and the AIA, and was held at the RIBA’s headquarters on Portland Place.

Holl discussed a number of his recent projects, in particular, his just-completed Maggie’s Centre at St. Bartholomew Hospital in London.  Holl referred to the building's mediaeval heritage and employed ‘neumes’ which he explained were the mediaeval method of writing music.  He further noted that the outer layer glass is organised in horizontal bands like a musical staff while the concrete structure branches like the hand.

Welcoming addresses were given by Ben Derbyshire, RIBA President, and Fatos Peja, AIA UK President.  Charles Jencks, noted architectural writer and the person responsible for establishing the Maggie’s Centres, introduced Steven Holl.

The evening concluded with a drinks and canape reception in the Florence Hall that featured an exhibition of Steven Holl’s concept drawings for the Maggie’s Centre.

The event was sponsored in part by Erbay Aluminium (a preferred Schueco partner) and by Kuraray Trofisol.  Please consider them for your next project.

Mark your calendars for 2018 Keynote Lecture!

Written by: Lester Korzilius, FAIA

Image Credits: Barima Owusu Nyantekyi (https://www.barima.co)

Please click here to see more photos of the event.

Prague 20/20 | International Conference on Architecture and Urbanism

5-8 October 2017

In conjunction with the International Region, the AIA Continental Europe chapter hosted Prague 20/20, an International Conference on Architecture and Urbanism. The conference was attended by members from all seven International Region chapters and a number of members from across the United States. The conference was attended by AIA UK members Lester Korzilius FAIA, Etain Fitzpatrick AIA, and Alex Miller AIA.

The opening session in the art nouveaux splendour of the Municipal House (Obecni Dum) featured opening remarks from the AIA 2017 President Thomas Vonier FAIA.

The three primary days of the conference featured lectures & seminars in the Czech Senate Building, Waldstein Palace. Historic overviews gave way to presentations about current urban development and onwards to the psychology of architecture. Prof Ing Arch Ladislav Labus, Hon FAIA, gave presentation on his work, having presented at the first AIA Continental Europe conference twenty years ago.

At the Saturday night gala dinner held in Lobokowicz Palace, Prague Castle, in grand formal rooms overlooking the city, the conference attendees celebrated the participants of the AIA International Region Design Awards. John McAslan + Partners received the Merit Award in Open International Architecture for the Bolshevik Factory; Moscow, Russia.

The conference attendees also welcomed the President of the newest chapter in the International Region, AIA Canada, Som Bose AIA. Thomas Vonier presented the AIA Canada charter.

All of the partipants greatly thanked both the numerous sponsors of the event, and the organizing efforts of Vincent Marani AIA in orchestrating the conference and sharing his wealth of experience in the city with everyone.

Walking tours including building tours on both Saturday & Sunday provided insight into the innovation and rich architectural experience of recently constructed projects in addition to the city’s historic grandeur.

Vincent Marani AIA, member of the European chapter since 1995, led tours of his own projects including The Park in Prague, a 190,000 m2 project, and Quadrio, a city center office project over the metro and tram station at Národní třída .

We visited an office building under construction designed by Ing. Arch. Stanislav Fiala who led the tour. Most of the attendees were highly impressed by the detailing and spatial considerations, the landscape design of the roof garden, and the arrangement on a complicated and historically sensitive infill site.

The closing party was held in the recording studio and blues club Doupe, dovetailing with the album launch of the Czech-American blues-rock band 333. The entire assemblage of participants from California, Texas, The Middle East, and across Europe were duly impressed and thoroughly appreciated the hospitality and the live music! The venue itself, a neighbourhood garage converted into an acoustically-sealed venue was itself an accomplishment. More than one architect was also impressed by the acoustic pass through beer fridge which enabled fresh Czech beer to be served inside from the nearby bar without causing acoustic disturbance to the neighborhood. The scale of the venue meant that everyone was in close proximity to the stage, with some members of the balcony seated with their feet dangling over. Throughout the weekend, at the various coffee breaks, meals, and events all of the participants had numerous opportunities to exchange ideas, spend time with old friends, and make new acquaintances.

Written by: Alex Miller, AIA