AIA GRASSROOTS LEADERSHIP AND LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE

The AIA Grassroots Leadership and Legislative Conference offers opportunities for leaders from every AIA regional, state and local chapter throughout the US and the around the globe. This year’s conference was held in Washington DC, over a cold and snowy three days in early March. The AIA UK Chapter joined the other international chapters, and hundreds of state and local chapter leaders for meetings, workshops and lectures centred on development, advocacy, and messaging for the promotion and success of our shared industry.

2014 was an extraordinary year for the AIA, laying a foundation for future growth and propelling the organization into the 21st Century. The ‘Look Up’ marketing campaign has been hugely successful, and The Architects Foundation has already proven itself through influencing positive policy in the realms of public health and quality of life.

The International Region met several times over the course of the conference. First to celebrate the success of the first-ever AIA International Design Awards, along with an exhibition of the award-winning work at the AIA Headquarters during its Open House. The AIA President, Elizabeth Chu Richter, FAIA, and AIA CEO, Robert Ivy, FAIA, joined the other members of the International Region for a productive meeting outlining the next steps for the continued growth and development of our International Region. We are looking forward to another successful year, meeting next at the AIA National Convention in Atlanta, from May 14-16th. 

Photo of AIA International Region meeting at Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill

Author: Frederick Grier

BUILDING TOUR AT THE FRANCIS CRICK BUILDING

On 5 March 2015, Fred Pilbrow of Pilbrow & Partners and Andy Smith, Construction Director, led an informative and inspirational tour of the Francis Crick Institute for the AIA UK chapter, which is currently under construction and in close proximity to St. Pancras station. The design of the world-leading centre for biomedical research was a collaboration between HOK and PLP Architecture while Fred Pilbrow was a design partner at PLP. PLP was invited to collaborate with HOK architects on the development of the design with a particular focus on external massing, public realm design and façade treatment. The building, which was named in honour of British scientist Francis Crick, will serve as a focal point within Camden for the talent and knowledge in the local area with some of London’s leading hospitals and universities nearby. It will also provide scholarships, lab facilities and educational seminars for young students as well as PhD researchers. 

The participants in the tour were able to view several of the labs, which will be fully secured and not open to the public when the building is open later this year. The labs in the main space are located on either side of the central atrium space, which is 40m in height and opens to a public plaza at the main entrance facing St. Pancras. The scientists within these lab areas will enjoy light from all directions and are encouraged to use the centre area as a collaboration space.  The atrium is truly spectacular and the public will be able to enter the main space to experience the grandeur. The AIA UK hosts buildings tours throughout the year to offer architects the opportunity to visit notable buildings in and around London that have particular design interest and integration into the community. The Francis Crick Institute not only stands in the forefront of design, but also in scientific research as it will bring together scientists of all ages and experience levels in order to promote and support experimental and ground-breaking research.

Author: Elizabeth Waters