Your Vote Counts!
It is clear from recent elections that every vote is important in political elections! If you are an American citizen and live outside of the United States, you can still vote in US elections.
Voting from abroad is an easy 3-step process. You need to:
Request an absentee ballot (you can register as a new voter at the same time)
Receive your ballot (Your state will send out ballots at least 45 days before the election)
Return your ballot before the deadline. Deadlines vary by state.
Go to votefromabroad.org and follow the instructions to get started
As President Obama reminded us at John Lewis' recent funeral - "If you don’t do everything you can to change things, then they will remain the same. You only pass this way once. You have to give it all you have....We cannot treat voting as an errand to run if we have some time. We have to treat it as the most important action we can take on behalf of democracy. "
Virtual Building Tour – London Bridge Station
London Bridge Station - Ralph Hodgson
On the 18 Jun 2020, the AIA UK Chapter held its first in a series of virtual building tours to replace live building tours currently curtailed as a result of the Covid 19 pandemic. Grimshaw Architects’ Stuart Grahn, Associate Principal, and Mark Middleton, Partner, led an informative and inspirational virtual tour of the London Bridge Station upgrade, completed in 2018.
The main line station is the oldest railway station in London Fare Zone 1 and one of the oldest in the world having opened in 1836. According to Stuart Grahn, “operationally the project creates a unified site that includes extended platforms, integrated new street entrances, three new through tracks, fewer terminating platforms and convenient links to onward travel.”
He also noted that the “dynamic canopy ribbons ripple to allow natural light into the concourse below. These ‘eyebrows’ denote the centre of the concourse below, creating a clear identity for the station. From above, the station reveals that it is as long as the adjacent Shard – one of the tallest buildings in Europe - is tall. Together they form a complementary urban sculpture and a symbol of the revival of that part of south London.”
The redevelopment of the station began with a consented master plan by TP Bennett and Alan Baxter Associates in 2000. Grimshaw Architects was appointed in 2010 to design a world class station suitable to its location and status. Construction began in 2012 and the station was opened in 2018 - the entire transformation undertaken with minimal disruption to usual station operations.
London Bridge Station (C) Paul Raftery
Instead of limiting the experience of viewers unable to physically visit the building, the virtual tour offered a variety of digital media formats - including videos, drawings, diagrams as well as still photography – that generally enhanced it. The format not only afforded the presenters the ability to eloquently highlight graphically major planning concepts of the buildings, it also allowed them to explore in depth the design development of technical elements of the project, such as the skylights; structural supports for the rail tracks and platforms; and heritage continuity.
Time lapse photography then allowed participants to experience in a few minutes a construction sequence that lasted 6 years. The virtual tour also enabled a much wider audience both by distance and by numbers. A live building tour traditionally generates about 25 participants; the virtual tour had upwards of 40.
The London Bridge Station not only stands in the forefront of design, but also redefines the modern definition of a train station. The project has been well received by the public and professionals alike and was shortlisted for the RIBA Stirling Prize in 2019.
The AIA UK Chapter will continue to host virtual buildings tours throughout the year to offer architects the opportunity to visit notable buildings that have particular design interest in London, around the country as well as beyond the shores of the UK.
Written by Gregory Fonseca, AIA
Webinar // City as Verb: A Hybrid Territory- Switzerland
In partnership with the Seoul Biennale of Architecture and Urbanism, AIA International invites you to the next 'City as Verb' Wednesday webinar scheduled for Wednesday 29 July 09:00 (BST)
The lecture is: A Hybrid Territory – Switzerland as a Laboratory for Contemporary Urban Design and Beyond
The featured speaker is: Prof. Michael Jakob (HEPIA- Geneva School of Engineering, Architecture, and Landscape)
Members can receive 2 CES/HSW Learning Units. To verify attendance, please email me your name, AIA member number, and a screenshot of the lecture. To qualify for credits, please join in real-time.
Youtube [English] live stream https://youtu.be/aRGK0s9f5Gg
More info on AIA IR website: https://www.aiainternational.org/online-lectures-calendar/2020/7/29/city-as-verb-a-hybrid-territory-switzerland
CLC COVID-19 Task Force: Future Proofing, Record Keeping and Summary Guide
Dear AIA UK members and friends,
Please see this timely article from chapter sponsors Beale & Co, regarding the legal implications of the potential coronavirus pandemic.
Don’t forget, if you have any legal questions, Beale & Co offers a free legal help line for AIA UK members. Tel: +44 (0) 20 7469 0400 (please quote “AIA UK Helpline”) Email: aiauk@beale-law.com
On 14 July 2020, the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) COVID-19 Task Force published further key guidance to address the contractual challenges presented by the pandemic, including guidance on future proofing contracts, guidance on record keeping and a summary guide.
In this article, Andrew Croft and Emily Hunt explain the guidance and summarise how to make use of this new guidance.
To read the full article please clicks on the link below:
CLC COVID-19 Task Force: Future Proofing, Record Keeping and Summary
AIA Film Challenge
AIA Film Challenge 2020 is open!
Design has the power to solve some of the biggest issues facing cities today. We believe these stories are among the most important stories we can tell. The AIA Film Challenge is a film contest that amplifies these stories—architects partnering with communities and civic leaders to design a healthy, sustainable, just world that improves lives.
The challenge is open to everyone. Use your smartphone or computer to produce a 60- to 90-second mini documentary. You could win up to $7,000! Learn more from AIA Film Challenge website.
Important dates
Films due: August 24
Public voting: August 31-October 4
Winners announced: late October
Sample video
Check out this 90-second sample video from Dan Hart, FAIA, to see how it’s done.
Register from here
RESOURCES FOR YOUNG ARCHITECTS AND FAMILIES
CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY, CHINATOWN BRANCH
AIA's programmes are not just for grown-ups - some are specially made for kids! Here is a selection for budding young architects and their families to enjoy.
AIA’s K-12 Initiative
The K-12 Initiative is all about supporting design programmes to get young people inspired. This includes a collection of free online resources for children and families.
Browse resources HERE.
AIA Cleveland Home Architecture Camp
AIA Cleveland has created an Architecture Camp for all ages which you can download and take at your own pace. Young people can sharpen their drawing skills, think about how sustainable their home is and learn about structure with the help of spaghetti and marshmallows!
Learn More HERE.
AHMM Summer School 2020
Another online opportunity, for young people aged 15-19 who want to study architecture. Apply to join AHMM's online summer school and they can spend a week working with a mentor, taking part in group workshops and learning about the industry. The deadline for applications is Friday 10 July at midnight.
Download the application form HERE