Upcoming Event: Spring Technical Seminars, April 11, 2006

This year, we will host two seminars on Tuesday, April 11, 4-7:15 p.m. in our AIABaltimore Gallery. Each will be a 90-minute presentation. The entire program offers 3 AIA/CES (HSW) credits with registration. Refreshments begin at 3:45. $10 members; $25 non-members. Please mail your checks to AIABaltimore in advance. Space is limited.

WORKING WITH STAINED GLASS, OLD AND NEW by Willet Hauser Architectural Glass Inc. of Philadelphia is an introduction to the design potential of stained glass techniques, with an orientation to the medium’s physical requirements. Suggestions for a “best practice” model for commissioning or restoring the stained glass portion of a larger building program will be presented. Leaded, faceted, and sand carved techniques can assist the architect or designer in transforming light and space. An introduction to this stylistic history will help illuminate the medium’s design potential. Practical advice will include specifications related to the various techniques, as well as criteria for selecting a participating studio.

The introduction to restoring stained glass will include the structure of a leaded stained glass window, problems that might develop and how to recognize them, when to call in a stained glass studio, and how to determine if a window has special historic or artistic value. It will also include a discussion of the requirements for safe handling of lead.

Jim Hauser is a principal owner of this 108-year-old firm with two studio locations and over 70 employees – one of the largest stained glass organizations in the world. Susan Bockius is a design consultant. Both were educated in the fine arts and have strong program management experience.

REDEVELOPING BROWNFIELDS IN THE BALTIMORE MARKET by ECS Mid-Atlantic, LLC addresses the many issues related to redeveloping brownfield sites including legal problems, costs, financing, numerous Federal, State, and local environmental policies, limited demand for redeveloped sites, and competition from “clean” sites. The primary consideration in redeveloping a brownfields site hinges on the value of the property after it has been remediated. A brownfield property is an abandoned, idled, or underused property known or suspected of being contaminated, and whose redevelopment is impaired due to a prospective developer’s potential liability for cleanup costs.

Robert Hackman, P.E. is a Principal Engineer and Managing Director of Maryland Regional Operations. He specializes in the geotechnical fields of soil mechanics, slope stability analysis, foundation analysis and design, soil stabilization, deep foundation design, pavement design, and design of retaining structures. Anthony Rubino, P.G. is the Environmental Services Manager of the Hanover ECS office.

Upcoming Event:
Baltimore Green Week and AIA Baltimore present John Peterson, April 18, 2006

Baltimore Green Week and AIABaltimore are pleased to co-sponsor visiting lecturer John Peterson, who will speak on Tuesday, April 18. Event will be held in the Wheeler Auditorium on the third floor of the central branch of the Enoch Pratt Free Library, 400 Cathedral St. 6 p.m. reception, 6:30 program.

Peterson is principal of Peterson Architects and founder and chair of Public Architecture, located in San Francisco. Established in 1993, Peterson Architects focused initially on residential projects involving challenging design and land use issues. He is now involved in a variety of projects, which include mixed-use development, institutional projects, as well as private residences. Peterson and his firm have also dedicated substantial amounts of time to arts institutions, city agencies, community development corporations, and social service agencies.

In 2002, the firm's unorthodox pro bono work evolved into Public Architecture, a nonprofit organization that acts as a catalyst for public discourse through education, advocacy, and the design of public spaces and amenities. Recognizing the dearth of resources supporting pro bono work within the architecture profession, Public Architecture has created a national campaign called the 1% Solution. Supported by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, the 1% Solution encourages architecture firms to formalize their commitment to the public good by pledging one percent of their billable hours to public interest work.

For World Environment Day 2005, Public Architecture organized a team of architects, artists, contractors and city officials to create “ScrapHouse,” using only scrap and recycled materials. Peterson will show clips of a forthcoming film on the scraphouse project.

This event is free of charge. 1 AIA/CES (HSW) credit available with registration

Thanks to event sponsors
AlterEgo
Kroiz Architecture
Lukeworks