FEATURING
VICTORIA COUSINO, AIA
PRESIDENT’S NOTE
Troy D. Moser, AIA
As the first signs of spring begin to blossom across Nevada, I find myself reflecting on the vibrant activities and significant achievements we have experienced together. February was a month filled with meaningful partnerships and enlightening community engagements, underscoring our commitment to elevating collaborative partnerships and fostering educational growth I want to extend my deepest gratitude to each of you for your continued support and engagement with AIA Las Vegas Your dedication not only strengthens our community but also amplifies the impact of our profession across the state and beyond
Last month, we had the privilege of partnering with Il Salone del Mobile for the Road to Salone Las Vegas event held at the Sphere This unique collaboration allowed
us to bridge international design perspectives with local architectural excellence, showcasing the global relevance of our Nevada design community Additionally, our February Membership Meeting, hosted by the JEDI/Ed Outreach Committee, focused on "Advancing DEI: From Cultural Competence to Cultural Humility," providing valuable insights and fostering meaningful discussions on diversity, equity, and inclusion in our industry
Our commitment to advocacy and leadership was further demonstrated through our strong Nevada contingent's participation at the AIA Leadership Summit, formerly known as Grassroots. There, we had the opportunity to advocate for architects to our Nevada Congressional delegation, focusing on critical bills such as HR964 & S366: Democracy in Design Act, S866: American Innovation and Jobs Act, and HR7024: Federal Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2024 in addition to advocating on changing interpretations of outdated fee limitations of 6% cap on federal contracts These efforts are vital in ensuring our profession continues to contribute significantly to our communities and the broader society
Looking ahead, March promises to be a month of inspiration and celebration, particularly with the upcoming Women Building Nevada Symposium on March 22. This event, hosted by the AIA Las
Vegas Women in Architecture Committee, is a testament to the incredible contributions of women in our field I encourage all of you to join in this celebration, to gain insights from our keynote speakers, and to engage in discussions that will surely enrich our understanding and appreciation of the diverse talents within our industry.
Furthermore, the much anticipated 50th Annual AIA Las Vegas Golf Tournament is soon coming on April 22 - I am excited to celebrate our tournament’s 50th anniversary! This is the event to go all out and wear your vintage golf gear For fellow golfers, this event provides networking opportunities with our community’s professionals in a relaxed setting out on the course
As we move forward, I remain committed to listening to your ideas, addressing your concerns, and celebrating your achievements Together, we will continue to craft places and cultivate connections. I encourage you to reach out, get involved, and help us shape the future of architecture in our community. Your voice and your participation are essential to our collective success
Sincerely,
Troy D. Moser, AIA
Troy D. Moser, AIA President Moser Architecture
Wellbe Bartsma, AIA EP Director Gensler
Alexia Chen, AIA President-Elect LGA Architecture
Daniel Chenin, AIA Director Daniel Joseph Chenin, Ltd.
Teresa Mears, AIA Secretary LGA Architecture
Quyen Luu, AIA Treasurer Gensler
Victoria Cousino, AIA Director KNIT
Melvin Green, AIA Director KME Architects
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Kim S. Galbe, Assoc. AIA Director EV&A Architects
Jeffrey Sarmiento, AIA Director Carpenter Sellers Del Gatto Architects
James Horvath, AIA Past-President BW&A
Carlos D. Fernandez Executive Director AIA Nevada | AIA Las
Vegas
Jennie Bowman
Director
Glenn Nowak, AIA Education Liaison
Vivian Arredondo, AIAS President
Taryn Kole
YEARLY EVENTS
29th,
the year evolves.
VICTORIA COUSINO, AIA
I am a member of AIA because…
I believe in the importance of supporting and advocating for the future of the profession My current soapbox is protecting the use of the title “architect”, as its meaning has been diminished through the prevalent use in the software professions As highly skilled professionals, I believe we should fight to maintain the integrity of the title we worked so hard to achieve
How would introduce yourself to the world as an architect?
I started my education with a Bachelor of Science in Architectural Engineering from Vermont Technical College and completed my formal architectural education at the University of New Mexico I have been in Las Vegas since 2015, and I am currently an architect and Studio Leader with KNIT, where I manage our public work projects with clients such as the State of Nevada, Nevada Department of Transportation, and the City of Las Vegas.
My passion lies in community-based projects that will benefit the people of the city that I love.
I currently serve on the AIA Las Vegas Board of Directors and in 2023 was awarded the AIA Las Vegas Women Building Nevada Rising Star Award, as well as the AIA Nevada Young Architect Award What advice would you offer to aspiring architects aiming to follow in your footsteps?
Don’t be afraid to ask questions and listen to everything. While I’m a fan of the hybrid work schedule we have at KNIT, I’m a big believer that the casual conversations and things you overhear while working in a studio environment are the best ways to learn. When asked how I’ve had the opportunities I have, my answer is “I’m nosy” It is very rare that a cool, exciting, high-profile project will be handed to you. Instead, if I hear of an
interesting project coming through the door, I’m asking how I can be involved
Are there any emerging trends or breakthroughs in architecture that have recently sparked your interest?
I’m curious to see where the developments in AI will take architecture As a form of art, I believe architecture will always need a human touch, but our processes may be streamlined and improved using AI. Like BIM, I think AI will eventually become another tool in our arsenal Personally, I’m looking forward to the day our robot overlords can perform a code analysis.
Can you share with us an architectural work that has deeply resonated with you and explain why it holds such significance?
The University of New Mexico School of Architecture + Planning (my alma mater), designed by Antoine Predock. The materiality, the structural
system, the natural light –there is so much to learn from and absorb in this building. Predock succeeded in creating a studio environment that continuously inspired future architects, and I feel blessed to have studied in such a remarkable piece of architecture.
LIFE THROUGH DESIGN
REVITALIZING COMMERCIAL CENTER RECAP
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION! WE’LL SEE YOU AT THE NEXT EVENT!
Dear architecture professional community,
I am writing to share NCARB’s position regarding the current debate in the architecture community relative to the role of the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) and the future of architectural accreditation That debate focuses on potential adjustments to the NAAB’s governance, funding, and procedural models This discussion has been fueled by correspondence from NAAB to the accredited schools about potential new funding models and, as a result, Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA) leadership circulating a resolution for its membership consideration that would indicate a ‘vote of no confidence’ in the NAAB
NCARB has long been a strong supporter of accreditation through its financial support, involvement with faculty and students, and adherence to the dictates of its member board statutes and regulations Further, the Council believes the NAAB plays an important role in assessing the content of architectural education. Given the increased public discussion about these issues, as well as NCARB's commitment to developing a framework for multiple paths to licensure, NCARB’s leadership believes it is necessary and appropriate to clarify the Council's position on the subject surrounding the NAAB and accreditation
Accordingly, NCARB’s position statement is attached for the benefit of AIA State Chapter community We greatly appreciate your attention to this matter and are happy to discuss any concerns you may wish to share as we move forward
Sincerely,
Michael J Armstrong
National Council of Architectural Registration Boards,
Chief Executive Officer
Architectural Acoustics
Mechanical System Noise Mitigation
NFPA 72 Speech Intelligibility (STI) Modeling
Auditoria & Performance Venue Acoustics
Vibration Analysis & Mitigation
Field Testing & Measurement
JOIN AN AIA LV COMMITTEE
AIA Las Vegas Placemaking Committee
Chair: Minjia Yan myan@millenniumcommercial.com Virtual Meeting 1st Thursday of each month at 11:00am
AIA Las Vegas Affordable Housing Committee
Co-Chair: Monica Gresser, AIA monica@BRAZENarchitecture.com
Co-Chair: David Kim, AIA David.Kim@MatterRealestate.com Virtual Meeting 2nd Tuesday of each month at 5:00pm
AIA Las Vegas Allied Members Committee
Chair: Kayleigh Hasshaw khasshaw@tjkengineers.com Virtual Meeting 4th Wednesday every other month at 9:30am
AIA Las Vegas Government Affairs Committee
Chair: Eric Roberts, FAIA ericr@knitstudios.com Virtual Meeting Schedule 1st Wednesday of each month at 4:00pm
AIA Las Vegas Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion & Education Outreach Committee
Chair: Melvin Green, AIA melvin@kmearchitects com Virtual Meeting 4th Thursday of each month at 4:00pm
AIA Las Vegas Women In Architecture Committee
Chair: Monica Gresser, AIA monica@BRAZENarchitecture.com Hybrid Meeting 4th Tuesday of each month at 5:00pm
AIA Las Vegas UNLV School of Architecture Committee
Chair: Glenn Nowak, AIA glenn.nowak@unlv.edu Virtual Meeting 3rd Thursday of the month at 10:30am
AIA Las Vegas EPYAF Committee
Chair: Wellbe Bartsma, AIA wellbe bartsma@gensler com Virtual Meeting 2nd Tuesday of each month at 3:00pm
AIA Las Vegas Urban Sketchers Committee
Chair: Eric Roberts, FAIA ericr@knitstudios.com Virtual or In Person Meeting 2nd Saturday of each month at 10:00am
AIA Nevada Small Firm Exchange
Chair: Anne Johnson, AIA anne@sparkflightstudios.com
Small Firm Exchange
Small Firm Exchange Mixer
Tuesday, March 12th 2024
4:30 PM - 6:00 PM
The Sundry Food Hall
6840 Helen Toland St Las Vegas, NV 89113
Join us for an evening of networking and connecting over all things design This SFx mixer brings together small and large firms, and entrepreneurs in architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, and related fields
Whether you’re looking for new partnerships, clients, or just want to connect with the local design scene, this mixer is for you Please RSVP by March 10th Food and drinks will be available for purchase
VirtualCoffeeChat
Tuesday, April 9th 2024
8:00 AM
Virtual via ZOOM
Connect with fellow small firm leaders in Nevada for a virtual coffee chat with guest speaker, Craig Palacios from Bunnyfish Studio. This is your chance to meet other architects running small practices, discuss hot topics facing your firms today, and explore how the AIA can better support Nevada’s small business community
Join the conversation!
Small firm = Less than nine (9) employees
YOUR SMALL FIRM CONNECTION
Frank Lloyd Wright & the American City Today
Call for Papers | Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy Annual Conference
September 25-29, 2024 | Detroit, Michigan
Frank Lloyd Wright’s architecture asks us to live in an ever-emerging America and to consider our relationships with each other in terms of the natural and cultural landscapes in enriching ways As his conceptions of “The Living City” developed across the decades, he came to see the automobile and modern means of communication as tools to rethink the historical tension between the city and the suburbs in American life, “taking the city to the country” he wrote Not as “decentralization,” but “re-integration ” Detroit and our experiences with its urbanized landscape offer us a chance to investigate such conceptions of the American city and their relevance to our lives today As a prototypical American metropolis, the “Motor City” embodies the spectrum of modern change, from early trading center to industrial colossus, through postwar suburban expansion, decline, racial strife, and current revitalization
Wright, and many others in his milieu, were vitally interested in settlement patterns, natural and productive landscapes, as well as various approaches to affordable housing in the context of the push-pull of cities and their hinterlands By the 1930s, his Broadacre City vision built upon earlier civic explorations extending the notion of the city block, as he adapted his ideas to a series of landscapes, scales and social contexts The relationships with the American landscape explored by the smallscale farming, networked communities and great cultural centers of Broadacre City are examples of a wide range of American urban planning approaches in the twentieth century worthy of comparison
The Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy invites paper proposals that address the relationships of Wright’s work and legacy to historical and contemporary issues of American landscapes, cities and suburbs through a critical lens. We especially invite submissions from individual or collective experience about living through historic cultural shifts or currently working to advance new paradigms of living and working in contemporary cities.
Topics might engage opportunities & limitations of automobility and its effects on settlement patterns & quality of life such as:
Histories of individual Wright-designed projects and how their stories relate to the history and people of Detroit;
Different models of ownership and stewardship for housing and landscapes including urban infill, food production, or forms of cooperative endeavor;
Challenges of infrastructure, energy, housing, food, and climate change, including highway removal and urban rebuilding;
Seasonal migrations such as those made annually by the Fellowship and family vacations as engagements with the natural world made possible by the automobile;
The recentering of nature in the urban fabric or vice-versa as “reintegration.”
In addition to the topics mentioned above, proposals could explore further relationships to Wright buildings, sites, and people local to Detroit and its broader region Proposals related to other cities, regions and contexts with this focus will be given equal consideration
How to submit: Proposals should present fresh material and/or interpretations They should be submitted as an abstract of no more than one page, PDF, single-spaced, with a working title and the author’s name at the top The text should concisely describe the focus and scope of a 20-minute presentation The proposal should be accompanied by a one-page biography/curriculum vitae that includes: author’s full name, title and affiliation (if applicable), mailing address, email address and telephone number Please note any extraordinary audio-visual needs PDF files are preferred and filenames should include the author’s name Proposals must
be received no later than March 11, 2024. Notification of proposals selected for the conference will be sent in early April 2024. You may also be invited to develop your proposal into an article for publication in SaveWright magazine. Please submit proposals online at savewright.org/proposals
Moving the Historic Westside forward: Inside efforts to revitalize Las Vegas' historically Black community
Several projects under the HUNDRED Plan have been complete, with more set to get underway soon
By: Justin Hinton
Posted at 6:00 AM, Feb 15, 2024 and last updated 6:00 AM, Feb 15, 2024
LAS VEGAS (KTNV) It's an area rich with history and culture and one where community needs have largely been ignored until recent years.
We're talking about Las Vegas' Historic Westside, which has been the target of a revitalization effort since 2016.
The master plan known as the HUNDRED Plan (short for Historic Urban Neighborhood Redevelopment Plan) is now well underway in the community It sits in Ward 5, so Councilman Cedric Crear has spearheaded a lot of the plan.
When asked why it’s taken so long to develop, he said this:
“Well, you can speculate on a lot of reasons why we haven't had that development, but our time is now, and I'd rather focus on where we are now moving forward."
As far as moving forward, a lot has been tackled so far
At James Gay Park, for example, it’s hard to miss the two shipping containers sitting on the property
Inside, Ron Voight and Tom Blount of Agricology Solution Services have grown food to give to the community for free.
Blount says they can produce 80 pounds of food every couple of weeks Collard greens are the most popular and make up about 60 percent of the crop.
“That's what the community wants That's their number one that they need, so that's what we give them,” he said.
Blount said basil makes up about 15 percent, parsley makes up 10 and cilantro, green beans and sugar snap
peas make up about 5 percent each
Crear says planning will take place in 2024 to create some sort of farmer’s market and then long term, there will be a co-op grocery store
The HUNDRED Plan doesn’t end there, with each new idea and project leading to another one.
The COX Communication Innovation Center, for example, provides space for local youth to prepare for a future in STEM. Crear says there will also be esports tournaments
Next door, they’re working on a partnership with the College of Southern Nevada to build a workforce development center with a groundbreaking set for April.
“That's a 15,000-square-foot workforce development center that is going to get our community ready, trained, prepared to go to work in construction, manufacturing, information technology, also to help healthcare fields,” Crear said.
Across the street, they’re looking at workforce housing with 140 units
Then, there’s bringing music venues and restaurants to the area, along with establishing complete and safe streets for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers.
“I think when it's all said and done, we'll have $200 to $300 million invested into the community whether that is from private resources, philanthropy, business investments that are taking place, city investments that are taking place and others and so we are really putting a lot of emphasis into the Historic Westside,” Crear said
2024
IT’S TIME FOR OUR ANNUAL POWER POLL SURVEY!
This invitation will be extended to an exclusive group of business leaders in Nevada who I am asking to weigh in on a series of questions The results of the Power Poll will be published as a feature in the May edition of the magazine where it will be read by over 124,000 decision makers.
I’d appreciate your input for this feature The survey should only take a few minutes to complete. There is limited interview space in the article, so if you would like to be considered please be sure to fill out the contact information at the end of the survey.
** All surveys must be returned by Midnight on March 15, 2024. Late surveys will not be admitted. **
I look forward to seeing your responses!
Best wishes, Tarah
To go to the survey please click here or paste the following address into your browser:
https://nevadabusiness.com/ PowerPoll
PS - If you already completed the Poll this year, thank you! Since these are anonymous you may receive a duplicate reminder email from us Please disregard them
TARAH RICHARDSON, Editor-in-Chief
HALS Challenge
The 15th annual HALS Challenge competition is an open competition We invite landscape architects, historians, students, and other interested parties to document any landscape that you feel would make a good addition to the HALS collection Historic landscapes encompass a vast array of diverse property types and places, from formal gardens, parks, and public spaces to traditional cultural places, vernacular communities, and residential districts
Regardless of the site selected, please focus your HALS report on the landscape as a whole. Information how to describe and analyze historic landscapes for the HALS collection can be found in the HALS History Guidelines (pdf).
Since the copyright status of some materials is uncertain, please do not reproduce any graphics in your HALS documentation unless they are covered by a signed copy of our Copyright Release Form (pdf) or clearly in the public domain
People are hereby challenged to complete at least one entry using the HALS Short Format History Template (.docx). Preservation Through Documentation!
For more information on how to enter and prizes, click here!
Charles E. Peterson Prize
The National Park Service's Heritage Documentation Programs (HDP), The Athenaeum of Philadelphia, the American Institute of Architects (AIA), and the Association for Preservation Technology International (APT) announce the 2024 Charles E Peterson Prize, which annually recognizes the best set of measured drawings prepared to HDP standards and donated to HDP by students.
The prize honors Charles E. Peterson, FAIA, one of the founders of the Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS), and is intended to increase awareness, knowledge, and appreciation of historic buildings, structures, and cultural landscapes throughout the United States while adding to the permanent HABS/HAER/HALS Collection of measured drawings at the Library of Congress To date, more than 3,000 students from 75 colleges and universities have participated by completing more than 500 entries and more than 7,200 sheets of measured drawings The students have worked alone and in groups, in required courses, electives, independent study and summer institutes They have been, for the most part, architecture students in addition to architectural history, interior design, and American studies majors
Prizes
All prizes are awarded at the discretion of the jury Prizes amounts are:
First place: $10,000 and certificate
Second place: $5,000 and certificate
Third place: $3,000 and certificate
Honorable mention: $1,000 and certificate
See the list of Peterson Prize winners
For more information on eligibility, instructions, submission checklist, and more click here!!
projects start with the industry standard
Before they broke ground, BHG Design ensured they were protected with AIA contracts
AIA NATIONAL CALENDAR AIA NATIONAL
MARCH 2024
04
HCD Webinar: Legacy House: An Architectural Firm’s Solution to the Housing Crisis
12:00 PM to 01:00 PM (ET)
05 Progress Through Storytelling: Small Firms Winning Approvals For Innovative Design
05:30 PM to 06:30 PM (ET)
12
Live course: Operating Room Design: Using an Evidence-Based Design Process
02:00 PM to 03:00 PM (ET)
13 Accessory Dwelling Units: A Solution to Housing Inequity
02:00 PM to 03:00 PM (ET)
14 Healthcare Design Award
05:00 PM to 05:00 PM (ET)
17-20
2024 PDC Summit
Starts: Mar 17, 2024 08:00 AM (PT)
Ends: Mar 20, 2024 12:15 PM (PT)
29
HCD Webinar: Legacy House: An Architectural Firm’s Solution to the Housing Crisis
09:00 AM to 05:00 PM (ET)
February 16, 2024
Dear
AIA Member:
The American Institute of Architects is committed to fulfilling our mission, which is to inspire and empower architects to improve society and transform the world. We believe that education is vital to equipping our current and future members with the skills that are necessary to do just that. The accreditation of architecture schools is essential to maintaining a high level of quality in the process of training future architects. We write to you today to clarify our stance on the new funding proposal presented by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB), and to communicate our ongoing efforts to reach an agreement that supports NAAB-accredited schools of architecture
Background
Historically, NAAB-accredited programs have not paid accreditation fees directly to NAAB Instead, accreditation has been financially supported by its partners: the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB), the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA), the American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS), and AIA.
NAAB recently called for public comment on their 2025-2028 Proposed Accreditation Program Fee Structure. This new funding structure involves directly charging schools of architecture for accreditation. This proposal has been met with significant discussion within the architectural community, primarily due to the potential financial implications for these institutions
A key concern is that this change could lead to an increase in costs for the schools, significantly higher than the current rates In response, AIA and the other supporting organizations have requested that NAAB withdraw the funding proposal and negotiate in good faith a path forward that is positive for students, schools of architecture, and the profession. We applaud NAAB's decision to suspend the public comment period until June 30, 2024 in order to revisit funding conversations.
Next Steps
T (800) 242 3837
F (202) 626 7547 aia org
AIA is urging all organizations to swiftly find common ground on the most effective way to support the accreditation of architectural education. AIA and NCARB are currently commissioning an expert analysis of the accreditation process, with the support of our partner organizations The results of this analysis will inform our collective path forward As our valued members, we want you to be informed of our commitment to education and know that we remain steadfast in safeguarding the interests of the profession We believe that through our common objectives, the stakeholders in this mater can engage in productive future discussions. AIA is looking forward to working with our colleagues to find a mutually beneficial solution to sustaining architectural accreditation.
Sincerely,
Kimberly N Dowdell, AIA, NOMAC 2024 AIA President
2024 SMALL PROJECT 2024 SMALL PROJECT
DESIGN KNOWLEDGE DESIGN KNOWLEDGE
COMMUNITY GRANT PROGRAM COMMUNITY GRANT PROGRAM CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS
Starts: Feb 16, 2024 12:02 AM (ET)
Ends: Apr 19, 2024 05:00 PM (ET) Associated with Small Project Design
The SPD advisory committee is pleased to announce the 2024 Small Project Design Knowledge Community Grant The purpose of this grant is to provide financial support for nonprofit organizations working with architects on community-based projects. Along with supporting the work of nonprofit organizations, we want to demonstrate the value of hiring an architecture firm (and AIA member) for community projects, by helping cover some of the costs associated with hiring the design team.
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