Images from the AIA Europe Pool at Flickr
In addition, approximately 15 Chapter Members were present.
A quorum was present or represented.
Conference Co-Organizer, Marc DiDomenico, AIA, gave the following update on the Udine Conference:
Total Costs are expected to be 17,200 €; Registrations are expected to approach 20,000€; Sponsors are covering the costs of the Friday lunch and dinner; Factoring in other Sponsor revenue and a 15% cost overrun contingency, Marc expected the Udine conference to result in a 10,000€ surplus for the Chapter. He went on to say that he did not anticipate receiving sponsorship from Moretti and Clivet, as originally planned.
George Berg, AIA, and Elizabeth Heudebourg gave the following financial update:
| Current holdings on the French bank account: | 47,760 € |
| Current holdings on the American bank account: | 30,000 € |
Members present expressed surprise at the high amount of bank charges on the French account. It was agreed that measures should be taken to try to reduce said charges.
A provisional 2007 budget of 17,000 € expenses and 17,000 € income, identical to that of 2006, was approved. Following the closing of the 2006 accounts a detailed 2007 budget may be re-submitted to the Board for approval early in 2007.
George Berg, AIA, opened discussion stating that it will be good to have a joint conference with the UK Chapter in London in 2007. However, he was surprised to see this past August that planning had advanced so far without much consultation with the Continental Europe Chapter.
Mike Lischer, AIA, International Director and On-Site head of the London Conference, then presented details about the London conference planning. The dates of the conference are most likely (95% certainty) to be September 27, 28, and 29, 2007. Some discussion followed about potentially moving the conference back to October 12, 13, 14, 2007. The working title of the conference is “Brave New World: Design/Build in the United States and Europe.”
The joint partners of the conference are:
Lischer then went on to suggest roles that AIACE can play in the conference:
AIACE will have no financial responsibility.
The conference is expected to net 10-12 LU’s. AIACE members stated that they would like to see up to 18 offered. Lischer proposed that an eventual extension to the conference might be envisioned.
The preliminary budget lists total costs at $120,000. Registration for 150-180 people is currently planned at registration rates of $400-$495. AIACE members stated that they found this particularly elevated, especially given the high cost of lodging in London. A reduction in cost for Chapter members might be envisioned, particularly since AIACE members are not accustomed to paying such a high cost for conference registration. Lischer stated that AIA London/UK is actively looking for a major sponsor to donate 15,000 as well as some engineering firms to give at the 8,000 level. Other sponsors, too, have been approached for donations of lower amounts.
France Section Director Ray Spano, AIA, voiced concern that AIACE sponsors need to be approached regularly or they may be lost for the future.
George Berg, AIA, opened discussion regarding the proposed Athens conference for 2008. No attending members had received any updates from potential organizer Spyros Amourgis. None of those present knew him personally. Karl Hartnack, AIA, offered to contact Amourgis directly by phone to find out if he still intends to organize a conference sometime in 2008. Member Charles Croigny, AIA, then offered to host a conference in Brussels, possibly in 2007 or 2008. Also: Member Steve Miller, FAIA, offered to host a conference in Dubai. Member Dominique Tomasov, AIA, COAC made herself available to organize a section program in Barcelona
The following nominations were made and approved by voting members present:
Thus the 2007 Board is as follows:
Alan Schwartzman explained that the long-standing mailbox service would be ending on December 31st, 2006, following a move by the French postal service toward a privatization of their post box rental system. The postal agency has offered to forward AIACE mail to another address for one calendar year. Research into various foundations that might receive AIACE’s mail will be conducted in Paris. While it would be preferable to find a permanent solution prior to the end of the year, if none is found Alan Schwartzman offered to have the mail sent to his private address. It would then have to be either forwarded to or picked up by the Administrative Assistant.
Elizabeth Heudebourg, AIACE Administrative Assistant, provided the Board with a summary of her hours worked since the beginning of the year. George Berg said that a decision would be made regarding an eventual adjustment to her salary before the end of 2006.
(Summaries were sent prior to the meeting; see below for continued Chapter meeting minutes.)
The following should summarize the French Section activities over the past year (including the last part of Isabel’s term):
In the interests of reducing time even more, I am attaching a draft final program of a seminar we are planning to give in Basel on Friday, 24 November under the Swiss Co-Directorship of Lee and myself. There may be 1-2 minutes worth of additional information to add in Udine since we will have an organizational meeting with the others in CH before then. The event is pretty much under control and so the information is more for general knowledge. As an aside, we had tried to do one with Zaha Hadid but her project on the Casino Concert Hall here has run into trouble/opposition. Also we are working on one with Herzog & De Meuron but this will take more time — maybe next year.
1.0 Como event:
Of the 35 people who were initially interested, 26 registered for this two-day section event. The first day involved a day tour of the city center of Como, which included a tour guide of five important architectural monuments of the city (including the ex-Casa del Fascio by Giuseppe Terragni), and concluded with dinner in a typical trattoria in the center of Como.
The next day involved a guided tour of Lake Como and its architecture, with a visit to two sites: Villa Balbaniello and Villa Erba, with our boat sponsored by Nessi & Maiocchi, General Contractor (thanks to Enzo Ragni’s help).
Members received 3 LU’s for this event.
2.0 Build-up expo in Milan - February 2007 (Giancarlo’s update)
3.0 Section event for spring and fall of 2007
Two items that could be discussed at the meeting:
A provincial location (like Como) vs. a larger urban context (such as Rome)? We have to remember that we have members who are also located in Central and Southern Italy. Maybe we should try on a more central location so that we can encourage member participation from the more southern Italian locations?
For this reason, the next event should included something like visiting a construction or restoration site, guided by the architects / engineers who are involved (maybe as a morning event), with a lunch (offered by a sponsor), and then an afternoon architectural tour of the local town centre?
I previously received feedback from members preferring a provincial location. Giancarlo, would Permasteelisa be involved with a construction site that could fit this type of activity (who could sponsor also the lunch)? In the Veneto? In Lazio or Tuscany?
There have been no Northern Europe events since the Helsinki conference.
The number of Americans and AIA, or potential AIA, has increased in Ireland, and any that I am aware of have been contacted, told about the Chapter, activities, benefits and invited to join. I hear of these people largely by word of mouth. Architects are aware that I am in the AIA and suggest contacting me for information. It might interest the Board to know that they invariably have heard of AIA/UK, and their activities, but not AIA Continental Europe. From National? Word of mouth from US architects working in the UK?
An event of interest will occur this coming weekend (Sept 28th -Oct 2nd) in Kilkenny, commemorating James Hoban, architect of the White House. This is being organized by the James Hoban Society, with a colloquium this year in preparation for a bigger event in 2008, on the theme of architects training in one area, and then emigrating or travelling elsewhere and practising in their new abode. At my request, Richard has posted an article on the event on our website. I contacted all AIA members locally by person, and several of us will meet over the weekend, (including Don O'Neill).
The contact I mention above is very local. One person cannot do this in several countries. At the conference in Udine, I intend to see who is attending from the countries in my area, and see if there are suitable persons who could be 'correspondents' from their respective countries. This might help. Would welcome any comments on this.
Member of the International Jury also comprising: Prof Georgi Stoilov-Bulgaria, Jan Hoogstad-the Netherlands, Kiyonori Kikutake-Japan, Manfredi Nicoletti-Italy, Yury Platonov-Russia, Pierre Andre Dufetel-France, Hon. FAIA
Lecture at the Authors' Conferences by Leading Masters of World Contemporary Architecture Presentation of work at Exhibition 'Leading Masters of World Contemporary Architecture
IAA Members' Dialogue with legendary Japanese Architect Kiyonori Kikutake Participation on the IAA Academic Council Session and Grand Assembly Meeting
Also was present at the event Mr Brian Spencer, AIA.
French Section Director, Ray Spano, AIA, summarized Section events and informed the Chapter about a half-day conference in December with New York architect Max Bond. Mr. Bond will be talking in Paris about the reconstruction of the World Trade Center site. Ray also mentioned an upcoming visit to architect Jacques Ferrier’s offices.
Switzerland Section Co-Director, Maureen Reinertsen, AIA, presented an upcoming event in Basel planned for November 24th. Three public-private partnership projects in an evolving part of Basel will be visited, including housing under a motorway bridge and an outdoor community park along the Rhine. She expects the event to net 6 LU’s. There will be an estimated cost of 50 euros for this day-long event, which will include lunch.
Giancarlo Alhadeff, AIA, spoke for Italy Section Director, Esteban Cruz, Assoc. AIA. He reported that the Como event was a great success. He also described the upcoming Build-up Expo in Milan to take place in February 2007. AIACE will have 400 m2 of exposition space. Alhadeff suggested that the Katrina exhibit from the United States stand at the Venice Biennale might be used for this and that the AIA International committee might be willing to help defray transportation costs. Another option would be to use AIACE members’ work for display in the exposition space or even a combination of the two.
Helen Giblin, AIA, reported that the recent James Hoban event in Kilkenney was a great success which brought together academics from the US and Ireland.
AIACE Continuing Education Chair, Dominique Tomasov, AIA, described the upcoming CES Provider-training event in Barcelona to take place on October 17, 2006.
On 3 October 2006, Richard Anderson, AIA published a membership report for presentation into the minutes of this meeting.
On 4 October 2006, Richard Anderson, AIA published a website report for presentation into the minutes of this meeting:
Corporate Partner Chair, Sandra Zettersten, AIA, gave an update on sponsorship. She confirmed that Lutron intends to be a long-term supporter for the Chapter, as is Grace and Eternit. Kone did not donate to the Chapter this year, but may in the future. Philips would be a good sponsor to have return their support to the Chapter. Sandra went on to stress the importance of maintaining regular contact with our sponsors, trying to specify their products, having them make office presentations, etc. Ray Spano added that Lafarge is interested in sponsoring our next conference.
Michael Lischer, AIA, said that there is a growing wave of international interest and the AIA National wants to be kept informed of the International Chapters’ needs. He went on to report that at the last AIA National Board meeting, accords between the United States and Canada, Mexico and the Asia/Pacific region are leading toward professional reciprocity in those areas. They soon hope to work on reciprocity for European countries.
There are currently 1,400 members living overseas. AIA National sent out a survey to gather demographic information from these members. Unfortunately, several members mentioned that they did not receive the survey or that they had technical problems completing them. A second survey will be sent in the Spring to try to determine what are our Chapter’s expectations from National.
A recent communications assessment stated that the AIA was “over-communicating with and under informing” its members. Hoping to improve on this front, the AIA National website has been redesigned.
Sandra Zettersten, AIA, will become the sole Corporate Partners chair. Prior co-chair Lew Koerner will be stepping down from that post. Steve Miller, FAIA, will be the Honorary Committee Chair and Tom Vonier, FAIA, sits on the Jury for Honorary Fellows. It was mentioned that Honorary Fellow applicants from our Chapter have a good chance at receiving the nomination.
Chapter Meeting adjourned.
—minutes as recorded by Karl Hartnack with review by George Berg. Edited and formatted for the website by Richard AndersonMeeting minutes archive
