Thursday, September 16

DBIA-Michigan Chapter's Fall Kick-off

The Design-Build Institute of America Michigan Steering Committee presents

Design-Build Fall Forum
Thursday, September 23, 2010

Lawrence Technological University
Technology Building Room 410

7:30 a.m. Registration, Continental Breakfast & Networking
8:00 - 11:00 a.m. Program
$20 Members $30 Non Members $5 Students & Owners

Attendees will hear a wide range of presenters discuss MDOT design-build projects, vertical market design-build, Michigan design-build success stories, and the status of National DBIA initiatives.

This event is the official kickoff for a new Michigan Chapter of DBIA!

To see the full program and registration form, please click here.
Click here to register for this event online.

Questions?? Please contact either Tom Porter at tom@tomporterservices.com or John Tocco at jtocco@ltu.edu

Wednesday, July 28

Detroit's Communication and Media Arts High School chosen to receive makeover on new NBC series “School Pride"

Executive producers Cheryl Hines (“Curb Your Enthusiasm”) and Denise Cramsey (“Extreme Makeover: Home Edition”) selected Detroit's Communication and Media Arts High School (CMA) to receive a much-needed building makeover.

Housed in a building built in 1959, CMA was a candidate for closure this month due to its poor condition and the anticipated expense of repairs. Emergency Financial Manager Robert Bobb learned the producers were looking for schools for the show and nominated CMA for a makeover. He removed it from the closure list after learning it was a finalist.

“CMA has a very high graduation rate and virtually all the graduates go on to college. They deserve to learn in an environment that will help them achieve even more,” Bobb said. “I’m excited to see all the changes that will take place, but the show’s crew and the students of this small school cannot do it alone. We need the entire city to come out and help make this the best makeover in the country. In a time of highly limited resources, we need to marshal all our community resources to create 21st century learning environments for our students.”

The reality series, debuting this fall and airing Fridays at 8 p.m. on NBC, empowers communities to take charge and improve their broken schools, motivating students, parents and teachers to renovate their neighborhood educational institutions. Making use of local businesses and skilled local labor, the community will make over classrooms, public spaces, athletic facilities, and art and music halls. The changes at CMA will truly be a community effort, with “School Pride” producers planning to recruit a large number of volunteers from the local area to work on the transformation effort.

While a team of experts will lend expertise in the makeover process, it’s ultimately up to the students, teachers and community to execute the restoration. “School Pride” cameras will document their progress, revealing multiple surprises along the way and, ultimately, concluding with the unveiling of a brand-new, completely transformed school. Months later, the school will be revisited to determine the effects – such as renewed sense of pride and an increase in student achievement scores – the transformation has ignited.

The “School Pride” crew and hosts will document the makeover Aug. 1-7, 2010, and the public is encouraged to sign up to participate or donate goods and/or services to the effort. Volunteers will be needed for tasks ranging from painting and serving food to skilled trades such as electrical and plumbing work.

Although the list has reached capacity, volunteers are encouraged to sign up to be on the stand-by list at http://www.schoolpridevolunteers.com/.

Be sure to attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Friday, August 6, 2010 at 8:00 a.m. The school is located at 14771 Mansfield, Detroit, MI 48227.

Follow “School Pride” on Twitter @NBCSchoolPride (http://twitter.com/NBCSchoolPride). View the trailer, visit www.nbc.com/school-pride/video/school-pride-full-length-trailer/1228317/ “School Pride” is produced by Horizon Alternative Television.

Monday, July 26

AIA Michigan open Executive Director postion

AIA Michigan is a vital organization dedicated to the support and promotion of the profession of Architecture and more specifically, to it’s membership. It is a truly member-centric organization; its finances are healthy; and its programs and leadership are well received locally and nationally. As AIA Michigan moves forward, it must continue to use its strong resources effectively as Architecture and related professions are affected by turbulent economic times and significant shifts in the professional roles and relationships that define the design and construction industries in Michigan.

The Board, staff and membership seek a new Executive Director who is a respected strategic manager and a bold thinker to advance the mission of AIA Michigan. S/he must be able to capture opportunity, navigate change and assist the board leadership to move the organization to its next level of accomplishment – programmatically, financially and in terms of its professional and public effectiveness. Through innovation, smart business practices, and a commitment to engage diverse audiences in, s/he will enhance AIA Michigan’s influence within the state and the professional success of its membership.

See the complete AIA Michigan Executive Director position profile here

Interested candidates should submit a cover letter and resume to design.studio@hopkinsburns.com (In electronic PDF format only)

Tuesday, June 8

Economic Impact Survey

NOMA Detroit is collecting information on how minority architects in south east Michigan have been impacted by the "Great Recession".

Participate in Survey here.

Wednesday, April 21

Going After Government Contracts

On average, businesses found that winning a government contract takes nearly two years of trying. Are rewards worth the effort? Read the article from the Wall Street Journal

Monday, March 29

DPS issues a request for proposals on the new Martin Luther King Jr. Senior High School project

DPS issues a request for proposals on the new Martin Luther King Jr.
Senior High School project

PROGRAM CONTACT: e-mail opportunities@detroitk12.org

Detroit Public Schools is soliciting proposals for the design and
construction of the new Martin Luther King Jr. Senior High School,
which will be rebuilt at its current site.

The high school will consist of 185,000 square feet of space and serve
1,200 students with a Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics
(STEM) focus. Amenities will include a Community Health Center, full
competition swimming pool and gymnasium. The existing auditorium will
be preserved and updated.

Construction will be completed prior to the Fall 2011 opening of
school. The King High School project is part of the district’s
Facilities Master Plan. It is the first school to be built thanks to
the passage of Proposal S, a bond referendum voters approved on Nov. 3
to take advantage of $500.5 million in stimulus dollars that President
Barack Obama made available to build new schools and modernize
existing schools.

To access the RFQ document, please go to http://www.demandstar.com
(search “Bids Near Due” / Bid Status: “Active” / Agency: “Detroit
Public Schools – Department of Contracts and Procurement”) where
potential bidders can view and download the bid package.

Interested bidders are encouraged to register using the “Onvia
DemandStar Free Agency” subscription. Registered bidders will be able
to download and receive notices at no cost
http://www.demandstar.com/register.rsp (select Detroit Public Schools –
Department of Contracting and Procurement as the Agency name you
would like to register for).

A pre-bid meeting is scheduled for March 30, 2010 at 3 p.m. in the
auditorium at Martin Luther King Jr. High School, 3200 E. Lafayette
Street. Parking is available in the lot at the rear (Larned Street) of
the school. For more information on the construction project, please
go to http://www2.detroit.k12.mi.us/resources/construction_project/

Friday, March 12

AIA MI Small Firm Roundtable

The AIA MI Small Firm Roundtable, SFR, serves AIA MI members and their firms with ten and fewer employees. Recognizing that small firms have many needs that may not be readily available in the marketplace and/or at a competitive price, the SFR committee provides resources to you!
The Small Firm Roundtable can provide you: CEU's - Live or via Web Cast
  • Fellowship with like size peer firm principals
  • Marketing assistance
  • Referrals to legal and accounting resources
  • Insurance and risk management
  • Business building resources
  • Email blasts that contain news of interest specific to small firms
Our first meeting will be held @ 6:30 pm on Wednesday March 31st. @ The Collaborative Suite in Birmingham. CEU's will be provided for all AIA members attending the meeting or the Web Cast. Seating will be limited so RSVP to reserve you spot. If you can make the drive, gather a group of your local members and watch the interactive Web Cast together.

Collaborative Suite
735 Forest Avenue
Birmingham, Michigan 48009

Guest Speakers will cover Legal Issues and Marketing tips for Small Firms. A round table discussion of topics that interest Small Firms will follow and the evening will end with fellowship.
RSVP to attend the meeting, the Web Cast or sign up for E-mail Blasts with:
Jeffrey S. Ferweda, AIA
Small Firm Round Table
AIA Michigan

810-238-9647 phone
810-238-4900 fax
jeffrey@sfarch.us

Sunday, February 21

Detroit Public Schools Industry Opportunity Fair

Detroit Public Schools Industry Opportunity Fair
Wednesday, February 24 from 8-12:00 p.m. at
Cobo Hall in the Riverview Ballroom.
For More Information: http://www.detroit.k12.mi.us/proposal_s/facilities/
This first Industry Opportunity Fair is targeted towards General Contractors and Architects/Engineers.
4 certification groups will be in attendance; they are as follows:
· City of Detroit
· MMSDC
· WBEC Great Lakes
· MDOT
To register
, send an email to: opportunities@detroitk12.org.
Include a note that you will attend along with your company name, and number of attendees, please include events@mmbdc.com in the cc:

Tuesday, January 26

NOMA mobilizes to help Haiti

The National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) and the NOMA Foundation are joining with other organizations, donating money and encouraging the donation of tents to the Haitian earthquake relief effort

“Because all of us from the Diaspora share certain cultural values and sensitivities, it would be a tremendous lost opportunity if aid and reconstruction efforts do not involve our membership,” says Steven Lewis, AIA, president of the National Organization of Minority Architects.

See the Architectural Record article and donate at the NOMA website

Wednesday, January 6

ARE Forum

Are you working on IDP?
...started taking the ARE?
...part way through the exams?
or
...recently licensed?

This event is for you!!!
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
6:00pm - 8:00pm
Harley Ellis Devereaux
26913 Northwestern Hwy Suite 200
Southfield, MI

A LIVE forum event in metro Detroit to discuss the Architectural Registration Exam and IDP. Those who are recently licensed or taking the exams can share their study tips, tell how they chose their exam sequence, what study materials and resources worked best, etc. Those who are just getting started with IDP and ARE will benefit from this sharing of knowledge on how to prepare.

Looking for study partners? This event is the perfect time to hook up with others studying for the same exam. Remember...you are not in this alone!

Best part... this event is free! And food will be provided!!!


We just ask that you RSVP here or by emailing aiadetroit.epc.are@gmail.com by January 11th (so we have a head count for our food order).

See you at 6pm at Harley Ellis Devereaux office!

Thanks and spread the word................................