2009 Board Members Announced

NOMA Detroit recently hosted their annual Holiday Cheer Gathering on a snowy Tuesday, December 16th. Amist peers, drinks, food, and fun, the 2009 Board of Directors was announced. The new Board of Directors will assume their positions for a 1-year term beginning January 1, 2009 as follows:

Kenneth Crutcher, President

Tiffany Brown, Vice President

Darron Green, Past President

Saundra Little, President Elect

Louis Fisher, Treasurer

Terrance German, Secretary

At-Large Directors

-Karen Davis

-Sybil Griffin

-Craig Wilkins

-Damon Dickerson (Student Representative, UofM)

NOMA-D would like to thank all those who came to the Holiday Cheer Gathering despite the weather to show your support for our chapter.

Vote for NOMAD 2009 At-large Directors

NOMAD members:


Click on the link at the top right of the sidebar to electronically cast your vote for Directors and Student Representatives, the remaining positions for the 2009 election. Voting closes on Tuesday, December 9, 2008.

The Nominating Committee

CONGRATULATIONS TO NOMA DETROIT MEMBERS!

Congratulations to NOMAD member company Hamilton Anderson Associates for winning the 1st Place Honor Award, part of the 2008 NOMA Design Awards given at the National Conference in Washington, DC last month.



Congratulations to member architect and NOMAD Vice President, Kenneth Crutcher, named to the Planning Commission of the City of Farmington for a three-year term.

NOMA Midwest Conference

To: All Midwest NOMA Professionals and Students
From: Kevin M. Holland AIA NOMA, Midwest Region Vice-President
Re: Midwest Region Conference 2009

Good evening,

I am sending this out to as many of you as possible. Please feel free to forward to other professionals and students as you may see fit.

Shortly after the conclusion of our Annual Conference in Washington, DC, the necessity of establishing a mid-year conference just for the region occurred to me.
I have had the opportunity to discuss this with members of INOMA and the student chapter presidents at IIT and UIUC.

We are, on very short-notice, planning a very condensed conference for Saturday, January 17 and Sunday, January 18, 2009 on the campus of the University of Illinois/Urbana-Champaign. Thanks to the UIUC NOMAS chapter, and in particular, Leeswan Bolden, we have secured both the Architecture Building and Temple Hoyne Buell Hall for these dates.

We do realize that January will be upon us very quickly, and many of you may feel that this effort is extremely aggressive, however; this particular weekend is just before MLK day and for the students, is probably the least intrusive on their academic schedules. Also, I would like to emphasize that this conference is not to compete nor replace the annual UIUC Symposium. In fact, we would strongly encourage NOMAS to continue planning and maintain the tradition of the symposium.

This conference would consist of a much focused event in the customary, three-tracks (students, interns and professionals) and the intent is to provide immediately-useful information which can be applied directly to a very purposeful event. (Click on schedule at right.) By which, on the first day, I propose:

For the students: a half-day resume and portfolio workshop with the opportunity to rewrite resumes on the spot. Immediately following this workshop would be a half-day job fair in which all NOMA firms are invited as well as, majority firms within the Midwest region.

For the professional interns: a full-day (or possibly, a two-day if the interns are willing to come in on Friday) ARE Workshop on both General Structures and Lateral Forces conducted by Marc Mitalski PE of Illinois-based, PREPA.R.E. Immediately following this workshop, any intern who is eligible, should be confident about taking and passing these difficult exams.

For the professionals: a half-day seminar on the State of the Economy and its impact on the Architectural Industry and a LEED Exam Workshop (with practice tests) conducted by Everblue Energy.

The second day would consist of a half-day charette of teams composed of both professionals and students and the second half of the day would be a body meeting in which a structure similar to the national body would be put in place at the regional level. For instance, I believe that the region needs to have at the very least, a treasurer, secretary, membership chair and two student representatives, among others.

In order to be successful, we need your input, willingness and commitment to attend this event. We need participation from all professional and student chapters from Detroit to Manhattan, Kansas. There will, of course, be a registration fee, which has not been determined, however; be very confident that the registration fee will be significantly less than was the fee for the national conference. However; the first requirement for registration will be the payment of National dues. We cannot extend invitations to firms for the job fair nor sign any agreements regarding workshops without your commitment therefore; please respond to me directly regarding your willingness to attend by this Friday, November 7, 2008, so that we might plan accordingly.

I hope that you will find this to be a cause worthy of your time and of your attention. Thanks for you consideration.
Sincerely,


Kevin M. Holland AIA Senior Associate
Director of Indianapolis Operations

MOODY•NOLAN, INC.
Architecture Civil Engineering Interior Architecture
200 South Meridian Street, Suite 440
Indianapolis, Indiana 46225
ph: 317.916.4082 fx: 317.916.4083

Advice for Surviving the Downturn

The American Institute of Architects features several articles to help firms and practitioners make it through these sluggish times. See Navigating the Economy.

Roger Margerum presents “Modernist Impressions” - Students Welcome

NOMAD cordially invites all students interested in the architecture profession and practicing professionals to attend a Detroit Community Outreach event with NOMAD’s Lifetime Achievement recipient, Detroit architect, Roger Margerum. Mr. Margerum will present the lecture "Modernist Impressions."

Who: All interested high school students and practicing professionals

When: Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Where: Kettering High School DPS, 6101 Van Dyke, Detroit, MI 48213

Agenda:

12:00 noon - 1:00 p.m. - "Modernist Impressions" lecture

1:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. - 30 min. Tour + Design discussion

1:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. - Students + Architects "One on One" - Lunch provided

An African-American Architect who graduated from the University of Illinois in 1955 with a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture, Roger started his career working with some of the most prestigious architectural firms in the country designing modern community centers, churches, businesses and schools. He has also played an instrumental role in spearheading joint venture projects with other minority architects in Detroit.

Mr. Margerum later decided to start his own firm with locations in Detroit and Chicago where he continued to have a long successful career spanning half a century, receiving numerous honors for his work within the profession.

At an early age Roger developed an interest in art and drawing and was enrolled in weekend classes at the Art Institute of Chicago. It was at the Institute were he practiced and developed his skills and passion for his craft. During this time he was exposed to various influences, particularly painter Georges-Pierre Seurat and his masterpiece "Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte." Another influence was African-American football player Buddy Young. Both influences served as an inspiration that has guided Roger throughout his life to challenge the boundaries of the ordinary and strive for excellence under adversity.

The lecture, facilty tour, and lunch are co-sponsored by the Detroit Chapter of the National Organization of Minority Architects, the Board of Education of the City of Detroit, Hamilton Anderson Associates Architects, and the American Institute of Architects Continuing Education System.

NOMA Conference Begins Today in D.C.

The National Organization of Minority Architects begins its 36th International Conference and Exposition today. The Conference runs through October 4th. There will be workshops and seminars for professionals and students, a jury of professional designs, a student design competition, and an exhibit entitled "2% Women of Color," highlighting that population of the architecture profession.

Architect Roger Margerum featured in Detroit Home & at NOMA Events

Pioneering Detroit Architect Roger Margerum's 45-degree polygonal residence is featured in the Fall 2008 issue of Detroit Home magazine, which is on newsstands now. The structure, completed in 2005, is located on Detroit's east side.

Margerum attended the University of Illinois and received his architecture degree in 1955. Formerly employed with Skidmore, Owings and Merrill and Smith, Hinchman and Grylls (SmithGroup), he went on to open his own firm with offices in Detroit and Chicago.

Mr. Margerum will be featured at two of NOMA Detroit's events this fall:

"Roger Margerum's Modernist Impressions" Lecture
Tuesday, October 21, 2008, 12:00 noon- 2:00pm
Location: Kettering High School (addition designed by Roger Margerum)
AIA Continuing Education Units available
More: This is an opportunity for interaction and dialogue between college and high school students and professionals.

NOMA Detroit Lifetime Achievement Award Presentation to Roger Margerum
Tuesday, November 25, 2008, 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Location: MOCAD (Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit)
4454 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48201

More on Roger Margerum:

• See the University of Illinois African American Architecture Alumni Project interview
• Detroit Free Press article on ModelD (2007)

DR. CRAIG WILKINS DISCUSSES WHY THERE ARE SO FEW AFRICAN-AMERICAN ARCHITECTS

Registered architect, Dr. Craig Wilkins, to discuss his recent publication The Aesthetics of Equity: Notes on Race, Space, Architecture and Music.

There are fewer than 1,500 African American architects licensed in the United States. Yet, there are 40,000 physicians. Why has the discipline of architecture been resistant?

Dr. Craig Wilkins, University of Michigan College of Architecture and Urban Planning lecturer, addresses this and other issues in his provocative, award-winning book. The Aesthetics of Equity He examines the discipline of architecture and it’s resistance to African Americans at all levels.

Dr. Wilkins observes, “how race, space, music and architecture are tied to the larger concerns of our society and how we, as citizens, can use that connectedness to make a difference.” He asks the question “who or what is responsible for the decisions that keep both the profession of architecture and the built environment itself, the exclusive property of a particular ethnicity?”

Winner of the 2008 Montaigne Medal, The Aesthetics of Equity was recognized for its potential to illuminate, progress and redirect thought. Each year, the Eric Hoffer Award for books presents the Montaigne Medal to the most thought-provoking titles. The medal is given in honor of the great philosopher Michel de Montaigne, who influenced people such as Shakespeare, Descartes, Emerson, Nietzsche, Rousseau, and Eric Hoffer.

The National Organization of Minority Architects, Detroit chapter, is hosting a discussion and book signing with Dr. Wilkins on August 1 at 4:30 PM at Borders Book & Music, Compuware Building, 1012 Woodward Ave., Detroit, MI 48226.

General Meeting - Tuesday, June, 24, 2008

The next General meeting will be June 24, 2008 at 6:00p.m. at the Detroit Historical Museum. Join us for a private tour of the exhibit "1920s: Detroit's Building Boom". See http://www.detroithistorical.org/exhibits/index.asp?MID=1&EID=502&Page=first

Members $8
Non-members $10