Paret Elevated to FAIA

Doha – January 31  – The 2014 Jury of Fellows from the American Institute of Architects (AIA) elevated Thierry Paret to its prestigious College of Fellows, an honor awarded to members who have made significant contributions to the profession.

Thierry Paret will be honored at an investiture ceremony at the 2014 National AIA Convention and Design Exposition in Chicago.

The Fellowship program was developed to elevate those architects who have made a significant contribution to architecture and society and who have achieved a standard of excellence in the profession.  Election to fellowship not only recognizes the achievements of architects as individuals, but also their significant contribution to architecture and society on a national level.

2014 Fellows

Out of a total AIA membership of over 83,000, there are fewer than 3,100 distinguished with the honor of fellowship and honorary fellowship. The elevation to fellowship is conferred on architects with at least 10 years of membership in the AIA in one or more of the following nomination categories:

1. Promoted the aesthetic, scientific, and practical efficiency of the profession

2. Advanced the science and art of planning and building by advancing the standards of architectural education, training and practice

3. Coordinated the building industry and the profession of architecture through leadership in the AIA and other related professional organizations

4. Advanced the living standards of people through an improved environment

5. Made the profession of ever-increasing service to society

Thierry Paret is an American architect who was both the founder and first President of the AIA Middle East Chapter from 2010 to 2012. He currently is the Treasurer and Director of the AIA International Region, the body responsible for the American Institute of Architects International affairs.  He has over 23 years of architectural experience with 10 of those spent in Europe and the Middle East. Thierry has served on AIA National’s Membership Committee (2012 -2013) and previously served on AIA National’s Community Committee.

Thierry received his Bachelor of Architecture from the renowned Pratt Institute in New York City. He is a registered architect in the States of New York, Nevada and the Republic of Ireland. He has extensive international experience and is well known in the Middle East. He has designed and worked on high profile projects in New York, Ireland, Abu Dhabi and Dubai prior to moving to Qatar. He has worked with AIA Award winning New York firms Wank Adams Slavin, Ralph Applebaum Associates and HDR. His work includes a broad range of public, private and corporate projects such as National Health Laboratories New York headquarters, the Jurassic Exhibit at the American Museum of Natural History, offices for the International Committee of the Red Cross. Whilst living in Ireland he led the design on projects for Genzyme, Johnson & Johnson, University County Cork, PM Group, Enable Ireland and Amgen’s European Headquarters. Thierry has also worked on large educational, corporate headquarters and high end residential master plan projects in the UAE.  He currently is a Design Advisor for the government of Qatar working on a wide range of initiatives and policies effecting projects throughout the country.  

9-12 March 2014: The Big 5 Saudi

 

• · Name of Exhibition – The Big 5 Saudi
• · Dates – 9 - 12 March 2014
• · Timings – 4 – 10pm
• · Venue - Jeddah Centre for Forum and events
• · Ticket Price – FREE online registration, visit www.thebig5saudi.com/reg
• · Organizer by: M.I.C.E Arabia, Co-organised by: dmg events (Both names must be included)
• · Contact Number - +971 4 438 0355
• · Email:
• · Profile –

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's largest gathering for construction products and services returns from 9 - 12 March 2014. The Big 5 Saudi has doubled in size and attracted 10,006 visitors from 54 countries, a 10 % increasing from 2013.

Some of the popular features returning in 2014 include the sell-out Concrete Repair Workshop, with already world-renowned experts, and the LEED Workshops on sustainable building concepts. Also returning is the Concrete Zone, which last year showcased over 60 international and Gulf exhibitors vast range of products from construction chemicals to block-making machinery.

New to The Big 5 Saudi will be the dedicated PMV Zone dedicated to plant, machinery and vehicles. This will include a wide spectrum of products from earth-moving equipment, truck mixers, tower cranes and lifting equipment.

The Big 5 Saudi has been running the prestigious Platinum Club. This invite-only group brings together key contractors from around the globe.

For more information, please visit www.thebig5saudi.com

2013 Outgoing President's Message

Post by AIA Middle East.

AIA Middle East Conference: 20-22 November 2013

    Following various initiatives and events for the Architecture Industry which have seen the Middle East Chapter of the American Institute of Architects grow to become the second-largest of the AIA's 5 international chapters, AIA Middle East now introduces its Annual Conference marking its third year of formation. Taking place in Dubai the historic event will feature architectural presentations and seminars, as well as a full day program of guided tours of outstanding landmark projects exemplifying the architectural grandeur of the UAE.

The AIA Middle East Annual Conference also introduces the first ever AIA Middle East Awards Program, to honor works of excellence in architecture by its members and to bring outstanding examples of architecture to public attention.

This year's annual AIA Middle East conference will take place November 20th through the 22nd at The Address Hotel, Dubai Mall.  

The AIA Middle East Awards Program is open for submissions until October 31. Registration for the conference, gala dinner and tours are open until November 18. Please see the below program for details and registration.

Program: http://www.eventsaiame.org/program.asp

Awards Registration: http://www.eventsaiame.org/awards.asp

Registration: http://www.eventsaiame.org/register_46.asp

Webpage: www.eventsaiame.org

Event Details:
Date: 20-22 November 2013

AUS Lecture: Snohetta

WE NEED YOU!!!

October 6, 2013 CALLING ALL MEMBERS!!!

Are you going to Cityscape in Dubai this year? If you are (or perhaps even if you aren't!), we are calling on all of our members to get involved and volunteer to work at our booth. Cityscape is a critical time for our membership as the tremendous footfall at the Cityscape event means potential new members for the chapter. Currently AIA Middle East is the second largest international chapter of the AIA and we need your help to make us number 1! It isn't a tremendous commitment and any time is appreciated. We need members to be on hand to distribute flyers and answer questions about who the AIA are and why architects should join.  More than anything though, WE NEED TO PROMOTE OUR NEVEMBER CONFERENCE!!! We have a booth at Cityscape and need help on all three days, October 8, 9 and 10. The booth must be "manned" from 10AM - 7PM and we have three shifts each day from 10 AM - 1:30 PM, 1:30 PM - 4:30 PM or 4:30 PM - 7:00 PM Come and share with others more about why you joined AIA Middle East and help us to attract new members! Please reply to events@aiamiddleeast.org with your interest and let us know what days and timeslot you are available.

We thank you in advance for your support of AIA Middle East and we hope you will join us in representing ourselves to the public and help us to become the largest chapter in the world's greatest architectural professional membership organization! Sincerely, AIA Middle East Events Committee and the Board of Directors, AIA Middle East

September Event: Star Architects Show and Tell

AIA Middle East Events are pleased to bring you our September Event "Star Architects Show and Tell." Come and get a peek inside the presentation room as four "Starchitects" present their designs for a NY City project - Not to be missed!

There is no need to RSVP formally but let us know if you are coming on our Facebook page!

This event is free, courtesy of our event sponsor Poltrona Frau Galleries!

Download Location Map Although we would love to have all of the four star architects with us here in Dubai, they will be with us virtually!  Please note that this is a video presentation. 

AIA Middle East: Bridging the Gap

Middle East Architect editor Zeinab Saiwalla speaks to Sherif Anis, president of the American Institute of Architects Middle East Chapter on challenges faced by American architects in the region and ways to overcome them

The American Institute of Architects (AIA), synonymous with forward-thinking architects striving to make a difference to society, prides itself on a strong code of ethics and determination to drive positive change through the power of design.

These same values radiate from Sherif Anis, president of AIA’s Middle East Chapter, who grew up in a family of architects and was made to realise the importance of ethics in architectural practice.

However, unlike practicing in the United States, Anis realised that rules of the game were different in the Middle East, when he moved here six years ago to serve as US-based CBT Architects’ regional director.

“Here, you have to get used to expect the unexpected. The pay schedule and the fee schedule is different from what US architects are used to.

People here work differently and for many US architects it can be quite difficult to understand,” explains Anis, design manager at Gulf Related.

Striving to bridge this gap, Anis together with several other architects based in the Middle East, including Hissam Youssef, Steve Miller, Loay Quota and Thierry Paret, banded together to form the AIA Middle East Chapter in 2010. “Our goal was really about forging connections between the Middle East and American architects so that US firms know we are here to serve as that conduit for communication, and vice versa.”

He continues: “In the US, AIA helps with issues pertaining to the Government and are very involved in advocacy, but here we do not have that ambition. It is more about fostering and managing ties.”

Since joining AIA Middle East, Anis has taken on several roles, first as treasurer, then secretary, followed by vice president and now serving as the organisation’s president.

However, Anis is quick to admit that the roles are more to help maintain an orderly system than a clear designation of tasks. “The titles are there because we need to have the structure, but in a lot of ways we help each other do what we have to, to get things done.”

While serving on the board Anis has helped in crafting the organisation’s graphic identity, creating its logo, posters, letterhead and newsletters, in addition to organising and planning events, though he is aware that a lot more can be done.

“It is easy to run events here in Abu Dhabi or Dubai but it gets challenging to hold events in the region.” He continues: “We have a lot of members in Kuwait and Jordan but frankly it comes down to having people on the ground that are willing to do it because everything has to be done on volunteer basis since we are a non-profit organisation.”

As a result of the AIA’s organic structure, the Middle East chapter depends significantly on partnerships and associations with annual conferences and exhibitions to remain engaged with the larger realm of society. “We all have real jobs that we have to attend to so we have paired up with events like Index, Cityscape and Big 5 to help us get exposure and put us on the events schedule in the region.”

Late last year, the AIA Middle East chapter together with the United States Department of Commerce and private and government officials from Qatar, organised a one-day symposium to facilitate discussions between US architectural firms and local developers. The session was to serve as a platform to allow for greater involvement of foreign architecture firms in Qatari projects, Anis explains.

“It was mainly about letting US firms understand the ways of working in Qatar and letting the groups in Qatar hear about the obstacles faced by the architects so that a fruitful outcome can develop,” Anis says. He adds: “Anybody in their right mind would go after the work because there is so much of it in Qatar, but it is just not easy to do.”

According to Anis, one of the most common obstacles faced by US firms in the Middle East has to do with remuneration terms as it relates to advance payment bonds and performance bonds.

“The local companies tend to demand onerous financial commitments, especially for some of these huge projects, and most architecture firms cannot handle such costs. They just do not have that kind of capital.” Understanding these differences and finding ways around them is crucial for foreign firms if they want to be part of the region’s growth, says Anis. “It is us who want the work, so we have to learn how things get done here.”

He adds: “A relationship can very quickly go wrong if both parties do not understand the differences. It takes a bit more patience and it is not always business as usual. In the Middle East, relationship building comes into play first. Here, you might attend a meeting but not talk about business at all.”

He adds that at AIA’s recent national conference in Denver, Colorado, the topic of working in the Middle East featured several times during the presentations, owing to the fact that there is a lot of interest from firms in the US to work here. “People want to know how they can get involved and what they the need to be sensitive of, so it is good for us to be here, to be that conduit,” he says.

In addition to organising talks and symposiums to bridge the differences between working styles in the Middle East and the US, the AIA chapter here plays an active role in providing continuing education opportunities and building tours for its members.

As Anis reveals during the hour long interview, it is probably this benefit of being an AIA member that has been so successful in attracting international architects in the region, to the organisation.

Despite having only been around for three years, the Middle East chapter already has 300 members and the highest proportions of international associate architect members compared to other chapters around the world.

“Architects here are excited to join an organisation like AIA. Part of it is to have the credential on their name cards but more than that, people are hungry for education and they like to get certification from the courses AIA offers,” says Anis.

As a way to further enhance the continuing education opportunities, the AIA Middle East chapter is planning to organise its first large-scale conference later this year and is looking to welcome the AIA 2014 president Helene Dreilling, FAIA as the keynote speaker and honorary conference chair.

“We are hoping it will be the start of many more to come. There will be a lot of technical and design presentations, building tours and a presentation of the first annual AIA Middle East Design Awards featured by a gala dinner. As always there will be ample opportunities to receive continuing education and keep up to date with all that is happening in the field of architecture,” Anis says.

Tom Vonier, FAIA elected to AIA Vice President

Two and a half years ago, a few AIA members had a vision to create AIA Middle East and this was made possible by their dedication and hard work, but ultimately it was Tom Vonier, FAIA who made it possible.

A Paris-based architect and the founding president of AIA Continental Europe, Tom has been the committee chair of AIA Continental Europe and was also the 2007 Honorary Fellows Jury Chair of American Institute of Architects.​​

Among Tom's many accolades, far too many to list here, Tom is currently serving as the AIA International Region's first president where he was instrumental in establishing the AIA’s newest Region. Tom has been dedicated to expanding the AIA's vision internationally, raising awareness of the AIA worldwide and expanding its membership across borders never before imagined  

Tom began practice in Washington DC and later expanded to Europe for clients with worldwide projects. He gravitated to global work while in university, encouraged by Nathaniel Owings of SOM and Ron Herron of Archigram.

Built on his platform of "Influence, Focus, Innovate" Tom had this to say:

“Together, we’re setting a new direction for AIA—putting our components and our core values at the forefront. Influence and innovation will elevate architecture and our profession.”

Congratualtions Tom!  We wish you all the best and are proud of everything you stand for and your unwavering commitment to the AIA! 

Félicitations et Bonne Chance!

AIA Middle East Signed an MOU with the School of Architecture, Art and Design at the American University in Dubai (AUD)

The School of Architecture, Art and Design at the American University in Dubai (AUD) signed an agreement with The American Institute of Architects (AIA), Middle East Chapter during a ceremony held at the newly inaugurated Glass House on campus. The partnership will build strong relations between AUD and AIA ME and develop academic and cultural interchange in the areas of education, and research among others. Dr. Nabyl Chenaf, Dean of the School, commented:

“I think that it is only natural that Architecture students at AUD feel part of a larger and world-leading professional community such as the AIA, first by creating an AIA Students chapter and now by signing a MoU with AIA ME. I also would like to take this opportunity to thank Dr. Georges Kachaamy without whom this would have never been achieved.”

The agreement was signed by AUD President Dr. Lance de Masi and AIA ME President Mr. Sherif Anis, in the presence of Dr. Jihad Nader, Provost/Chief Academic Officer, Dr. Nabyl Chenaf, Dean of the School of Architecture, Art and Design, Dr. Georges Kachaamy, Assistant Professor of Architecture at AUD and Director of Continuing Education of the AIA ME, as well as faculty members and students and representatives from AIA.

“AIA Middle East is excited by the relationship it shares with AUD by the signing of this MoU. AIA Middle East aspires to afford a seamless transition from education to practice. We look forward to providing support, events, and activities for students, Associate and International Associate AIA members, Young Architects and Fellows of the AIA” expressed Mr. Sherif Anis.

As part of this continuous collaboration, Dr. Georges Kachaamy was recently appointed as the Director of Continuing Education of the American Institute of Architects Middle East Chapter, a prestigious role that will benefit both the Department of Architecture and the School of Architecture, Art, and Design at AUD, bridging the gap between practice and academia.

Additional areas of collaboration have been stressed upon in the MoU. These include the establishment of training programs and transfer of knowledge mechanism for faculty and trainers such as AIA Continuing Education System, exchange of publications, joint research projects, conferences, seminars, training, and cultural programs.

Based in Washington, D.C., the AIA has been the leading professional membership association for more than 83,000 licensed architects, emerging professionals, and allied partners since 1857.

 

ARE to be offered in Abu Dhabi!

Architect Registration Examination (ARE) to Expand International Delivery

3 May 2013

Washington, DC—ARE® candidates will soon have the option of sitting for the exam in major commercial markets outside of the United States and Canada. The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) is finalizing negotiations to make the exam available through Prometric test centers located in London, England; Hong Kong, People’s Republic of China (PRC); and Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates beginning in early fall 2013. The seven-division, computer-based examination is required by all 54 U.S. jurisdictions for architectural licensure and is currently administered in over 350 Prometric test centers across the United States and Canada.

“We’re thrilled to offer candidates more flexibility and convenience in where they can sit for the ARE,” said NCARB CEO Michael J. Armstrong. “The technology and proper security measures are now in place for the Council to be able to offer the exam outside of North America and meet the needs of the growing number of U.S. interns employed abroad.”

In keeping with current exam eligibility requirements, candidates must be approved by one of the 54 U.S. Boards to be made eligible to sit for the examination. The per-division fee to take the exam at international test centers outside North America is $310. Eligible candidates with an NCARB Record can begin scheduling appointments at international test centers in early fall, following the Council’s launch of the new My Examination service in late August 2013.

Additional details about international delivery of the ARE will be shared in the coming months. Learn more about the ARE by visiting NCARB.org.

Border Crossings

By Kim A. O'Connell for AIArchitect

For the last half-decade, construction cranes have been as ubiquitous in the United Arab Emirates as the shrubby desert grass. Western architects have answered the call of the region’s prosperity—names like Gehry and Guggenheim arriving in places like Doha and Abu Dhabi.

But even in the shadow of skyscrapers, the Middle East construction industry is sensitive to political and economic forces. In just the past four years, a global recession and the Arab Spring have brought waves of violence and unrest to the region, making other markets, such as China, appear stable by comparison. As a result, many U.S. architects working in the Middle East closed their office doors and left for good.

Despite the tumult, in just two years of existence the AIA’s Middle East chapter has become the second-largest of the AIA’s five international chapters—evidence of the region’s continuing importance. Significant opportunities exist in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, and there is plenty of work to be had, according to Thierry Paret, AIA, past president and founder of AIA Middle East and director/treasurer of AIA’s new International Region.Established in late 2012, AIA’s International Region (the AIA’s 19th region) encompasses all areas of the globe outside the United States. The region is designed to provide more structure and resources for architects working abroad, helping them navigate the sometimes contentious issues surrounding contracting, payment, scope of services, and cultural exchange that arise in international practice.

The AIA offers programs and events, and works to strengthen ties with architects in the host countries. Competence and a high ethical standard keep American architects competitive abroad, as does their leadership in certain development types such as research facilities, large-scale retail, universities, laboratories, hospitals, hotels, resorts, and airports.The Institute is also working with the U.S. Department of Commerce to promote trade missions that will bring professional design services to new markets in China and the Middle East, which remain strong sectors. Design and construction industry experts are also looking toward Brazil, which is rich in resources and has shown rapid growth in the past decade.

In the Middle East, however counterintuitive it may seem given its profound political and cultural divisions, Arab clients frequently seek out American firms for their design expertise and renowned professionalism, Paret says. “They want American architects on the ground,” he adds. “There’s a huge amount of respect here for American architects.”

Throughout Asia and Europe, and in developing countries as well, this feeling is echoed. Whereas earlier periods of professionalization saw American architects being trained abroad and bringing that expertise home (or foreign-born architects like Walter Gropius and Marcel Breuer teaching at American universities), current trends see more and more American-trained architects exporting their skills. Currently, about 2,400 AIA members live and work outside the United States, and many more work offshore on a temporary or commuter basis.

The benefits of international practice are manifold. Architects working abroad might find an even greater competitive advantage overseas than they would competing against their peers for domestic projects, and they have access to the brightest talents emerging from globally recognized universities. International markets can also serve as a hedge against domestic downturns (although this is far from foolproof). And sometimes foreign markets such as China, whose square mileage is roughly equivalent to that of the United States, are able to fast-track major projects that would be bogged down in bureaucracy here.

The work is not without risk, however. Among the issues that big firms address is nonpayment.And, without a doubt, there is physical danger in working in countries besieged by war and terrorism. Developing countries pose security risks for anyone who spends time there and architects are not exceptions.

Architects seeking work overseas also need to remember that, within each region, nations differ widely on every level. “One of the things we’ve come to understand from being over here is just how pluralistic this region is,” says Andrew Caruso, AIA, who is leading Asia talent strategy efforts for Gensler out of its Shanghai office, with a special focus on China, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand, and India. “Each country is different in terms of economic market, business systems, and educational systems. If you look at Tokyo and Bangalore, there are significant differences in our clients’ needs and interpersonal cultures, and these differences require thoughtful and strategic consideration.” The AIA’s historic capacity for exchanging ideas, developing best practices, and building a vibrant design community could bring value to the region, Caruso says.

Elizabeth Golden, an assistant professor of architecture at the University of Washington who has practiced in New York and Berlin, went overseas during the recession of the early 1990s. “Friends of mine had told me that Berlin was booming after the fall of the Berlin Wall, and that it was easy to get a job there, even as a foreigner,” she recalls.“There was this huge panorama of a [Berlin] construction site [in The New York Times] that really impressed me. It was then that I decided to make the move.” She joined the design team of Renzo Piano, Hon. FAIA, and Christoph Kohlbecker working on Potsdamer Platz, the public square in Berlin that was then the largest construction project in Europe.

She admits that, if she had it to do over again, she would take advantage of the connections and opportunities offered by the AIA Continental Europe chapter. “I felt very disconnected from practice in the U.S. while I was working in Germany,” she says. “I think it would have been a great way to stay in touch with other professionals like myself who were working abroad.”

Despite the risks, architects working abroad have much to gain and much to give. The world’s largest and most successful firms are multinational in the scope of their work, and their gains abroad will continue to encourage all large firms based in the U.S. to consider options outside of the local markets that they have historically pursued. After all, economic capital knows few, if any, boundaries, and work for architects tends to follow it. —Kim A. O’Connell

Learn more at aiainternational.org.

http://www.architectmagazine.com/architects/border-crossings.aspx

I Am AIA

You are Invited!

 

The School of Architecture, Art and Design,

Cordially invites you to attend the Signing of  

Memorandum of Understanding between

AUD and American Institute of Architects – Middle East Chapter  

Monday, April 15, 2013 at 6:00 pm  

The Glass Box 

For further information, please contact:

Ms. Rania Allam

Executive Assistant, School of Architecture, Art and Design

rallam@aud.edu

Sunday, 17 March CEU Event

Specifying Metal Railing Systems

Presented by:Ron Crebo , BSc,

 VP Sales and Marketing of Hollaender Mfg

Please join us for this AIA accredited presentation, which counts for CEU as well as HSW learning continuing education units.

Ron Crebo, VP Sales and Marketing of Hollaender Mfg, a Cincinnati based firm, will give this presentation. Ron has a B SC in Civil Engineering from the University of Alberta ( Edmonton, Canada) and an MBA from University of Cincinnati.

Metal railing systems, at least in the US, are largely provided by local metal fabricators. With the advent of "delegated design", architects are increasingly looking to manufacturers with the engineering experience to provide railing systems that meet all codes, and provide the entire system including anchors and anchor design.

When one considers that current IBC code calls for railing that will meet a structural load of 50 lb per linear foot ( to simulate a group of people crowding against a railing that may be 20 stories in the air), it becomes apparent that proper engineering is as important as the aesthetic of the railing.

In the Gulf area, as in the southern coastal areas of the US ( Florida, Gulf of Mexico, etc) another key criteria is corrosion resistance.

Hollaender's Speed Rail ® component railing systems have been specified for many years by the US Army Corps of Engineers for all locks and dams in the US, and were used extensively by NASA at the shuttle launch facility in Cape Canaveral. Another major industrial served market is the water and waste water treatment industry.The intense engineering required by these entities has helped Hollaender move into the architectural (decorative) railing market.

Subject matter will include comparisons of the major metals used in railing systems, coatings and finishes , IBC codes including changes from 2006 to 2009, anchoring, and infill panel systems.

Where: PF Emirates, Poltrona Frau Showroom, Al Sahel Towers Tower A, Corniche Road, Al Khalidiya, Abu Dhabi

When: Sunday, 17 March 2013 7:00pm

RSVP: events@aiamiddleeast.org

AIAS Opens New Chapter at American University in Dubai

On February 20th 2013 the AIAS opened its second chapter in the UAE at the American University in Dubai's Department of Architecture.

Matthew A. Barstow President of the American Institute of Architect Student, Dr. Nabyl Chenaf Dean of the School of Architecture, Art and Design, Dr. Georges Kachaamy, AIA International Assoc., AIA Middle East Director of Continuing Education, and a Professor at AUD's Department of Architecture and Thierry Paret, AIA Director of the AIA International Region and Past President of the AIA Middle East attended the wonderful occasion held in AUD’s campus located in Dubai. President Barstow presented the official charter to Dr. Chenaf and senior members of the university’s faculty.

President Matthew A. Barstow addressed the students explaining the history, purpose and benefits of being a member of the AIAS. The student’s show of enthusiasm is a precursor to what we expect will be a very active and successful chapter.

The new chapter will provide a forum to develop the architectural leaders of tomorrow providing an avenue to having greater cultural exchanges and communication with their AIAS counterparts in the USA and the region. The AIA Middle East Chapter is proud to assist AIAS and AUD in making this association possible. Thierry Paret commented that the AIA hopes that upon graduation AIAS student members will make the natural transition to the AIA and remain involved in this great architectural discourse. He further noted that the practice of architecture has truly changed; this is an example of how borders have been blurred through global practice and greater collaboration between architects from different countries and backgrounds.

Inaugural members signed the first newly designed charter and potential chapter officers posed for a picture with President Barstow, Georges Kachaamy, Alex Albani and Thierry Paret.

26 February Masdar Lecture

“The Role of the Client in Sustainable Development" 

 

Presented by:Chris Chi Lon Wan, BSc, BArch, RIBA, HKIA
Manager, City Design - Masdar City

‘It is often recognized that the start of the building design process is signified by the execution of the design contract, followed by the design kick-off meeting. Everyone is introduced to each other and the protocols for the design process are communicated, thereby setting the ground rules. The client gives the use of the project, sometimes provides a budget and asks the design team to come back with a concept for approval. This has often sufficed for traditional developments but is not appropriate for the successful design of sustainable developments. Given the growing environmental awareness surrounding us, the transformation from traditional developments to sustainable developments has begun in earnest. This presentation is a discussion about the role of Masdar City as a client facilitating this transformation.’

Where: Masdar Institute Auditorium located in the Podium Floor of the Knowledge Center, Masdar Institute, Masdar Ciy, Abu Dhabi

When: 26 February 2013 7:00pm

RSVP: events@aiamiddleeast.org

NOTE: The capacity of the venue for this free event is 40 people. Only people who RSVP ahead of time will be able to attend!!! Preference will be given to members of AIA Middle East, Join Now!

Click here for a map to Masdar City

Click here for a map to Masdar's Sustainable Administrative Facilities (SAF)

Access to the Auditorium from the parking (Northern Car Park and Visitor's Car Park) is via shuttle bus or PRT

February 6-7: Advanced Building Materials Middle East 2013

Please join AIA Middle East on February 6 and 7 at the Armani Hotel, Burj Khalifa in Dubai for what is sure to be a memorable event!!

Advanced Building Materials Middle East 2013 combines lectures about architectural finishing materials with reports by leading architects and engineers, it also offers the field trip "Inside Burj Khalifa". Presentations in the comprehensive programme are dealing with standardization, harmonization of specifications and construction efficiency with the goal to create ecological and sustainable buildings throughout the Middle East. The Technical Committee of Advanced Building Materials Middle East 2013 consists of Prof. Dr. Mufid Samarai, Sharjah Research Academy (Chairman), Eng. Hawa Abdullah Bastaki, Eng. Ali Elian, Dr. Prakasan Vengavila Chellappan (all DCL) and Mohammed Sanaobar, Technical Chairman of MEDMA.

Please click on the image below to download the full programme.

AIA Members get a 50% discount!!

DesignMena: AIA Middle East News!

Sherif Anis becomes president of AIA Middle East

Sherif Anis has been appointed president of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Middle East chapter, taking over from Thierry Paret.

Anis has been on the AIA Middle East board since its inception in 2010, and currently works for Gulf Related as design manager.

Speaking to Middle East Architect, he commented: “It is my goal to continue the good work we have done and use AIA’s global reach and influence.

“In our region there are hundreds of foreign architects who have graduated with US architecture degrees, many right here in the UAE from the only internationally US accredited architecture program at AUS, with others soon to follow.”

With a total of 22 years’ experience in the USA, London and the GCC, Anis relocated to Abu Dhabi from Boston in 2008 and is actively involved in projects in both Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia.

He received a Bachelor of Architecture from Syracuse University School of Architecture and is a member of the Boston Society of Architects and a registered architect in the State of Massachusetts.

Working to foster stronger ties between the AIA, regional architects and governments in the MENA region, Anis and the board seek to foster an understanding of the differences in professional practices between the US and the Middle East.

In addition the AIA will promote US training and design approaches; facilitate international recognition of US professional architectural credentials; and foster communications between AIA and its members who work and reside in the Middle East.

Anis added: “Here in the Middle East there are US firms who employ foreign national architects as well as regional firms who employ US registered architects and then there are even more US registered foreign architects. AIA Middle East will continue to make the most of these offshore relationships and global ties to our values, ethics and methods; we collectively benefit by this.”

Anis revealed that the AIA will look to intensify its export campaigns. He continued: “Member firms based in the US continue to become more active in our region and AIA Middle East can help propel them into this competitive environment.

“Much like the MENA region, ours is an increasingly diverse profession, in terms of ethnicity, language and cultural background and we look to foster an understanding of this richness and continue to apply our skills and knowledge in this dynamic regional market.”

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Outgoing 2010-2012 President's Message

Greetings! On behalf of AIA Middle East we want to wish you a very happy, healthy and prosperous New Year. We also wish to thank you for your support this past year as we have seen our chapter grow to be the second largest of the five international chapters! With every end is a new beginning and we want to bring you up to date with some exciting changes in 2013.

In 2013 we look to bring you mo...re of the same interesting and professionally enticing opportunities that make being a member of AIA Middle East so rewarding. Soon we will announce a new events schedule so you can book your calendars ahead of time. 2013 also brings with it a new Board of Directors who look to continue to serve your interests with the same passion as the founding Board.

We wish to take this opportunity to thank outgoing President Thierry Paret and wish him good luck as he continues to serve the AIA with even greater zeal at an International level. Please join us in thanking Thierry, whose outgoing President's message is below.

On behalf of the 2013 AIA Middle East Board, we wish you all a successful 2013 as we all continue to strive to bring about positive change through the power of design!

Sherif Anis, AIA
2013 AIA Middle East President

Dear Colleagues:
As we come to the end of 2012 and my second term as AIA Middle East president, I'd like to take this opportunity to share with you some of the major accomplishments of what we have done together over the past two years since the inception or our chapter.

The journey started in December 2009 when I received a communication from Tom Vonier, FAIA - (International AIA Director) and Marc DiDomenico, AIA - (2009 Continental Europe president) proposing that a small group of AIA architects based in the Middle East consider developing a new chapter in the Middle East. This initial group which included Steven Miller, FAIA, Sherif Anis, AIA, Loay Quota, AIA, and Hisham Youssef, AIA made the wholehearted commitment to work towards the objective of creating a chapter that would stretch from north-west Africa to the southern tip of the Arabian Peninsula. Many By-Law drafts and meetings later we received the approval from the AIA National Board for the formation of AIA Middle East Chapter, the AIA's fifth international chapter. In the fall of 2010 we officially received our chapter's charter from AIA President George Miller, FAIA during an intimate dinner in Dubai.

During the following year we forged important and enduring relationships with both the leadership and administrative staff at AIA National in Washington DC. I cannot say enough good things about everyone I've met and worked with on both AIA Middle East and other AIA endeavors, their commitment and dedication to our organization's continued success at home in the USA and overseas is unparalleled. I must make a special mention to Tom Vonier whom without his unwavering support our chapter would not have come to fruition - he has tirelessly worked for the cause of the international chapters. I also had the great pleasure of meeting Robert Ivy the AIA's Chief Executive, Jay Stephens the AIA's Chief Legal Counsel, 2011 AIA President Clark Manus and Cedric Rush the AIA National Membership Director.

Our Chapter's growth has been meteoric going from a handful of members in 2010 to approximately 273by the end of 2012 making the AIA ME the second largest of the five International Chapters. This is largely due to our considerable efforts spent in providing continuing education lectures (CES), organizing conferences, supporting event partners, holding social events, outreach to local schools of architecture, public speaking engagements and continuous involvement with regional media.

We also worked hard to secure sponsors over the last two years and were fortunate to have found some truly great ones. I would also like to take this opportunity to personally thank the sponsors that have supported the chapter, namely: Intraco, Herman- Miller, Lundhs, Dornbracht, Otis, Foamglass and Hubbel Lighting without whom we would have been unable to service our members and would have been forced to have much higher membership fees. When appropriate, please make sure that you think of them when you are selecting products and materials for your projects.

In May of 2011I attended the AIA National Convention in New Orleans with Steven Miller where the AIA Middle East Chapter was first formally recognized with voting rights and had the opportunity to meet with International Director Tom Vonier, Presidents from the other International Chapters (AIA United Kingdom, AIA Continental Europe, AIA Hong Kong and AIA Japan), and AIA National leaders during the AIA International Committee Advisory Group meeting. I also had the great honor of making a presentation to a wider audience highlighting various aspects of our chapter which included our recent accomplishments, demographics and future plans.

I returned to the AIA National Convention in May 2012 held in Washington DC where I once more met with the AIA International Committee Advisory Group to the various issues facing the international chapters. I also attended other workshops and meetings with the two committees that I belong to, the AIA Board Community Committee and the AIA Membership Committee. These committees are made up of small groups appointed by the AIA President and are tasked to look at various aspects of the organization's overall operations and future direction. The AIA Membership Committee Chaired by Derek Webb with a diverse cross section of members, AIA National Staff and the organization's leadership including Helene Combs-Dreiling the 2013 Vice President-Elect and 2014 AIA President. During this same convention we supported Tom Vonier's campaign for Vice President and Helene Dreiling's campaign for First Vice President. It was a bitter sweet end result with the success of only one of our two candidates.

In October 2012 I traveled back to Washington DC for our second face to face workshop with the Membership Committee to continue our work focusing on the repositioning of the institute and membership growth for in the years to come. Our work from this session was fruitful and allowed us to provide recommendations to the AIA Board as to which proposed initiatives required further focus in terms of AIA resources. I will continue to work with the Membership Committee in 2013 to help finalize this very important work.

Whilst it would be easy to rest on our laurels and feel comfort with our accomplishment, we know that we need to reinvigorate our chapter with a strong new board which encompasses a mixture of tested board members and fresh faces that I expect will take us to new heights. Our next board led by the AIA Middle East's 2013 President Sherif Anis and Vice President-Elect Loay Quota (2014 President) will be charged with taking us to the next level with more conferences, more general services, developing our presence in Qatar and other countries and increasing our membership numbers. Our 2013 Board will consist of the following persons:

Executive Committee
President - Sherif Anis, AIA
Vice President /2014 President Elect - Loay Quota, AIA, LEED AP
Secretary - Mehdi Sabet, AIA, NCARB
Treasurer - Tannar Whitney, AIA
Past President (2010-2012) - Thierry Paret, AIA, NCARB, MRIAI, LEED AP

General Board Members
Fellowship Director - Steven Miller, FAIA, RIBA
Continuing Education Director - Professor Georges Kachaamy, Associate AIA, PHD
Events Directors- Richard Wagner, Associate AIA and Denny Dellinger, AIA
Membership Director - C. Anthony Elliott, AIA, IIDA, R.I.D., NCARB
Fundraising Director - Thierry Paret, AIA, NCARB, MRIAI, LEED AP
Communication Director - Hisham Youssef, AIA
University Liaison (Ex Officio) - Michael Hughes, AIA

At the end of this year, our most exciting development is that the AIA Board of Directors voted to create the AIA International Region encompassing some 2400 members (and growing) outside the USA. This was a great accomplishment by the group who worked in earnest to make this happen, I offer my congratulations to all those who worked so hard to achieve this. 2013 President Mickey Jacob has appointed a ten-member interim board led by Tom Vonier, FAIA as president. Steven Miller, FAIA and I will both have the honor of serving on this board as Directors.

Finally, I look forward to working with the new AIA Middle East Board in various capacities - I will remain on the chapter's Executive Committee and will also take on the sponsorship responsibilities to help secure more funding. I would ask that you please support your new board and get involved in growing your chapter by contributing with whatever time you have to offer.

It has been a true honor to serve as President during the last two years and I wish all of you a happy, healthy and prosperous new year.
Best regards,

Thierry Paret, AIA, NCARB, MRIAI, LEED AP BD+C
President 2010-2012
AIA Middle East Chapter

Treasurer I Director 2013
AIA International Region

Thank you for your continued support of AIA Middle East!