Observations from the AIA 2013 Convention

During the 2013 AIA National Convention in Denver last week, PAYETTE’s attendees (six in total) shared observations, pictures and experiences from the conference. From the local architecture to the vendors on the showroom floor to George Marsh receiving his FAIA honors, there was more to see and do than we could ever capture, but here’s a selection of the highlights.
George E. Marsh Elevated to the College of Fellows of the AIA
Four of PAYETTE’s Principals have been elevated to the AIA College of Fellows during their careers and George Marsh joined the ranks most recently at the 2013 AIA National Convention.

George has explored architecture in diverse and complex building typologies, historically significant settings and created humanist, contemporary environments. He has led planning of healthcare and research building typologies, creating new campus places for people. Congratulations, George!

(1) PAYETTE Fellows left to right:
Tom Payette, Jim Collins Jr., George Marsh, Sho-Ping Chin, Kevin Sullivan
(2) PAYETTE Fellows at the formal dinner for the College of Fellows, left to right:
Sho-Ping Chin, Kevin Sullivan, Tom Payette, Jim Collins Jr., George Marsh
(3) Jim and George at the convention after George received his medal

George Marsh receives his medal

Observations from the Convention

The big blue bear welcoming us to the Colorado Convention Center.

Lots of programs about the repositioning the AIA. I’m most interested in an emerging professional’s summit that is being planning for this fall.

June Board Meeting passed an amendment to the AIA Gold Medal requirements. The amendment will take effect January 1, 2014. The award can be awarded to either an individual or a collaborative duo.

At the June Board Meeting, Heather Taylor was recognized as a member of the membership service resource task force who made a progress report on how to improve the value of the AIA to its members.

Checked out the new Dyson faucet/hand dryer that we learned about in the office a few weeks ago. It works well!

AIA posted “Foresight Report” online. Available to AIA members; the report maps currents trends in profession.

Nice looking shower chair from Pressalit‘s like of fully adjustable plumbing and bathroom fixtures.

AIA is launching web TV program, Cool Spaces, hosted by Stephen Cheung, to better acquaint general public with what architects do. Fun fact: our office appears in some of the transitions. Check out the sizzle reel.

Learned about the Menil Gallery which won the 25 year award this year. It was the first project where RPBW implemented mock ups of the gallery. This is a practice they have continued with every subsequent project.

Observations around Denver


Just landed at DIA amid tornado warnings. Who knew the restrooms at the airport are designed as tornado shelters? The original fabric roof of the main terminal was designed by Fentress Bradburn and was designed to expand by extruding the form. The new pods are typical airport architecture, but made me appreciate original ideas even more.

Leaving the convention, Denver Airport’s tensile structure provides a striking silhouette.

Open site of parking very close to center of city. A sight like this always makes me appreciate the physical diversity of Boston. This makes me appreciate the street continuity a bit more.

Our firm has done lots of work on east coast colleges and universities where Charles Klauder did work: Cornell, University of Pennsylvania, University of Pittsburg, Princeton and Penn State. Walking around the campus of University of Colorado, Boulder, I can feel some of his same ideas here even though they are formed at “Colorado Tuscan.” Here are shots of one of his really nice University of Colorado buildings, Sewall Hall.

The National Center for Atmospheric Research, NCAR Mesa Lab in Boulder was designed by I.M. Pei in the 1960’s. I f you work with Atmospheric Scientists like we do, they have a very special feeling about this place. The complex is now old for a lab and struggling to keep up with changing program demands, but when I stand in the Courtyard it feels a bit like the Salk — the architecture and nature and something more coming together — it feels like holy ground.

Finding more interesting architecture in Denver; the Denver Art Museum.

Checking out more of Denver during lunch. Really cool gallery at the Denver performing arts center!

Here’s something that looks a bit more quiet and crafted; the Clyfford Still Museum.

The lights over Larimer Street remind me of ideas we’ve explored for various projects seeking to create human scale and identity at street level.

Beautiful view from the top of the clock tower at the Architecture of Humanity welcome party. Their founder, Cameron Sinclair was a keynote speaker on Friday.

“The most sustainable building in the world is the one that is loved.” – Cameron Sinclair

Contributors: Sho-Ping Chin, Jim Collins Jr., Alison Duncan, Kevin Sullivan