Monthly Archives: October 2014

AFN 2014 AIA Lincoln Architects’ Home Tour Update

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1408_architects-home-tour-program

The 2014 Architects’ Home Tour, sponsored by the Architectural Foundation of Nebraska and AIA Lincoln, was held Sunday, September 21, 2014.  This year’s Tour was a huge success!

Thank you to all the home owners, architects, sponsors, and volunteers, without whom the Tour could not happen.  Our Home Team planning committee worked very hard beginning in the spring to make sure the Tour would feature wonderful homes and go smoothly.  We had a lot of great publicity, including a wonderful article in the Lincoln Journal Star and interviews on local TV stations KLKN channel 8 and KOLN/KGIN channels 10/11.

It was very exciting to see crowds of people excited about architecture and these beautiful homes, and overhear comments from visitors.  My favorite comment was, “This house is a poem.”

The next scheduled tour will be held in the fall of 2016.  You can go to the 2014 Home Tour website, or view the Journal Star article (page 1) and (page 2).

Distinguished Commitment to Architecture

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In 2009, former Architectural Foundation of Nebraska (AFN) President Bryce Hastings, AIA recommended the AFN create an award to recognize individuals outside the profession of architecture for their activities and accomplishments in the areas of professional life, which have notably contributed to the advancement of architecture.

One often thinks of the client as being the one who may inspire an architect to greatness in design. However, there are others who bring unique skills and processes that can challenge, motivate and shift the paradigms to architectural significance.

The Distinguished Commitment to Architecture Award has now been conferred to three individuals since 2010 – Connie Spellman of Omaha, James P. Abel of Lincoln, and Larry Glazier of Grand Island. Three individuals with three very different abilities to improve the built environment and quality of architecture.

Connie Spellman, 2010 Distinguished Commitment to Architecture Award Recipient

Connie Spellman, 2010 Distinguished Commitment to Architecture Award Recipient

Connie Spellman (2010) – the founding director of Omaha By Design, a civic planning organization dedicated to the development, implementation and monitoring of urban design and environmental public policy in Omaha’s metro area.

Jim Abel, 2012 Distinguished Commitment to Architecture Award Recipient

Jim Abel, 2012 Distinguished Commitment to Architecture Award Recipient

Jim Abel (2012) – has used his imagination to recognize the potential of certain innovative development projects in key locations in and around Lincoln that would be visually pleasing and functionally sound. These high quality projects help make the City of Lincoln an attractive location for new families and businesses.

Larry Glazier, 2014 Distinguished Commitment to Architecture Award Recipient

Larry Glazier, 2014 Distinguished Commitment to Architecture Award Recipient

Larry Glazier (2014) –for Central Community College, Glazier’svision was a document that would guide the college in sustainable and manageable building and program growth. The effect of his vision for creating a new image for the aging campuses can easily be seen on each campus today. He encouraged the architects on every project to think beyond the apparent problem and always design for the bigger picture and long term viability.

 

These three distinguished individuals are representative of the quality and significant diversity of leaders that will continue to “push the envelope” of architectural and environmental influence in Nebraska. Looking forward, it will be exciting to see the next biennial of those who are nominees for the Distinguished Commitment to Architecture Award.

Update: Cool Spaces!

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Steven Chung, AIA, interviewing Frank Geary, FAIA.  Photo courtesy of Cool Spaces!

Steven Chung, AIA, interviewing Frank Geary, FAIA. Photo courtesy of Cool Spaces!

Earlier this spring I wrote about a PBS program called Cool Spaces!, which aims to show viewers what’s new and exciting in the world of architecture and design.  At the time there were no air dates schedule in Nebraska, but I’m pleased to share that the program is currently airing on Wednesdays at 10:00pm on NET1.

If you’re curious, you can watch the trailer here.

And, you can visit the Cool Spaces! website here.

It’s always exciting to see architecture and architects featured on television.  Tune in and check it out.