CSI Mission Statement: The Construction Specifications
Institute advances the process of creating and sustaining the
built environment for the benefit of the construction community
by using the diversity of its members to exchange knowledge.
LAWRENCE SCARPA, AIA
PRINCIPAL, PUGH + SCARPA
TUESDAY, September
7, 2010
Kent State University A Joint Meeting with
AIA Akron, AIA Eastern Ohio and AIA Cleveland
Pugh
+ Scarpa is committed to producing work of exceptional rigor and
architecture that expresses the highest aesthetic, environmental
and social ideals. As a firm, they have consistently s ought new
and different design challenges and have resisted becoming excessively
specialized in any particular building type. As a result, their
innovative work ranges from designs for small objects, furniture
and public art, to large-scale educational, civic and affordable
housing buildings. They are also known for their experience in
master planning and urban design. Approaching every project with
fresh eyes, they produce design solutions that are unique and
appropriately suited to client and context.
The
work of Lawrence Scarpa has redefined the role of the architect
to produce some of the most remarkable and exploratory work today.
He does this, not by escaping the restrictions of practice, but
by looking, questioning and reworking the very process of design
and building. Each project appears as an opportunity to rethink
the way things normally get done – with material, form,
construction, even financing – and to subsequently redefine
it to cull out to latent potentials – as Lawrence aptly
describes: making the “ordinary extraordinary.” This
produces entirely inventive work; work that is quite difficult
to categorize. It is environmentally sustainable, but not ‘sustainable
design;’ it employs new materials, digital practices and
technologies, but is not ‘tech or digital;’ it is
socially and community conscious, but not politically correct.
Rather, it is deeply rooted in conditions of the everyday, and
works with our perception and preconceptions to allow us to see
things in new ways.
Over the last ten years Mr. Scarpa has received forty eight major
design awards including fifteen National AIA Awards, 2005 Record
Houses, 2003 Record Interiors, 2003 Rudy Bruner Prize,
2006 and 2003 AIA COTE “Top Ten Green Building” Award
and was a finalist for the World Habitat Award, one of ten firms
selected worldwide. In 2004 The Ar chitectural League of New York
selected him as an “Emerging Voice” in architecture.
His work was recently exhibited at the National Building Museum
in Washington, DC. He has been Featured in NEWSWEEK and appeared
on The Oprah Winfrey Show. In 2009 Interior Design Magazine honored
him with their Lifet ime Achievement Award. In 2010, he was awarded
the National and State Architecture Firm Award from the American
Institute of Architects
Location:
Kent State University
Dinner – Ballroom Balcony, 3rd floor
Program – Cartwright Auditorium*
Time:
5:00 – Social
6:00 – Dinner
7:30 – Program*
*There is a short, outdoor walk between the location of
dinner and the program. Please plan accordingly. There is
not guaranteed parking at the Cartwright Auditorium and
walking is recommended.
Cost:
Akron-Canton CSI members (including student members)
– included in 2010/2011 dues.
AIA Akron, AIA Eastern Ohio, and AIA Cleveland – refer
to your respective chapter for possible costs. Non-chapter
CSI or AIA members and guests - $50.00
1.5 AIA Learning Units or 0.15 CSI Continuing Education
Units will be issued for this seminar. This seminar is equal
to 1.5 contact hours for other organizations requiring continuing
education.
About the Chapter
In the 1960s and 1970s there
was a local CSI Chapter, known as the Warren, Akron, Canton, Youngstown
or WACY Chapter. The Chapter gradually fell apart
from lack of leadership and loss of interest and was dissolved
in the early 1970s.
A few of the former members retained CSI membership recognizing
the value and benefits even without a local support Chapter. Some
transferred to other Chapters in the region. Some were simply
unaffiliated members. One such faithful member was Larry Everhard.
In the summer of 1996, Larry was called by a member of the Columbus
Chapter who had noted the absence of a Chapter in the Northeastern
Ohio area. Some phone calls, some commitments, some meetings with
CSI members from other Chapters, and the spark for a new local
Chapter was ignited. Larry Everhard and George Wagner, also a
CSI member, gathered a core of interested persons, including this
writer. George, during the course of his work convinced a number
of persons to join our ranks. George also tracked down other unaffiliated
members by obtaining a list from The Institute.
On September 26, 1996, a meeting of 28 prospective members of
the new Chapter was inspired by a highly motivational presentation
of What is CSI by Edith Washington, a member of the
Toledo Chapter. Edith is currently president-elect of the Institute,
and was treasurer of the Great Lakes Region at that time. Her
enthusiasm for CSI in her presentation convinced a lot of attendees
to join and made clear that she was destined to go far in CSI.
Also present were Larry Raymond and Kathy Bultman, president and
vice president, respectively, of the Great Lakes Region, and Brian
Smith and Dave Proudfit, presidents of the Columbus and Cincinnati
Chapters, respectively.
At the October 1996 dinner meeting conducted by Larry Everhard,
officers were elected by verbal vote. Elected to the Board of
Directors were: President, Larry Everhard, CSI, AIA; President-elect,
Roy Crawford, CSI, CCS, CCCA; Vice-president, Jerry Iams, CSI;
Secretary, Debbie Lavanty, CSI; Treasurer, George Wagner, CSI,
CDT; Director, Professional, Bill Mikusa, CSI; Director, Industry,
Dan Sarvis, CSI; Advisory Board, Jim Jones, CSI; Assistant to
the Treasurer/Secretary, Karen Strekely (Schlechter).
By October 1996 the first Chapter newsletter was published and
mailed to members, prospective members, and construction-related
organizations. Monthly dinner meetings continued through the winter,
as did recruiting of members.
On March 27, 1997, at the monthly dinner meeting, Larry Raymond,
president of the Great Lakes Region, presented Larry Everhard
with a gavel, and a Charter for the Akron-Canton Chapter, CSI.
Forty-two charter members, most of whom werepresent, received
their charter certificates.
Since that time, the Chapter has grown to 65 members, and continues
to grow. Several rounds of new officers have been elected, and
have taken the Chapter to new levels of achievement. Our Chapter
has won several national and regional awards and is recognized
as an important part of the local construction community.
Memberships meetings are held at various times during the month.
Refer to the Monthly Chapter Meeting
page or to the current The fACts Newsletter for more information.
Board meetings are held on the first Thursday of each month at the
Panera Bread in Cuyahoga Falls/Chapel Hill, with the exception of
a Thursday holiday where the meeting is to be held the next Thursday
following the holiday. All are welcome to attend.
We encourage involvement within the Chapter. As our President, Phil
Steinberg stated in one of his Presidents Corner articles,
volunteer organizations that you belong to are only as successful
as the members want to make it, and it solely depends on the people
who volunteer to lead the charge Fortunately, the Akron-Canton
Chapter of the CSI has an outstanding group of people who have contributed
their time and HAVE made a difference! Call or email a Board
Member for more information on how you can help!