the Archi

40 Pages·2011·3.76 MB·English

leadership professionalism service fraternalism in architecture & the allied arts
the Archi
of Alpha Rho Chi
November 2011
s
4 18

m Escaping the Vacuum From Cattle to Coinage (and
s
Promoting Collaboration in the Beyond)
i
l
ta Built Environment The Evolution of Our Financial Sys-
n
Named for the wedge- tem and the Buildings That House It
r
e shaped element used Banking has seen its share
t
a in the construction of of ups and downs over
r
an arch, the Alpha Rho the centuries, and the
hf
Chi Voussoirs Award acknowledges past forty years have wit-
projects that result from exceptional nessed dramatic changes in the indus-
collaboration between design consul- try. Yet despite the current economic
tants, builders, and the general public. crisis, there’s reason to believe our
“Thoughtful” and “edgy,” the inaugu- country’s financial system will emerge
ge
c ral winner is a mixed-use development “stronger and wiser.”
i
2 v known as CODO 241. Homer L. Williams
r
In This Issue Aaron Feldman
e
s 22
8
Brothers Marrying Brothers
i
Bridging the Active-Alumni Gap The Couples of Alpha Rho Chi
The Anthemios Alumni Given that Alpha Rho Chi
Association has launched is a large group of coed,

lm an Alumni-Active Mentor like-minded individuals,
s
Program to create more it’s not too surprising that
i
l
a meaningful active-alumni relationships. many brothers have married “broth-
n
Marybeth Radzienda ers.” Just how many of us are there?
o
hi Danielle Swanson
s 11
s
e 26
f Preserving America’s Best Idea
o
The National Park Servic- Milestones in Our History
r
p es’ Historic Preservation The Founding of Arcus Society
g Training Center (HPTC One hundred years ago,
for short) is charged with fifteen young men at the
preserving and maintaining the historic University of Illinois
structures found in America’s national determined “to unite in a

p parks—and is a great way to get some common bond of devotion to the
i
ih hands-on experience in preservation. arts… particularly that of architecture,
s
Thomas A. Vitanza to which they had dedicated their
r
e lives.” Their society would later
d
a become the Anthemios Chapter of
H
e
Alpha Rho Chi.
l
The Archi
November 2011
This fall seems to be a time of new beginnings for me. At the time
of this writing, I’ve just started another new semester teaching, with
28

a fresh crop of faces in every class. My husband and I have another
Alpha Rho Chi through the Years new house under construction. My ancient car just died and I’ve
The ’80s had to buy a new one. My five-year-old daughter is embarking
on her own academic career and all the requisite extracurricu-
For the typical student in
lars. And on top of all that I’m contemplating yet another career
architecture or the allied
change.
arts, the 1980s were a
So when Rick Jenkins, Worthy Grand Scribe, asked what I thought
different world. In this about giving the Archi a little facelift, it only seemed in keeping with
issue, some of our ’80s-era alums the trend. Why not? Change can be fun, stimulating, exciting…
It can also be disorienting, even overwhelming. Many of the
share their memories.
changes in my personal life right now are positive ones, made
entirely by choice. Others… not so much. And I know I’m not alone.
28

So many people I know are struggling to adapt to new circum-
Anthemios 1981–1984: stances, professional, financial, or relational. So how do we adjust?
Tales of Misadventure One of the things I love about Alpha Rho Chi is that so many of
its members are so adept at looking both backward and forward.
J. Scott MacKay
We love learning about the enterprising young men who first con-
3
ceived of this organization nearly 100 years ago. We listen avidly
33
to older alums as they regale us with tales of “the good old days.” In This Issue
Metagenes circa 1982: And we revel in our own memories of student life and treasure the
Life at 105 Lucas Drive friendships we made.
But the people I know in Alpha Rho Chi—both personally and
Phil Buckberg
through my contacts as editor of the Archi—are far from stuck in
the past. This is very much a forward-looking group of individu-
35
als, always striving to do things better, to make a difference in our
Demetrios 1983: communities, our professions, and our brotherhood. Whether it’s
providing a framework to encourage and reward professional
Joining the Big Leagues at OSU
collaboration, such as the Voussoirs Award, or establishing a men-
Eric Lipschutz
tor program to improve the flow of ideas between students and
alumni, the brothers of Alpha Rho Chi always seem ready to test
36
out new ideas, looking to the future and trying to figure out better
Anthemios 1985: ways to do things.
It’s that spirit, that energy, that have allowed this fraternity to
Stoked for Fun
thrive and endure through so many generations. It’s that spirit I’ll
Kendall Kirkpatrick
try to keep in mind as I face the challenges and changes in my own
life.
37
As I do, however, I’m afraid I need to give up one task I’ve truly
Apollodurus, late ’80s: enjoyed: editing the Archi. Saddened as I am to relinquish a position
that has brought me into contact with so many wonderful people,
The Dark Ages of Technology
I now need to focus my energies elsewhere—and to let someone
Dan Kirby
new test out his or her ideas here. If you’re ready to embrace the
challenge—as editor or in a supporting role—please contact Rick
Jenkins, [email protected]. And I’ll look forward to following,
as a reader, the continued evolution of our little magazine.
The archi of alpha rho chi
issN 1543-2025, November 2011 Fidelitas, Amor et Artes.
editor: Anthemios alum Karen L. Marker, KLM words, inc. Karen L. Marker
Typography and layout: Luke Adamis [www.cranac.com]
cover photo: Rick Jenkins Archi Editor
printing and mail prep: The Premier Print Group.
The Archi is published by Alpha Rho Chi, P.O. Box 4671,
Olathe, KS 66062.
Copyright © 2011 Alpha Rho Chi. All rights reserved.
The Archi
November 2011
Escaping the Vacuum
Promoting Collaboration in the Built Environment
by Aaron Feldman, Vitruvius Alumnus
(Pennsylvania State University, State College)
“I don’t understand why the base of your model is so big,” tion projects in which each consultant designs in
remarked the juror. “Your building takes up such a small amount a vacuum with little understanding or discussion
of it.” of the other components of a building, plan, or
“I wanted to show enough of the site to give my building some product.
context,” Eric explained. Just two years after Eric’s and my first attempts
“But why? You’re only being graded on the design of your at cross-disciplinary educational collaboration,
building.” Rebecca Slenker was a fourth-year architecture
At the time—2002—Eric was a third-year architecture student student at Penn State, taking one of the universi-
and a fraternity brother of mine. I’d helped him create his site ty’s first studio courses that included both archi-
4
model base, complete with scaled contours carved out of chip tecture and landscape architecture students.
Escaping
board and architectonic trees made from twisted steel wires. “The studio class was taught by landscape archi-
the
Vacuum Given that part of the assignment was to choose an appropriate tecture professors and the project was given to
site for a small artist’s residence on a large, sloping property, Eric both the fourth-year architecture students and
had decided to enlist the help of a landscape architecture student fifth-year landscape architecture students. The
in siting his building and creating a model to justify his decision. intention for this semester-long project was to
Since I was a fourth-year landscape architecture student—and collaborate on an urban design study... How-
since my room in the fraternity house was right next to his—I ever, after initial site survey work and presenta-
became Eric’s very first consultant. tions, all group activity ceased and everyone
Eric took me out to the site, where I explained Ian McHarg’s proceeded with his or her own project.” While
theories of analyzing a site by creating overlays that describe the cross-disciplinary studios like this one are cer-
many different environmental, technical, and social aspects used tainly a step in the right direction—away from the
to inform design interventions. From there, we went back to the vacuum—we are still just scraping at the surface
studio to build a site, one chip board contour at a time. of true collaborative design.
A few days after his critique, I went to visit Eric in his studio and After graduating with her degree in architec-
was shocked to learn that he was the only one who had attempted ture, Slenker, also a member of Alpha Rho Chi,
to create a contour model in order to understand just how steep went on to work for Murphy & Dittenhafer, a
the site was. The models of his classmates, spread out all over the small yet versatile architecture firm with offices
studio in various levels of completion, ranged from buildings rest- in Baltimore, Maryland, and York, Pennsylva-
ing on a completely flat plane to something sticking out of the side nia. “M&D prides themselves on their broad
of a cliff, reminiscent of an Anasazi cave dwelling. Eric, obviously spectrum of project types,” she says of her
dejected, described the scolding he’d received for allowing him- employer. “Because we do design for anything
self to be constrained by the physical limitations of the site and from the renovation of a small, historic mill, to
told me he was going to scrap the whole thing and start over. the programming and design for a new university
Academics will argue that a student’s time in college is his or student center, we can’t possibly be experts on
her last opportunity to fully explore the extents of the imagination everything. We rely on the expertise of our con-
before the constraints of a career drag him or her back to reality. sultants.” It was this very philosophy that would
But when we approach education in this way, are we preventing earn Slenker, her firm, and one of their recent
students from different disciplines from working together to push projects—known as CODO 241—the inaugural
the boundaries of imagination even further? Today’s world of Alpha Rho Chi Voussoirs Award.
architecture and its allied arts is mired with design and construc- The Alpha Rho Chi Voussoirs Award was
The Archi
November 2011
created as a statement against h. Just as each voussoir is necessary
ric for an arch to stand, each member
designing in a vacuum. Named ea of a collaborative effort should
R
r be equally instrumental.
for the wedge-shaped element e
nif
used in the construction of en
of J
an arch, the Voussoirs Award y
s
e
acknowledges those completed rt
u
o
projects (built and unbuilt) o c
t
o
whose product was the result h
P
of exceptional collaboration
between design consultants,
builders, and the general public.
Just as each voussoir is neces-
sary for an arch to stand, each
member of a collaborative effort
should be equally instrumental.
Named after the Codorus Creek, which runs through down- of Pennsylvania (“CODO 241 is a transforma-
town York, Pennsylvania, CODO 241 is a 69,500-square-foot tive and catalytic project that demonstrates the
5
mixed use development that combines the adaptive reuse of an potential for Pennsylvania’s small cities”) as well
Escaping
early 20th century auto parts store with a cutting-edge three- as historic preservation groups (CODO 241 won
the
story steel-and-glass addition. “The CODO 241 project was born the 2010 Preservation PA Commercial/Industrial Vacuum
from a truly collaborative process,” Murphy & Dittenhafer states Construction Project Award).
in their award submission narrative. “Team members worked “This project was one of the first I had per-
together to select the site, architectural staff completing sche- sonally been involved with from programming
matic design, construction staff completing cost estimate review, through completed construction,” admits Slen-
and property management staff developing probable return on ker. “Having worked closely with engineers, con-
investment... Finally, the team called upon local artisans to design tractors, subcontractors, and tradesmen, I was
specific pieces such as metal apartment identification numbers, able to use this project as a learning experience.”
stairway railings, and copper cladding, making CODO a uniquely Although many of us—Eric and myself includ-
community-driven product.” ed—had to wait until we entered the working
The concept of early-and-often collaboration has paid off in world to truly understand the concept and bene-
more ways than anyone could imagine. “The idea of bringing the fits of collaboration, it is a concept that is slowly
subcontractors on board in the design process brought a lot of becoming more commonplace. Instead of giving
things to light that might not have been seen until during con- up after one lukewarm attempt at a collabora-
struction. Certain problems were avoided and innovative thinking tive studio, Penn State created the Stuckeman
paved the way for design ideas that aren’t considered the norm.” School of Architecture and Landscape Architec-
In addition to the time and money saved during construction, ture in order to bring students of the two majors
Murphy & Dittenhafer was able to forge lasting relationships with closer in their studies. Alpha Rho Chi continues
several of the consultants and subcontractors. A recently com- to expand its membership, perpetuating the dia-
pleted second CODO project involved many of the same players logue between planners, designers, artisans, and
as the original one, and team members have called on each other builders through programs such as the Voussoirs
for subsequent projects outside of the CODO development. Award. Rebecca Slenker and Murphy & Ditten-
The project itself has garnered awards and commendations hafer continue to build on the success of their
from several corners of the industry. One Voussoirs Award judge CODO 241 project with increasingly complex
called the project “an edgy, thoughtful, contextual, well-crafted and beautiful work. And although Eric and I have
complex that merits award.” Another said, “The overall design is yet to work on another project together, we both
striking. Specifically the poetic use of materials blended with the continue to learn as much as we can, trying our
old and new.” In addition to the Voussoirs Award, the project has hardest to escape the vacuum.
won praise from smart-growth advocates such as 10,000 Friends
The Archi
November 2011
The Project
CODO 241
241 North George Street
York, Pennsylvania
Completed
2009
Size
70,000 Square Feet
Capacity
35 rental apartments,
ground-floor retail
Cost to construct
$12 million
The Team
6
Client
hhh Codo LP
Architect
Murphy & Dittenhafer
Architects, Inc.
Structural Engineer
Baker Ingram & Associates
Mechanical, Electrical &
Plumbing Engineer
Moore Engineering Company
Civil Engineer
RGS Associates, Inc.
General Contractor
Wagman Construction, Inc.
Property Manager
Sherman Property
Management, Inc.
Community
The residents of
York, Pennsylvania
TThhee AArrcchhii
NOocvteombbeerr 2 2001111
7
Escaping
the
Vacuum
The Archi
November 2011
Bridging the
Active-Alumni Gap
by Marybeth Radzienda, Anthemios Alumna
(University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)
Do you remember when you culture very different from that obligations. How do we get more
were an active, and it was so excit- which we grew up in and from gen- alumni and actives involved? How
ing when an event was coming up erations before. The dawn of new do we get more alumni and actives
at which you knew alumni would be technology has brought extreme to bond? What about a mentor
present? Alumni brothers were so advances in means of communica- program pairing up alumni and
8
cool. They were always fun, had the tion with email, smart phones, and active brothers? Would that work?
Bridging
best stories of their days as actives Facebook. Having said that, it is Everyone can use a mentor. There
the Active-Alumni
Gap in the house, and had great advice. is only benefit from it no matter
We learned so much from them— what career path one is pursuing.
not only about what to expect and Maybe, if we have mentor-mentee
get through in school, but also relationships established more
about our future careers and life. brothers would participate in events
They were mentors to us. like Homecoming and Founders’
This year the Anthemios Alumni Day. These events would provide
Association launched an Alumni- an excellent opportunity to meet
Active Mentor Program. This up in person.
long talked-about idea was finally “This is an excellent opportunity What is the
brought to fruition with the help to be able to provide, from a purpose of a
distance, something like what I
of Doug Milburn and myself. Over got from all of the alumni that mentor? When
the last few years, many alumni were around the house when I was I asked Alumni
an undergraduate,” says Mark
brothers have been discussing the Ethun. “It serves an energizing Brother Mark
state of the active-alumni relation- ironic that com- and nostalgic purpose for me.” Ethun to com-
ship. The fueling fire for developing munications ment on his
this program was to create more between actives and alumni are less experience as a mentor thus far, he
active-alumni relationships based than what they once were. said something that hit the nail on
on active and alumni expressions of Actives have brought up the the head:
interest. fact that they wish they saw more I believe the mentor/mentee
The enthusiasm for and existence alumni more often. Alumni state relationship is essential to an archi-
of the treasured active-alumni rela- that they wish they knew what was tectural education. It goes back to
tionships seems to have dwindled going on with the “kids” and the the very earliest forms of training to
over the years. As we grow older house. However, the numbers for be an architect, where the appren-
and class after class of young alumni participating in Anthemios tice shadows the master. In many
brothers graduate, we are less Alumni Association events and ways the modern world has stunted
and less familiar with the house publications is less than desired. this traditional model of education. I
and active brothers. The genera- Life is busy for everyone. All have believe that the knowledge and wis-
tion of young active brothers is a personal, family, social, and career dom imparted by the “older” genera-
The Archi
November 2011
tion of architects to those in training to say about her experience in the
is our legacy. In college, APX teaches program thus far:
us through our fraternal lessons that The mentoring program has
being an architect is a higher obliga- been a great way for me to form a
tion than simply designing buildings. close relationship with a recent initi-
Our profession can survive only if ate, and I believe for him to have a
those ahead of us share in the glories close relationship with an alumni
and the pains that we encounter member. We communicate pretty
daily in our profession. The mentor- frequently via text, Twitter, and
ship program has re-ignited in me Facebook, and the occasional email.
this obligation and I am extremely He also visited me while I was in Chi-
honored to be taking part. I am cago doing the
very proud of our fraternity and the “The mentoring program has been Avon Walk this
a great way for me to form a
things we do to enable and enhance summer. There is
close relationship with a recent
the architectural educations of our active chapter’s initiate,” says Danielle Swanson. no set communi-
“I feel we’re helping to bridge the
brothers over an entire lifetime. Worthy Archi- cation standard
gap… between alumni and actives.”
Although Mark’s response is tect (president) thus far, so we
9
architecturally directed, the essence to pass on to the chapter. The communicate when we need to or
Bridging
applies to any related field. actives would then be in charge when we just want to say hello. Ini- the Active-Alumni
After several months of calls for of choosing which mentors they tially I tried to ask more questions Gap
Anthemios alumni mentors through found appealing, contacting those about his schoolwork and the chap-
e-newsletters, emails, and Face- mentors (copying me on initial ter, but he knows he can come to me
book, seventeen alumni brothers correspondence in order to keep with other questions as well. I also go
of varying career backgrounds vol- track of the program’s progress), to him when I have questions about
unteered to be mentors. I compiled and pursuing those relationships what’s going on with the chapter, or
a list of these mentors, each with to the degree which they required. what’s going on with the latest tech-
We hope the mentor program will nology (as he’s always ahead of the
grow, adding mentors to the list, game).
publishing the list each semester, I feel we’re helping to bridge the
and allowing actives even to switch gap and the mystery between alumni
mentors in order to create a well- and actives, and help the actives
rounded networking experience. see the alumni are real people. It
To date, the Anthemios Alumni- takes some of the anxiety away from
Active Mentor Program has two contacting someone a decade older
successful relationships. Active than you, and vice versa.
Will F. Brennan, class of 2014, a Will commented on his experi-
student of industrial design, con- ence:
tacted Anthe- I view the mentor/student rela-
“[My mentor] and I are almost like mios Alumni tionship as a great way to get an
family now,” says Will Brennan. Association idea of where one might be ten years
“The mixture of personal and
professional is what makes the President Dan- down the line. Danielle occasionally
mentor program so rewarding.” ielle Swanson, sends me internship opportunities
a short biog- class of 2004, that she hears about, and it’s always
raphy stating contact information, an industrial design graduate cur- from somewhere I would never think
involvement while an active in APX, rently working as an account service to look. Beyond that, though, the
place of employment, and brief representative at Grafik Marketing great thing about it is that she and
description of work experience. Communications in Alexandria, I are almost like family now. I ask
Then, we sent the list off to the Virginia. Danielle had the following her for advice on things and keep in
The Archi
November 2011
touch about family goings-on, etc. These mentor-mentee relation-
I think that the mixture of personal ships are exactly what we had
and professional is what makes hoped to see come of this program.
the mentor program so rewarding, Now, we need to get more partici-
because it allows a working and pating in it. The next step to push
friendly relationship, when so often this along will be to assign mentors
the two are exclusive. to actives. After discussions with
Active Laura Trainor, class of the alumni association board and
2012, student of architecture, con- some active brothers, we feel that
tacted Mark Ethun, class of 1999.5, providing the
an architecture graduate and proj- “I had a tricky decision regarding match will get
ect architect with TFF Architects which job to accept for the the ball rolling.
summer,” says Laura Trainor,
and Planners in Greensboro, North “and [my mentor’s] advice played We then hope
Carolina. Mark stated the following emails. We’ve a big part in my ultimate choice.” that the remain-
regarding their relationship: emailed back ing actives not
I now live in North Carolina, and forth about 10 times so far I paired with a mentor will see the
so my access to the chapter and would say. Mark has been very thor- benefits and take the initiative to
10
alumni association is limited. This is ough and quick with getting back to choose their mentors at the next
Bridging
the Active-Alumni an excellent opportunity to be able me, so in that way it has been really issue of the mentor list, which we
Gap to provide, from a distance, some- helpful. I have sent him my resume, also hope will grow.
thing like what I got from all of the old portfolio, and selected works Mentoring is an essential part of
alumni that were around the house documents and he has offered sug- any career or life path. We have a
when I was an undergraduate. While gestions for improvement. I also had special opportunity for mentor-
I have not met Laura in person, I a tricky decision regarding which ing built into our brotherhood.
have spoken to her several times job to accept for the summer and As brothers, we have a bond with
through email. I wish it could be a his advice played a big part in my those of the past, present, and
weekly occurrence, but our schedules ultimate choice. In other words, the future generations. We must always
make this interaction something that relationship has been very help- strive to perpetuate our valuable
happens about once a month. I most ful so far. Since I started IDP this relationships, passing on wisdom,
enjoy hearing the types of things that summer, maybe he could end up sharing experiences, and learning
Laura is doing in school and in APX. being my actual “mentor” for the from the younger generations.
It serves an energizing and nostalgic program. We haven’t discussed it
purpose for me as I enjoyed the time I yet. And of course I’m diving into the
had at U of I and at the APX house. grad school application process at
From Laura’s perspective: the moment and will probably end
All of our communication has up seeking his advice in the near
been done in the format of long future with regards to that.
Note
Any Anthemios alumni who would like to participate in the mentoring program should con-
tact Marybeth at [email protected] or 773-729-0737. “I have heard about other chapters
attempting to start up mentor programs,” Marybeth says. “I welcome any and all input, sug-
gestions, and recommendations—we can learn from each other’s struggles and successes in our
separate chapter programs. Please do not hesitate to contact me.”
The Archi
November 2011