AIA 150 Comes to Texas

San Antonio’s strong adaptive reuse of historical structures provides an ideal setting for AIA’s Growing Beyond Green convention.

By Deb Wood

The inviting design of the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center gives a warm Texas welcome to delegates at the AIA 150 convention.

Bursting with pride that the American Institute of Architects selected Texas for its 2007 National Convention and Design Exposition, Lone Star State architects will highlight their sustainable projects, soak up oodles of sustainable strategies and engage in insightful dialogue at the association’s 150th anniversary celebration “Growing Beyond Green.”

“Sustainable design is fairly new and increasing in importance,” says Sharmila Rao-Pence, a landscape architect and architect with HNTB Corp. of Dallas. “Some of the sessions will cover lessons learned from what is done.”

Rao-Pence looks forward to the sessions dealing with historical preservation and adaptive reuse. She also plans to check out exhibitor displays, looking for green products.

Workshops on how to increase clients’ awareness of the benefits of incorporating sustainable features tops the agenda for Ralph Hawkins, president and CEO of HKS Architects Inc. of Dallas.

"Some clients are tuned into green and sustainability issues,” Hawkins says. “But with others we need education and information about what is at stake in the long term.” He plans to attend courses “about how you show the return that clients can get with sustainability.”

Presentations cover all aspects of green design, including heat radiance, solar design and developing a green practice.

"This is a growing theme and one that is much more mainstream today than ever,” says Christopher Gribbs, senior director of the convention for AIA.

Former Vice President Al Gore will discuss global warming, expanding on the concepts and updating the information in his bestselling book and Academy Award-winning movie “An Inconvenient Truth.” Other featured speakers include Raymond J. Cole of British Columbia, Canada, known for his environmental research and training; South African architect and researcher Chrisna du Plessis; William G. Reed, a leader in approaching design from a regenerative perspective; and David Suzuki, professor emeritus of the University of British Columbia’s Sustainable Development Research Institute.

"We’re trying to be more global in our thinking,” Gribbs says.

AIA expects about 20,000 people to attend, more than 800 companies will exhibit, and AIA San Antonio has planned more than 100 tours to the city’s many sites. 

"We have almost 5,000 tour seats and have sold all but about 500,” says Chris Schultz, president of AIA San Antonio and an architect with Sprinkle Robey Architects of San Antonio.

Attendees will visit county courthouses and green structures in the surrounding communities.

"Because Austin is so close to San Antonio, we are hosting six tours to show off the city’s sustainable design,” says Sally Fly, executive director of AIA Austin.

The AIA was formed in February 1857 when 13 architects came together to form an organization to “promote the scientific and practical perfection of its members” and “elevate the standing of the profession.” By 1887, 30 chapters had formed in cities across the country. Today, AIA boasts 300 chapters, called components, and more than 81,000 members.

"We feel there is a nice historical fit because San Antonio is a historical city,” Schultz says. “It’s an exciting time for us.”