In this issue:
· AIA Requires Green
· IDP/ARE Concurrency Authorized in NYS
· New Green Resource for Architects goes 50to50
· AIA Gets Political
· GSA Opposes Post 9/11 Building Code

AIA Requires Green
AIA Continuing Education System (CES) has changed the continuing education requirement to include 4 sustainable design hours as part of the total required 8 health, safety, and welfare (HSW) hours. Effective 01.01.09, the requirement will remain in place until 2012, when it will be re-evaluated. There are four thresholds by which courses are judged: eligible courses must address the AIA definition of sustainability; must be structured programs rather than self-study; must cover health, safety, and welfare in at least 75% of their content; and must address at least one of the Committee on the Environment’s (COTE) measures of sustainable design and performance.

IDP/ARE Concurrency Authorized in NYS
At a recent meeting of the New York State Board of Regents Professional Practice Committee, regulatory changes permitting architectural interns to take the Architectural Record Exams (ARE) concurrent with the Intern Development Program (IDP) were approved. Going into effect on 10.09.08, so long as an intern has a NAAB accredited degree (or a combination of education and experience equaling a NAAB accredited degree), and upon enrollment in the IDP with NCARB, and submission of a New York application and fee, he or she will be permitted to sit for the ARE. Check out the NCARB and NYS Education Department Office of the Professions for more information.

New Green Resource for Architects goes 50to50
As part of the AIA’s commitment to achieving a minimum 50% reduction of fossil fuel consumption in buildings by 2010 and carbon neutrality by 2030, 50to50 includes 50 strategies for architects to help achieve significant carbon reduction. Items span a spectrum from broad-based site and planning objectives to specific building-based concepts. Included are overviews of relevant topics, typical applications, emerging trends, links to information sources, and carbon reduction examples. 50to50 is a product of the AIA’s Sustainability Discussion Group (SDiG), a task group of the AIA Board of Directors. For more information, click the link.

AIA Gets Political
For the first time in its history, the AIA has become actively involved in both the political conventions and the presidential and congressional elections. DesignVote, an initiative to engage architects in the political process, educates members on pertinent issues, providing them with ways to participate in the campaigns. AIA members attended both the Democratic and Republican party conventions. In Denver, the AIA hosted a reception honoring the AIA’s sustainability successes on Capitol Hill with a “Walk the Walk” reception hosted by the firm RNL. During both conventions, AIA members contributed to The Angle, the government advocacy blog.

In addition, the DesignVote team is working on a “get out the vote” campaign with information on how, when, and where AIA members can register to vote. For more information on any election or campaign position, contact the DesignVote team at the links above.

GSA Opposes Post 9/11 Building Code
The General Services Administration (GSA) opposes changes made last year to the International Building Code regarding stronger safety requirements for skyscrapers. The GSA is concerned about the economic impacts of the more stringent codes. Though the federal government is technically exempt from local building codes, it generally requires that buildings it rents or buys honor them. The new provisions, which were based on recommendations of the National Institute of Standards and Technology in the wake of 9/11, state that any nonresidential skyscraper over 420 feet tall (about 40 stories) must have a third stairwell and fireproofing capable of staying in place even if hit with 1,000 pounds-per-square-foot of force.

Real estate industry experts estimate that the fireproofing and stairwell requirements alone could cost real estate developers $13 million for a 42-story office building, not to mention significantly decreased floor space. However, advocates of the code believe these figures are inflated. The matter will go to a vote next week at a meeting of the code council in Minneapolis.