Newsletter | June 2017

Dear Colleagues,

Texas Society of Architects is hosting the 2017 Prosperity Conference in Waco on August 24-25.  TxA invites you and the future leaders of your firm to participate in this engaging event that can change the future of your practice.  While there you can:

-          Gain significant insight into best practices for marketing, sale strategies and financial profitability;

-          Learn successful secrets from small business owners like you; and

-          Leave with a plan of action for your firm.

Discounts are available for firms sending three or more people so maybe we should strategize on who is attending to make sure we can take advantage of the discount locally.  Information for the event can be found at the TxA website.

On a separate note; construction sites can scorch this time of year so make sure that you and yours are drinking plenty of water before and after visiting sites.  Also, please keep a look out for the laborers out there.  They too need the reminder to stay hydrated.

Sincerely,

Rene Melendez AIA

AIA El Paso Chapter

President

Newsletter | May 2017

Dear Colleagues,

As you may know this year’s state convention is in Austin, from November 9 -11th.  Same as last year, the state will return 50% of the registration revenue to chapters that meet the minimum number of attendees for the convention.  This year’s number is 20.  All we need is 21 AIA El Paso members to attend the convention.  When the event was held in Austin in 2012, 20 chapter architects attended so they are only asking for one addition architect and the revenue gets returned.

The web site for registration should be up July 26th but you can make hotel reservations currently.  If you are on the bubble, please remember that the convention center is within staggering distance from 6th street.  Please make plans to attend a state event that rivals national and helps benefit your chapter as well.

Sincerely,

Rene Melendez AIA

AIA El Paso Chapter

President

Newsletter | April 2017

Dear Colleagues,

 

This month we were visiting by the entire board of the Texas Society of Architects(TxA).  They have a sincere desire to get El Paso more involved in the definition of a Texas Architect.  National has also asked all states to make sure each and every chapter has a voice.  Now is our time to let the state know what it means to be an El Paso Architect.  They were impressed with our city, had nothing but nice things to say, and they are thankful that the El Paso Chapter is organized and represents itself well.

 

Many of us now and for several years have been intermingling with large out of town firms.  Maintaining our local identity is important now more than ever.  We pride ourselves on being hard workers, well rounded and have abilities to solve problems most other architects can’t.  We are never given budgets with much wiggle room nor is our community one that we can specialize on just one thing.  We are true architect’s because we can bring solutions at many scales; humble enough to solve small problems but skilled enough to solve large problems.  Please make sure the out of town firms and public entities never forget that.

 

Sincerely,

 

Rene Melendez AIA

AIA El Paso Chapter

President

Newsletter | March 2017

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Dear Colleagues,

 

This month your President and Treasurer represented the El Paso Chapter at the AIA National Grassroots in Washington D.C.  Primary point that seemed to come through in most presentations is that the built environment is the greatest global issue, but if done correctly, should also be the greatest factor to future global success.  By 2050, our population is anticipated to reach 9.7 billion.  Cities must recentralize, urbanize and revitalize.  If an increase of 2.7 billion people is allowed to sprawl out over the globe from now unit 2050, our resources will be abused; their rapid expenditure will continue global warming; and available resources will not have the capacity to develop resilient cities that can sustain natural disasters and acts of terror.

 

It was not represented as a doom and gloom scenario at Grassroots, rather they placed emphasis on the ever important role of the master architect. We must continue to instruct on the importance of centralizing resources in low impact urban centers.  These urban centers should focus on the reuse of the existing built environment and stay away from demolition and new construction as much as possible.  These reestablished city centers must be healthy and vibrant.  They must be adaptable and flexible; we will not be able anticipate all types of disasters in our cities however healthy cities have a better chance at surviving the unknown.

 

We must guide our municipalities towards healthy communities.  We must also make them aware that infrastructure includes buildings.  Municipal funding primarily goes towards infrastructure that runs outside of property lines, but if it does not extend into healthy buildings then our communities will continue to be victims of natural disasters and terror.

 

Clients and local officials need to know that Architects are a resource that is needed in abundance.  Please continue to work hard and practice good Architecture. 

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Thank you,

AIA El Paso - President

 

Rene Melendez AIA