ANNUAL OFFICIAL PUBLICATION AND DIRECTORY OF AIA IDAHO 2022 DIRECTORY IDAHO ARCHITECTURE
Idaho Architecture is the annual of f icial publication and directory of The American Institute of Architects – Idaho Chapter. AIA Idaho (208) 309-2081 aiaidaho@aiaidaho.com aiaidaho.com IDAHO ARCHITECTURE CONTENTS 2022 DIRECTORY AIA Idaho State Board Officers 2022 President Nikki Hadfield, AIA President Elect Andrew Erstad, AIA Secretary Treasurer Jennifer Mohr, AIA Past President Chad Blincoe, AIA AIA National Council Representative Dave Davies, AIA AIA Central Idaho Section: President Leah McMillan, AIA, LEED AP President Elect Ian Hoffman, AIA Secretary Treasurer Laura Davidson, AIA Associate Director Rebecca Behrens, Assoc. AIA AIA Idaho Mountain Section: President Travis Killmer, Assoc. AIA President Elect JJ Rumpeltes, AIA Secretary Treasurer Chris Strahle, AIA AIA Northern Idaho Section: Chair Drew Davies, AIA AIA Eastern Idaho Section: Chair Greg W. Croft, AIA Secretary Treasurer Latecia Herzog, AIA, NCARB 4 Greetings from Chad Blincoe, 2021 AIA Idaho President 6 A Message from AIA Idaho Executive Director 8 2021 AIA Idaho Conference and Awards Gala 1 2 2021 Idaho Design Awards 14 2021 AIA Idaho Design Award Winner 17 Advocacy 2022 18 Natural Gas and Resilient Pathways to Carbon Neutrality 20 Legends in Our Midst: AIA Idaho Q&A With Jack Smith 24 What Structural Engineers Want Architects to Know 26 Getting to Know: Thomas Robinson, AIA Idaho Juror 28 Getting to Know: Ben Waechter, AIA Idaho Juror 30 Getting to Know: Faith Rose, AIA Idaho Juror 33 The Concept of Home 36 Seven Easy Strategies To Dramatically Reduce the Carbon Footprint of Buildings in Cold Climates in Rural Locations 44 AIA Idaho Professional Affiliate Member Directory 46 AIA Idaho Member Directory ©2022 AIA ID | The newsLINK Group, LLC. All rights reserved. Idaho Architecture is published annually by The newsLINK Group, LLC for the AIA Idaho Chapter and is the official publication for this association. The information contained in this publication is intended to provide general information for review, consideration and education. The contents do not constitute legal advice and should not be relied on as such. If you need legal advice or assistance, it is strongly recommended that you contact an attorney as to your circumstances. The statements and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the AIA ID, its board of directors, or the publisher. Likewise, the appearance of advertisements within this publication does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation of any product or service advertised. Idaho Architecture is a collective work, and as such, some articles are submitted by authors who are independent of the AIA ID. While Idaho Architecture encourages a first-print policy, in cases where this is not possible, every effort has been made to comply with any known reprint guidelines or restrictions. Content may not be reproduced or reprinted without prior written permission. For further information, please contact the publisher at 855.747.4003.
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Greetings from Chad Blincoe, 2021 AIA Idaho President I want to thank the AIA Idaho Board of Directors and the membership for the honor of serving as the 2021 AIA Idaho President and the opportunity to lead this organization during a challenging year. This beautiful publication, our annual “yearbook,” is a reminder of the high level of accomplishments of our members and the efforts of Anna Foster, our Executive Director. I am excited to see how we moved forward in the short period of time since I came on board and look forward to the future. Our membership has been actively growing, so that’s a sign of a healthy organization. We are currently at a 327-member count. Since 2018, our membership gained 55 new members, five transitioned to Emeritus status, and 21 became licensed. One of the main tasks for our board is Advocacy and Public Outreach – keeping our membership informed and the board involved in any relevant legislative topics and issues. Monthly legislative updates through the newsletter and during our board meetings have been instrumental to our board and members. We are much better prepared to act when certain legislation is introduced by other industries relevant to architecture. We have relied heavily on our lobbyist Benn Brocksome for advice and information and worked together to review legislation and support or oppose bills. Our Advocacy Committee meets several times a year and works in close communication during the legislative session. We have also been working with AIA National for help and guidance during this time. As part of this effort, we are working to create visibility and advocate for architecture through our new magazine. The first issue of “Idaho Architecture” Publication/Annual Membership Directory went out to all Idaho legislators, construction industry partners, mayors and planning and zoning departments across Idaho. We hope to offer interesting content and relevant and educational information to our members and the public in this current issue. Highlights of 2021: • We continue to sponsor the annual Construction Industry Legislative Reception and our industry partners. • Last year, AIA Idaho successfully passed the Good Sam Bill protecting Idaho Architects during emergency times. • We are currently working to establish licensing reciprocity with Canada and hope for Idaho to join the agreement that over 40 states have already joined. • We have a very active ARE Prep Group/Associate program. Eight Associate members were licensed in 2021. Congratulations to the new architects! Currently, 21 Associate members across the state are on track to licensure. • In 2021, we awarded four $500 Architectural Licensing Scholarships, encouraging Associate members to get licensed. • We continue the partnership with Idaho State Building Code Board. Our Advocacy Committee members supported the 4 AIA IDAHO ARCHITECTURE | 2022-23 | aiaidaho.com 1st & 4th Ketchum project tour by Pivot North Architects Ketchum, Idaho
Building Code Board that successfully got the State to adopt the 2018 code with amendments. • We continue to support Idaho QBS Board, and this year QBS passed bill #1042. • Public outreach: our website includes a very active job service. The programs calendar and announcements have been a great public relations/PR tool. We get many public contacts through the website. • We inform members of upcoming continuing education, AIA programs, and new jobs through our monthly newsletter. We recently surveyed our membership and are taking all suggestions and ideas into consideration for future program planning. • Our Professional Affiliate Member Network has been growing, and we continue to grow relationships that help us with sponsorships and continuing education. This includes sponsoring the Design Awards. Thank you for your continued support and partnership! • The 2021 Design Awards Conference just took place in Ketchum, and it was a successful event for everyone. We received great coverage in the statewide media. Congratulations to the designers and all the winning project teams! • AIA National is transitioning to the new state representation model and dissolving the regions as they were previously. As of January 2022, our state will have a representative on the AIA Strategic Council for the first time. • In 2021 AIA Idaho board signed the Memorandum of Understanding. It formalized our state AIA structure with one Mandatory (AIA Central Idaho) and three Voluntary sections (AIA Eastern Idaho, AIA Mountain Idaho and AIA Northern Idaho). • We are financially healthy and continue to provide scholarships and encourage board member attendance of the state and national events like Grassroots and State Governance network. I encourage you all to continue to be involved in AIA programs and accept leadership roles in your sections and state board. I know this has been a time for growth and education for me. Thank you, Chad Blincoe, AIA President, AIA Idaho Our membership has been actively growing, so that’s a sign of a healthy organization. We are currently at a 327-member count. Since 2018, our membership gained 55 new members, five transitioned to Emeritus status, and 21 became licensed. 5
A Message from AIA Idaho Executive Director Dear Friends and Colleagues, It is my pleasure to share with you our second edition of AIA Idaho’s magazine, Idaho Architecture. 2021 was a busy and successful year for AIA Idaho, from a way-too-much-fun design awards gala to record involvement of our members and growth in our membership. Founded in 1951, the AIA Idaho chapter quietly celebrated its 70th anniversary as we were navigating the COVID–19 epidemic, remoting, working via Zoom, email, and phone calls. Finally, we meet again in person, and it is a whole new society we are in. The recent worldwide problems have raised many questions about how to move forward responsibly and safely toward a renewed normalcy and resiliency. As we are all aware, Idaho is enjoying unprecedented growth and economic boom times. While the booming economy is undoubtedly a great thing, it does come with challenges. How do we balance the plentiful work with doing our best work? How do we find the staff to do the work? Most urgently in Idaho, how do we solve the affordable housing crisis? As most states across the country face similar issues, there are no simple answers to those questions, but I believe there is no substitute for sitting down with architects. When I look at our directory and see familiar firms and individual's names I see a highly qualified resource. Each member of our organization has a unique set of knowledge and professional skills that, when shared, can bring solutions that benefit the local communities and the whole state. Architects are a valuable resource for any institution, government, school, or business seeking change. Our 380 members design and manage projects, select products, contract vendors, and guide clients in various industries, including commercial, health care, residential, hospitality, education, and more. Architects are experts in talking to clients, finding out what is essential about their needs, and creating sophisticated solutions that win consensus. This publication, our annual “Yearbook,” is a reminder of architects as a resource and a celebration of the accomplishments of our members. In this edition, you will see highlights from the recent Idaho Design Awards Conference, interviews with architects who served as our jurors, content written by our architects about issues they care about. Lastly, I would like to congratulate the AIA Idaho Design Awards recipients. There is a lot of excellent design going on 9751 W Chinden Blvd., #200 (208) 323-0199 Garden City, ID 83714 ahjengineers.com in our state, and our conference was a success because of the efforts of our dedicated volunteer members. Thank you for your time and energy! Thank you for using our directory to connect with the architectural community in Idaho, and I hope you fully utilize this resource by contacting any of our members. Sincerely, Anna Foster Executive Director The American Institute of Architects – Idaho Chapter How do we balance the plentiful work with doing our best work? How do we find the staff to do the work? Most urgently in Idaho, how do we solve the affordable housing crisis? As most states across the country face similar issues, there are no simple answers to those questions, but I believe there is no substitute for sitting down with architects. 6 AIA IDAHO ARCHITECTURE | 2022-23 | aiaidaho.com
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2021 AIA Idaho Conference and Awards Gala Thank you to everyone who attended the 2021 AIA Idaho Conference and Awards Gala on September 23-24 in Ketchum, Idaho. A big thanks and much appreciation to our sponsors. Everyone had a good time – we hope to see you at our next event. To learn more, please visit aiaidaho.com/calendar. 8 AIA IDAHO ARCHITECTURE | 2022-23 | aiaidaho.com
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2021 Idaho Design Awards On Sept. 24, 2021, AIA Idaho members and friends gathered in person at the Argyros Performing Arts Center in Ketchum for the 2021 Design Awards celebration. Idaho Design Awards Program is designed to encourage excellence in architecture, to elevate the public consciousness of great design and commitment to service, which contributes to the advancement of the profession and the built environment. The program will recognize outstanding achievements in architecture and design of Idaho individuals, firms and project teams. “Architects are uniquely positioned to solve problems and positively impact three of the most pressing issues facing our communities: climate crisis, public health and equity. In our fastest growing state, the design community has the answers and I encourage the public and local officials to talk to the local architects when making decisions important to their community. Idaho Design Awards will celebrate the incredible work of architects of our state and I am so pleased to share the winners’ names,’” said Anna Foster, the Executive Director of AIA Idaho. This year the award recipients were selected by a three-member jury who evaluated 36 projects for demonstrating exceptional design and superior work of architecture. Additionally, the jury evaluated whether designs are sustainable, affordable, durable, innovative, socially impactful, meeting client needs as well as addressing the natural and built contexts. The program recognized the achievements of 10 projects: four Honor Awards, four Merit Awards and two Citation Awards. Congratulations 2021 AIA Idaho Design Award honorees! Pivot North Architecture — Front Street Garage, Boise, Idaho; Commercial, Citation Award VY Architecture — EnergySeal, McCall, Idaho; Honor Award Michael Doty Associates, Architects — Argyros Performing Arts Center, Ketchum, Idaho; Public, Award of Merit Cole Architects — Fire Station No. 8, Boise, Idaho; Honor Award Williams Partners Architects — Snake River Gorge, Twin Falls, Idaho; Residential Single-Family, Award of Merit Farmer Payne Architects — Sage Residence, Ketchum Idaho; Citation Michael Doty Associates, Architects — Shaw Mesa Family Retreat, Custer County, Idaho; Honor Award De Reus Architects — Bigwood Residence, Sun Valley, Idaho; Architect as Client, Award of Merit Michael Doty Associates, Architects — Fox Hollow Gulch Residence, Adaptive Reuse & Preservation, Award of Merit Pivot North Architecture — Elks Lodge Renovation, Twin Falls, Idaho; Honor Award Special Awards VY Architecture — EnergySeal, McCall, Idaho; Commercial, Energy Efficiency & Sustainability Award Architect Jack Smith, FAIA — Kanzan House, Blaine County, Idaho; Best Use of Idaho Wood Residence Design Awards Jury Faith Rose, AIA, O’Neill Rose Architects, Brooklyn, New York Thomas F. Robinson, AIA, LEVER Architecture, Portland, Oregon Ben Waechter, AIA, Waechter Architecture, Portland, Oregon Thank You, Program Sponsors! Platinum Sponsor: Idaho Power Company Silver Sponsor: Intermountain Gas Silver Sponsor: BHB Structural Bronze Sponsor: Anderson Julian and Hull Best Use of Idaho Wood Award Sponsor: Idaho Forest Products Commission Supporting Sponsor: Friesen Art Gallery 12 AIA IDAHO ARCHITECTURE | 2022-23 | aiaidaho.com The Argyros Performing Arts Center by Michael Doty Associates, Architects
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2021 AIA Idaho Design Award Winner Project Description EnergySeal Headquarters, located in McCall, Idaho, is a 16,000-sf office and warehouse building designed and built for a high-performance insulation contractor. The goal of the project was to create a modern, ultra-energy-efficient building in the harsh climate of Idaho’s central mountains, where winters can exceed 10,000 heating degrees days (more than Moscow, Russia). Heating such a large space in a cold climate is costly, so to reduce long-term operating costs, the facility employs an extremely well-insulated envelope to reduce heating loads. The entire building (11,000 square feet of warehouse and 5,000 square feet of office space) will be certified to meet the PHIUS+ Passive House standard. In addition, the office space is designed to be Net-Zero with renewable energy generated onsite by a façade-mounted PV array. EnergySeal Headquarters is among the most energy-efficient building in North America, with a measured energy use intensity (EUI) after the first year of occupancy of 14.85 kBTU/sf/yr before renewable energy production. After the electricity generated by the 14.7 kW solar PV array is accounted for, the EUI becomes 12.0 kBTU/sf/yr, which allows the building to meet the 2030 Challenge 80% reduction from the baseline site EUI target. By committing to an aggressive energy target early in the planning stages, even a challenging project type such as a warehouse can result in an ultra-low energy building capable of cost-effectively reaching net-zero without overly complex and expensive mechanical renewable energy systems. Type of construction materials, mechanical systems, and any other pertinent technical information The project team achieved aggressive levels of energy efficiency by focusing on designing and executing a high-performance building enclosure that relies on super-insulation, high levels of air-tightness, and thermal bridge-free design. The building was modeled using the WUFI Passive energymodeling software to optimize the building enclosure, mechanical systems, lighting, and PV system. This detailed modeling assured that the annual heating and cooling demands Project Name: EnergySeal Headquarters Architect: VY Architecture Project Completion: August 2019 Project Location: 14037 HWY55 McCall, ID 83638 Project Type: Energy Efficiency Commercial EnergySeal Headquarters 14 AIA IDAHO ARCHITECTURE | 2022-23 | aiaidaho.com
and overall source energy usage would meet the stringent PHIUS+ certification standards. All structural components were carefully modeled and designed to ensure that thermal bridging was minimized and accounted for in the energy modeling. The high-performance wall and roof systems utilized a combination of HFO low-global warming potential (GWP) spray foam and ultra-low embodied energy plant-based cellulose insulation composed of 85% paper fiber. The high-performance R-8 windows utilize R-11 triple-pane glass with low conductivity frames. Motorized external Venetian window blinds control solar gain and glare to minimize the cooling load and maximize indoor environmental quality for occupants year-round. The ultra-efficient building enclosure allowed the building to be heated with a very simple HVAC system. A single 4-ton variable capacity cold-climate air source heat pump serves the entire warehouse space. The office portion of the building is served by a 3-ton heat pump with an integrated intelligent communication system that provides zone control through modulated dampers and smart controllers. The office space is ventilated using an 87% efficient heat recovery ventilator (HRV), controlled by an indoor environmental sensor that modulates the ventilation rate based on real time occupancy and indoor air quality. b 15
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Advocacy 2022 AIA Idaho saw many successes and changes in 2021. A lengthy legislative session showed the dedication of the AIA Idaho Board and Advocacy Committee as they remained committed and engaged throughout the year. Working diligently through 2021 in the longest Legislative Session in Idaho’s history provided opportunities to achieve the realization of several of our advocacy goals. Regulatory reforms, changes to rules, protecting and updating building and energy codes, property tax changes, and more resulted in tremendous results for architects this past year. Working with a broad coalition, AIA Idaho was able to gain business-friendly updates and reforms to public contracting and Qualification Based Selection. After extensive negotiations and multiple drafts, we were able to pass Senate Bill 1042 as amended, unanimously in the House and Senate. This multiyear process created consensus and will serve the residents and businesses of Idaho for generations to come. We also expect positive outcomes in 2022 as we work carefully to update and modernize the licensing and authority of the State Architects board and develop policy enabling us to have NCARB reciprocity with Canada and supporting the other policies that we work on each year. Please enjoy this edition of Idaho Architecture and feel free to contact AIA ID with any questions. We are always eager to hear from you, and I look forward to continuing to serve you as we meet and exceed advocacy and government relations goals for AIA Idaho in 2022 and beyond. b 17
Natural Gas and Resilient Pathways to Carbon Neutrality Intermountain Gas is proud to join the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Idaho Chapter as a fuel distribution company with resources to support the AIA’s journey towards carbon neutrality by 2030. Our shared values with AIA start with a commitment to being a catalyst for change. That means holding ourselves to the highest standards as we explore what it means to be a gas delivery company at a time when GHG emissions reductions have never been more important. The path to carbon neutrality runs through the pipelines of gas suppliers like Intermountain. We serve an essential role in decarbonization efforts. In fact, pathways to reducing GHG emissions have been long pursued by our industry. Methane emissions rates associated with natural gas production have declined continuously since 1990 and today are just 1%1. Natural gas distribution systems likewise emit less than 0.1% of produced natural gas annually, decreasing emissions 73% between 1990 and 2017 even as our industry experienced a 50% increase in natural gas production.2 Recent analysis performed on behalf of Oregon’s Rural Gas Service by Guidehouse has indicated that a decarbonization pathway leveraging the use of gas pipelines and low carbon gaseous fuels alongside other decarbonization strategies, can result in cost-effective GHG reductions and deeper decarbonization, as well as increased energy reliability and resource adequacy.3 Research from the Gas Technology Institute (GTI) has likewise demonstrated that decarbonization pathways inclusive of natural gas can offer appreciable CO2e emissions reductions with lower costs to consumers and society.4 This places our industry at a strong starting point to support the decarbonization goals of our communities, while sustaining the energy system as more intermittent fuels, such as solar and wind energy, come on to the grid. However, in order to maintain a continued mix of fuels to heat and power today’s modern buildings, it’s essential that the fuels and technologies are paired together in ways that maximize the value they bring to end users. This can be achieved through a twofold strategy of reducing the carbon intensity of the fuels we depend on and increasing the efficiency of the equipment and buildings that use them. Intermountain sees such convergence of energy and building science as having invaluable benefit for the climate we all share. AIA members are part of an essential partnership that can maximize efficiencies both at the energy source, as well as at the site where it’s utilized. Decarbonizing Fuels There’s a revolution taking place in how energy is being sourced across the wires and pipelines that bring heat and energy to our homes and businesses. Just as the electric sector is increasing investments in wind turbines and solar panels to meet the needs of a low carbon future, so too is the gas sector investing in decarbonized innovations such as renewable natural gas and hydrogen. Direct use gaseous fuels are the most efficient application of this energy source in homes and buildings and avoids line losses associated with the use of gas to generate electricity. The efficiency benefits of direct use can be further maximized through the strategic inclusion of low carbon fuels into the pipeline. Gas infrastructure, much like electric wires, are a highway through which multiple energy sources can be transported to end users. The pairing of renewable with traditional fuel sources within our gas pipeline is an essential step to reducing GHG emissions while simultaneously reducing the risk of brownouts associated with intermittent renewable resources. While some technologies, such as hydrogen, are still emerging, a broad coalition of energy companies and efficiency organizations are working together to support this transformation. In January 2021, the Electric Power Research Institute and GTI partnered together on a five-year endeavor called the Low-Carbon Resources Initiative (LCRI)5. The initiative focuses on the large-scale deployment of low-carbon electric generation technologies and low carbon energy sources such as hydrogen, bioenergy, and renewable natural gas (RNG). These tools will help enable affordable pathways to economy-wide decarbonization. Intermountain is currently investing 18 AIA IDAHO ARCHITECTURE | 2022-23 | aiaidaho.com
in a five-year commitment to this coalition and believes strongly in the value of transformative partnerships and investments to drive innovation. As we move forward with increased investments in emerging technologies, Intermountain Gas is also proactively reducing the carbon intensity of the product we deliver today by introducing RNG into our system. As of April 2021, Intermountain pipelines transported more than 480k Dth of RNG from three dairy digesters to end-use customers, or enough to power 14k homes for a year. We look forward to adding more RNG into our system as it becomes available. In addition to decarbonizing the fuels placed in the gas pipeline, local distribution companies are managing upstream and fugitive emissions through programs such as Call Before You Dig 811, Common Ground Alliance, and continual exploration of other voluntary actions to reduce methane emissions from excavation damage. Programs such as EPA’s Natural Gas Star Methane Challenge Program, of which Intermountain Gas is a founding member, also support comprehensive actions to reduce methane emissions. Together, this suite of actions ensures that gaseous fuels, along with the thousands of miles of existing infrastructure that move it, remains available to customers to provide the Northwest with reliable energy for space and water heating, cooking, agriculture, manufacturing, and many other essential end-uses. But even the least carbon-intensive energy is only as reliable as the equipment used to harness it, and the efficiency of the building that relies on such fuels. Decarbonizing Buildings AIA members are no strangers to innovation in the design of highperformance architecture. As the newest member of AIA, Intermountain looks forward to leveraging our partnerships with GTI and other leaders in energy innovation in support of greater adaptation of the building and energy sectors to meet modern challenges. We have already begun this work as recognized leaders driving energy efficient residential construction across our service area, receiving the 2021 ENERGY STAR ® Market Leader Award for efforts that resulted in an additional 1,536 homes and/ or apartments being certified as ENERGY STAR ® in 2020. Advances in building design inclusive of gaseous space and water heating equipment can help further drive our industries towards the achievement of high energy performance and carbon neutrality. Research from GTI demonstrates that gas heat pump technology can result in significant reductions to energy consumption with efficiencies greater than 100%.6 The Utilization Technology Development (UTD) group of GTI is in the process of further developing and demonstrating this technology as well as next generation combined heat and power systems leveraging the resiliency, reliability, and economy of gaseous fuels. Intermountain looks forwarding to continuing to partner on these efforts as well as with the North American Gas Heat Pump Collaborative, which seeks to transform the market to state-of-the-art natural gas heat pump technologies. Such opportunities can be leveraged to benefit the AIA membership as we strive towards deeper efficiency and NZE buildings. This strategic partnership of building professionals, equipment manufacturers, and fuels suppliers is essential to ensuring balanced and effective pathway towards decarbonization. Intermountain is proud to join the AIA in its efforts to elevate the way energy is used in buildings. The path ahead is complex, but we are confident that together, we can help realize the vision of AIA’s 2030 commitment. We are proud to take this journey with our fellow AIA members. b Intermountain Gas Company is a natural gas distribution company serving approximately 391,000 residential, commercial, and industrial customers in 76 communities in southern Idaho. Alyn Spector is Manager of Energy Ef ficiency Policy for Cascade Natural Gas Corporation, sister company to Intermountain Gas. He has been in the energy industry for over 15 years and developed energy ef ficiency programs and decarbonization strategies for his organization since 2008. 1 According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions and Sinks: 1990–2018 released in April 2020 as well as the EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (GHGRP). 2 Northwest Gas Association, 2021 Natural Gas Facts https://www.nwga.org/wp-content/ uploads/2021/03/NWGA_Facts_2021_Final.pdf 3 Analysis of Oregon’s Cap-and-Reduce Program GHG Emissions Reductions, Provided to Avista Corporation and Cascade Natural Gas Corporation, October 22, 2021 4 Case Studies of Future Residential Natural Gas and Electrification Scenarios in Leading Low Carbon Regions https://www.gti.energy/ wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Future-ResidentialNatural-Gas-and-Electrification-in-Low-CarbonRegions-Technical-Paper_Liss-Jun2018.pdf 5 Hydrogen Technology Center — Low-Carbon Resources Initiative • GTI 6 Bridging the gap: gas-fired absorption heat pumps in America — CIBSE Journal Together, this suite of actions ensures that gaseous fuels, along with the thousands of miles of existing infrastructure that move it, remains available to customers to provide the Northwest with reliable energy for space and water heating, cooking, agriculture, manufacturing, and many other essential end- uses. But even the least carbon-intensive energy is only as reliable as the equipment used to harness it, and the efficiency of the building that relies on such fuels. 19
Legends in Our Midst: AIA Idaho Q&A With Jack Smith Jack Smith has had a long and continuing career as both a practitioner and a professor of architecture, and his peers have recognized him as a distinguished architect. We at AIA Idaho were pleased to interview him and thank him for the opportunity. Why did you become an architect? I wanted to be an architect from a very early age. I believe that architecture is first about building and second about everything else. At age 10, I gained a passion for building by working summers for my uncle, a general contractor. Later, at age 14, my cousin Max, a designer, gave me books on Frank Lloyd Wright, Mies van der Rohe and Le Corbusier, the big three modern architects of the time. I read them all before entering college. Construction is an important teacher. As an architect, you should be able to do anything you ask a contractor to do. Gaining a passion for books and reading is critical to any education. I wanted to be an architect from a very early age. I believe that architecture is first about building and second about everything else. At age 10, I gained a passion for building by working summers for my uncle, a general contractor. House at Eagle Creek - Photo by Fred Lindholm House at Eagle Creek - Photo by Tim Brown 20 AIA IDAHO ARCHITECTURE | 2022-23 | aiaidaho.com
You studied architecture at the University of Utah and taught design there from 1964 to 1967. You also had an apprenticeship with John Sugden. What were the most important things you learned as part of your university education and apprenticeship? I entered college in 1949. Although this was the mid-20th century, it was early enough to have professors from the École des Beaux-Arts, who were well versed in classical architecture, and some influenced by the German Bauhaus, who were modernists. Gaining an appreciation for history, classical architecture, and modernism was important and remains important to my practice and teaching. In my undergraduate years, I also studied other disciplines, including music, art history and English literature. I believe these other disciplines broadened my outlook. Due to financial constraints, I left college before obtaining my degree. In 1952 I met John Sugden, a Mies van der Rohe protégé. I served a 12-year apprenticeship with John, then took the architectural registration exams to become a licensed architect. Through my apprenticeship with Sugden, I learned the exacting discipline of the Miesian way. Mentors have been a key part of my education and professional life. My mentors were John Sugden, Robert Bliss, the Dean of Architecture at the University of Utah; his wife Anna Campbell Bliss, a distinguished artist; and Dan Kiley, a celebrated landscape architect. The opportunity to work with such great people was most important to my education, and I feel blessed to have known them. John Sugden frequently quoted Mies and talked about his discipline. Mies said, “It doesn’t matter how well you do the wrong thing.” But how do you know what the right thing is? You have to understand what is appropriate. That’s not so easy. In any setting, philosophy is important if you want to be good at what you do. How did your work as a professor at several different universities help you as an architect? My teaching career started in 1964 before I had a degree or was licensed, which is quite unusual. As a teaching associate at the University of Utah, my own education continued by being associated with distinguished faculty and visiting professors and practitioners such as Frank Lloyd Wright and Buckminster Fuller. One of these visiting practitioners was Dan Kiley, from Vermont, with whom I became a partner from 1967 through 1971. Being a member of Snowbird Design Group and the original architect for Snowbird, I returned to Utah in 1971 to complete my work on the Snowbird Ski Resort. I believe that teaching and practice are symbiotic. Practice keeps the academic side well-grounded in reality, and teaching keeps — continued on page 22 Kanzan House - Photo by Gabe Border 21
one intellectually astute. During my practice from 1971 on, I returned periodically to the University of Utah and the University of Idaho as a visiting professor. In 2001 I returned to school. I earned a Doctor of Architecture degree from the University of Hawaii in 2006. Since I was already an architect, I spent most of my five years studying East-West comparative philosophy in the philosophy department. I wrote my doctoral dissertation on the influence of traditional Japanese architecture on the modern architecture of the early 20th century. I most recently retired from teaching at Montana State University. I was a teaching professor there from 2006 to 2020. You won your first award in 1958 and your most recent award in 2021. How have the many awards you’ve won as an architect affected your professional development? It is always nice to be recognized by your peers for your work, but architecture is more about trying to do good work than trying to win awards. Le Corbusier said, “It is easy to be different but difficult to be good.” If one tries to do good work, the awards come naturally. — continued from page 21 Tell us about becoming a Fellow of the College of Fellows of the American Institute of Architects in 1996. I have been a continuous member of AIA Idaho since 1975. I left my practice in Salt Lake City and San Francisco to start an independent practice in Sun Valley. One of my colleagues here in Idaho nominated me for fellowship based on my body of work. I was successful in being elevated to fellow in category one, “Design.” I am most proud of this honor, given to fewer than 3% of architects nationally. The architectural critic Allan Temko said your outlook is international and was influenced by Japan. How did you become interested in Japanese architecture, and what influence did it have on your work? Traditional Japanese architecture had clarity of purpose and structure, honesty, and truth and integrity of materials. Its tenets continue to influence me. Nothing I do is literally Japanese. It is only the underlying principles or tenets that continue to inform my designs. Mies said, “A compromise is only possible when both parties are wrong.” I do believe one Kanzan House - Photo by Gabe Border Kanzan House - Photo by Gabe Border 22 AIA IDAHO ARCHITECTURE | 2022-23 | aiaidaho.com
needs to compromise on minor issues of pragmatics, but one should never compromise one’s principles. What type of project do you most enjoy designing? Those where I can interact with the clients on a professional and personal level. Custom residential most often fills that need. I am also interested in affordable housing in that this typology has become critical worldwide. What is your favorite project? Frank Lloyd Wright said, “My next one.” I agree. However, in 1999, my work on the House At Eagle Creek was recognized by the historical architectural society as one of the most important houses in Idaho, and the Kanzan House was awarded Best Use of Idaho Wood by AIA Idaho in 2021. Which ones will you be remembered for? I hope all of them. In 2021, the World Population Review listed Idaho as the fastest-growing state in the U.S. Do you have any suggestions for Idaho’s architects as they meet the newcomers’ needs? Take a position of leadership. People talk about architecture being a collaborative profession, and it is, but the architect needs to lead the team. Be philosophically grounded, considerate, and morally and environmentally responsible, keep your standards high, and only compromise when it’s reasonable. You may save your clients the cost of your fee every time you make a good decision. It’s also important to educate people about what architects do. Architects are polymaths. You aren’t a jack of all trades and master of none; you have to try to master it all. You have to be knowledgeable about construction, structures, aesthetics, music, art, philosophy and literature. Studying will give you depth. What study recommendations do you have for architects who want to broaden their understanding of design and architectural history? I think one should never stop reading and being exposed to other disciplines and the humanities in general. The study of philosophy has become very important to me in that it underpins almost everything. Critical thinking is fundamental to success in any profession and, in my view, life itself. History is the best teacher. b House at Eagle Creek - Photo by Tim Brown Anderson, Julian & Hull, LLP Robert A. Anderson, Esq. Litigation . Arbitration . Contract Preparation HUD Disputes . Mediations . Seminars 40+ Years of Experience C.W. Moore Plaza .250 S. 5th St., Ste. 700 PO Box 7426.Boise, ID 83707 Tel: (208) 344-5800 .Fax: (208) 344-5510 randerson@ajhlaw.com .ajhlaw.com 23
What Structural Engineers Want Architects to Know BY CHRIS HOFHEINS, BHB STRUCTURAL There is a famous African proverb that reads: “It takes a village to raise a child.” It also takes a village to design and construct a building. The goal for all project team members is to work together to deliver a successful building for our clients. Here are four items architects can do to help their structural engineer deliver a winning project. • Engage the structural engineer early • Communicate what is important to you and the client • Establish clear lines of communication • Develop a schedule that maximizes design time and minimizes design changes Engage the structural engineer early The best practice would be to consult with a structural engineer at project conception. When consulted from the beginning, your structural engineer can provide different building material options and cost-effective ways to structurally frame the building. Creating floor plans and building concepts prior to consulting with a structural engineer will limit the options a structural engineer can provide. Due to product lead times, many cost-effective solutions may no longer be an option for the project, which will increase project costs. Communicate what is important to you and the client Structural engineers want architects to be successful in delivering their vision to clients. Occasionally, a structural engineer’s nature to please is misguided when we do not understand what is most important to the architect, contractor, and owner. Take column placement as an example. Without additional input from the architect, the structural engineer will provide a column layout that is most efficient for the building structure. This efficiency may be in contradiction with the architect’s goals. Frequent communication and feedback to your structural engineer will enable them to provide structural options that meet your vision, are cost-effective, and builder-friendly. Establish clear lines of communication Structural engineers are problem solvers by nature. Communication comes fast and from all directions. Sometimes BHB Structural Engineers Project 24 AIA IDAHO ARCHITECTURE | 2022-23 | aiaidaho.com
structural engineers unintentionally get the proverbial cart in front of the horse. A common example is when a contractor contacts the engineer directly seeking a solution to a problem. If your structural engineer knows the architect’s communication preferences, engineers can be more responsive to needs and questions without creating confusion in the process. Develop a schedule that maximizes design time and minimizes design changes The most notable change in the industry I have seen over my career is the acceleration of the design process. Structural engineers are typically on the critical path to complete our design and deliver permit documents so the contractor can get in the ground as soon as possible. The need to start construction quickly is at odds with the structural engineer’s need to develop the most cost-effective design. The two most notable things architects can do to help structural engineers successfully overcome this challenge are building a schedule that maximizes our design time and minimizes changes. Go to bat for your structural engineer to help them establish a design timeline that enables the contractor to deliver the project on time while maximizing the structural engineer’s design timeline. Establish intermediate design deliverables, then hold owners and design team members accountable for hitting deliverables and making decisions. Late information and changes raise the hurdle and make it more difficult for your structural engineer to deliver a complete and cost-effective design on an accelerated schedule. Nothing is more satisfying than being part of an effective team that works together to deliver a successful project despite the obstacles along the way. Engaging with your structural engineer early, sharing project goals with clear lines of communication, and developing a schedule that enables all team members to be successful are the necessary ingredients to a successful project. Chris Hofheins is co-founder and President of BHB Structural. Over the course of 20 years, BHB has become one of the largest structural engineering firms in the Intermountain West by focusing on providing responsive, wellcoordinated and creative structural engineering. Chris frequently gives AIA CES presentations on a variety of topics. He can be reached at chris.hofheins@bhbengineers.com or 801.355.5656. 405 S. 8th Street, Ste. 285 Boise, ID 83702 208.314.9160 tjkengineers.com TJK CONSULTING ENGINEERS Mechanical . Electrical . Plumbing . Technology Engineering is what we do. Life Through DesignSM is what we create. 25
Getting to Know: Thomas Robinson, AIA Idaho Juror Why did you become an architect? I was interested in design from a young age because of a house my great-grandfather built in Woods Hole, Massachusetts. My interest in architecture is an outgrowth of that. The house is on the southwest corner of Cape Cod. He used timber harvested from Oregon in 1928. I grew up in the suburbs of Washington D.C., but I would come to his house in the summer. It was a very small, simple house. I always admired its materiality and the craft that had gone into putting it together. The wood wasn’t finished, and you could see the fingerprints of the people who had put it together. I liked how it felt to be there. You studied architecture at the University of California, Berkeley and Harvard University Graduate School of Design. What was the most important thing you learned at either or both schools? The two schools had different approaches, and I got a lot out of my time at both. I was fortunate to be at Berkeley, which had incredible and brilliant professors. My education there was focused on the arts and design. During my first semester, all we did was hand drawings. It was just a pencil on paper, and you never had a straight edge. We studied art, aesthetics, composition, drawing and sculpture. There was also a great building sciences department where the professors focused on subjects such as daylighting, sustainability and indoor air quality. After Berkeley, I worked for several years, and I was licensed before I went back to the design school at Harvard. That experience opened my eyes to a broader, more international world of architecture. People all over the world gave lectures. One of the most amazing experiences I had there was with Peter Zumthor, who wasn’t as famous then as now. That was a highlight of my graduate school experience. Meeting him led me to move to Basel, Switzerland, with my wife. I worked at Herzog & de Meuron for three years. What something is made of always interests us, and we design buildings around material characteristics. We leverage material to do even better what it can already do really well. 26 AIA IDAHO ARCHITECTURE | 2022-23 | aiaidaho.com AIA Idaho Awards Jurors: Thomas Robinson, Faith Rose, Ben Waechter
How did the two educational experiences differ? They were different but complementary. Berkeley focused on building sciences. You learned how to make things from different materials. Harvard was much more connected to what is happening internationally. We also looked at larger issues around theory and how intellectual movements impact the production of architecture. How has your work as the USDA Wood Innovation Grant Visiting Professor at the University of Arkansas helped you as an architect? The Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design at the university focuses on innovation specific to timber. It was great to share what I had learned about mass timber buildings. What has been the most significant work experience you’ve had so far during your career? We were part of the team that won the 2015 U.S. Tall Wood Building Prize Competition. We used a $1.5 million grant to develop a high-rise wood building design and pay for the testing and modeling to demonstrate that tall wood buildings are possible. We worked with national and international engineers and research scientists. The project has impacted international building codes and how people think about tall wood buildings. How have the awards you’ve won as an architect affected your professional development? Rewards are gratifying, but the real reward is the work itself and knowing clients love the spaces that you’ve created. Why did you start LEVER Architecture? In 2009, when I started LEVER Architecture in my basement, I had already begun thinking of architecture as more than an end in itself. I was fortunate to have great relationships with people I worked with through the years. Opportunities came up when I started telling people I was on my own, and after a while, I found some office space. Now we have 42 people. We have been open to insights from our long-term collaborations with consultants, contractors and subcontractors. Our most successful architecture reflects a strong work relationship with everyone involved. What something is made of always interests us, and we design buildings around material characteristics. We leverage material to do even better what it can already do really well. In the case of wood or timber, we know what it can do better than other materials and what it does not do quite as easily. That understanding is our framework as we think about the design. What has your experience been like as a juror for AIA Idaho annual award competition? How have the project evaluations you did for the competition influenced you professionally? I was excited to be a juror. I grew up hiking in the mountains, and I had always heard amazing things about Ketchum and Sun Valley, but I’d never been to Idaho or spent any time there before. Idaho’s incredible landscape was interesting. I spent some time in Sun Valley, and I enjoyed meeting the architectural community. It’s good to get out of the environment you are used to and see what other people are doing in a different landscape and place. Which project for the 2021 competition did you enjoy the most? Why? For me, it was a wonderful surprise to find innovation in places you are not as familiar with and don’t expect. Buildings for an insulation company or a high-end heating and cooling company can become amazing pieces of architecture. Architecture can come from anything, and it can come from any program. It can be part of your everyday life. We gave VY Architecture a commercial architecture honor award for a project called EnergySeal. The building is for a company that installs insulation, and it demonstrates how you can bring a richer experience to people’s everyday lives. Because being in an extraordinary everyday building is as valuable as spending time in a French cathedral. In 2021, the World Population Review listed Idaho as the fastest-growing state in the U.S. Do you have any suggestions for Idaho’s architects as they meet the newcomers’ needs? We should collaborate now and advocate for good decisions. Idaho’s primary strength is the landscape. If you spoil something, you can’t easily unspoil it. But if you aren’t thinking long-term about the impact of how you grow, it’s very easy to lose what’s special about a place like Idaho and the west in general. Growing without a plan is always a danger because it takes place without thinking about the impact of growth on the larger ecosystem in 10 or 20 years. But that impact will lead to an environment from which people will want to escape. Architects are always working on making the future real. They use their skills to demonstrate or visualize what different types of growth will mean, how they can impact that future, and maintain the strengths that make people want to come to Idaho in the first place. Any last words? Design is connected to the materials you find or potentially harvest from a particular landscape. Hopefully, that connection is something people can recognize that makes them feel more connected to a place. LEVER Architecture has a set of goals and principles that we use to create the experiences for people in our buildings. We’re very interested in setting off with a shared set of experiences and principles and the client’s or community’s aspirations. It is a team effort. My goal is always to ask whether we are keeping our eyes on those initial principles. Are we creating spaces that move people and allow them to do their best? The way a tool is used to do something is what is meaningful. It isn’t about the tool itself. If you put a lever in the right place and know how to use it, you can move the world. b 27
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