AIA Q&A With President Robert Piñon Page 5 PUB 2 2021-2022 ISSUE 4
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4 REFLEXION | 2021-22 | AIA Utah Ref lexion is a publication of the Utah Chapter of the American Institute of Architects. www.aia.org/utah AIA Utah 280 S 400 W, Suite 150 Salt Lake City, Utah 84101 President Robert Pinon, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP President-Elect Jessica Hoffman, AIA, NCARB Secretary Jared Anzures, AIA Treasurer Roger Phillips, AIA Editor Frances Pruyn, CPSM Staff: Michael Smith, CAE Executive Director Jennifer MacGillvray Staff ©2022 AIA UT | The newsLINK Group, LLC. All rights reserved. Reflexion is published quarterly by The newsLINK Group, LLC for AIA Utah 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 UT, 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. Reflexion is a collective work, and as such, some articles are submitted by authors who are independent of the AIA UT. While AIA Utah 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. CONTENTS AIA Q&A With President Robert Piñon.......................................5 AIA Utah Fall Conference 2022 Keynote Speaker: Lawrence Scarpa............................................................................9 AIA Utah’s Kevin Miller: From Basic Design to Becoming a Fellow.........................................................................................10 President Barack Obama Appears at the AIA Conference on Architecture 2022..................................................................13 Getting to Know Cory Alder – President of Alder Sales Corporation........................................................................14 Why Awards Are Important for Architects...............................17 Interviews with Local Legends: Tony Wegener......................20 Interviews with Local Legends: Burke Cartwright................. 24 Please join us for our 2022 AIA Utah Conference................. 27 What Mechanical Engineers Want Architects to Know........ 28 Total Recall: Cognitive Biophilia and the Restorative Impact of Perceived Open Space, Part 2............................................. 30 Thank you Allied Members.......................................................33 AIA CEO Lakisha Woods says “her success is tied to their success” at A’22 kickoff.............................................................34
5 AIA Q&A With President Robert Piñon Robert Piñon, AIA, LEED AP and MHTN Architects’ Vice President over Commercial and Municipal Sectors, is the current AIA Utah president. MHTN was founded in 1923 by Ray Ashton and Ray Evans. The company has been involved in many important Utah projects, such as the University of Utah School of Business (2012), Utah Valley Convention Center (2012), and Salt Lake County District Attorney Office (2020). The firm is nationally recognized and currently employs 36 licensed architects. — continued on page 6 Robert is a longtime member of AIA hired in 1996 at MHTN as a drafter. He graduated from the University of Utah in 2001, with a master’s degree in architecture and has worked in every area of the company since he was hired. Robert’s father was a Texas-born embassy employee who married a Spanish woman he met while serving in the U.S. Air Force. As a result, the family moved from capital to capital in countries such as Chile, Honduras, Ireland and Portugal, and Robert attended international schools. During Robert’s childhood and youth, he never lived anywhere for more than two to four years. He played varsity basketball and graduated from high school in Chile 30 years ago. His Eagle Scout project involved updating a children’s playground at a local Chilean kindergarten. Robert also spent two years in Japan on a church mission. He is multilingual and speaks English, Spanish, Portuguese and Japanese. He and his wife have two sons and enjoy traveling. Robert is preparing for Lotoja, a 206-mile bike ride from Logan to Jackson. He also coaches his sons’ soccer team. He enjoys skiing at Alta and exploring southern Utah’s deserts. AIA Utah recently spoke with Robert about his life, work and AIA.
6 REFLEXION | 2021-22 | AIA Utah Why did you become an architect? I love airplanes and originally wanted to be a pilot, but I also loved Legos. When I was 14, I realized how perfect vision is temporary and crucial for pilots. I worried that I wouldn’t always have perfect vision. So I switched career paths. There is magic in creating space and changing environments. The profession of architecture combines design and art, and it is tactile. I enjoy all of that. Please tell us about your studies at the University of Utah. What was the most important lesson you learned during your time there? My professors helped me think and explore. I gained the ability to critically think through problems, be confident in my thought process and find my ground. There were challenges and opportunities to test things I wouldn’t have considered otherwise. I learned about important practical skills such as communication with teams and colleagues. While there, I took two business classes because I was looking for additional skill sets, and I worked within the Kajima Lab, a 3D software lab hosted by a Japanese construction company. The professors taught us mechanical concepts, building science, structure and design. I learned how to communicate with clients and set priorities and needs. Who have your most important mentors been? I worked under Pat McLaughlin for six years, starting on day one. He taught me to always seek out options and to be openminded. He encouraged me to get involved with AIA early in my career. He moved to Portland before COVID to be closer to his daughter, but he continues to be a good influence. He also taught me how important it is to start saving for retirement early, time being your greatest asset. Dennis Cecchini, our former CEO and AIA past president, also mentored me. He instilled confidence in making necessary decisions quickly so projects could move forward. His passion for architecture and securing a client’s satisfaction has remained with me. And then there is golf – the etiquette and value of spending time with others; we’ve enjoyed many rounds on the greens! It’s rare to talk with someone who has focused on one company. Please tell us about how you arrived there and why you stayed. Until I came to Utah, I typically moved every two years; the longest I stayed anywhere was four years. Salt Lake City is welcoming, and we are very comfortable with Utah’s outdoors and the culture. My wife and I have had amazing careers here. I connect with the firm’s mission to create extraordinary environments, and there’s never been a lack of work or challenge. We fit here. I have also had the great fortune of working on projects that have captured my imagination. I have even gotten to design airports and revisit my love of that building type. When I was working on my master’s project at the University of Utah, my project was the Provo City Airport, and twenty — continued from page 5
7 years later, we were able to design and stamp an airport for Provo. That was one of my favorite projects. It’s been updated to be suitable for Provo’s current need; it’s now a four-gate terminal that opened in May this year. I’ve also been involved for 20 years with the work being done at the Salt Lake City International Airport, old and new. How has AIA been helpful to you as an architect? Why is membership important? AIA Utah puts architects first. The association allows architects to continue their education, share and network. Also, the advocacy part of any association is huge. Our voices are stronger when we are united. The pandemic has been challenging for everyone. The last two years were very isolating, but now is the time for AIA Utah to support and enable architects and be a resource for them. We have completed some of our past promises, like adding signage to our AIA Utah office. Utah members want more emphasis and focus on good architecture; we hear that and are working on it with tours, awards, and celebrating the 100 Best Buildings in Utah. We also want to get people out of the office and into the same room more often now that it is safer. For instance, conferences can revitalize and reinvigorate our creativity – they can suggest methods and insulate ideas that find our way into our projects. The National AIA Conference in Chicago was inspiring. President Obama gave the keynote and spoke to 10,000 architects on the value of good design, referencing the amazing built environment of his hometown (Chicago). At the same conference, Studio Gang’s Jeanne Gang talked about how buildings can create community, and she gave an example by talking about a police station’s design. Police stations are traditionally isolated. You can feel the power and that can be off-putting. To change public perceptions about police work, Studio Gang designed the building differently, proposing that police stations become community centers and provide a safe place where people are welcome. Architects are putting their ideas into action in Chicago’s North Lawndale neighborhood. How and why did you get involved in a leadership role at AIA? In the past, I’ve served as the treasurer and a board member. I’ve also been treasurer for the Utah Center for Architecture (UCFA). Now, it is my turn to step up and guide the association. Last year, as president-elect, I was in charge of the fall conference. Next year I will plan the golf tournament. I really enjoy working with my peers from other architectural firms on joint projects. Our design community has so much intelligence and talent, and we don’t often get to collaborate. Involvement in AIA Utah can be stimulating. What do you plan to accomplish during the remainder of your term? What are the biggest problems currently facing AIA? Now that we have moved into an endemic mode, we want to serve members by providing them with a voice, education and advocacy. People are still struggling from the isolation the pandemic caused, but committees can provide purpose by promoting renewal. We held a strategic planning session in March and developed goals centered around "helping architects be better architects.” We are working with our members’ firms and with allied professions in the A/E/C industry to encourage stronger involvement and participation in activities. Additionally, we are strengthening our ties with the University and revitalizing the Young Architects Forum. We want the younger generation to connect, and we want to help talent stay local. For instance, in the fall, I will teach a graduate-level studio class at the AIA office. Its purpose is to connect students to the profession with a real project. The class will begin in mid-August when the semester starts. The class will give students a true experience of what it’s like to be an architect. I will be bringing in guest speakers from the industry, including structural, civil, and MEP Engineers. What would you like to say in summary to the AIA members who will be reading your article? We decided that right now, it’s all about connecting and reconnecting people. We also want to connect with students and help architects adjust to being back in the office. We want to provide networking opportunities. We want to help architects enjoy their jobs, be successful, and create community again. Utah members want more emphasis and focus on good architecture; we hear that and are working on it with tours, awards, and celebrating the 100 Best Buildings in Utah. We also want to get people out of the office and into the same room more often now that it is safer. For instance, conferences can revitalize and reinvigorate our creativity – they can suggest methods and insulate ideas that find our way into our projects.
Real projects start with the industry standard Before they broke ground, HBG Design ensured the Guest House at Graceland™ Resort was protected with AIA contracts. AIA Contract Documents used: B103-Owner/Architect Agreement for a Complex Project, C401-Architect/Consultant Agreement, E201-Digital Data Protocol Exhibit, plus associated administrative G-forms. Learn more about the Guest House at Graceland Resort project at aiacontracts.org/aiachapter Photography ©Jeffrey Jacobs
9 AIA Utah Fall Conference 2022 Keynote Speaker: Lawrence Scarpa The keynote speaker for the AIA Utah Fall Conference 2022 is Lawrence (Larry) Scarpa, FAIA. Larry has won over 200 major design awards for work that makes the “ordinary extraordinary.” His extremely creative work combines environmental sustainability with a strong and playful artistic sense while also honoring people’s need for livability. Lawrence Scarpa has garnered international acclaim for the creative use of conventional materials in unique and unexpected ways. His firm Brooks + Scarpa is the recipient of multiple international awards including the Smithsonian Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum Award in Architecture and the AIA National Firm Award. He is also the recipient of lifetime achievement awards from Interior Design Magazine and the AIA California Council. Mr. Scarpa has taught at the university level for more than two decades and is currently on the faculty at the University of Southern California. Presentation Title: Ordinary and Extraordinary Presentation Abstract: Why do we remember buildings, locations, and experiences? Even a place visited in our childhood can conjure emotions that make an impact on us through the memories they create. Lawrence Scarpa will explain the creative process that aspires to make a lasting impression out of even a brief encounter. Scarpa’s work is deeply rooted in conditions of the everyday and works with our perceptions and preconceptions to allow us to see things in new ways. He does this, not by escaping the restrictions of practice, but by looking, questioning and reworking the very process of design and building, rethinking the way things normally get done — with material, form, construction, even financing — and to subsequently redefine it to cull out it’s latent potentials — making the “ordinary extraordinary.” The seminar will look at building materials innovation and applications, and how it relates to the architectural design process and sustainable design strategies. The conference will be held Sept. 27-29, 2022. We hope to see you there! For more information please visit www.aia.org/ events/6522183-2022-aia-utah-annual-conference.
10 REFLEXION | 2021-22 | AIA Utah AIA Utah’s Kevin Miller: From Basic Design to Becoming a Fellow Left-Right: Kevin Miller, FAIA (2022) and Michael J. Stransky, FAIA (1993) Kevin Miller is a Utah native who grew up in Olympus Cove. He left Utah after high school to attend a private liberal arts college in California that is now called Claremont McKenna College. Kevin spent two years in California. Although he thought he might become a lawyer, he had trouble deciding what to do professionally. “I know a lot of attorneys, especially those who focus on construction law,” he said. “The way their brains work is fascinating, but I am doing the right thing. My interest in the legal aspects of architecture is an outgrowth of my interest in the law, but I would not have enjoyed practicing law the way I enjoy architecture.” His parents suggested that he attend the University of Utah until he figured out his direction. At that point, Kevin was a college junior. He wanted to take Introduction to Architecture as his Fine Arts prerequisite. The class was full, so he asked what else was available and signed up for a three-class series called Basic Design. The first class was about black and white, the second was about color, and the third was about 3D. “I thought the series sounded like a good idea even though it was a big commitment. It was a bit by chance that I took it, but it lit my fire and has given complete form to my life professionally,” said Kevin. “I wasn’t convinced I could be an architect until that series changed my mind.” Kevin got involved in AIA Utah as a student, serving as AIAS President in his final year of graduate school. He was also a student member of the Salt Lake City R/UDAT (Regional/ Urban Design Assistance Team) that occurred in the spring of 1988. R/UDAT is a public service program of the national AIA. It is “a results-driven community design program” based on the principles of interdisciplinary solutions, objectivity and public participation. The program combines local resources with the expertise of a multidisciplinary team of nationally recognized professionals who volunteer their time to identify ways to encourage desirable change in a community. The Kevin Miller, FAIA, is the president and CEO of GSBS Architects and recently became a Fellow of AIA. Kevin started working at GSBS in 1988 after earning his master’s degree in architecture at the University of Utah College of Architecture + Planning. AIA Utah interviewed Kevin about his life, career, the importance of having a membership in AIA Utah, the award ceremony and some of his favorite projects.
11 recommendations of the 1988 Salt Lake City R/UDAT resulted in the policy changes that led to the development of Salt Lake’s near-west side, including the establishment of an Arts and Entertainment District, what became the Gateway Mall, and ultimately the Granary District. Like everybody else in graduate school, he also took Pro Practice. Craig Coburn taught him (and sent him a note later to congratulate Kevin when he was elevated to Fellow). When Kevin graduated, the U.S. was coming to the end of a recession, and jobs were difficult to come by. Kevin had interviewed and dropped off his resume at different companies but says he “could not find a gig.” However, he knew Stephen Smith of GSBS “from a previous life,” and participating in AIA Utah as a student allowed him to become acquainted with other GSBS principals: David Brems and Mike Stransky. They offered him a job when he was getting ready to graduate, and Kevin has been at GSBS ever since. After Kevin joined the firm, he found that everyone eligible was expected to join AIA. GSBS encouraged AIA involvement with time, money and moral support. Three months after he arrived, GSBS laid off 12 people. “I hoped they kept me because I was intelligent, working hard and doing well,” said Kevin, “but now I recognize that I was probably the cheapest guy in the room.” However, the layoff created opportunities for those who remained. They had been a middling-sized firm before the layoff, and now they were small enough that everyone did much more of everything. Kevin found he was exposed to different aspects of the practice and had the opportunity to take on responsibility. The firm has grown since then, but Kevin still benefits from the understanding he gained of the company, its culture and everything that makes GSBS what it is. Although Kevin was initially an associate, he could finally call himself an architect and put AIA after his name when he got his license. “That was a moment of arrival,” said Kevin. “It’s what you strive for. And now, being able to put FAIA after my name is humbling. I am pleased and proud about it.” For the first couple of years after Kevin was hired, he worked directly with all four primary principals and three or four other senior architects. This opportunity occurred because the company values mentoring and also because of GSBS’s size. Abe Gillies, another principal, was an especially important mentor to Kevin because they saw the world the same way. Abe was a wise and knowledgeable man. He made time for Kevin, brought him along, counseled him, and put him in situations where he could grow. “I hope my actions live up to what Abe did when he was here,” said Kevin. Mike Stransky and Stephen Smith also invested their time in Kevin. “Virtually everybody I interact with has influenced how I look at and practice architecture,” said Kevin. “They helped shape the architect that I am now.” Kevin became a shareholder in 1998. Of the founders who hired him, David Brem is the only one who is still an active practitioner, design principal and board member. The other three have retired. Kevin thinks AIA membership is important for several reasons. The relationships he built as a student helped him secure a job after he graduated, but Kevin also sees AIA as the vehicle by which architects enhance their profession. “Even though we all compete daily, there is a big picture responsibility to make the world better and improve it for architects, too,” he said. “Architects are not historically great at self-promotion, and the way we are valued is not commensurate with our contributions. AIA is an important vehicle to change that situation.” Kevin found his place in AIA on the national level. “I was engaged in my career and relatively introverted,” said Kevin. “I didn’t have much involvement because AIA didn’t seem like my cup of tea. But agreements, and the underlying structure of how they were held together, interested me. My former boss and partner, Mike Stransky, got me on the documents committee in 2008. I didn’t know he applied for me until I received a congratulatory email.” There are 24-34 members on the contract documents committee, depending on where the committee is on the cycle of document redrafts. “We have very similar interests, and we became friends,” said Kevin. “There are usually a certain group of people in a practice who are interested in contracts. But when they are interested, they are really interested. Those are the ones who do well on the committee.” One of the committee leaders asked Kevin to speak at a New Orleans convention. “I thought it would be good for me, and it was, but it was also hard,” said Kevin. “I’ve made presentations about risk management and contracts more than 30 times. I was more comfortable after 30 presentations, even though speaking was still tricky. Enthusiasm overcomes introversion. It is easy to talk when I am passionate about the subject, and I have a great deal of passion for helping practitioners practice in better ways and manage their risk.” There are six objects of nomination for AIA Fellows. Kevin was made a fellow because of Object Three, which has to do with leadership within the institute. “My contributions to the contract documents program influenced the construction industry,” said Kevin. “The assignment is usually a 10-year hitch, but they held me over for 14 years. I was the chair in 2015 and 2016 while we were doing the run-up to the 2017 document release.“ The pandemic made it impossible to have an FAIA ceremony for two years. Although some people were elevated to fellowship, they had no convention, ceremony or investiture. The medal came in the mail. When AIA was able to have a convention again, the FAIA awards ceremony was held in the historic Auditorium Theatre in downtown Chicago with — continued on page 12
12 REFLEXION | 2021-22 | AIA Utah its great acoustic space. “It’s a pageant,” said Kevin. “We had robes and medals and lots of handshaking. My wife and two of my three adult children made the trip out to see it. Mike Stransky and his wife also came to celebrate, as did current and former partners and their spouses. It was really something, and I am at a loss for words to describe it except to say it was fabulous and very humbling. You look around the room at the other people with their lists of accomplishments and wonder what on earth you are doing there. Compared to them, working on some contracts for 14 years doesn’t seem like that big a deal, but maybe they look at me and feel the same way about what I did.” Kevin knows most of the 23 current practicing or emeritus AIA Fellows in Utah, including GSBS’s Mike Stransky, David Brems and Stephen Smith. “They set the standard for what AIA involvement at this firm ought to be,” said Kevin. “But my involvement is at the national level and has been for nearly 15 years. I found my niche working on documents. As a result, many of the Fellows I know are around the country. A lot are involved with the documents committee and ultimately become Fellows as well.” As president of GSBS, Kevin does less architecture than he used to, but he is proud of the work he did on the speedskating oval for the Winter Olympics. He has also worked on many public safety buildings and done a lot of justice facility work, including the new state prison. “When you work on jails, courthouses and police work, the work is — continued from page 11 often focused on negatives: housing and punishment. The new prison has been an opportunity to move the needle on how justice works, and we think that project has a good chance of positively changing the lives of people who are there. We’ve designed it to encourage positive change. That is a big deal to me because our justice system is not working. The recidivism rate is more than 80%. We need to find a different way of impacting people so that breaking the law is not such common behavior.” As Kevin finished the interview, he said, “I live by the philosophy that you are not allowed to complain unless you are willing to invest in changing the situation. The way we can solve problems is through the AIA. Our profession will only improve if we invest in it, our projects and our practices.” As president of GSBS, Kevin does less architecture than he used to, but he is proud of the work he did on the speedskating oval for the Winter Olympics. He has also worked on many public safety buildings and done a lot of justice facility work, including the new state prison. AIA Utah Annual Scholarship Golf Tournament August 22 Jeremy Ranch Golf Club Thanks to all our 2022 sponsors! Plan on joining us for the 2023 Tournament. Title Sponsor: Alder Sales Corporation 2022 Tournament Sold Out.
13 The 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama, headlined AIA’s Conference on Architecture 2022 on Friday, June 24, in Chicago. He sat in conversation with AIA President Dan Hart, FAIA, where they discussed a wide variety of topics including his relationship to architecture, the issues facing the country, advice for architects and much more. A longtime Chicago resident, President Obama reveled in the energy of his hometown by sharing anecdotes and wisdom gleaned from his eight years as President of the United States of America. Much of the conversation revolved around President Obama’s relationship with many of AIA’s strategic priorities, including the link between environmental issues and social justice. “Chicago is a case study of times architecture reinforced inequity,” he said, citing lower-income housing in the city that wasn’t energy efficient and didn’t “give a lot of thought to how people live,” particularly in the winter. “Good planning and skilled architects are needed, but this is where government policy makes a difference. Sprawl in America isn’t good for our climate, so we have to think about how we create a liveable density that allows us to take mass transit and allows us to take bicycles and foot traffic,” he said. “It’s not just lack of funding for affordable housing, frankly some very well-intentioned laws and regulations at the local level, often generated from the left and my own party, sometimes are inhibiting the creation of affordable housing and empowering NIMBY attitudes that make it very difficult to integrate communities.” He also looked inward at his experience with architecture and explained that at one point in his life the President wanted to be an architect. He also gave advice to architects that listening to the community can impact their work. “The single most important thing I learned and carried through my entire career is listening to people. Turns out you don’t learn that much talking, but you do learn a lot listening,” President Obama said. “If people feel as if you’re actively listening and care about their stories and lives, they will tell you what’s important to them and who they are. That applies to every profession, including architecture.” “The gesture of interest that can then inform design is something that anyone can do,” he added. President Barack Obama Appears at the AIA Conference on Architecture 2022 President Obama looked back on his time in the White House and discussed both the high points and low points of his presidency. The passing of the Affordable Care Act was a highlight for President Obama, adding that he enjoyed a cold martini on the Truman Balcony at the White House with staff who worked on the legislation after it was codified into law. The Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown, Connecticut was the lowest point of his time in office. “That was a low point in waves. There was the shock of what had happened. There was me traveling to try to comfort parents to whom this had just happened,” he said. “It was the only time I saw Secret Service members cry on the job,” adding that he also felt fury at Congress for not doing anything to pass tighter gun control legislation. He reflected on the state of the country and looked at some of the biggest challenges that the country faces, and why he thinks there’s a need for the public to focus on facts again. “Everyone used to be working off the same base of facts. Now if you read the New York Times you occupy a different world than if you watch Fox News,” he said. “Think about what’s happening with the January 6th Commission and hearings taking place in the House. If you’re watching it, you’re seeing one set of facts and if you’re watching Tucker Carlson you are seeing a very different set of facts.” The President’s appearance at A’22 coincides with ongoing work at The Obama Presidential Center, an architecture project in the city’s Jackson Park neighborhood, a South Side neighborhood located mere miles from his speech at the McCormick Place Convention Center. The project, which broke ground in September 2021, is designed by AIA Architecture Firm Award winners Tod Williams and Billie Tsien Architects. It will feature a museum that will emphasize “the fullness of the American story,” ample public space designed as a community gathering area, a new branch of the Chicago Public Library, and much more. President Obama’s wife, First Lady Michelle Obama previously headlined the 2017 AIA Conference on Architecture in Orlando, Florida. A more comprehensive report of President Obama’s appearance at A’22 is forthcoming. BY GREG MENTI
14 REFLEXION | 2021-22 | AIA Utah Getting to Know Cory Alder – President of Alder Sales Corporation Why did the company’s founding members decide to start the company? Alder’s started as a restaurant supply company during the Great Depression. George Alder had been working in that business, and the company he worked for failed. He and his four sons decided they would open their own business out of the necessity of needing a job. They were successful in the restaurant supply business until the early 1950s. However, in the late 1930s, they started a division selling architectural specialty products like accordion doors. The restaurant supply business began to slow down in the early 1950s, and the family focused their efforts on architectural products. All the founding members were Alders. What was their family relationship with each other? G. Alfred Alder founded the company with his four sons, Lin, George, Don and Gerald. Each gave their attention to the business; however, other interests came along at different times for Lin, Gerald and George. My grandpa Don was the one who ended up staying with the business. Please tell us about the history of Alder Sales Corporation. In particular, what would you like to say about the three generations that came before you? Don was my grandfather. After the passing of his father, he started the process of buying out his three brothers. That buyout was completed in the 1960s. My father was the youngest of five children. His older siblings chose not to be in the family business. My dad started working at Alder’s at the age of 18. As my dad was the youngest sibling, his parents were aging out of the business, and my dad was asked to take over at a very young age. With the help of very good mentors in and out of the business, he took the company into steady 40-year growth. He acquired more product lines and expanded our footprint into the surrounding states of Nevada, southeastern Idaho and western Wyoming. Cory Alder is president of Alder Sales Corporation, title sponsor – and valued friend – of AIA Utah. As title sponsor, Alder Sales Corporation enjoys supporting the community. Like AIA Utah, they also believe in the goal of a better-built environment. By partnering with the AIA, Alder’s unique conscientiousness assists the community in expanding the quality of life. AIA Utah recently interviewed Cory about the company, its history and future direction.
15 Did you always intend to join the family company? Please tell us about your decision. I knew from the time I was little that I wanted to be a part of this company. I always enjoyed working alongside my dad, and I knew it was something I would want to do for my career. I also saw how much my dad loved doing this for a living, and I knew I would want to find that same joy. How has your perspective about the company changed as you have grown up, held positions within the company, and become president? As a child, I only saw the benefits of a family business. I didn’t see the long hours and sacrifices my parents put into it. As I have grown inside the company, I have seen those long days and hours and what this company means to so many other people. We have such a great core of employees that make this company go. I now also see the time and efforts put in by everybody in our company. As I started shadowing my dad around the office, I also learned of the great joy he got from watching everyone around him succeed. He loved seeing people grow and better their lives, personally or financially. He just loved seeing those in our company thrive. What has each job you’ve held contributed to your understanding of your company? The requirement my dad gave me was to work my way up and prove myself. When I was in high school, I worked part-time in the warehouse. During college, I spent an entire summer on our service crews. After graduating from BYU, I worked on job sites and installed products. These experiences gave me a true appreciation for how the process works. I learned how our installation crews dealt with issues on job sites that aren’t on the shop drawings. I also learned how important job site safety is. We have always taken that very seriously, and after spending a couple of years on job sites, I will continue that tradition always. The company website lists your products as daylighting solutions, space management solutions, fire and smoke containment, and commercial openings. What would you like architects to know about each of these products other than what is on the website? We know we are partnered with the very best manufacturers in the industry. Their ideals and goals align with ours, and we have long-term and successful partnerships with each one. This approach allows us to stand behind everything we do and gives architects the confidence that we will perform for their clients. Why did the company choose to focus on these products? We found that these products go to market in the same fashion; we help architects detail and specify each product. All these products require factory-trained technicians to ensure proper installation and function. In addition, our company services and maintains all our products for the life of the building. We have two full-time service technicians who only focus on ensuring that our products operate to the highest standards. For example, our technicians still service operable walls my grandfather installed in the 1950s! What are the advantages of working with commercial organizations? We have found our products lead us in that direction. We know we are partnered with the very best manufacturers in the industry. Their ideals and goals align with ours, and we have long-term and successful partnerships with each one. This approach allows us to stand behind everything we do and gives architects the confidence that we will perform for their clients. — continued on page 16
16 REFLEXION | 2021-22 | AIA Utah Working on the new Salt Lake International Airport must have been an important project. Please tell us about it. This project was not only an important one for us, but the largest scale daylighting project our company has ever handled. The sheer size and scale of the skylights and canopies led to our being tasked with supplying and installing all the daylighting panels and other scopes, such as proper air venting in the parking garage atrium space. We also ensured our systems complied with seismic movements required by code. What are a few other projects the company is particularly proud of? You have some pictures on your website about some of them. What would you like to say about these projects? We are, of course, proud of all projects we have been a part of. One project that sticks out is the original construction of the Salt Palace in 1983 and the subsequent additions. All those phases have played a big role in where we are currently in the operable wall market because of our expertise in dividing convention space. Your website highlights Bob Holbrook, Scott Lewis and Reuben Payzant. Is there anything else you would like to add to that information about them? Bob Holbrook and Reuben Payzant were two great mentors for my dad when he took over the business at a young age. Scott Lewis is our business consultant who has helped my father and me deal with changing business climates. And finally, please tell us about your plans for the company. Our goal is to handle the highest quality products and provide a place where we can help people and families in our community grow and better their lives. I plan to continue that legacy. We have grown our company’s footprint in the last few years into different markets. In 2004 we expanded into the Las Vegas market, and in 2020, we opened an office in the Boise market. We always look to add quality and reliable products that align with our ideals and the architects’ ideals. Our ultimate goal is to direct the client to what meets their needs in our markets. — continued from page 15 877-696-3742 toll-free epicmetals.com Jackie Fuller Elementary School, Aubrey, Texas Products: Envista F7.5A, Colony Maple Architect: Huckabee, Austin, Texas Envista® Roof and Floor Deck Ceiling Systems Envista FA Timberlok® provides the structural support and fire resistance of steel roof deck panels while providing the warm appearance of natural wood. Envista offers four wood grain finish options, superior acoustic properties, and long spans up to 36´. One project that sticks out is the original construction of the Salt Palace in 1983 and the subsequent additions. All those phases have played a big role in where we are currently in the operable wall market because of our expertise in dividing convention space.
17 Why Awards Are Important for Architects Awards naturally create memorable, defining moments. Recognizing the achievements of others inspires and spurs us to create and contribute in meaningful ways to the conversation and ongoing work in our field. It’s refreshing to step outside your experiences to see what others have been doing; it allows you to see your efforts from a new perspective. Awards are an effective way for peers and outside organizations to recognize the best design work and confirm that projects have been handled effectively and to high standards. Since architecture is a visual art, it is well-suited to an award process. Celebrating wins is gratifying, and it gives architects the motivation to reach for new goals. Those with an established reputation have a chance to continue contributing to the profession, and mentoring the up-andcoming architects. Those who are new have a chance to gain credibility and introduce new ideas. And sometimes, it’s the other way around: the new ideas may come from recognized voices, while younger architects may be the ones to teach everyone else about what is possible. Great architectural firms are collaborative. Most architectural projects are created as a team, and architectural awards are a way to recognize team members. — continued on page 18
18 REFLEXION | 2021-22 | AIA Utah — continued from page 17 Global and regional awards often highlight broad architectural trends. They can celebrate a body of work, specific achievements, and sometimes the work of people who are not architects. Each year, AIA Utah recognizes outstanding architects in our community with the following awards: Special Design Recognition Award Merit Award Honor Awards There are also several highly prestigious awards familiar in architectural circles. For example, AIA has more than 30 award programs. The top award is the Gold Medal, awarded to an individual or pair of architects who have created a practical and theoretical legacy. It is an international award and has been awarded to architects such as Frank Lloyd Wright and Frank Gehry. Since 1984, the UIA has been awarded by the International Union of Architects to living architects. It’s the only lifetime achievement award bestowed upon architects by their peers, presented at an awards ceremony at the end of the UIA Triennial World Congress. The Pritzker Architecture Prize is probably the best-known award. People compare it with the Oscars, and others call it the Nobel of Architecture. The Pritzker was founded in 1979 by Jay and Cindy Pritzker, who wanted to encourage public attention to buildings. The Architecture MasterPrize, established in 2016, is a global competition with two categories, professional and student. The award recognizes innovative thinking, new ideas and outstanding design. The Aga Khan Award for Architecture is awarded every three years, which started in 1977, and is an international award recognizing Islamic-oriented projects and preferences. The Royal Institute of British Architects first recognized notable architecture in 1848 with the Royal Gold Medal. RIBA also sponsors other awards, including an International Prize, International Emerging Architect Prize, International Awards for Excellence and the President’s Medal for students and recent graduates. The Royal Gold Medal recognizes a body of work, not an individual building. The Prix Versailles is a newer award. It started in 2015 and is handed out annually at UNESCO’s headquarters. There are seven categories and hundreds of winners. Submitted projects come from many nations. Awards matter and the chance to network with other professionals at awards ceremonies is a plus. Winning an award increases team morale, which is great because architecture depends heavily on teams. Awards can also affect relationships with clients and partners by forging stronger bonds. They create a culture of achievement at firms and nurture pride in projects. They showcase the results of a lot of hard work, increase awareness of where the bar is located and how it can be raised, and provide third-party validation. b Awards matter and the chance to network with other professionals at awards ceremonies is a plus. Winning an award increases team morale, which is great because architecture depends heavily on teams. Awards can also affect relationships with clients and partners by forging stronger bonds. They create a culture of achievement at firms and nurture pride in projects. They showcase the results of a lot of hard work, increase awareness of where the bar is located and how it can be raised, and provide third-party validation. To learn more about the awards offered by AIA Utah and AIA, please scan this QR Code: https://www.aia.org/utah
Council Hall, Salt Lake City, UT. Crafted from beautiful sandstone from Red Butte Canyon under the direction of William H. Folsom in 1866. Originally Salt Lake City Hall and home to the Mayor's offices and the seat of Salt Lake City Government and meeting place for the Utah Territorial legislature. The Rose Room on the second floor served both as a general courtroom and the legislative floor. To make way for the new courthouse, the building's exterior was dismantled into 325 sandstone slabs. They were numbered and reassembling around all-new woodwork on Capitol Hill. Restoration was done under the direction of Edward O. Anderson and renamed "Council Hall." As your preferred insurance provider, we make the proper adjustments to protect your business and cover its liability. We are leaders in insurance products and services for architects and engineers with over 60 years of specialized experience. From loss prevention to risk management, we strive to build long-term relationships with a foundation built on trust and commitment. Insure your architectural heritage. Brick by brick. Stone by stone. Professional & General Liability • Disability • Group Life Commercial Auto • Workers’ Comp • Property & Equipment Group Health • Personal Home • Personal Auto • Life Salt Lake City Office (801) 364-3434 | (800) 736-3436 Las Vegas Office (702) 877-1760 | (877) 806-5317 www.american-ins.com Council Hall, Salt Lake City, UT. Originally built in 1866. Moved to new location on Capitol Hill in 1961.
20 REFLEXION | 2021-22 | AIA Utah Interviews with Local Legends Tony Wegener, AIA Tony Wegener is an Australian native. When he came to Logan, Utah, in the 1960s to marry his fiancé, the plan was to stay here for five years, get to know her people, and then return home to Australia. He joined a seventy-year-old firm, Schaub Haycock & Associates, in 1966. When the owner retired, Tony and his partners reorganized the firm and renamed it Architectural Design West. The firm is still thriving, and so is Tony. After fifty years in the industry, he is retired and still lives in Logan, but visits Hawaii three weeks out of every year to surf – an addiction he acquired early in Australia. BY FRAN PRUYN How did you decide to become an architect? My mother was working in a medical clinic in Perth, Western Australia. I wanted to be a doctor because of being around them. My art teacher took me to one side and said, “You have talent, kid. You need to be an architect.” The doctors I lived with said, “Look, apply yourself to where your talent is.” I went to school at Perth Technical College. It was a five-year course: three years full-time and two years part-time. I worked four days a week, and went to school one day a week and two nights a week. So, I had the practical experience at the same time we were doing the professional experience. My design teacher was a woman, the first licensed architect in Western Australia. She was licensed in the 1920s, and she was fabulous. The first three years, we feared her, and the last two years, we loved her. We feared her because she dumped one design assignment on top of another design assignment, and we had no idea what we were doing until we learned by doing it. Sort of like riding a bicycle; you can't tell someone how to ride a bicycle. You can coach them if they trust you. And we trusted her. The state paid for my education. I got a scholarship, but I had to work for the state for four years after I graduated. Turns out I only worked one year for the state. I joined the LDS Church [The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints] when I was 20, and I got called on a mission as an architect for the church, so I worked in Sydney for almost two years with the worldwide program building one-and-a-half chapels a day. We did about 15 meeting houses, and I got to travel all over Australia to construction sites. How did you move from Perth to Logan, Utah? The short story is I met a girl from Logan, Utah, in Sydney and followed her home. I was engaged to my wife before she left Australia. She worked in the hospital as a dietitian, then she left and went around the world with her mother. In 1965, when my fiancée got back to the States, I got a tourist visa, and we got married six weeks later. I thought I owed it to my wife to spend a little time in her community, so I applied for a job at Schaub and Haycock. It was a family business that had been in business since 1892. We think it's the longest continuously operating architectural firm west of the Mississippi.
21 Gene Haycock liked my experience with off-form concrete (there's not a lot of lumber in Australia). He had just received the commission to design the USU football stadium, and they wanted to do that in off-form concrete. He asked me, “Have you ever done anything with off-form concrete?” “Matter of fact, my last job in Sydney was doing a beautiful office building for the Reader's Digest Association.” He hired me on the spot. What did it take to get licensed in the U.S.? Were you licensed in Australia? I was. Well, I approached somebody on the licensing board about the process, and he said, “I would like you to hold off for a while.” And I said, “Why?” And he said, “We are working on a reciprocity agreement between the AIA and the RAIA (Royal Australian Institute of Architects). I would like to use you as a test for this process.” I think I was the fifth Australian architect licensed in the United States. I didn't have to take any tests. I just got reciprocity. So, you're working on the USU Football Stadium. Are you thinking, “Now I'm an American,” or “I’m going back to Australia?” The plan was to work here and get professional experience for about five years. I had no intention of staying, but one thing led to another in terms of work experience. My only serious attempt to leave was in 1970 when things were bad in Utah. I thought, “I ought to look around.” Caudill Rowlett Scott [CRS] in Houston, Texas, was a firm of about 350 people specializing in architecture for education. I wrote them a letter. They invited me to come for an interview. I met Bill Caudill, probably the premier architect in the United States, and he interviewed me. He said, “I see that you’re from Utah. Are you a Mormon?” I said, “Uh, yes, sir. Is that going to be an impediment?” He said, “Not at all. We’ve got some Mormons working here, and they’re good employees, but let me tell you something. I can hire any architect I want in the United States. I can get the best and brightest students from any college, but some aren't worth a damn.” Then he went into a litany of all the human problems that people have, “I've got some guys who can't hold their liquor, play around with other guys’ wives,” he went on and on and on – all the human failings – he said, “Let me tell you something, son. I'm looking for good guys who know their stuff. In that order.” And that's been my mantra for years. You might be a great architect, but if you're not a good human being, you are not going to fit in here. That was a lesson learned as a young architect. Did you go to work for them? No. They really didn't offer me a job either. I did meet a young architect, Michael Henderson, who was working for CRS in their hospital design division. He had worked for Schaub Haycock in 1961 when he was a student at USU. He went to Rice [University] and got a degree in architecture and was hired by Bill Caudill. He and I decided we would try to make a health care design firm work on Utah. How did the firm evolve from a small family-owned firm to a multi-office concern? We were doing K-12 design in Utah and Idaho. I talked to Gene Haycock and said, “When you send me out to meet a school board, the first thing they ask me is ‘Where's Haycock?’ What we need is a company that doesn't have a personal name in it, so that people don't ask me where the boss is.” So we became Design West in 1971, and in 1973 when Michael Henderson returned to Logan, we formed Design West Health Facilities. One of Michael Henderson's associates became the healthcare design leader at HKS Architects in Dallas. When we got our first hospital, they sent us two employees for three months to help us produce that hospital. We had a relationship with them that lasted for at least 30 years. Gene Haycock, like other older architects, couldn't stand the change and the legalities. We never had contracts when I started. In fact, when I presented a contract to the superintendent of the Cache County School District for the first time, he said, “Tony, if I have to sign that, we will never do business again.” All business was done on a handshake. Gene couldn't stand the litigation, the whole “having to have insurance.” In 1976, he accepted the job to be the District Architect for the Cache Valley School District and retired from Design West. So, we reorganized. My partner, Richard Clyde, led the firm toward energy conservation design in the 1970s, which he applied to K-12 design. That led the firm into a twenty-five-year period of innovation through the western states. At one point, we had seven offices located in Utah, Idaho, California, and Washington. We won multiple state and national awards for energy conservation and energy innovation in public architecture. Many of our healthcare clients were hiring design-build companies. So, we made the business decision to form our own design-build company that did hospitals until 1985, when we lost three partners in a plane crash. One of the guys who died was the president of that company. The three partners we lost in that plane crash were Michael Henderson, Joe Oyler, President of PM-CM, and Richard Clyde, who was our number one education facility designer, and my best friend. That was tragic. We say in this company that we are survivors. Our founder, K.C. Schaub, was a survivor. I’ve traced all the ups and downs; even in the 1890s, there were downturns. He survived. There’s been lots of ups and downs, but 1985 was really hard, followed by 1987, which was another downer in the economy. In 1985, on the day after we lost our partners, Ron Skaggs, the president of HKS, flew up to Logan, put his arm around me and said, “Don’t make any fast moves. The entire resources of HKS are behind you,” and that was a wonderful professional thing. And what did you learn through that process? To keep going. I spent about two years after that in a funk; just, I couldn't see any point in the struggle. I was just going through the motions, but I was the president of the company. Then one day I had been trying to get an appointment with a — continued on page 22
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