The AIA National Convention takes place May 17 to 19 just down the street from the residential architect offices at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. The theme “Design Connects” is especially relevant with residential architects, who strive to create spaces where homeowners can connect to family and friends, their environment, culture, and history. At least eight of the conference sessions will focus on residential practice, many of them led by well-known, award-winning architects. Topics include passive house design, new regionalism, BIM for residential architecture, architect-led design/build, and more. Dennis Wedlick, Frank Harmon, Peter Pfeiffer, and Luis Jauregui are just a few of the presenters.
Here’s a list of all scheduled residential sessions, some of which occur Wednesday, May 16, before the expo opens. Most of these panels were organized by the Custom Residential Architects Network (CRAN), an AIA knowledge community . Full descriptions can be found at convention.aia.org.
Seeing Beyond the Glare of “EcoBling” – A Tale of Two Climates
Presented by Peter Pfeiffer and Phil Kaplan
Wednesday, 1:00 – 5:00 p.m., session # WE305
Connect to the World and Community: Region-Based Design and Its Connection to Culture, Community, and Place
Presented by Frank Harmon, with Peter Q. Bohlin, David Jameson, and Mark McInturff
Thursday, 2:00 – 3:30 p.m., session # TH209
Architect-Led Residential Design Build Practice
Presented by Luis Jauregui and James Walbridge
Thursday, 2:00 – 3:30 p.m., session # TH204
Best Residential Architects: Seven x Seven
Seven Washington, D.C.-based residential architects, each with a national reputation, will make seven-minute presentations of their firms’ work. Q & A after moderated by residential architect editor, Claire Conroy.
Thursday, 3:00 – 4:00 p.m., session # EX133
Did You Get the Owner’s Manual for Your Practice?
Presented by Charles Heuer
Thursday, 4:00 – 5:30 p.m., session # TH309
AIA CRAN Residential Architects Forum
Friday, 10:00 – 11:30 a.m., session # EV302
Passive House Design: Town and Country
Presented by Dennis Wedlick and Jeremy Shannon
Friday, 4:00 – 5:30 p.m., session # FR314
AIA Small Project Practitioners, Custom Residential Architects Network, and Residential Knowledge Community Reception
Friday, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m., session #EV321
BIM for Residential Architecture: Taking It to the Next Level in Real-World Practice
Presented by James Walbridge and Stuart Narofsky
Saturday, 8:30 – 10:00 a.m., session # SA204
The Best in Housing Awards
The Best in Housing Awards, honoring the winners of the 2012 residential architect Design Awards, the AIA Housing Awards, and the AIA Housing/HUD Secretary’s Awards.
Saturday, 10:30 – 12:30, at the Architect Live Broadcast Center, Booth 2039
