Steven M. Nilles, FAIA, LEED AP; James E. Prendergast, FAIA, LEED AP; and Leonard Koroski, FAIA, LEED AP, have all been elected to the distinguished College of Fellows of the American Institute of Architects. All three are senior leaders at architecture firm Goettsch Partners (GP) and represent half of the six Chicago-based architects that were elevated this year, out of a total of 105 nationwide.
- Steven M. Nilles, FAIA, LEED AP, is the partner in charge of the firm’s Abu Dhabi office, leading the firm’s activities in the United Arab Emirates and other Gulf States. Nilles specializes in the technical design of high-rise buildings that integrate advanced engineering concepts, innovative use of materials, and sustainable design strategies. He has worked on projects throughout the U.S. as well as in China, the Czech Republic, Germany, Poland, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. Nilles holds a professional Bachelor of Science degree in architecture from the University of Notre Dame.
- James E. Prendergast, FAIA, LEED AP, is the partner who leads the interior architecture practice, specializing in the strategic planning and design of workplace environments. He has served some of the world’s leading companies and forward-thinking clients, providing intelligent solutions. Prendergast frequently presents at client and professional forums, and lectures as part of university curriculums on design and its impact on client culture and performance. He received his Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of Cincinnati.
- Leonard Koroski, FAIA, LEED AP, is a principal in the firm and a senior project architect, with expertise in the renovation, preservation, repositioning and adaptive reuse of older buildings. His work spans a range of building eras and styles. Koroski has also held key volunteer roles in the American Institute of Architects, serving as the president of AIA Illinois, a member of the AIA national board of directors, and co-chair of the AIA national Committee on the Environment. Koroski received a Bachelor of Architecture degree from the Illinois Institute of Technology.
The Fellowship program recognizes architects who have made a significant contribution to the profession and to society and who have achieved a standard of excellence. Out of a total AIA membership of more than 80,000, there are just over 3,000 members distinguished with this honor.
The Investiture of Fellows Ceremony takes place May 17 at the AIA 2012 National Convention and Design Exposition in Washington, D.C. BD+C
Related Stories
| Dec 2, 2010
U.S Energy Secretary Chu announces $21 Million to improve energy use in commercial buildings
U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced that 24 projects are receiving a total of $21 million in technical assistance to dramatically reduce the energy used in their commercial buildings. This initiative will connect commercial building owners and operators with multidisciplinary teams including researchers at DOE's National Laboratories and private sector building experts. The teams will design, construct, measure, and test low-energy building plans, and will help accelerate the deployment of cost-effective energy-saving measures in commercial buildings across the United States.
| Nov 29, 2010
Data Centers: Keeping Energy, Security in Check
Power consumption for data centers doubled from 2000 and 2006, and it is anticipated to double again by 2011, making these mission-critical facilities the nation’s largest commercial user of electric power. Major technology companies, notably Hewlett-Packard, Cisco Systems, and International Business Machines, are investing heavily in new data centers. HP, which acquired technology services provider EDS in 2008, announced in June that it would be closing many of its older data centers and would be building new, more highly optimized centers around the world.
| Nov 29, 2010
New Design Concepts for Elementary and Secondary Schools
Hard hit by the economy, new construction in the K-12 sector has slowed considerably over the past year. Yet innovation has continued, along with renovations and expansions. Today, Building Teams are showing a keener focus on sustainable design, as well as ways to improve indoor environmental quality (IEQ), daylighting, and low-maintenance finishes such as flooring.
| Nov 29, 2010
Renovating for Sustainability
Motivated by the prospect of increased property values, reduced utility bills, and an interest in jumping on the sustainability bandwagon, a noted upturn in green building upgrades is helping designers and real estate developers stay busy while waiting for the economy to recover. In fact, many of the larger property management outfits have set up teams to undertake projects seeking LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance (LEED-EBOM, also referred to as LEED-EB), a certification by the U.S. Green Building Council.
| Nov 23, 2010
The George W. Bush Presidential Center, which will house the former president’s library
The George W. Bush Presidential Center, which will house the former president’s library and museum, plus the Bush Institute, is aiming for LEED Platinum. The 226,565-sf center, located at Southern Methodist University, in Dallas, was designed by architect Robert A.M. Stern and landscape architect Michael Van Valkenburgh.
| Nov 23, 2010
Honeywell's School Energy and Environment Survey: 68% of districts delayed or eliminated improvements because of economy
Results of Honeywell's second annual “School Energy and Environment Survey” reveal that almost 90% of school leaders see a direct link between the quality and performance of school facilities, and student achievement. However, districts face several obstacles when it comes to keeping their buildings up to date and well maintained. For example, 68% of school districts have either delayed or eliminated building improvements in response to the economic downturn.
| Nov 16, 2010
Architecture Billings Index: inquiries for new projects remain extremely high
The new projects inquiry index was 61.7, down slightly from a nearly three-year high mark of 62.3 in September, according to the Architecture Billings Index (ABI). However, the ABI dropped nearly two points in October; the October ABI score was 48.7, down from a reading of 50.4 the previous month. The ABI reflects the approximate nine to 12 month lag time between architecture billings and construction spending.
| Nov 16, 2010
Brazil Olympics spurring green construction
Brazil's green building industry will expand in the coming years, spurred by construction of low-impact venues being built for the 2016 Olympics. The International Olympic Committee requires arenas built for the 2016 games in Rio de Janeiro meet international standards for low-carbon emissions and energy efficiency. This has boosted local interest in developing real estate with lower environmental impact than existing buildings. The timing couldn’t be better: the Brazilian government is just beginning its long-term infrastructure expansion program.
