2007

AIA PICKS SMITH FOR PRESTIGIOUS AWARD

April 20, 2007 - Detroit - The Michigan Chapter of the American Institute of Architects selected Rochester architect, Arthur F. Smith, FAIA, to receive the prestigious Hastings Award. Robert Hastings, FAIA was a Detroit architect with what is now called the Smithgroup. He rose through the local, state and national components of AIA and became national president in 1970. Smith will receive his plaque at the Annual Celebration of Excellence in Architecture in Plymouth at the Inn at St. John on April 20. The Inn will play host to over 200 architects for their celebration. This year will mark the 150th Anniversary of The American Institute of Architects.

Anyone who has ever met Smith is struck by his enthusiasm and passion. His greatest passion is design excellence. His ability to creatively solve complex issues with innovation has resulted in over thirty design honors and awards. He is a design principal with Harley Ellis Devereaux in Southfield and provides their clients with creative solutions to complex business challenges.

After earning his Architecture degree from Lawrence Technological University (LTU), his loyalty to the university and the profession has been unwavering. He is currently a thesis advisor for the Master’s Program and an adjunct professor for Interior Architecture. For four years he sponsored a design scholarship for the School of Architecture. He was on the Dean Selection Committee and is on the School of Architecture Curriculum Advisory Committee. While with Neumann/Smith & Associates, Inc., Smith designed LTU’s Engineering Building Addition and the new A. Alfred Taubman Student Services Center with Harley Ellis Devereaux. Hastings was also a LTU supporter and was awarded an Honorary Doctorate. Smith is also on the advisory board for Ferris State University’s Architectural Technology Program.

Smith is chairman of the AIA Michigan and AIA Detroit Honor Awards Committees.. He is an active member of the American Institute of Architects, where he served as President of AIA Michigan and AIA Detroit. He is the recipient of the Young Architect of the Year from both AIA Michigan and AIA Detroit. Art received his Fellowship into the American Institute of Architects in 1999 and the AIA Detroit Gold Medal in 2004.

2006

CLAWSON ARCHITECT IS HONORED

Detroit - May 19, 2006 - Roy Rocco Romano, AIA, has earned the prestigious Robert Hastings Award from the American Institute of Architects Michigan. The award was made at the Michigan Society’s Annual Celebration of Architecture in the Rackham Building on the campus of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor on May 12. Robert Hastings, FAIA was a Detroit architect who said in 1972, “As architects, we are committed to our profession and this commitment carries responsibilities far beyond those of design.” One of those responsibilities is education.

Recognizing that architectural literacy begins early, R. Rocco Romano, AIA worked tirelessly to produce “Architecture: It’s Elementary.” This Web-based guidebook for teachers, funded by the Michigan Architectural Foundation, includes ten lesson plans for each elementary school year, from kindergarten through grade five. The curriculum introduces children to the study of architecture and the built environment, encompassing art, social studies, language arts, history, science and math. These lessons engage children’s bodies, minds, and imaginations to explore how buildings and cities are designed and built.

Romano is a Principal with TMP Associates, Inc. in Bloomfield Hills. His 34-year career includes 26 years with the firm. Prior to joining TMP, Romano worked with Gillett Associates, Thomas Strat Associates and The Office of Sigmund Blum.

His strong community involvement is what truly sets Romano apart from most. In particular, he has a real passion for the development and welfare of children. He organized Junior Optimist Clubs at Clawson High School and Middle School, and at Schalm and Kenwood Elementary Schools. He serves as Youth Advisor at the Clawson United Methodist Church, and teaches Sunday school there. On the 4th of July each year you will see him as “Rocky” the clown in Clawson’s parade. He serves on the Planning Commission and Design Review Committee. All his community commitment made him Clawson’s 2004 Citizen of the Year,

In 2004, he received a Special Commendation Award from the Michigan Architectural Foundation for development of Architecture: It’s Elementary. He presented the book’s content as part of Governor Granholm’s “Cool Cities” Program, at the Michigan Association of School Administrators Conference, at the Detroit Area Council of Teachers of Mathematics Conference at the Michigan Art Education Association Conference and, last year, on a local cable television program, ”Newsmakers.”

Rocco is a 1970 graduate of Lawrence Technological University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Architecture. He lives in Clawson with his wife Linda, and has three grown children and two grandchildren.
 

2005

American Institute Of Architects Michigan Honors
 Robert W. Daverman With Hastings Award 

DETROIT, April 25, 2005 – The American Institute of Architects Michigan (AIA Michigan) will honor architect Robert W. Daverman, AIA,  LEED, with the Robert F. Hastings Award at the  2005 AIA Michigan Honor Awards and Recognition Program, being held Friday, April 29 at the Royal Park Place Hotel in Rochester Hills, MI.

The award, named in honor of Robert F. Hastings, FAIA, the distinguished past president of the American Institute of Architects, is given in recognition of distinguished service to an architect who has contributed significantly to the architectural profession.

Daverman is a senior architect and project leader with Progressive AE in Grand Rapids.

He has over 31 years of professional experience in the management of the architectural and engineering design process for buildings within educational, governmental, commercial, corporate, and residential markets.

Daverman originated and organized the West Michigan Regional Urban Design Charette, held in Grand Rapids in 2005. The first of its kind in the country, the charette was designed to look concurrently at multi-jurisdictional areas within the tri-plex cities of Grand Rapids, Holland and Muskegon. It created a document and presentation tool for greater dialogue among the communities and for the direct pursuit of grants for regional urban and environmental / sustainable design studies and development.

Throughout his career, Daverman has played a significant role in the design of many important projects.  He recently served as project manager for DeVos Place, Grand Rapid’s one million square foot, award-winning convention facility, coordinating management of the architectural and engineering team and the 26 consulting entities serving the architect, owner and city over the 5-1/2 year design/bid phase.  Other recent projects include Aquinas College’s Library and the Jarecki School for Advanced Learning; Lake Michigan College’s M-TEC; Camp Anna Behrens Dining Hall for Girl Scouts of Michigan Trails; Grand Rapids Public Schools Sibley/Straight Elementary; and the Enrollment Center for Grand Rapids Community College.

He served AIA Grand Valley as chapter president in 2002 and 2004, and currently serves as a director of AIA Michigan.  Additionally, he serves on the West Michigan Strategic Alliance’s Urban Revitalization Task Force, and is a past planning commission chair for the Village of Manchester, Mich., implementing their master plan and first signage and historic preservation ordinances. He also is a graduate of Leadership Grand Rapids.

Daverman received his Master of Architecture from the University of Michigan.

2004

Detroit - May 13, 2004 - Benedetto Tiseo, AIA who lives and maintains his architectural practice in Livonia, will be honored with the Robert Hastings Award by the American Institute of Architects Michigan on May 14 at Cranbrook Academy of Art.

The award is named for Robert Hastings, FAIA, who in his inaugural address in 1971 charged the nations architects assembled in convention to “use their political muscle” and be prepared to take positions on issues.

Tiseo is actively involved in the political arena on several levels, local, state and national. He is a strong proponent of adequate building code enforcement and serves on a number of organizations dedicated to that end including: International Code Council (formerly BOCA), International Conference of Building Officials and the Southeast Michigan Building Officials and Inspectors Association. He is also sits on the State of Michigan Building Code Review Committee.

His unique perspective on both design and construction makes him an interesting and challenging guest on "Home Improvement Talk Radio." He is both a registered architect and a licensed builder. He lectures regularly on code issues and the Americans With Disability Act.

He took his architecture degree from Lawrence Technological University and now serves as an Adjunct Instructor in the College of Architecture and Design. He helped to establish the Architecture Chapter of LTU Alumni Association and earned the Distinguished Architecture Alumni Award in 1996.

AIA Michigan is a component of the American Institute of Architects. Its members sponsor the Honor Awards Program to bring to public attention examples of good design and to recognize the people who make significant contributions to the built environment.

Detroit - April 30, 2003 - Michael Mosley, AIA received the prestigious Robert Hastings, FAIA Award from the American Institute of Architects Michigan on May 2, 2003 during a honor awards ceremony at the Kingswood School on the campus of Cranbrook in Bloomfield Hills.

Hastings believed that architects have a responsibility to guide the larger community to make difficult environmental decisions. He embraced the ethics of sustainability when it was still called environmental consciousness. In order for architects to take the lead in this important area, he advocated a broad-based architectural education that included strong technical training. When he died in 1973, the computer revolution was just beginning. Had he lived, he would have embraced the internet and applauded its ability to communicate ideas.

Mike Mosley, AIA also recognized the computers potential to communicate. Because of him Michigan was one of the first state components to develop a web site, AIAMI.COM. Without his talent and graphic skills, the site would be less interesting and more difficult to use.

He is a highly motivated, largely self-educated computer guru who has considerable computer experience. He teaches CAD and computer-related subjects at Lawrence and also has an architectural practice in Livonia where he designs buildings, supervises construction and consults with architectural firms about their computer systems.

Working nights and weekends, he designed and set up the site. This required over 650 hours the first year. He maintains the site and updates it daily. It has become a life line to architects practicing in the Upper Peninsula and other remote places. This effort led to recognition by the Institute and he received an award Washington, D.C. in March.

He earned a Bachelor of Architecture, Cum Laude in 1977 from Lawrence Technological University. He served in the U.S. Navy SeaBees during the Vietnam War.

He lives with his wife and family in Livonia.

AIA Michigan is a component of the American Institute of Architects. Its members sponsor the Honor Awards Program to bring to public attention examples of good design and to recognize the people who make significant contributions to the built environment.

Detroit — May 3, 2002 — Eugene Hopkins, FAIA, senior vice president, board member and studio leader for the SmithGroup is the recipient of the Robert F. Hastings Award. The award was created by the American Institute of Architects Michigan following Hastings’ death. Hastings was the last architect from Michigan to be president of the Institute in Washington. Hopkins is a candidate for the office this year. The election will be held in Charlotte, North Carolina next week. The award was presented at the annual design award ceremony on May 3 at Cranbrook Academy of Art.

AIA Michigan has over 2,000 members and is housed in the historic Beaubien House in downtown Detroit. The Michigan Honor Awards program is almost 40 years old and was organized to highlight well-designed buildings and to honor the people who create them.

DEAN VOGEL HONORED BY ARCHITECTS

Detroit — April 19, 2001 — Steve Vogel, FAIA receiveD the coveted Robert F. Hastings Award from the American Institute of Architects - Michigan during the Society's annual awards ceremony on May 4th at Cranbrook Academy of Art. This award was created following the death of Hastings in 1973. He was a prominent Detroit architect and engineer who become national president of the Institute in Washington. He was chairman of the board at Smith Hinchman and Grylls (now The SmithGroup) at that time.

Like Bob Hastings, Steve Vogel believes that architects must be committed to making a more habitable environment for every man, woman and child in society. And to accomplish this, architects must participate in the decisions - economic, political, social - that shape the environment. As Dean of the school of architecture and planning at the University of Detroit Mercy, he is training his students to be active participants in Detroit's development. The university based Detroit Architects Collaborative, made up of students under Steve's direction, designed (with the SmithGroup) the new Van Elsander Center Salvation Army Headquarters following a disastrous fire in their old building. The building enlivens a drab strip of Gratiot Avenue and won an AIA Detroit Design Award last year.

Vogel's restoration and development of Harmonie Park, with partner David Schervish, AIA continues one building at a time. A sports bar, the Coach's Corner, recently opened. The project won a National American Institute of Architects Award for Urban Design. Harmonie Park, named for the German singing club house that was built there, is once again a people friendly place with loft apartments, restaurants, galleries and entertainment.

Detroit development is not new to Vogel. After graduation from the University of Detroit he began designing and rehabilitating multifamily and low cost housing for HUD and FHA. The city became his focus when he joined with two other architects to form Schervish, Vogel, Merz P.C.

As Dean, Vogel is in charge of nurturing and educating socially responsible architects who are committed to building sustainable cities. The International Center for Urban Ecology, which he co-founded, advocates community participation in the re-ordering of post-industrial cities. The Center attracts international attention to the city.

Vogel is also an active participant in his professional association, the American Institute of Architects. He has been president of both the state organization and the Detroit chapter and has served on a number of national level committees. His work is exhibited and published and he functions as visiting critic to several out of state architectural studies programs.

His civic contributions include the Detroit Historic Districts Commission, Mackinac Island State Park Commission, Freer House Restoration Committee and the board of directors for the Grandmont/Rosedale Development Corporation in his home neighborhood.

Upper Peninsula - Architect
JAMES BLOMQUIST, AIA
earns Hasting's Award

Detroit, Michigan -- April 5, 2000 --Iron Mountain architect James Blomquist, AIA earned the coveted Robert Hastings Award from the American Institute of Architects - Michigan. This award was created following the death of Hastings in 1978. He had been president of the Institute and chairman of the board at Smith Hinchman and Grylls (now The Smith Group) in Detroit.

Blomquist was recognized for his long term service on the Michigan Board of Architects, the body that sets standards for architectural licensing. He served two four year terms and was Chair, vice chair and secretary. During his tenure, he was active in the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards and was on the committee responsible for writing and grading architectural registration exams. He was a master juror evaluating candidates' design qualifications from 1991-93.

He began his career in the North at a Green Bay architectural firm following his graduation from the University of Illinois. He soon found himself back home in Iron Mountain where he has designed schools, public buildings, the Ford Airport in Dickinson County and even a ski jump. He is a well rounded professional who must often come up with solutions for a wide variety of architectural problems. His son, Jim, joined the firm following graduation from the University of Michigan.

He is a charter member of the Upper Peninsula Chapter of the American Institute of Architects and was president in 1995 and continues to be active.

PORTAGE ARCHITECT HAS HASTINGS AWARD

Detroit, Michigan —May 6, 1999 — Michael Marshburn, AIA received the Hastings Award from the American Institute of Architects-Michigan in Windsor, Ontario on April 30th during a joint convention of Canadian and American architects, "Echoes & Beacons Across the Border."

When Robert Hastings, the last Michigan architect to serve as national president of The American Institute of Architects, died in 1977 the award was created in his name. It represents exceptional service to the profession and the community.

Marshburn, the son of a Presbyterian minister, was raised in a family that believed that you had to "give back as much as you received." He has offices in Portage and Hillsdale and he is an active volunteer in both cities. He worked on the Historic District Commission, the Building Board of Appeals, Portage Rotary Club and the Kalamazoo Public Arts Commission. He is also a trustee and member of the building committee of his church.

The AIA - Michigan and the Southwest Chapter/AIA have also been a big part of his life. He was president of both the state and local components and is a long time member of the committee that plans the Mid Summer Conference on Mackinac Island. Now he is Vice President of the Michigan Architectural Foundation, a group that is committed to architectural education, historic preservation and a broader public understanding of the role that architecture plays in the quality of life of a community.

The Educational Facilities Conference that brings architects, state officials, principals, school boards and builders together is a very popular event. It seeks to improve the quality of school design and construction in Michigan. Marshburn came up with the idea and has been on the planning committee ever since.

Marshburn and his firm practice a diverse palette of architectural projects. Not surprising, given his background, is the number of churches he has worked on. The firm also does a lot of schools and is now working on an up-scale office park near the Portage Civic Center that emphasizes the natural beauty of the site.

Mike is especially proud of his family, wife Jan and three married daughters and five grandchildren. His degree in architecture comes from Miami University.