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May 15, 2008

INDUSTRY ACCESS*

The AIA Announces Partnership with American Architectural Foundation and Chicago Architecture Foundation to Advance K-12 Design Education

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) has joined the American Architectural Foundation (AAF) and the Chicago Architecture Foundation (CAF) as a partner in the Architecture + Design Education Network (A+DEN). Recognizing the value of a national K-12 design education program to foster an appreciation of the value of architecture, AAF and CAF created the A+DEN partnership in May 2005. The AIA is now joining them as a full partner, linking the AIA network of nearly 300 components across the country into this network. Full Story

Click here for more Industry Access news including recent new hires, merger & acquisition activity and who's offering new products.

* DHI Members may submit news releases to be considered for inclusion in DHI's IndustryWatch. Send to: jmadden@dhi.org.

BUSINESS UPDATE

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The American Institute of Architects (AIA) has released a study of three green building rating systems (Green Globes, SBTool 07, and LEED NC 2.2) and assess their effectiveness in supporting the goals of the AIA sustainability position statement. In late 2007, the initial results were shared with the three groups whose systems were reviewed. After receiving feedback, the study was modified and further refined into the final report. Full Story

California's residential construction industry is approaching uncharted waters as a housing slump, tight liability insurance coverage and new laws for handling construction defect litigation all collide. The collision makes an already challenging business environment fraught with even more danger. Some attorneys, especially those representing subcontractors, say they fear for their clients' future, reported Sacramento Business Journal. Full Story

Billing rates among architecture and engineering firms increased only slightly over the past year, according to ZweigWhite's newly released 2008 Fee & Billing Survey of Architecture, Engineering, Planning & Environmental Consulting Firms. Billing rates across the 29 employee positions reviewed for the report rose an average of 1.5% in the past year, and 19.7% since 2004, which equates to a compounded annual growth rate of 4.6% over the five-year period, reported Building Design & Construction. Full Story

Buildings.com looks at three qualities of great distribution centers which can help set yours apart from the rest. Full Story

Engineering News-Record has released its 2008 Top Contractors Report. Full Story

CONSTRUCTION & DESIGN

Canadian building permits unexpectedly fell to the lowest in more than a year in March as they plunged 33% in the western province of Alberta. The value of permits issued by municipalities decreased 4.5% to C$5.6 billion, the least since February 2007 and the fourth decline in five months, according to Statistics Canada. Excluding Alberta, permits would have increased 5.1%, reported Bloomberg.com. Full Story

SECURITY & SAFETY

The U.S. electronic security products and systems market is expected to increase 7.8% per year to $15.6 billion in 2012, according to Electronic Security Systems, a study from The Freedonia Group Inc. Growth for electronic security systems continues to be driven by a high-perceived risk of crime, despite a long-term trend of falling crime rates. Access controls are expected to achieve the strongest growth through 2012 because of technological innovations that allow an increasingly sophisticated array of clearance options that are more difficult to forge and are easier to operate. Full Story

Cleveland State University is making a name for itself as a national leader in campus safety and protection. The university has strengthened its life-safety program with an emergency voice communications system that could well be a model for campus-wide notification in today's world. The university's broad-based strategy encompasses the full array of life-safety systems, from fire alarm, emergency communications and fire sprinkler to access control, intrusion and video. It also integrates pertinent policies, procedures and operations relating to safety and security, reported Access Control & Security Systems. Full Story

Access control is not an area in which central stations traditionally have been involved. But that’s changing now that more end user organizations have wide area data connections capable of supporting IP communications. Increasingly security dealers and systems integrators are finding a new source of recurring monthly revenue by offering remote monthly management of their access control accounts — either through their own central station or by using a wholesale central station that offers access control services, reported SDM Magazine. Full Story

Many building owners, design professionals, government officials, and even security consultants are often surprised to learn there is no single definitive building security code in the U.S. or elsewhere that applies across the board to all building types. The reasons for this are straightforward, yet not always apparent to those seeking a quick and easy answer, writes architect Barbara A. Nadel in a Buildings.com article. Full Story

GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS

A new bill that could provide billions in school renovation and reconstruction dollars to state and local school districts has been approved by the House Education and Labor Committee. The 21st Century High-Performing Public School Facilities Act (H.R. 3021), introduced by U.S. Rep Ben Chandler (D-KY), passed by a vote of 28 to 19. H.R. 3021 would authorize $6.4 billion for school renovation and modernization projects for fiscal year 2009, and would ensure that school districts receive funds for projects that improve schools' teaching and learning climates, health and safety, and energy efficiency, reported Facilitiesnet. Full Story

A new caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives has formed to raise awareness of and promote the benefits of green schools and their ability to foster learning, protect students’ and teachers’ health, save school districts’ money, and reduce their impact on the environment. The goals of the Green Schools Caucus are to raise awareness of the benefits of green schools, lead the policy discussion on the topic in various forums, create legislative opportunities for the collective efforts of the caucus members, and provide members of Congress with constituent outreach resources, reported Facilityblog from Today's Facility Manager. Full Story

DHI NEWS

DHI VCE... An online, 3D interactive conference and exposition

FEATURE PROGRAM OF THE MONTH:
Overview of the Fire Door Assembly Inspection Class
Wednesday, July 16 at 11:00 am EST Keith Pardoe, DAHC, CDC, Director of Education and Certification presents a comprehensive overview of DHI’s Fire Door Assembly Inspection Class (FDAIC). This program made its debut at the 2007 Conference and Exposition in Nashville and was one of the most anticipated programs of the year.

This overview session will provide a great opportunity to learn more about this incredible program from the convenience of your own office. It also provides you all the tools you need to get on the path to becoming a Fire Door Inspector today. This interactive virtual environment allows you the opportunity to ask questions at the end of the session.

For more information about upcoming DHI Virtual Conference Program Schedule, contact Marcia Slakie at 703-766-7018 or email mslakie@dhi.org.

To find out about exhibitor opportunities, contact Stephen R. Hildebrand, FDHI at 717-859-5905 or email steveh@ptd.net.

Mark Your Calendars Now!
DHI’s 33rd Annual Conference & Exposition in Boston, MA. November 7-15, 2008

Don't Miss the NEXT Mega School...Classes Held November 7-12, 2008. Go to www.dhi.org/education to register!

To make housing reservations, call DHI Housing Toll Free 866/578-8809 ( International 506/637-0281)
9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. EST Monday – Friday