CALENDAR HIGHLIGHTS:
See complete listings for details.

Portable emissions-testing device
should advance air-quality science

A new wave of leading-edge research is about to get under way for TTI thanks to a portable, accurate emission-testing device acquired by the Institute’s Air Quality and Transportation Modeling programs. The device allows researchers to get an accurate assessment of emissions from any type of internal combustion engine in real-life settings. Up until recently, testing had to be performed only in the laboratory.

“The portability of this emission testing equipment means we can test a whole range of vehicles, anytime, anyplace,” says Dennis Perkinson, manager of the Transportation Modeling Program and visiting assistant professor in the Department of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning. “It will give us answers to numerous questions that we couldn’t really answer until now.”

For the full story and links to media coverage:
http://archone.tamu.edu/archcom/archoneUpdate/
full_6-01-06_Emissions.htm

Lindell’s Capitol Hill testimony
addresses attack vulnerability of
nation’s chemical infrastructure

For different U.S. congressional committees heard testimony last week from Mike Lindell, professor of urban planning at Texas A&M University, regarding the vulnerability of the nation’s chemical infrastructure to terrorist attacks.

Lindell, a senior scholar at the university’s Hazard Reduction & Recovery Center, was joined May 23 in Washington D.C. by Dorothy Zolandz, director of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) Board on Chemical Science and Technology. The duo previewed the findings of their NAS study, “Terrorism and the Chemical Infrastructure: Protecting People and Reducing Vulnerabilities,” which was released two days later.

For the full story:
http://archone.tamu.edu/archcom/archoneUpdate/
full_6-01-06_Lindell.htm

2005 BED grad featured in
Houston Chronicle story on
UH design-build project

Mara McCumber, a 2004 bachelor of environmental design graduate who is now working on her master of architecture degree at the University of Houston, was featured in the May 31 issue of the Houston Chronicle.

The article, “UH’s future architects ready to get hands dirty,” focuses on a 15-week summer design-build project. McCumber and her 10 classmates will create an 84-foot-long canopied walkway between two buildings at the Girl Scouts' San Jacinto Council headquarters in the 3100 block of the Southwest Freeway.

Read the Houston Chronicle story online at:
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/
metropolitan/3916419.html

View past summer design-build projects tackled by U of H architecture students:
http://www.arch.uh.edu/port/dBuild.html

Serenbe project featured
in June issue of Metropolis

For a few years, Phillip J. Tabb, an architecture professor at Texas A&M University, has served as the master planner of the Serenbe community, a development emerging in the Chattahoochee Hill Country south of Atlanta, Ga. The project is featured in the June 2006 issue of Metropolis magazine, in an article titled, “A Workable Utopia,” on pages 48–52.

In the story, Tabb touches on the concept of “constellated urbanism,” which is further articulated in his paper, “Sustainable Planning at the Urban Edge: The Serenbe Community.” The idea, Tabb says in Metropolis, is “that you achieve a higher level of unity by connecting smaller, individuated settlements.”

The article concludes, that Serenbe, “set within an innovative regional land-conservation effort, … offers a workable place-making alternative that might be applied wherever corporate builders are threatening to sprawl their way across America.”

The June issue of Metropolis is available in the Technical Reference Center. Current Metropolis subscribers can read the article online at:
http://www.metropolismag.com/cda/magazine.php

Poniz, Horsley estates go
on auction block Sunday

A public auction for the estates of former College of Architecture faculty Dusan Poniz and Graham Horsley is scheduled for 10 a.m. Sunday, June 4 at S&S Auction Service, located at 113 E. 28th Street in Bryan, Texas

The diverse and extraordinary collection of auction items includes furniture, glassware, china, silver, collectibles, firearms and weapons, coins, art, toys, Texas A&M collectibles, a car and even an American Indian headdress.

Viewing begins at 8 a.m. Additional information about Sundays event, as well as almost 200 pictures of the auction items can be found online at http://www.ssattic.com.

CRS Center board selects
Lavy as associate director

At the last CRS Center Board of Director’s meeting Sarel Lavy, assistant professor of construction science, was unanimously elected to a three year appointment as the center’s new associate director.

Dr. Lavy’s PhD dissertation was in the area of facility management and health facilities. The CRS Center expects to help support Dr. Lavy’s continued work in this area.

Lavy holds Ph.D. and Ms.C. degrees in civil engineering and construction management, and a Bs.C. in civil engineering from Technion, the Israel Institute of Technology. His interests include facilities management, the healthcare sector, construction engineering, maintenance, performance, life cycle costs techniques, and quantitative methods in facilities management. He joined the Texas A&M faculty in 2005.

Faculty artist, Saslow, to address
American Society for Aesthetics

Mary Saslow, a senior lecturer in the Department of Architecture’s visualization science program, has been invited to speak at the July 14-16 conference of the American Society for Aesthetics (ASA) — Rocky Mountain Division, in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Saslow’s lecture, “I laugh in Yellow: The Intersection of Traditional and Digital Media,” will be presented as part of the conference’s “The Artist at Work” session.

The ASA was founded by Manual Davenport, who, before his death, taught in the Department of Philosophy at Texas A&M University.

Frances Downing, a Texas A&M professor of architecture and member of the ASA, will also present a paper at the conference.

To learn more, visit the ASA Web site at: http://www.aesthetics-online.org/

Administrative Notes

Handheld computer needed for
Point du Hoc research is missing!

A piece of equipment critical to current research initiative at Point du Hoc, France, is missing. The item, a Carlson Explorer, is a small, orange and blue handheld computer used for data collection.

The device was delivered to the college and last seen about two-weeks ago in the mailbox area of the dean’s office (by the copy machine), in a box earmarked for the Department of Architecture.

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of this device should immediately contact Ginger White, in the Department of Architecture at gwhite@tamu.edu.

Box of MLA brochures mysteriously
disappears from Office of the Dean

A Newman Printing box containing approximately 300 recruitment brochures for the Master of Landscape Architecture program is missing from the dean’s office.

A few weeks ago, the College of Architecture took delivery of three boxes containing a total of 1,000 MLA recruitment brochures. The MLA program coordinator picked up one box for mailing, leaving two sitting in the hallway between the dean’s office and the business office. Last week, it was discovered that only one box was left. No one seems to know what happened to the second box.

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of this Newman Printing box full of MLA brochures should contact Phillip Rollfing at prollfing@archone.tamu.edu.

Staff Development Committee survey to
help identify staff training opportunities

The College of Architecture’s Staff Development Committee is conducting a survey to access staff training needs. College staff members are urged to download and complete the survey form (see PDF link below) and e-mail the completed form to Mashalle Mooring at mmooring@archmail.tamu.edu. Printed surveys may be delivered to Mashalle in the dean’s office, Langford A 202.

Download staff training survey
Staff Development Survey (20K PDF)

This Week's Calendar

Thursday — June 2-29

Dick Davison Exhibit: Selected drawings and book pages by Dick Davison, architecture professor and drawing instructor at Texas A&M's College of Architecture, will be on exhibit June 2 - 29 at the Texas Gallery in the P. David Romei Arts Center, located at 2275 Dartmouth Street in College Station. The exhibit is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. A public reception for the artist will be held 5:30 p.m. Thursday, June 15. For more on the Davison exhibit, visit the Arts Council of Brazos Valley Web site: http://www.acbv.org/

Thursday-Saturday — June 8-10

AIA National Convention will be held in Los Angeles, Calif. For details visit:
http://www.aiaconvention.com
/aia_splash/2006/index.html

Friday — June 9

AIA reception in LA: The Department of Architecture is hosting a special reception during the 2006 AIA National Convention at RTKL Associates’Los Angeles office. The event is set for 7 p.m. Friday June 9, 2006. RTKL office is located at 333 Hope Street in Los Angeles, Calif. For former students, faculty and friends of the college are welcome and encouraged to attend. Please RSVP by June 5 to Trish Pannell at 979.458.0400 or e-mail
t-pannell@tamu.edu

CALENDAR HIGHLIGHTS:

Monday — June 19

Q-Drop: Last day for all students to drop courses with no penalty for the first term.

Friday — June 30

First summer session ends: Last class day of the first summer term classes.

Monday — July 3

Final exams for first summer term.

Tuesday — July 4

Independence Day: Faculty and staff holiday.

Wednesday — July 5

Second summer session begins: The summer’s second term classes get under way.

Wednesday — July 19

Q-Drop: Last day for all students to drop courses with no penalty for the 10-week summer term.

Tuesday — July 29

Q-Drop: Last day for all students to drop courses with no penalty for second summer term.

Monday — Aug. 7

Second summer sessions end: Last class day of the second summer term and 10-week semester classes.

Tuesday-Wednesday — Aug. 8-9

Final exams for second summer term and 10-week classes.

Friday — Aug. 11

Summer commencement and commissioning

Friday — Aug. 25

College faculty/Staff meeting: College of Architecture faculty and staff meet 10 a.m. in the Langford B auditorium,. Lunch will be served in the Langford B Exhibit Hall after the meeting.

Sunday — Aug. 27

Freshman Convocation is a 45-60 minute ceremony that welcomes freshmen to Texas A&M University's community of learners in a manner similar to the community's recognition of students' graduation at commencement. The university president offer some inspiration remarks urging students to make their Texas A&M education a life changing experience. For more details on this event, visit http://www.tamu.edu/freshmanconvocation/about.htm

Monday — Aug. 28

Classes start: First day of fall 2006 semester gets under way.

Sunday — Sept. 3

MSC Open House showcases student groups: The annual Memorial Student Center Fall Open House will be held the first Sunday of the semester in the MSC, Rudder Exhibit Hall and G. Rollie White Coliseum from 1 – 6 p.m. This is Texas A&M's largest recruiting event for recognized campus organizations. An estimated 13,000 people attend every fall. Tables for recognized student groups can be reserved now at the MSC Box Office in the lobby of Rudder Tower. Tables are $35 and can be purchased using cash, a student organization finance check, interdepartmental transfer, Aggie Bucks or credit card. Tables will remain on sale until all the space is taken or Wednesday, August 30, whichever comes first. Students, faculty, staff and the community are invited to attend. Registration forms are available online at http://mscopenhouse.tamu.edu/. For more information, contact Heather Hartman at 979.845.626, e-mail marketing@msc.tamu.edu or visit http://mscopenhouse.tamu.edu/.

Monday-Friday — Sept. 4-8

German Study Abroad Exhibit: Students who participated in the spring 2006 study abroad program in Düsseldorf, Germany will exhibit their work in the Langford B Exhibit Hall.

Friday — Sept. 8

Academic Convocation: In academia, the word "convocation" refers to a ceremonial assembly of the members of a college or university. Traditionally, academic convocations celebrate special events such as the beginning of the academic year or the anniversary of an institution. In 1997, Texas A&M re-established the practice of Academic Convocation as a celebration of the university's progress and an opportunity to discuss the university's plans for the future. To learn more about this annual event, visit http://www.tamu.edu/conv/

Monday — Sept. 11

CIAC members recruit at COSC Career Fair: Construction Industry Advisory Council (CIAC) companies will be featured at the first of two Department of Construction Science Career Fairs to be held this fall in the Langford A atrium. Students attending the 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. event will have an opportunity to sign-up for interviews with participating companies on the following day. For more information, contact Ann Eastwood, 845-0289  aeastwood@archone.tamu.edu

Tuesday — Sept. 12

CIAC members interview COSC job seekers: Construction Industry Advisory Council (CIAC) companies will hold job interviews with construction science students 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. at Kyle Field (2nd floor skyboxes on West side) and the Career Center (209 Koldus). Student may sign-up for the interviews during the Sept. 11 Department of Construction Science Career Fair in the Langford A Atrium. For more information, contact Ann Eastwood, 845-0289  aeastwood@archone.tamu.edu

Tuesday — Sept. 19

COSC Career Fair: Construction companies vie the attention of Texas A&M construction science students at the second of two Construction Science Career Fairs to be held this fall in the Langford A atrium. Students attending the 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. event will have an opportunity to sign-up for interviews with participating companies on the following day. For more information, contact Ann Eastwood, 845-0289  aeastwood@archone.tamu.edu

Wednesday — Sept. 20

Companies interview COSC job seekers – Construction companies will hold job interviews with construction science students 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. at Kyle Field (2nd floor skyboxes on West side) and the Career Center (209 Koldus). Student may sign-up for the interviews during the Sept. 19 Department of Construction Science Career Fair in the Langford A Atrium. For more information, contact Ann Eastwood, 845-0289  aeastwood@archone.tamu.edu

Friday — Nov. 3

Fifth Annual HIAC Meeting: The Health Industry Advisory Council for the College of Architecture’s Health Systems & Design will meet 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. in the Langford A Gallery. Lectures and networking opportunities will highlight the daylong event. For more information, contact Judy Pruitt at 845-7009 or e-mail jpruitt@archmail.tamu.edu.

Friday — Nov. 10

Outstanding Alumni Award Banquet: The College of Architecture will honor the 2006 recipients of the Outstanding Alumni Award 6:30 - 10 p.m. at Miramont Country Club. For more information, contact Trish Pannell at 979.458.0400 or e-mail t-pannell@tamu.edu.

Shanghai night

China, June 2005: Robin Abrams, associate professor of architecture at Texas A&M University, traveled to China with three Ph.D. students, Bin Kang, Xuemei Zhu and Zhipeng Lu, to work on a number of research initiatives addressing issues of neighborhood conservation, design and housing. Abrams recently shared a few observations from that summer 2005 trip:
http://archone.tamu.edu/archcom/archoneUpdate/
full_6-01-06_Abrams.htm