on receiving an AIA Florida 2013 Florida/Caribbean Honor & Design Award at the annual convention in Orlando. The Award of Excellence in Design (built category) is for their MDO project in Miami. The MDO building is a retail store situated along southwest 84th Street one lot south of Tamiami Trail. MDO reverses the typical urban patterns of the area by pressing the building close to the street and placing the surface parking lot along the rear of the property. It sets itself in sharp contrast to its immediate neighbors by developing an architectural language of abstraction and restraint.
UM AND COMMUNITY UNITE THROUGH CURRENT UNITED WAY DRIVE
Those of us at the School of Architecture are UNITED for the University’s 2013-2014 United Way Campaign. A table of baked goods provided and sold by the School’s faculty, staff and students will be ready for a lunchtime treat this Friday, September 27th, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. in the School’s courtyard. Not only will your purchase go to United Way, but you will receive the information you need about signing up on the online site of myUM.
You have several choices – you can give to all of the United Way agencies – or to a particular agency that especially appeals to your interest – or you can direct your gift right back to the School of Architecture. The three areas of United Way focus are advancing the future of children by helping them reach their potential; empowering families and individuals to become stable and economically independent; and improving the quality of lives of many in our community. This year, the School of Architecture campaign is being led by SOA Director of Development Lamar Noriega, 305-284-1563.
UM AND FIU COMPETE TO DESIGN HABITAT FOR HUMANITY HOMES
The School of Architecture three student organizations (AIAS, Student Council, and USGBC Students) are collaborating in the Design for Habitat Homes for Greater Miami
Architectural Competition. This competition is open to UM and FIU undergrad and grad students through October 25th. Seminars are provided on main design issues. The contestants (in 1 to 4 person groups) present a design to Habitat, and the winners receive a first prize of $750 or an honorable mention of $250. Contact any of our student organization board members for more information. View flyer.
PROFESSOR FIRLEY’S PUBLIC LECTURE REVIEWS WORLDWIDE MASTERPLANS
The second public lecture of our fall season will be by our professor Eric Firley on Wednesday, October 9, at 6 p.m. in Glasgow Hall. The subject is the third and newest of his architectural “handbooks,” The Urban Masterplanning Handbook
(John Wiley & Sons, 2013). It is a highly illustrated reference tool, which provides comparative visual analysis of major urban extensions and masterplans around the world. Each of the book’s 20 subjects is analyzed through original diagrams, scale drawings, and color photography. A wide geographical range of contemporary and historic masterplans are featured, encompassing milestones like Belgravia in London, Avenue de l’Opéra in Paris, Battery Park in New York City, Puerto Madero in Buenos Aires, Hammarby Sjöstad in Stockholm and False Creek North in Vancouver.
