The Thought Behind Victory Park

For our last AoT of the season, a panel of designers and planners behind the controversial Victory Park development joined us. The much criticized, yet hopeful district cupped by Woodall and 35E. Our panel acknowledged the criticism right from the start and helped us understand the difficult process behind the planning and design of Victory Park. Before Victory can be dubbed a success or failure, the development has to grow within the phasing set forth in the original master plan. Unless you have passionately followed the life of Victory, you might not know there was an initial 10-year phasing plan. Unfortunately, in last 10 years Victory has seen the September 11 attacks and a severely turbulent economy. The original plan set forth must be revisited by developers and better understood by the public. Craig Williams of David M. Schwartz Architects reiterated that any master plan must be phased well; it must be flexible to change with any economy. The designers shared with us that their client desired a bit of Las Vegas in Dallas. Victory Park was to be a high end, vibrant community that could be flaunted to the entire US. But the past decade has proved to be a difficult one in which to build a development of that magnitude. As the economy started to take its toll, Victory was still trying to implement expensive art galleries and “expense account” restaurants. Andrew Bennett of Boca Powell shares the cohesive attitude for the live, work, play mentality that has fallen short in Victory Park. A friend of Mr. Bennett owns space in the Cirque but can’t find a reasonably priced burger and a beer before a Mavs game. Instead the tenants of Victory Park include fine art galleries, $20 pizzas, and $15 cocktails.

And if the high price points didn’t inhibit a larger population to enjoy the space, public transportation doesn’t truly help serve the district. When the AAC is packed for an event, the TRE and DART bring people from all over the Metroplex. You depart from the train and head straight into the arena. However, if you plan to take the rail to the Hard Rock Cafe, you must wander through the AAC parking lots in order to make it towards the spine of Victory. Eddie Abeyta of HKS discussed the need for light rail in the center of the development allowing people to disperse to their desired location. Both Mr. Abeyta and Mr. Bennett agree that through transportation and price points, Victory sees a lack of critical mass in the area. Victory just hasn’t seen the momentum it needs to bring tenants in.

Victory Park is an optimistic plan that has unfortunately been met by every bit of opposition that it can handle. From the turbulent economy to parking requirements to developer disagreements, Victory will be a project that will see highs in lows within the Dallas community. But as the population of Dallas, we need to help support the district and do our part in utilizing the space before we are the first to criticize it. Spend a day in Victory and see what works and what doesn’t. What would make you visit more often?

Is Victory fixable? Our panel of designers believe it is.

Thank you to our panel of designers and Teknion for hosting our event at their West End showroom. Another big thanks to all of our guests during the AoT series. We hope to see you out for the next round!

Architecture on Tap ... Thursday, Sept. 15th

Architecture on TAP!

When: Thursday Sept. 15th, 6-8 pm

Where: Teknion Showroom, 1801 North Lamar St. Suite 150, Dallas

In case you’ve had your head in the clouds for the last couple of days, summer is almost over. But, as the cooler weather starts to set in, Architecture on Tap must close its doors for a little while. Come celebrate another successful summer with us at the Teknion Showroom on North Lamar St. We will end the summer series with a conversation regarding the home of our favorite NBA team, Victory Park.

Eddie Abeyta, AIA LEED AP is a principal and a senior vice president at HKS. He has experience in a wide range of architectural disciplines, including conceptual design, master planning, schematic design and the interface of design development with construction documents. He specializes in the design of commercial and corporate office, hospitality, residential, retail and mixed-use urban, and entertainment projects. Mr. Abeyta’s activity in Victory Park includes the W Victory Hotel and Residences.

Andrew Bennett, AIA is a partner at BOKA Powell. His recent projects include prominent office buildings like NEC America and Accor North America, the sports facility Fieldhouse USA, and a civic project, the Frisco Discovery Center. Andrew has also planned and participated in the design of multiple hotel projects including the St. Regis Dallas, and the Hotel Valencia in Dallas and Denver. His work in Victory Park includes One Victory Park and The Mandaran Oriental.

Jaime Fernandez-Duran, principal of the Dallas office, has been with WDG Architecture since 1994. Mr. Fernandez-Duran brings more than twenty years of experience in design, project management and practice management to the firm. Mr. Fernandez- Duran maintains a broad and extensive portfolio of projects in corporate, mixed use and multifamily and GSA projects.

Mark A. Williams, AIA LEED AP is an experienced sports venue designer from HKS, Inc. His involvement primarily focuses around the venues programming, overall project design direction, client communication and project management. Mr. Williams brings us experience from his work on The AA Center, the anchor for Victory Park.

Craig P. Williams, project manager and principal of David M. Schwarz Architects, Inc., has been with the firm since 1979. He received his education at The University of Maryland School of Architecture and was also an Architectural History teaching assistant. Mr. Williams shares experiences from his work on The AA Center in Victory Plaza

See You The 15^th!

NCARB August Announcements

Below are several announcements and valuable links to resources from NCARB.

AIA Documents Free Though My NCARB for ARE Candidates

In cooperation with the AIA, NCARB is offering ARE candidates free access to key AIA documents for the purpose of preparing for the Construction Documents & Services division of the ARE. This is another great resource to help you prepare for the ARE.

Interns may download the sample documents through in My NCARB through their NCARB Record.

To access documents:
1. Log into My NCARB https://my.ncarb.org/Login/
2. Click "Go" to access your NCARB Record
3. Follow link for ARE Candidates: Construction Documents & Services Resources visible in the lower left of your Record.

Updated NCARB Exam Guides

The latest edition of the ARE e-News highlights the updates to the ARE Exam Guides.

The newly released editions include a detailed breakdown of the test content areas and for the first time ever a percentage outline for the major content areas of each multiple-choice section. ARE candidates can use this information to better outline and focus their preparation.

"We are excited to offer candidates this additional level of information to use while preparing for the ARE. This change is a dramatic shift for the exam guides and we hope it will help to ease anxiety over the content distribution and make-up of the ARE," said Erica J. Brown, AIA, Director, ARE.

Download these new documents today at http://www.ncarb.org/en/ARE/Preparing-for-the-ARE.aspx

Learn more about these two topics in the August 2011 ARE e-News
http://www.ncarb.org/are/enews/2011/august/index.html

New! Updated NCARB Publications

Several of NCARB’s important guidelines and publications were recently updated. The latest editions supersede all previous editions. Download these essential references today!

ARE Guidelines (Updated July 2011)
The ARE 4.0 Guidelines is essential reading for anyone preparing for the Architect Registration Examination® (ARE®). The document includes an overview of the exam divisions as well as the exam program, the rolling clock, exam eligibility, test center security procedures, and six steps to taking and completing the ARE.
http://www.ncarb.org/~/media/8176063C6CEE4443AD7BD52DFFF23979.ashx

Education Guidelines (Updated June 2011)
The Education Guidelines provide a general overview of the education requirement for NCARB certification, and explains how architects who do not hold a professional degree in architecture from a NAAB-accredited program can satisfy this requirement.
http://www.ncarb.org/~/media/6C8D6DF5E36648458D641BE3431C3F7D.ashx

IDP Guidelines (Updated July 2011)
The IDP Guidelines is essential reading for interns, supervisors, and mentors participating in the IDP. The document includes steps to completing the program, reporting procedures, training requirements, and core competencies interns should understand before becoming licensed.
http://www.ncarb.org/~/media/D5743F01F87545298BF656DED617FD3D.ashx

Handbook for Interns and Architects (Updated July 2011)
Updated July 2011! The Handbook for Interns and Architects describes the NCARB organization, services, procedures, and examinations. It also outlines requirements for NCARB certification for U.S., Canadian, and foreign architects.
http://www.ncarb.org/~/media/90832B259F674E91A1E39CE28F47D4CD.ashx

Kimberly Cundiff, Assoc. AIA
2011 AIA Dallas Associates Director

Architecture on Tap

The next installment of Architecture on Tap will be Thursday August 18th at the Bull and Bear Patio Bar (formerly Cretia's). This is a Social Gathering/Networking Opportunity for all Architects, Associates, Interns and anyone who likes architecture. Everyone is invited and welcome.

Join us for beer and pizza as we discuss the relationship between architects and interior designers. Our special guests will be: Joseph L. Hilliard, AIA - BOKA Powell, LLC, Laurel A Stone, AIA  with 5G Studio Collaborative, Christopher D. Brandle AIA and Dana Trott Brandle IIDA, LEED® AP, both with RTKL, Michael St. Clair, AIA with FKP Architects, Carrie Condry, IIDA, LEED AP - Equipment Collaborative and Dona Bianchi with Vivian Nichols Associates.

This event is sponsored by Intelligent Interiors, Inc.

Joseph L. Hilliard, AIA
BOKA Powell was retained as the “Architect-of-Record” on the Dallas Convention Center Hotel for both the Core & Shell and Interiors and produced the Construction Documents for both. Joeseph was Principal-in-Charge of Production and Sr. Project Manager for the overall project.

Laurel A Stone, AIA, LEED AP BD+C
Originally from Windsor, Ontario, Laurel received her Bachelor of Architecture at the University of Texas at Austin. Prior to joining the 5G team, she worked at Corgan Associates, where she was part of their healthcare sector before segueing into commercial design work including the Dallas House of Blues. Past projects completed with 5G include the Water’s Edge Church, a modern worship and education facility in Yorktown, Virginia, and Burleson Commons, an outdoor retail center in Burleson, Texas. Current projects include serving as design project manager for the Dallas Convention Center Hotel, a 1.1 million square feet hospitality and convention facility slated to open in fall 2011, and Edison State College Student Housing, a 160,000 square feet residence hall in Fort Myers opening fall 2012.


Christopher D. Brandle AIA
Chris, a Principal with RTKL’s Healthcare group, has participated in a wide variety of healthcare projects from small regional clinics to large-scale replacement facilities. Within this range he has been devoted to all aspects of healthcare architecture delivery, including design development, construction documents, and construction administration. He has been instrumental in utilizing office technology to establish the format for project documentation and electronic file protocol. He has also worked to apply these skills in educating and developing younger design professionals within the firm.


Dana Trott Brandle IIDA, LEED® AP
Dana is an Associate and interior designer with RTKL’s Healthcare group. She has eight years of experience in planning and designing healthcare interiors. Dana’s experience covers a wide range of projects, from the renovation of existing hospitals and specialty facilities to complicated multi-phased and replacement hospital projects.


Michael St. Clair, AIA
Michael brings 15 years of experience as a Project Planner and Designer. Focused on healthcare, Michael works deeply with his clients to ensure creative planning which meets their specific needs. Although Michael’s career has been centered on planning and design, he has had a variety of experiences in all phases of the design and documentation process. Today his work on projects such as Cook Children’s Medical Center (CCMC) continues to build his expertise in the healthcare market. Michael recently worked with Children’s Medical Center Dallas on their 100+ acre Legacy master plan which included elements from their established 2020 vision. This new master plan included a new urban concept that embraced the surrounding community and their development business model from their initial master plan. Michael has worked on projects throughout the country that includes master planning, women’s and children’s hospitals, community hospitals, cancer centers, and clinics.

Carrie Condry, IIDA, LEED AP
Prior to joining Equipment Collaborative, Carrie led space planning efforts for a wide range of healthcare and education projects at one of the nation’s largest healthcare specialty architecture firms. Her portfolio includes an impressive amount of federal medical and research facilities across the country. Her collaboration with the United States Air Force Medical Service included leading the development of interior design standards for all the organization’s new facilities.

Dona Bianchi
Vivian Nichols Associates is a Dallas-based interior architectural design firm that has played an integral role in the hospitality and gaming market segment for over twenty years. Founded in 1985 by partners Dierdre Wilson and Reggie Nichols, VN has provided award-winning innovative design for prestigious hotels, resort properties, convention centers, historic restorations and casinos throughout North America, Mexico and the Caribbean.


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Pre-Register $12 http://www.aiadallas.affiniscape.com/cde.cfm?event=358991

$15 at the door (Cost includes 2 drink tickets and food)
Cash or check only at the door