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Our overall economy, now officially in a recession, is also deep in uncertainty. As Murray stated in assessing the feasibility of short-term and long-term economic forecasting right now, "I don't think anybody knows."

New Perspective on Surveying

Still, despite the gloomy atmosphere, there were many bright spots of designers doing exciting and innovative things. One such impressive seminar, "Until Walls Could Talk," highlighted a new skill that some architects may need to learn: rope-access surveying!

Picture an architect in a jumpsuit rappelling down a rope from a roof parapet ten stories up. Clipped to the architect's harness is a digital camera, a streaming video camera, and a tablet computer — all to allow the architect to inspect existing wall and roof conditions, and make on-the-spot CAD notations with linked-in photographs, while video-conferencing with a consultant team viewing the action from the construction office.

Two such adventuresome surveyors were our workshop leaders: Lisa Howe, LEED AP, of Boston architecture firm Goody Clancy, and Kelly Streeter, P.E., of Ithaca, New York-based Vertical Access. They definitely impressed all with their nonchalant recounting of their derring-do in these survey and documentation techniques, which were used to assess the rehabilitation necessary for the U.S. Post Office and Courthouse building in Brooklyn, New York.

While not all field condition surveying is so dramatic, this all-inclusive method of direct, in-the-field CAD notation surveying can serve to eliminate a host of common translation and transition errors. It points out a common-sense next step that many architects could take to improve their field survey documentation.

Keeping up with the Law

In other seminars, it was clear that the nature of regulation and contracts is an ever-changing field for architects.

The American Institute of Architects has issued a new set of standard construction contract documents (2007). Workshop leaders Tim Twomey, Esq., AIA, chair of the AIA Documents Committee, and Suzanne Harness, Esq., AIA, managing director and counsel for AIA Documents, addressed growing concerns about the use of digital data, as well as the communal sharing of BIM (building information modeling) models, with these new AIA Digital Practice Documents.

Several seminars also addressed Massachusetts's new seventh edition (2008) of its building code. Like the other 49 states, Massachusetts is now basing its code on the International Building Code. Still, the various use changes and the new structural analysis changes will take some getting used to for Massachusetts architects.

Greening Building

Also up for 2009 is a new AIA continuing education requirement that member architects earn at least four learning units in the specific category of sustainable design, highlighting the new reality that this aspect of architectural and construction practice is here to stay.

Helping architects explore that new reality was the welcome confluence of Build Boston and Greenbuild in 2008. The two conferences were held concurrently, the latter at the massive new Boston Convention Center, only a short walk away from Build Boston at the Seaport World Trade Center. Attendees of both conferences were invited to cross-register at no extra charge to enable them to experience and view the exhibits of both outstanding conferences in the same visit.

Farewell to Fitzgerald

The 24th annual Build Boston also represented the end of an era in many respects. Longtime director of the Boston Society of Architects (BSA) Richard Fitzgerald retired at the end of 2008 after 24 extremely productive and inspiring years of leadership.

In many ways, Build Boston was his baby, as he and the BSA shepherded it from its early fledgling beginnings as a small local conference to the national powerhouse trade show and convention status it holds today. The design and construction industry owes a great debt of gratitude to Fitzgerald, and Build Boston conferences in coming years will be a lasting tribute to his legacy.

Build Boston was held November 18-20, 2008, at the Seaport World Trade Center in Boston, Massachusetts.

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Evan H. Shu, FAIA is an architect with Shu Associates Inc. in Melrose, Massachusetts. He is a contributor to The Architect's Handbook of Professional Practice and is publisher and editor of Cheap Tricks, a monthly newsletter for DataCAD users and computer-using architects.   More by Evan Shu

SUBSCRIPTION SAMPLE Fully loaded with tablet computer, linked digital camera, and streaming video, a building surveyor assesses wall conditions at the U.S. Post Office and Courthouse in Brooklyn, New York. Photo: Vertical Access LLC Extra Large Image "CAD on the fly" takes on new meaning in rope-access surveying by Vertical Access. Photo: Vertical Access LLC Extra Large Image Goody Clancy and Vertical Access worked in tandem to assess exterior wall conditions in preparation for restoring Brooklyn's U.S. Post Office and Courthouse (1892). Photo: Vertical Access LLC Extra Large Image The American Institute of Architects released new Digital Practice Documents to accommodate the growing use of building information models (BIM) in the profession. Image: Courtesy AIA The new digital additions to the AIA's contract documents set specify the format, delivery mode, and acceptable uses of digital data in construction. Image: Courtesy AIA Construction proceeded at a Massachusetts General Hospital building site in late November 2008. Photo: Paul Keleher Extra Large Image Now in its 24th year, Build Boston has grown well beyond its metropolitan origins, attracting attendees from great distances. Photo: Scarpetta Photography Extra Large Image   Click on thumbnail images to view full-size pictures.