AIA GREEN TOP TEN Located at the edge of Oakland, California's downtown Chinatown neighborhood, a colorful new affordable senior housing project transformed an abandoned site near a busy freeway into a community resource for disadvantaged and formerly homeless senior citizens while also exemplifying good universal and sustainable design. The six-story Merritt Crossing Senior Apartments, designed by Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects, was certified at the Platinum level under a LEED for Homes Mid-Rise pilot program. — Published 2013.0424
	2013 - YEAR OF CLIMATE DECISION Either by action, or by inaction, it's most likely that the climate decision will be made this year. The decision, simply put, is whether to step aside from business-as-usual, and fully mobilize, or to generally continue business as usual, and condem humanity to a thousand years of torture. — Published 2013.0109
	WHAT'S UP WITH U.S. GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS? A person — or a public figure, member of the media, maybe even an international climate negotiator — could be confused. In August, 2012, the Associated Press reported: — Published 2012.1205
	THE CORRUPTION OF WOOD Trees are fundamental to many urban landscapes and natural ecosystems. Wood from trees is a fundamental material for architecture. The tension between wood in living trees, and wood in buildings and other products, is arguably at an all-time-high on planet Earth. — Published 2012.1024
	ISLAND INN AT FRIDAY HARBOR The Island Inn at Friday Harbor has got it going on. With great bone structure, sleek proportions, and an au-courrant nerdy streak — wearing its hydrology on its sleeve — this nicely detailed project is a real model. — Published 2012.0919
	INTERVIEW WITH AIA CEO ROBERT IVY ArchitectureWeek spoke with AIA Chief Executive Officer Robert Ivy as the Institute was in final preparations to host the AIA 2012 National Convention in Washington, D.C. Kevin Matthews: Coming from a magazine perspective, and now that you're here (at the AIA), how has your perspective on architecture magazines changed — from being steeped in that world for quite a while, to now being next to it? — Published 2012.0516
	THE PROJECT IS GOING DOWN... What will you do to save our vital project? You are the project manager for the most important project in the history of your firm, and you see the project heading into serious trouble. What do you do? — Published 2012.0307
	KENNEDY CENTER GALLERY The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts by Edward Durell Stone is a major architectural and cultural landmark on the banks of the Potomac in Washington, D.C., as well as a white marble living memorial to the Camelot President. — Published 2012.0208
	INNER LIGHT OF THE NATIONAL CATHEDRAL With nave and aisles bearing vast arrays of vivid, intricate stained glass, sunshine naturally washes warm, beautiful color across the stone arches and columns of the National Cathedral, atop Mount St. Alban in Washington, D.C. Since the Gothic masonry structure was shaken by the magnitude 5.8 Virginia earthquake on August 23, 2011, this inner light has taken on another dimension. — Published 2012.0704
	POSTCARD FROM WEST POTOMAC PARK "Light, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant." —Martin Luther King Jr. — Published 2011.1026

Kevin Matthews