In the residential sector, a building that produces as much energy as it consumes, or a Net Zero Energy (NZE) Building, is increasingly technologically viable. Yet, to achieve true scalability, these high-quality, efficient and architecturally advanced buildings must be coupled with affordability. Please join us on Wednesday Evening, Feb 23th beginning at 5:45PM at the AIACV Chapter Office for this month’s 4th Wednesday Design Dialogue (4WDD) where Shilpa Sankaran and Taeko Takagi of ZETA Communities will discuss an innovative approach to achieving affordability with offsite precision-building. The team will also present project case studies and live energy performance tracked by the DOE

AIACV / UDA Present: Open Design Dialogue   What does the future of Architectural Design hold for our City? This is an open discussion about the role that architecture and design plays in our regions post-recession rebound.   Free Admission Wednesday, Oct. 27th Doors open at 5:30pm Program from 6:00-7:30pm AIA Central Valley Chapter Office 1400 S Street (Enter on 14th Street)  

This Wednesday's Design Dialogue will feature a presentation on the "Delivery of the Midtown Pilot Alley" by Julie Young with the Alley Activation Group and Steve Cohn, Council Member, City of Sacramento. Both Julie Young and Steve Cohn spearheaded the effort to implement a pilot project to activate the alley between 18th and 17th Streets/ L Street and Capital Ave that is currently under construction. On the 2nd year anniversary of UDA's "Imagine Alley Event", Council Member Cohn and Julie Young will present on the status of the Midtown Pilot Alley, global efforts to activate alleys, and efforts to name Sacramento's alleys. Join UDA and the AIA for a discussion and idea session on future

Please join us once again for this month’s Fourth Wednesday Design Dialogue (FWDD) as we discuss Original Projects with Nathan Wieler. Nathan Wieler, originator of projects like the Dwell Home, Modern Birdhouses, The Greenbelt House, Harvest Farm Community, Development Supported Agriculture, and Zoom Culture talks about the stories behind each project, along with lessons learned and applied to his new collaborative venture Original Projects. Topic: “Original Projects” Date: Wednesday, August 25th Time: 5:45 – 7:30 PM Location: AIACV Chapter Office – Gallery, 1400 S Street (please enter on 14th Street) Info: Free Admisson Please click on the link to view the flyer    

The Next American Dream Is Sacramento Ready?   We used to get dressed up to go “downtown.” It was an occasion. It was the place to be. It was the energy of every growing city. But times changed.   Suburbia was born. And we deserted downtown.   It’s time to rebuild our urban cores. Does Sacramento have the will to rebuild?   Please join us at the Crest Theatre for a screening of The Next American Dream, a documentary film about a downtown coming back to life.   Thursday, Aug. 26, 2010 Social Hour – 5 to 6 p.m. Screening – 6 to 7:00 p.m. After-Party – Social Nightclub (10th & K)   Please click on the link below to confirm your attendance! http://thenextamericandream.

Please join us once again for this month’s Fourth Wednesday Design Dialogue (FWDD) as we discuss the Aspen Project with Randy Sater of Teichert Land Co. Topic: “Aspen Project” Date: Wednesday, July 28th Time: 5:30 – 7:30 PM Location: AIACV Chapter Office – Gallery, 1400 S Street (please enter on 14th Street) Info: Free Admisson Please click on the link to view the flyer

At the next 4th Wednesday Design Dialogue, City of Sacramento Senior Planner – Jim McDonald will be reviewing the City’s General Plan, comparing the 1988 version and it’s evolution into the 2030 General Plan. Jim will also be discussing the implementation of the Blueprint, creation of neighborhoods, recognition of urban design, support for transit and complete streets policies. Additionally, we will review a number of the City’s key implementation tools, including: Pedestrian Friendly Street Standards, Pedestrian & Bicycle Master Plans, the City’s Revised Level of Service Policy and the Shovel Ready Development Program. Presenter: Jim McDonald – Senior Planner, City of Sacramento Topic

Please join Urban Design Alliance for our 4th Wednesday Design Dialogue, May 26th from 6-7:30pm, to discuss current development projects along Sacramento Riverfront.   Featured guest include staff from the City of Sacramento (Rachel Hazlewood and Beth Tincher), the City of West Sacramento (Katy Jacobson) and local historian William Burg.  This dialogue will provide a historical context for past landuses and activities on the riverfront and how they relate to redevelopment today.  Speakers will also discuss opportunities and challenges to riverfront development.  Topic: On The Riverfront: Exploring Sacramento’s Evolving Riverfront Presenters: William Burg, Rachel Hazlewood and Beth Tinch

Please join us once again for this month’s Fourth Wednesday Design Dialogue (FWDD) as we explore the American Suburbs with Sacramento Architect, and recent TEDx Sacramento presenter David Mogavero: Experimental design may not seem appropriate for Sacramento’s Central City, but the unique set of constraints existing in a less-urban fabric is an ideal setting. Among Sacramento’s suburbs exist great opportunities, where the outcome has the potential for huge impacts on the region. It’s here that design challenges and a convergence of cultures are giving way to a unique new paradigm. Reduced traffic congestion and access to affordable housing are just a few of the results when we explore th

Join hosts Saxon Sigerson, AIA Arturo Levenfeld, AIA and Kris Barkley, AIA for a casual evening of design presentations and discussion centered around three examples of negative space: The Piazza San Marco in Venice; the open plaza at the Salk Institute; and Pershing Square in Los Angeles.   This topic is relevant as the City of Sacramento will soon be issuing an open design competition for recreating Capitol Mall. As the mall is the most prominent “negative” space in Sacramento it is important to achieve success with whatever solution is finally implemented.   The evening’s emphasis will be an open forum discussion of design as it relates to solutions for disparate negative spaces. Wh

Urban Design, and more specifically infill design, has become one of the most desired types of development in the central city and surrounding residential neighborhoods. With continued concerns about the city's design review process, lack of neighborhood support and a host of other issues, architects often find it challenging to fully expressing themselves through their architecture. After living and practicing architecture in Sacramento for several years, David Sarti of Flex Architecture will reframe this discussion, focusing on his "Little Red House" and discussing the opportunities created by building small, asking the question: "Why is Sacramento so slow to embrace modern Architecture

The Urban Design Alliance has invited Howard Chan, the City of Sacramento’s Parking Services Manager, to speak about the Central City Parking Master Plan Update at it's monthly Design Dialogue. Parking is a significant component of any urban development project and impacts the quality of urban spaces. Please join us for an interesting conversation with Howard Chan. Topic: The Central City Parking Master Plan Update Presenter: Howard Chan, City of Sacramento, Parking Services Manager When: Wednesday, February 24th, 2010 at 5:45pm Where: AIA Conference Room, 1400 S Street (enter from 14th Street; accessible)   Howard’s talk will cover: Central City Parking Master Plan Update *Backgro

Parking is a significant component of any urban development project and impacts the quality of urban spaces. Please join us for a conversation with Howard Chan, the City of Sacramento’s Parking Services Manager, who will speak about the Central City Parking Master Plan Update. Howard’s talk will cover: *Central City Parking Master Plan Update *Background *Supply and Demand Analysis *Efficiency Gains through use of Technology *Planning Policy Revisions *Economic Development Implications Topic: The Central City Parking Master Plan Update Presenter: Howard Chan, City of Sacramento, Parking Services Manager When: Wednesday, February 24th, 2010 at 5:45pm Where: AIA Conference Room,

4th Wednesday Design Dialogue (FWDD) WHEN: Wednesday, January 27, 2010 ... 6-7:30 p.m. (doors open at 5:30 p.m.) WHERE: AIA Conference Room, 1400 S Street (enter from 14th Street; accessible) PRESENTER: Matthew Piner, Owner/Principal, PinerWorks Architectural & Building Group TOPIC: Integrating Climate + Form: A Valley City in Paradise ... please see attached flyer and feel free to post it in your workplace, if such posting is authorized. PROGRAM DETAILS: How do designers' and builders' responses to climate become elements of architectural form and style? Sacramento architect and green builder Matt Piner will discuss examples from local, global, and historical perspectives on certain

The Makers Lab is Sacramento’s newest design-build group and artist collaborative. The Makers Lab will be showcasing a small body of work from some of it’s most prolific members at the Applied Arts building this Saturday. Located at 2418 K street the Applied Arts Building is a new center for emerging architecture and design in the Sacramento region. The Makers Lab will be showing a variety of built work ranging from custom tables, lighting, mobiles, fine art and reclaimed objects. Brian Schmitt will be spinning some great dance music to set the mood for the pioneering new event series. Come check out this innovative new group of artists and craftsmen. Saturday, Jan 9th 6-9pm Applied A

The DIY Network will feature one of Sacramento's very own on the Wednesday, December 3rd episode of House Crashers.  Eli Bob, a bartender and native Sacramentan is the owner of a loft at the 4th Avenue Lofts development in Oak Park which was recently the focus of a "crash".  Eli's loft was inundated with droves of contractors, production crew, friends and host Josh Temple back in October for three days during the remodel.  The upcoming episode entitled, "Rock N Roll Loft Lounge" the shows website describes the crash as follows: A single young bartender transforms his plain loft into a place to mix up drinks, fun and edgy style. With a stone covered wall, mounted stainless fireplace, diamo

Old Soul Co. is hosting the "Soul of the Soul" Food Donation Drive on Thanksgiving Day at it's newest location in Oak Park. The local coffee company is slated to open its doors to the neighborhood in early 2010 with it's third retail location.  Old Soul will replace the now closed Starbuck's that once anchored the 40 Acres Art Gallery complex when it was remodeled back in 2003. According to the company's website, One of the guiding principles of Old Soul from the beginning has always been "to be better tomorrow than we are today"; in our minds, this principle includes everything from our own individual self improvement to our overall product improvement. We recognize how these principles

Join hosts Saxon Sigerson, AIA, Arturo Levenfeld, AIA, and Kris Barkley, AIA, for a casual evening of design presentations and discussion centered around three architecturally significant contemporary buildings. As a follow-up to the first Design Forum in August we will be exploring different facets of contemporary architecture by comparing three significantly different buildings: St. Mary’s Cathedral in San Francisco; Our Lady of Angels Cathedral in Los Angeles and the Seattle Public Library. The evening’s emphasis will be an open forum discussion of design as it relates to context and program by exploring the architect’s design solutions. Are these projects timeless in nature? Do the

Please join us as AIACV presents the Fourth Wednesday Design Dialogue (4WDD)) Tonight, October 28th from 5:30pm to 7:30pm at the Chapter office. This month AIA members Jason Silva and Courtney McLeod-Golden from Dreyfuss & Blackford Architects will be speaking and sharing images from the proposed Powerhouse Science Center located on Jiboom Street. This is an adaptive reuse project utilizing the Old PG&E Power Station adjacent to Lionakis' Water Intake facility and pedestrian plaza along the banks of the Sacramento River. The Vision: The Powerhouse Science Center will be the premier science & space learning center serving Northern California. It will serve as a model for 21st-century exp

Old Soul Co., a local roaster, baker and coffeehouse currently operating at two locations in midtown, announced it will be opening its third location at the 40 Acres Art Gallery and Cultural Center in Oak Park. The community and local media are invited to an Open House, where the Mayor and local civic and business leaders help Old Soul Co. celebrate the growth and renewal of a vibrant and vital neighborhood. With a proven track record of investment and commitment to the community they live in, Jason Griest and Tim Jordan are proud to bring the Old Soul Co. brand to another corner of the central city that they love and admire; with renewed investment of time, energy and financial resources