Second Quarter 2009

See the Current Calendar

AASCC Election Returns

   Last year’s balloting resulted in the re-election of Hugh D. Carter as President, the election of Daniel Gomez &  Daniel Townsend as joint Vice Presidents, and the re-election of William Fisher as Treasurer.

   See “Vice Presidents’ Greetings” article on page two.

   Our thanks to last year’s Vice President, Miguel Podolsky, for his service to the Association.

Local Artisans Presentation

   A trio of local artisans presented their design visions at the Architects Association meeting on July 2nd.

   The first presentation was by Mark & Nan Lesnick of Mark Concrete.

   A wide variety of architectural elements can be made of concrete, including countertops, sinks, fireplace surrounds, furniture and fixtures.

   Also offered is Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete, a material that offers both high strength and low weight for cornices, door and window trim, and other architectural features.

   Mark Concrete can be reached at 831/632-0845.

   The second presentation was by Tim Matthews and Heather Robyn Matthews of  Heather Glass.

   Etched and carved glass panels can be created for use in entry doors, sidelights, windows, railings, shower doors and enclosures, room dividers, laylights, skylights and floor lights.

   The studio works in anealed, tempered, and laminated glass up to 8’x12’, and up to an inch thick, utilizing designs that range from botanical to modern.

   They are capable of one of a kind pieces, or production runs  large enough to outfit a cruise ship line.

   Heather Glass can be reached at 831/462-3231.

   The third presenters were Aaron Vandekerckhove and Jack Lawson of Sculpture Tech, offering a wide range of metal fabrications in steel, Corten, stainless steel,bronze and combinations.

   Their decorative and functional metal work includes fountains, railings, handrails, gates, and large scale site installations.  One of their sculptures is installed on Pacific Avenue in front of La Vida Restaurant.

   Sculpture Tech can be reached at 831/325-3509

All three presenters brought samples and pictures of their work.

Vice President's Message

   We would like to introduce ourselves to the many members of our association that we have not yet had the good fortune to meet.  We are Daniel Gomez and Daniel Townsend of Fuse Architects, Inc. and have been given the opportunity to serve as your Vice Presidents for 2009.

   The Vice President’s primary task is to set up and coordinate the AASCC meetings, to establish the meeting topics, and hopefully spark the interest of members and the public.

   We are excited about being involved with our architectural and design community, and look forward to bringing some exciting presentations that will encourage people to attend and become involved.

   We encourage our members to be more active participants which may lead to more involvement in the community and an increase in communication and  business opportunities.

   We will be bringing some new thoughts on the presentation of our members to the community, and first impressions can go a long way.

   One step is to update the AASCC website, AASCC.org., We would like to propose a new look and feel for the website, and possibly a new logo at a future meeting.  If well received, this new look could also tie in with the AASCC Newsletter and even the Open Architecture Tour.

   We believe that we have a very strong design and building services community, and look forward to promoting the talent and services of our members.

   We have received some interesting suggestions of topics for meetings, and encourage you to send us your thoughts and suggestions.

   We thank you for giving us the opportunity to serve you, and hope that we will have a positive impact for our association and may continue to make progress for our community.

   Daniel Gomez and Daniel Townsend can be reached at 831/479-9295.

What to Look for in Waterproofing
by David Devine

   From the design to the finished project, there are many waterproofing concerns that need to be addressed to avoid the possibility  of problems.

   Below grade waterproofing has often been overlooked, or should I say “buried”, until water intrusion occurs. We all have heard about green roofs, and mounting PV panels on our roofs, but do we know what measures should be taken to assure they will not leak?

   As a former director of RCI, (Institute of Roofing, Waterproofing, and Building Envelope Professionals), I can attest that there are some systems that will fail if given half a chance. Most waterproofing projects have inherent challenges that require a team approach from the start. This requires special attention to details from the drafting table to final sign off.

   For below grade projects, proper assessment of existing conditions, types of waterproofing materials, drainage systems, and overburden placement needs communication between the design team of architect, engineer, and consultants, and the build team of contractor and subcontractors.

   Starting with the initial design, elements of the waterproofing system and it’s expected performance must be formed and formulated for proper implementation by each member of the team.

   Too many times I have been called out to assess problems that could have been easily resolved if a waterproofing consultant had been involved from the start. I hope that in our future, with the help of various educational and training programs available to interested design team members, there will be an increased attention to these critical waterproofing aspects.

   I was given the opportunity to review and comment on a draft publication, to be published shortly, called “Principals of a successful below grade waterproofing project”, created by members of WSRCA (Western States Roofing Contractors Association).  I suggest that this manual should be in every architect, consultant, and contractor’s library for reference.

   Another consideration is the use of waterproofing barriers against methane infiltration.  This is not just a consideration back east, but potentially throughout the Bay Area. Additionally, many new homes are including basements, wine storage, or bonus rooms that require below grade design and waterproofing.

   Using team members experienced in addressing waterproofing issues  can be a plus for the owner, architect and entire building team.

   This means proper selection of the waterproofing system, designing the project to accommodate the needs of that system, adequately detailing the standard and unusual conditions of the project, writing of specifications tailored to the conditions,  review of bidding proposals that would seek to substitute a lessor product or installation procedure, and periodic observation of the field conditions during critical points in the application of the waterproofing system.

   Although this will cost more money in both design and construction phases, one must measure these costs against those of a system that does not perform well, or which fails, and which must be repaired or even replaced.

   One of the waterproofing distributors that I have consulted with in San Jose is Cadeco. Their staff has a wealth of technical information, references, manufacturers, and qualified contractors that can be of valuable assistance to any waterproofing design team.

About the Author:
David Devine is a registered consultant in Santa Cruz County. He has been a member of many of the professional roofing, waterproofing, and building envelope organizations over the past 20 years.

David Devine can be reached at
831/234-7508

““Sometimes, I think, the things we see Are shadows of the things to be; That what we plan we build; That every hope that hath been crossed, And every dream we though was lost, In heaven shall be fulfilled.”  —Phoebe Cary, “Dreams and Realities”

The OAT Report

   This was the 15th year of the OAT, our annual benefit for Habitat for Humanity, featuring nine architect designed homes with a range of budgets and a full spectrum of design approaches.

   Over the years we have tried to achieve a balance between presentation of our members designs, the enjoyment of the Tour attendees and the benefit to Habitat. This would not have been possible without the efforts of many people.

   To successfully run a tour that features nine houses, and up to 700 attendees, means long range planning and last minute responses.

   Over the years Habitat has taken on more and more of this work and much of the Tour’s success is due to their diligent volunteers and staff, and we thank them for their cheerful and tireless enthusiasm.

   All of our efforts are lead and overseen by Catherine Moon, of New Moon Design Group, the Tour Director for the last five years. We thank her for her great attention to detail, and a gentle but persistent pursuit of excellence.

   Already, we have begun planning next year’s Tour, so if you have comments or suggestions that would improve the experience please let me know your thoughts.

   In our next issue we will have a detailed report on this year’s Tour statistics and proceeds.

   And Architects remember, it’s not too late to start planning your entry for next year’s tour.

Hugh Carter can be reached at 831/458-1544