Photo © Matthew Millman

True collaboration isn’t merely about working closely together; it is about trust. Bar Agricole, located just south of Market Street in San Francisco, exemplifies the benefits of architects and artisans sharing responsibility for design.

From the beginning, the Bar Agricole, owned and conceived by Thaddeus Vogler, sought an architecture that illuminates the intersection of agriculture and urbanity, a contemporary rustic-ness or “modern-tavern.” In order to do this, he went beyond hiring an architect and enlisted many of the top artisan-fabricators in the area, offering up a few equity partnership contracts instead of following a more conventional design-bid-build model. Although unusual for a number of reasons, this business arrangement allowed design development and construction documentation to occur simultaneously in a collaborative way. Early in the process, fabricators were able to take on a more active role in the design and in some cases radically change a component of the project.

Among the host of fabricators brought into the job was Concreteworks. Based in Oakland, they offer design and fabrication services for both on-site and off-site applications. Originally commissioned to do only the sinks for the project, upon becoming equity partners they were also provided the opportunity to pour the floors, some outdoor seating, a few various site-cast elements, and, most significantly, the banquette seating.

Photo © Matthew Millman

While the design of the restaurant as a whole is commendable, it is this row of concrete banquette seating that stands out among the rest of the design gestures. Joshua Aidlin, of Aidlin Darling Design, envisioned the banquettes as a singular fluid ribbon working its way down the long axis of the restaurant. At first, it was thought that the banquettes would be fabricated from 3/8” plate steel, folded and bent into tight curves. However, when Concreteworks was added as an investor, Mark Rogero saw the bench design as an opportunity to push the limits of his trade, convincing both the client and the architect to let him try.

“When they said the cost of the banquettes is ‘x’ in steel, I said I can make those banquettes in Ductal [an ultra-high-performance concrete, Developed by Lafarge, Bouygues and Rhodia, that uses fibrous reinforcing]; and they said, ‘You can?’ I didn’t really know; I knew we would have to figure it out, but it was possible.”

Before the Bar Agricole banquettes, Rogero’s work with Ductal had mostly been in the creation of large decorative panels for a pop-up piece Concreteworks did at AIA conventions in San Francisco and Miami. The process for the panels could not be more different from what was to be required for the banquettes. The panels, although decorative, did not require much in the way of formwork; CNC milled foam was used and the pour itself was fairly straightforward.

The task Rogero and his team were now confronted with involved very slender forms and very tight radii. Staying true to the intent and overall form of the banquettes required that minimal changes to the design be made, which was possible only because of the intrinsic properties of the material and the knowledge of the fabrication team. The 3/8” plate steel became a single inch of concrete devoid of any steel reinforcing.

Here we should pause to ask what advantage was gained by transitioning from steel to concrete. Aesthetically, the concrete anchors the tall slender space, acting as a perfect counterpoint to the other concrete elements inserted throughout the tavern—giving weight to contrast the lightness of the glass skylights and reclaimed wood. Practically, the advantage isn’t so apparent. Up front, it seems ludicrous to pour 13 1-inch thick benches out of concrete. Fiscally, Ductal is fifteen times the price of conventional concrete, and, with the amount of steel that would be required to reinforce conventional concrete; you might as well stick with steel.

The advantage comes in labor savings. Bending steel into such complex geometries with high tolerances would make sense if only a few benches needed to be constructed. In this case, the cost of labor would remain high throughout the fabrication in steel, while the labor with concrete drops off significantly after the formwork has been designed and the first pour has been made.

The physical casting of each banquette was largely carried out without any hiccups. The precision of the formwork (fabricated by Nor Cal Metal Fabricators), and the physical make-up of the material all aided with the process, but by far the most significant contributing factor was the knowledge base possessed by Rogero and his staff.

Photo © Matthew Millman

Beginning with foam, Concreteworks created a series of models and formwork studies to understand any discrepancies between the form and the fabrication process. A few changes in this step had to be made, and the initial 3d models were sent back to Aidlin Darling with Rogero’s suggestions. Through this process, it became clear that foam formwork would not be sufficient to hold up to the intense hydrostatic pressure created during the pour, and it was decided to spend the time and money on a single steel mold. Upon receiving the final formwork, they made adjustments to the material matrix and poured the first piece.

Concreteworks has been doing artisan concrete work for twenty years, and within that time they have encountered problems similar to those faced with the banquettes. All that embedded knowledge surfaced as the team prepped the molds for pouring. Creating the gasketing or understanding the best funnel to use becomes almost instinctual. But we must not forget the amount of work that went into the front end of the project: testing out different mold options, full-scale formal mock-ups, and intense discussions with the engineer all allowed for a smoother back end. An architect cannot simulate this body of knowledge, and although Aidlin Darling was involved throughout the entire process, to their credit, they knew when to let go and trust the expertise of their fabricator.

Historically speaking, the relative simplicity of building technologies allowed master builders and renaissance architects to exist. Our current building industry has become so rich with various materials and specialized construction methods that the all-knowing architect has become a thing of the past. Although not something to mourn over, it does mean we should question the residues found in our architectural modus operandi.

It is difficult to keep up with the rapid march of technology. The difference between the vast amount of materials available and the relatively common materials used extensively in the building sector only serves to illustrate the sluggishness of adopting new material practice, and shows a lack of depth in material knowledge amongst designers and builders alike.

Sure, the Bar Agricole made use of an innovative material, but that isn’t the reason for its significance. The significance lies in the professional relationship between architect and fabricator. Without the trust, without the sharing of control on Aidlin Darling’s part, Concreteworks would have never been able to push the boundaries of their craft. The innovation would have remained only in the material itself, but instead this professional relationship allowed for an innovative application as well.

Pushing the envelope isn’t analogous to changing its form; it also means we question our assumptions. Concreteworks is one of many fabricators who have built an entire career around a single material, so why not let them explore their own craft within the conceptual framework established by the architect? Tapping the tacit knowledge of experienced fabricators doesn’t come solely from novel designs; it arises from truly collaborative efforts that operate outside of traditional hierarchies. Although perhaps unintuitive and scary, there are benefits to letting go.

Bridging the Gap: Public-Interest Architectural Internships

Bridging the Gap is a compilation of 19 perspectives on public-interest architectural internships as voiced by senior practitioners, professors, and interns. The book is divided into three sections: facing the issues, at the universities, and beyond the ivory tower. The discussions are current and refer to the recent economic downturn and newly established internships. The book is not a reference for available public-interest architectural internships; there is no comprehensive list of opportunities. Rather, it is a discussion of the future of the profession in the public sector, the role of interns, the creation of service opportunities, and alternate career paths. It provides thought provoking discussions beneficial to architects early in their career or to those who desire a career in public architecture. Current internship programs, resources, and websites are embedded in the essays throughout the book.

Important issues such as the structuring of internships, compensation, and the role of the profession in the public sector are highlighted in facing the issues. As noted by several public-interest interns, it is often not possible to complete IDP (Intern Development Program) as administered by NCARB (National Council of Architectural Registration Boards) through a public-interest internship: an architecture intern is often forced to prioritize either service work or licensure. Yet, as several of the essays in Bridging the Gap discuss, the benefits of a public-interest internship can exceed those of a traditional architecture internship. Victoria Beach observes, “With logistical hurdles aside, a public-service internship program offers an ideal model for independent practice. Right from the outset of a project, interns are given a broad range of responsibilities without having to beg for them. Interns then lead while experts assist, not the other way around.”(8) Although many of the authors advocate such benefits of a public-interest internship, a counter viewpoint is offered by Michael Payatok: “What is interesting about projects executed within mainstream corporate offices is that they are, more often than not, larger in scale and impact than projects undertaken by nonprofit community design centers. The scale of these projects and their technical complexities offer educational opportunities that are not readily available in the smaller projects of community-design centers. . . . I think young interns should spend at least ten years working in mainstream offices, supplemented by their volunteer work during evenings and weekends, before joining community-design centers.”(41,43)

The majority of the public service internships cited in the book are for academic credit, for very modest pay, or performed pro bono. In Bridging the Gap, several authors discuss compensation and give concrete examples of how existing internships are funded. Often, a public-interest architect must not only initiate a project, but also find the funds to support it. Andrew Caruso notes, “Serving a community that cannot afford design services does not necessarily mean that such services must be offered gratis; assuming so limits the potential of these for-profit/not–for-profit partnerships. . . . Thus, designers must be as creative with how they fund and deploy their ideas as with the design of the ideas themselves.”(66)

Look Inside: Bridging the Gap

Bridging the Gap is an extension of Georgia Bizios & Katie Wakeford’s work on the Home Environments Design Initiative at North Carolina State University, which experiments with offering public-interest internships through the university. This type of program is the focus of at the universities. The editors note, “Universities are leaders in innovation, education, and increasingly in community engagement, making them ideal laboratories for testing new models of public-interest internship. . . . Universities are well positioned to seek funding and leverage faculty expertise and qualifications for supervision of public-interest interns.”(74) The majority of essays in this section are authored by the directors of university based programs, such as ecoMOD at the University of Virginia School of Architecture. Christina Calabrese offers a student’s perspective. She discusses in detail her experience with four public service opportunities, all tied to the University of Virginia, where she completed her Bachelor of Science in Architecture. Included are the eligibility requirements, cost, compensation, and expectations of each opportunity.

First person narratives from public-interest interns give readers insight into the developing field of public architecture. The seven internships presented in beyond the ivory tower are quite diverse. The broad scope of experiences supports one of the reoccurring themes in the book: a career in public architecture does not have a defined path. For example, Luke Weldon Perry and Luke Clark Tyler share their Peachtree-Pine experience. Peachtree-Pine provides many services for the homeless of Atlanta, including shelter, transitional housing, and advocacy. The focus of the internship was the design of a master plan for Peachtree-Pine, one that would create a positive image and connect the center with the community of Atlanta. Both of the interns lived at Peachtree-Pine during their internship and offer insightful perspectives on public-interest architecture. Perry notes, “We have to acknowledge that this work isn’t a good fit for everyone. Expanding the reach of such opportunities might formalize something that may not need to be formalized. . . . Blindly diving in to change the world can actually do more harm than good. If you don’t have the capacity or interest to deeply understand both people’s lives as well as the forces that shape them, your efforts may very well be in vain. Regardless, we really do need more designers doing this kind of work.”(210)

Look Inside: Bridging the Gap

Also included in the seven internships presented is an example from a landscape architecture intern, Sam Valentine, who encourages one to be open minded about opportunities and expanding boundaries of the profession. “If I had been told, even months before finishing school, that my first step after graduation would involve a two-hundred-year-old house, uniformed park rangers, and gaggles of eight- and nine-year-olds, I would likely have scoffed at the apparent irrelevance of the opportunity. . . . But, with time, I slowly broadened the perceived boundaries of my career, and since then I have found my experience challenging, rewarding, and surprisingly relevant.”(222,223)

Bridging the Gap assembles diverse individual viewpoints into a current, relevant discussion on the profession of architecture and the emergence of public-interest architectural internships. An increasing interest in community based internships combined with limited opportunities makes established programs extremely competitive. Currently, the supply of architectural interns eager for public-interest work far surpasses the available projects. Georgia Bizios & Katie Wakeford bring attention to this gap and advocate for expanding the field of public-interest architectural internships.

Photo courtesy of California Department of Water Resources

“Metropolitan Los Angeles could not support a fraction of its current population without imported water . . . . Water distribution and treatment alone account for about 18 percent of all energy consumed in the region . . . .” Austin Troy explores the delivery of water to Los Angeles on Places/Design Observer. Read more.

Mission Bay, a redevelopment success story. Image courtesy flickr user J Marx

Redevelopment as we’ve known it really is dead in California. On December 20, the California Supreme Court upheld the legislature’s elimination of redevelopment agencies — and struck down the option for the agencies to pay back a portion of their funding to continue to exist.

This outcome represents the worst-case scenario for supporters of redevelopment. I for one was surprised, having spent all of 2011 working with various coalitions to reform, rather than eliminate, redevelopment. SPUR Board members like Elizabeth Seifel and Fred Blackwell worked tirelessly throughout the last year to avoid this outcome.

Read more

The AIACC congratulates the following members honored in 2012:

Each of the new fellows will be highlighted this year on aiacc.org.

Anne Laird-Blanton, AIA

The California Architectural Foundation (CAF) is pleased to announce the appointment of Anne Laird-Blanton, AIA, as its first Executive Director. A member of The American Institute of Architects, Anne brings to this position her skill, education, and training as a licensed architect coupled with over 15 years of volunteer experience at all levels of the AIA.

“With the creation of this dedicated staff position, CAF is poised to be successful in its efforts to advance sustainable communities through research and education,” says CAF President Tom Anglewicz, FAIA. “The appointment of Anne as the Executive Director will enable CAF to expand its initiatives and programs while positioning the organization to become an active participant in issues facing our profession.”

As a licensed architect in California and New York, Anne also holds a B.A. in Human Services and has a strong interest in community and social issues. She brings passion and drive to this position as is evidenced by her impressive commitment as a volunteer. “Anne’s connections within the profession and her history of service to the AIA will serve CAF extremely well,” remarks Anglewicz.

The AIA California Council (AIACC) has supported CAF’s investment in this staff position, citing opportunities for synergies that will positively impact both organizations. From enhanced connections to the academies to increased research, the AIACC and CAF have identified ways each can contribute to addressing issues facing the profession. “I look forward to working with the AIA California Council and members of the architectural profession to have a significant impact on environmental issues in California,” states Anne. “I am excited and ready to lead CAF in this new chapter. As a state, California is facing so many challenges, and CAF provides great opportunity for the profession to get engaged and design the fragile interface between the natural and built environments.” Anne can be reached at anne@cafsite.org, 1303 J Street, Suite 200, Sacramento, CA 95814.

Founded in 1979, the California Architectural Foundation promotes excellence in architecture though student scholarships, grants and environmental education programs, bridging the gap between the academic and professional worlds. Committed to making stronger and more effective connections between students and schools, planners and professionals, the Foundation cultivates the resources and creativity necessary to forge these links.

Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects, Ed Roberts Campus, photo by Tim Griffith

To assist in the preparation of our response to the DSA, the Council has sought the guidance of three recognized subject matter experts (SME’s) in the area of state and federal access code development: Steve Winkel, FAIA, Jay Whisenant, AIA, and Kerwin Lee, AIA. Their recommendation will be presented to the AIACC Executive Committee for its final decision as the official position of the AIACC.

Your input is crucial, as well. We encourage you to reach out to the DSA directly with your thoughts, using the Stakeholder Input Form they have provided and copying your response to Kurt Cooknick, Assoc. AIA, Director of Regulation and Practice for the AIACC; and to share those thoughts with your colleagues in the Comment thread below.

This is the opportunity for us to engage in—and improve—an area of the practice that has bedeviled us for years, but time is short: responses are due at DSA by 15 February 2012.

The DSA has identified three options, which are summarized and discussed below. The DSA Discussion Paper is available in full here.

• Option 1 – Current California Provisions – Continuation of current California provisions replacing the IBC Chapter 11 in its entirety, amended to implement State statutory mandates and to be consistent with the 2010 ADA Standards.
• Option 2 – IBC Chapter 11 Provisions: Replacement of the current California provisions with the IBC Chapter 11 language and reference standard (ICC A117.1 – 2009), amended to implement State statutory mandates and for consistency with the 2010 ADA Standards.
• Option 3 – 2010 ADA Standards: Replacement of the current California provisions with the federal 2010 ADA Standards amended to implement State statutory mandates.

A discussion of each option is presented below.

Option 1 – Current California Provisions
The CBC uses the IBC as its model code, which is tailored to California’s unique requirements with State Agency Amendments and adopted by the Building Standards Commission (BSC). However, in the area of accessibility the IBC’s provisions have typically been completely replaced with unique California language proposed by various State agencies and approved by the BSC. In essence California has historically developed its own “model” accessibility code with most provisions carried forward to subsequent editions as State amendments during the triennial code adoption process.

This would involve carrying forward the existing CBC Chapter 11B with revisions to the current language to ensure that the accessibility requirements are no less stringent than the revised federal requirements and to implement State statutory mandates. The 2013 CBC accessibility provisions would continue to be California amendments in their entirety.

Option 2 – IBC Chapter 11 Provisions
The IBC utilizes its Chapter 11 for accessibility scoping requirements, and a separately published reference standard, ICC/ANSI A117.1 Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities, for its technical guidelines. Scoping requirements indicate when, where or how many of something is required, and the technical guidelines indicate how compliance is achieved. The scoping provisions of IBC Chapter 11 are developed and approved through an open hearing and consensus process by the International Code Council (ICC) utilizing ICC voting members comprised of code enforcement and fire officials. The technical standards and guidelines within ICC/ANSI A117.1 are developed through an open hearing and consensus process supervised utilizing an accredited committee for approval.

Option 2 would require deletion of the current Chapter 11 B language, adoption of the IBC Chapter 11 model code language with California amendments to comply with the new federal design standards, implement State legislative mandates and retain unique California provisions that remain relevant and beneficial.

Option 3 – 2010 ADA Standards
The United States Department of Justice (USDOJ) published revised regulations for Titles II and III of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) in the Federal Register on September 15, 2010. These regulations adopted revised enforceable accessibility standards called the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design. Beginning March 15, 2012, compliance with the 2010 Standards will be required for applicable new construction and alterations nationwide.

A goal in revising the federal regulations was to make the design guidelines more consistent with model building codes and industry standards in order to facilitate compliance. The revisions were coordinated extensively with model code groups and standard-setting bodies so that differences could be reconciled. In particular, the Access Board sought to harmonize the guidelines with the International Building Code (IBC) and access standards issued through the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). While the ADA is federal law focused on the civil rights of people with disabilities for equal access, a number of States have used it as a model code upon which their state level building code provisions for accessibility are based.

Option 3 would require deletion of the current Chapter 11 B language, adoption of the federal 2010 ADA Standards as model code language with California amendments to implement State statutory mandates and retain unique California provisions that remain relevant and beneficial.

The recent article announcing the appointment of Chet Widom, FAIA, to the position of California State Architect was but one example (albeit key to the profession) of an AIA architect member in public service; there are many others.

The AIACC monitors very closely the Governor’s Appointments Unit, advocating on behalf of members, like Chet, for various positions in state government. And while the position of State Architect is a compensated one, most are not. Most are about service to society – something architects spend a lifetime providing.

And while many of the positions available to architects may seem modest or mundane, it is essential that the profession be present and counted on for its participation. In fact, were there not architects serving on the various boards, commissions, committees, sub-committees, and task groups in state government, much of the profession’s voice on issues of consequence to the profession would be replaced by those whose interest may not be as altruistic.

Another example of positions in state government that the AIACC is currently working to fill are with the California Building Standards Commission (CBSC). The CBSC is where building code development happens, and prescriptive choices can be even more limiting to architects, and more expensive to clients. The AIACC is on record for its support for the reappointment of Steve Winkel, FAIA to the position of Architect Member to the CBSC.

Another position of importance to the profession is with the California Seismic Safety Commission (CSSC). In a State as seismically active as California, the voice of the profession is significant regarding where, and how, buildings are constructed. The AIACC is fortunate to have Gary McGavin, FAIA as its candidate for reappointment to this position of Architect Member to the CSSC. Gary’s knowledge of seismology and the many issues regulations created by the CSSC can affect between the built and natural environment are unrivaled.

Other key positions within state government include the California Building Standards Commission’s Code Advisory Committees. Just this week the CBSC Commissioners voted to appoint the following AIA members to the following CBSC Code Advisory Committees:

The five Canons of the AIA Code of Ethics clearly address the matter of obligations: General Obligations, Obligations to the Public, Obligations to the Client, Obligations to the Profession, and Obligations to Colleagues. Nowhere will you find a sixth Canon titled Obligations to Self. Because this is a profession that understands that service to society begins with a bit of sacrifice of self and that someone must go first if we are to make this world a better place for all of us, the architectural profession is filled with hundreds of examples of those who are serving their communities.

	Landscape, Community and Craft by Tom Kundig, FAIA (1.0 AIA/CES LU)In this 60-minute course, Tom Kundig, FAIA, takes us through a vast body of his past and current work. Filled with wonderfully imaginative designs, inspiring solutions and more than a little subversion, Kundig’s brilliance is on display as he discusses the aspects of architecture that are most personal and meaningful to him and have continued to resonate with him since he began working as an architect.
	Architecture and Geometry by Borja Ferrater (1.0 AIA/CES LU) In this 60-minute course, Borja Ferrater, a part of the family team at the innovative firm, Office of Architecture in Barcelona (OAB), demonstrates their unique work. Ferrater delivers an engaging, entertaining and often amusing lecture, packed with fascinating projects incorporating techniques utilizing light, geometry and materials in ways that have only recently been possible.
	No More Play by Michael Maltzan, FAIA (1.0 AIA/CES LU) How can architecture convince people to live, work and play in a single community? How can public housing be as beautiful as it is efficient? In this 60-minute video, Michael Maltzan, FAIA, draws on his significant architectural experience to offer new ideas for transforming the way we design, build and think about public structures and the cities they help to define.
	Fish, Sticks, Birds and Bricks by Jeanne Gang, FAIA, LEED AP (1.0 AIA/CES HSW/SD LU) How do the migration patterns of birds relate to the design of city towers? How can innovative community planning spur economic recovery in suburbs? Find out by stepping into the mind of 2011 MacArthur Genius Grant winner Jeanne Gang, FAIA, LEED AP, Founder and Principal of Studio Gang Architects. This 60-minute video offers fascinating insight into the creative process and thematic undertones that shape the work of one of America’s most visionary architects.
	The 9/11 Memorial and Its Precedents by Peter Walker, FASLA Peter Walker, FASLA, reviews his landscape architecture work on one of the most significant new projects in the United States: the 9/11 Memorial in New York City. Walker puts the Memorial’s design in the context of his firm’s previous work on several notable projects and examines the special techniques he helped to develop in order to implement his vision. Peter also provides a detailed account of how the Memorial came to exist in its current form: what challenges were overcome, what concepts changed, and how he helped to create a unique and somber landmark.
	The Vertical Farm and the Rise of Urban Agriculture by Dr. Dickson Despommier, PhD (1.0 AIA/CES HSW/SD LU) It is estimated that there will be 10 Billion people living on this planet by the end of the century. This fact brings many challenges and questions, and not the least of them is: how do we feed everyone? 80% of all available arable land on Earth is already being farmed. It would take a landmass the size of Brazil to feed just the new population…and we don’t have anything like that left. In this uplifting (and in parts, terrifying) 60-minute lecture, Dr. Dickson Despommier, PhD shows us that by using technology we can solve this problem, and many others, within the next 20 years.
	Linking Light and Landscape by Brigitte Shim, Hon. FAIA (1.0 AIA/CES HSW/SD LU) In this 60-minute video, Brigitte Shim, Hon. FAIA, explores the integration of buildings with light, season, and landscape. Shim’s engaging lecture is filled with examples from her firm’s cutting-edge work, significant not just for their construction, but by the way they are informed by their surroundings and context in the larger world. Similarly, Shim provides a larger context for her lecture, examining (among many topics) art, geography, and how intertwining light, water and landscape is redefining architectural practice.

Click here to purchase the 7-part bundle now for 15% off:
$179 (AIA member) or $238 (non-AIA).

According to Michael Strogoff, FAIA, Founder + President, aecKnowledge, “Every two years, AIACC hosts the Monterey Design Conference, widely seen as one of the most inspirational architectural design conferences in the nation. Capturing these incredible lectures on video provides design professionals everywhere with the opportunity to learn from and get inspired by some of our nation’s top design talent.” Strogoff also stated, “Every one of the presenters captivated the audience from the moment they set foot on stage—seeing these online is the next best thing to being at the conference.”

Each one-hour course allows those taking a course to earn 1.0 AIA/CES Learning Unit. Upon successful completion of an online quiz, viewers receive a Certificate of Completion and learning units are directly reported to AIA.

Simply put, the California Supreme Court ruled in Crawford a few years ago that unless contract language specifically states otherwise, a contractual obligation to indemnify includes the duty to defend upon demand by the client whenever there is a claim damage was caused in part by the work of the architect. There is no requirement that an architect must be found negligent before the duty-to-defend obligation can be executed.

This, of course, puts architects and other design professionals at great risk as this type of obligation – the design professional serving as an insurance company for legal services for the client – is not covered by your professional liability insurance.

AIACC members have asked the AIACC to address this issue with the California State Legislature, and the Board of Directors agreed at its November meeting and instructed AIACC staff to work to have legislation introduced to amend California’s indemnification law so that it does not automatically include the duty-to-defend in the absence of negligence having been determined.

Our friends at the American Council of Engineering Companies – California (ACEC-CA) have tried to address the post-Crawford indemnification law with the Legislature, with the support of the AIACC, but the Legislature was not willing to make any significant, meaningful change to the law that offers statutory protection to design professionals.