tamu aias

To stay up to date on Texas A&M AIAS meeting and event information, join the AIAS listserv.  Send an email to listserv@listserv.tamu.edu, and in the body put SUBSCRIBE aias-2009-2010 firstname lastname.  This will set you up to receive emails about all the awesome activities that are coming up for our organization.  If you have problems signing up for the listserv, just send us an email at tamuaias@gmail.com, and we’ll do our best to help you out.

The Texas A&M chapter of AIAS — American Institute of Architecture Students — held its first meeting of the semester on Tuesday, September 14, 2009, at 6:00 pm on the second floor of Langford A.

At this meeting, we discussed our vision for the semester, as well as some exciting plans that are in the works for future meetings.  Think scavenger hunts and tailgating, and get excited.  Membership forms were distributed, and good food was eaten by everyone.

Didn’t make it to this first meeting?  Just now hearing about this awesome organization that is AIAS?  Don’t stress!  We are still accepting new members.

Somewhere in between that studio project and your next all-nighter, squeeze in time to come out to our second general meeting, on Tuesday, September 29 at 6:30 pm in ARCC 111. Just look for the colorful posters with the AIAS logo — shown above — plastered around the Langford complex.  You’ll be able to get a recap of all the pertinent information.

Still on the fence about whether or not to join AIAS?  Here are some compelling reasons in favor of joining:

• Free food.  Every meeting.  Pay $57 in dues once, and we will feed you dinner for the rest of the year.
• Be part of something bigger.  By joining Texas A&M AIAS, you become part of the national AIAS organization.  AIAS is the student branch of the larger professional organization, AIA.  Networking, anyone?
• Good excuse to leave studio.  Meetings run an hour or less.  You might learn something, and you will definitely have fun.  And it’s only an hour, which you would have probably spent procrastinating in studio, anyway.
• Fun.  And relevant.  AIAS is a great way to get involved with an on-campus organization that is actually related to your major.  Just check out the list on the right for proof about all the fun stuff we do.  Architorture and Shack-a-Thon alone are enough said.

Come and check AIAS out.  Whatever happens, at least you’re getting dinner out of the deal.  And you might just find the student organization you were destined to join!

Parisian architects LAN Architecture have completed the company headquarters for packaging manufacturer Marchesini France in Paris, France. The building is composed of two main volumes, designed to separate the office space from the workshops. The entrance is located at the intersection of the volumes. It is constructed from concrete and painted black.

The primary intention of the programme is to explore the relationship between the building and its surroundings and between the building users and the landscape. One of the main design concerns was the building’s environmental adaptation and appropriation. The site slopes down three metres towards the west, offering attractive views over the neighbouring hills. Our solution was to create two hierarchically related volumes placed perpendicular to one another along a north-south axis and follow the slope of the site. One of the volumes contains flexible workspaces while the other encloses a workshop, exhibition space and storage areas. The offices occupy the upper area of the site and are raised above ground level to provide an impression of lightness. The idea was also to erase distinctions between the different kinds of work by avoiding the use of corridors. The result is that the transition areas also act as settings where people can meet one another or as waiting spaces with pleasant views looking out over the countryside. The workshop volume is located at a lower level and gives the appearance of being solidly anchored to the ground. The intersection of the two volumes serves as the entrance, with a sloped ramp rising up into the building. The elevations and roof are completely constructed from black painted concrete. The roof finish allow it be read as the building’s fifth elevation.

PROGRAMME: Design and construction of a company headquarters
CLIENT: Marchesini France
LOCATION: rue Royale, Saint Mesmes, France
NET PLAN AREA: 1250 m²
COMPLETION: 2008

From Dezeen

via ted

Visit the Texas A&M College of Architecture website at Archone.tamu.edu

Come to Downtown Bryan this Saturday for Doomsday.

Council of Doom is a bicycle collective & crew based out of Costa Mesa, CA. Comprised of close knit friends, they ride to push the boundaries and expectations of fixed-gear bicycles while having as much fun as possible.

find out more info and watch a kool video here. Above image from here.

Science Commons. Imagine if there were an Architecture Commons … there already are things kind of like that going on at Open Architecture Network. Go check it out. Get involved.