NCSU Graduate wins Thomas Jefferson Award

Curtis W. Fentress, FAIA, RIBA, is the Principal in Charge of Design and Co-Founder of Fentress Architects based in Denver, CO in 1980. He is also a North Carolina native and a graduate of NCSU's School of Architecture. Fentress continues to maintain ties with the COD by interviewing students each spring for potential jobs as well as lecturing frequently..

Image www.otto-otto.com

Fentress is well known for some of his more iconic designs including the Denver International Airport and the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Quantico, VA. His firm has also remained active locally by acting as lead designers on two large projects in the triangle: RDU Terminal 2 and Nature Research Center in Downtown Raleigh.

Fentress was recently recognized by the American Institute of Architects with the prestigious Thomas Jefferson Award. This award has only been awarded in the private sector architect category 8 times in 19 years according to the Denver Post.

Congratulations to Mr. Fentress for winning this high honor in recognition of your hard work.

Raleigh Institute of Contemporary Art

While I was in Askew-Taylor today, I happened to see a flyer for the Raleigh Institute of Contemporary Art or RICA. Having never heard anything about it before I was intrigued enough to follow the link and learn more. RICA seems to be offering classes for students of all skill levels and interests as taught by a variety of local artists including such notables as Lope Max Diaz and Shaun Richards. The grand opening is listed as January 18th of this year, so it apparently just opened. Hopefully they'll be able to fill classes in a sluggish economy, and continue developing the art education opportunities in Raleigh.

The website provided all the basic information, but does anyone out there know more about RICA, and how it came into being, etc.?

Eduardo Catalano, the ending of an era...

Two days ago (Jan 28) legendary architect and designer Eduardo Catalano passed away at the age of 92. Although I never knew the man, he certainly had a profound impact on my design sensibilities, my love of architecture, and thus both my education and career path. Surely there are many of us out there who can say the same. For us, and for all those affiliated with the local design community, this is not only a very sad day, but the end of an era.

As a kid, growing up in the area, I somehow stumbled upon the wreckage of the original Raleigh House, I think I was about 16 at the time. I remember standing in the woods with my high school girlfriend, the fragments of the house laid out before us, almost as if we had stumbled across some great ancient ruin... Vividly, I remember lighting up a cigarette and knowing my life would never be the same, as I had just been unwittingly ushered into the world of architecture. The years would pass by and subsequent visits would occur, although probably not quite as many as I would have liked. By the end it seemed like every visit would be the last, almost as if I was visiting someone who was terminally ill, and that in itself was more than a little unsettling. Ultimately the Raleigh House's fate was sealed, in that incarnation at least, and it was eventually leveled. By the end, we'd all come to expect it's inevitable demolition, some of us even came to accept it, but it never sat right with me that such an iconic structure would have ever been put in such a position in the first place.

There have been multiple attempts to revitalize the project in various locations around Raleigh but unfortunately none have come to fruition. The latest attempt, as reported here at Raleigh AAU, was to be constructed in the area of Dorthea Dix under the direction of the NCSU College of Design, in conjunction with Triangle Modernist Houses. However, it's become increasingly unclear as to the project's current status, considering the circumstances.

I am hopeful, although not overly confident, that we've learned our lesson considering our city's significant structures. Thankfully, due to various advocacy groups, there now seems to be a larger collective awareness about these issues, but only time will tell.

To read more on Edwardo Catalano please see his page on Triangle Modernist Houses

To learn more on the latest rebuilding efforts please see our earlier article (Aug 2009) Catalano House to be Rebuilt

Add one more to the lecture series

The School of Architecture has added another speaker to the spring lecture series held jointly with the Triangle AIA. Kevin Harrington, Professor at IIT (Art and Architectural History) and noted Chicago architectural historian will be speaking Monday March 8th at 7pm in Burns Auditorium. He is also known for his interest in modern architecture, and among other interests has a particularly strong knowledge about the work of Mies van der Rohe. (Go figure he is in Chicago.) There is some talk that he may even talk about Mies' visit to NCSU.

As always all lectures are free and open to the public.

NCSU Landscape Architecture Lecture Series

All lectures are free and open to the public. They are held Monday nights
at 7 pm in Burns Auditorium.

February 1st: Linda Jewell, Professor and Head of Landscape Architecture,
UC Berkeley
"Memorable Landscapes"

February 22nd: Juanite Shear-Swin, Triangle Transit,
"The Triangle Transit Project"

March 1st: Art Rice, NCSU Professor of Landscape Architecture/
Director of the PhD in Design Program/Associate Dean for Graduate
Studies Research and Extension
"Moskovskaya Straight Up:  Design as the Lubricant for Understanding,
Inspiration, and Transformation"

April 12th: Richard Hawks, Professor and Head of Landscape Architecture,
SUNY ESF
"Third Annual Charles V. Burger Memorial Lecture"

Phil Freelon named Tar Heel of the Year

Durham-based architect Phil Freelon was named 2009's Tar Heel of the Year by the News & Observer. Freelon graduated from NC State in 1975 with a Bachelor's in Environmental Design with honors and later returned to the Triangle to open a practice as well as teach at his alma mater.

The article is one of the the better articles I have read from the N & O. It provides an in-depth look into not only his architecture, but also his personal life and background. It highlights two of his firm's latest projects, the Museum of African American History and Culture on the mall in Washington DC and the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African American Arts and Culture in Charlotte.

Thanks to the N & O for recognizing Phil Freelon and his firm for the architectural tradition they are helping to continue in the Triangle.

NC State Spring Architecture Lecture Series

NC State has finalized their spring lecture series, held jointly with AIA Triangle. All lectures are free and open to the public. They are held Monday nights at 7 pm in Burns Auditorium.

February 8th Dana Buntrock, Associate Professor of Architecture at UC Berkeley.

February 15th Frank Harmon, NC State Professor of Architecture and Raleigh-based architect will hold the annual Harwell Hamilton Harris lecture.

March 29th Will Bruder, Phoenix-based architect.

April 19th Thomas Barrie, NC State Professor of Architecture and architectural philosophy researcher and writer will be talking about his new book, The Sacred In-Between: The Mediating Roles of Architecture.

It should be an exciting set of of lecturers and most likely the auditorium will be full since there are only four dates on the calendar. Be there early to be sure you get a seat.