Motor City Brings in New Year with "The Drop" Tradition at Compuware Atrium and Hard Rock Cafe

On December 31st, Motor City NYE presented its third annual “D Drop” at the Compuware Atrium and Hard Rock Café.  The 2013 edition of the festive and fantastic event featured award-winning culinary offerings, outstanding musical entertainment and – yet again – a technological marvel to behold in true Detroit spirit, lowered at midnight in celebration of a new year.

“‘The Drop’ has always been about the community and ultimately offering the region a proper New Year’s Eve celebration,” says event organizer Jerrid Mooney.  Local artists Erik and Israel Nordin, the multi-talented brothers behind the creation of the Detroit Design Center, were responsible for creating this year’s metal, 150-pound art piece that literally descended upon the city during the countdown – something that was witnessed from both near and far. About 900 guests bought tickets for the premier VIP Gala inside the atrium of Compuware, but over 12,000 people attended the free event outside at Campus Martius.

Read more: EVENT | 2013 New Year's Eve in the D

AIA Michigan Holiday Party - December 13th at the Beaubien House

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Read more: PHOTOS | 2012 AIA MI Holiday Party

HED Design Technology Leader Hosts BIM and IPD Sessions at Autodesk University in Las Vegas

DETROIT, MI (December 21, 2012) – Brett C. Gatti, Design Technology Leader at Harley Ellis Devereaux, was a featured speaker at the 2012 Autodesk University conference in Las Vegas during late November. Gatti’s sessions included two lectures and one roundtable discussion.

The lecture topics included Best Practices for Coordinating Multiple Disciplines and the Use of Multiple Software Products on BIM and IPD Projects and They Tell Me That I'm a BIM Coordinator: How Did That Happen and What Does It Mean? During the “Best Practices” session, Brett shared some lessons learned based upon Harley Ellis Devereaux’s experiences on BIM/IPD projects. In the “BIM Coordinator” session, he outlined and discussed some of the common duties and responsibilities of one of the newer project positions in the AEC industry – the BIM Coordinator.

Read more: NEWS | Harley Ellis Devereaux Lectures in Vegas

As the end of 2012 quickly approaches, here at AIA Detroit, we are proud to say it’s been a great year. The Detroit Committees and AIAD Board are snug in their beds as visions of a better 2013 dance in their heads. The Urban Priorities Committee Detroit Riverfront competition was a tremendous success, and we couldn’t be more joyful that the Detroit Celebration of Architecture Awards drew a record-breaking crowd. The Building Enclosure Council hums along, providing valuable information about the building envelopes that keep us dry and warm, and the Building Codes and Regulations Committee stands diligent, watching over health, safety, and welfare as they keep us informed. The Committee on the Environment (COTE) has kept us educated on better ways use the resources off of which we live, and PechaKucha has introduced us to many unique designers and artists of all professions. And of course, the Emerging Professionals Committee has been so energetic this past year with everything from kickball to ARE education, it’s impossible to comprehend how much they give.

During this time of giving and joy, AIA Detroit hopes every one of you had a good year as well. We hope business is picking up and that you are receiving better commissions. And if you are still struggling, as we climb out of this deep recession, know that your colleagues at AIA Detroit will do their best to make the practice of architecture in Detroit as good as it can possibly be.

Read more: FROM THE BOARD | AIA Detroit Looks Forward to 2013