February 2012

The Prez Sez ....

I would like to thank everyone who attended our joint meeting with AIA in January. I hope everyone enjoyed the meeting. I would also like to thank Mr. Gregg White – Founder and Principal of AluSpec Inc. for providing an informative presentation on High Performance Glazing Systems. And I would also like to thank Greg for sponsoring the AIA/CES registration.

This month we are celebrating Engineer’s Week which is February 19th – 25th. The theme of Engineers Week for 2012 is based on the projected world population of 7,000,000,000. There are many challenges facing our world that require immediate engineering solutions. Following is some history related to engineering.

Twelve Founders gathered at the Croton Aqueduct in New York City on November 5, 1852, and agreed to incorporate the American Society of Civil Engineers and Architects, now known as the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE).

I personally think they should have kept Architects in the title, but I guess I’m bias. The Madison Chapter CSI is fortunate to have a diverse membership, which includes many Engineers. Our Chapter will celebrate the engineering profession by having a meeting with a presentation that is related to engineering as well as scheduling the meeting on February 21st. As an Architect, I value and admire the contributions that Engineers give to our society and to the construction industry. Although sometimes I would just as soon not provide as much ceiling space as the engineers want and on occasion I would just as soon not have as many structural columns as the engineers want. But we work through it and create a design that everyone, or at least most everyone, can live with.

I hope you can make this month’s meeting. I know I will be there to thank our engineer members for all they do for the Chapter and our profession. It is because of CSI’s diversity that makes being a member so interesting and valuable.

Kent Calloway, CSI, AIA, CCS
President
Madison Wisconsin Chapter CSI