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Who we are

The Custom Residential Architects Network (CRAN®) Knowledge Community develops knowledge and information to benefit architects who are engaged in, or who are interested in learning more about, custom residential practice. CRAN® presents information and facilitates the exchange of knowledge and expertise to promote the professional development of its members via discussion forums, national symposia and conventions, publications, and local activities.

2024 CRAN® Symposium

September 18-22

The Westin Seattle
1900 5th Avenue 
Seattle, Washington 98101

Registration will open in July 2024.

Sponsorship Opportunities

Download the prospectus for the CRAN forum at AIA24 and the CRAN Symposium sponsorships. 

2023 Symposium

The CRAN® 2023 Symposium was held October 11 - 15. View the schedule for more info>.

  • 1.  CRAN Symposium

    Posted 08-24-2017 12:32 PM
    I may be looking in the wrong place... but I am considering going to the CRAN Symposium this year in not too late to register... However, I have read the overall description of the event but I am having a hard time finding the specifics of what our speakers will be discussing... is there any more information available to us?

    Thanks in advance for any light you can shed...

    ------------------------------
    Kirby Mehrhof AIA
    Principal
    Moger Mehrhof Architects LLC
    Annapolis MD
    ------------------------------
    CRAN March AIAU Course


  • 2.  RE: CRAN Symposium

    Posted 08-25-2017 07:06 PM
    Hi Kirby,

    You've come to the right place! We do have some information but not all of our speakers have submitted their presentations yet. The following is a list of speakers with working titles or descriptions of what they will talk about.

    Alan Shulman - The tropical home in Miami
    Steve Mouzon - Incremental Art Deco revival
    Randolph C. Jennings - The residential architecture of Alfred Browning Parker, FAIA
    Kevin Harris, FAIA - The forever home
    Mark LaLiberte - Resiliancy in residential construction
    Marica McKeel - Moving beyond the one-person firm
    Rena Kline - Your first hire: when, why, and who
    Panel discussion on rising water: 
    Shawna Meyer, AIA - moderator
    Alan Berger, Martin Pederson, and Christopher Meyer, AIA - speakers
    Michael Imber, FAIA - Beautiful drawings and their role in creating classicist architecture
    Nicole Lemieux - What do clients think about working with us
    Jeff Echols - How to find clients through social media
    Max Strang - Monograph of his firm's work

    I hope this list is enticing enough to convince you to sign up!

    ------------------------------
    Dawn Zuber AIA
    Owner
    Studio Z Architecture
    Plymouth MI
    ------------------------------

    CRAN March AIAU Course


  • 3.  RE: CRAN Symposium

    Posted 08-31-2017 12:36 PM
    Hi Dawn,
    I've got two CRAN symposium questions.  One is that, while I'm not able to go to Miami this year, I am definitely hoping to go next year- any sneak peek on where that might be? 
    Also, I would love to connect with Marica McKeel on her topic. It's exactly what I've been wondering about for months.  Any way you can put me in touch with her? 
    Regards,
    Rebecca

    ------------------------------
    Rebecca Weld AIA
    Owner
    Renew Architecture and Design
    Potsdam NY
    ------------------------------

    CRAN March AIAU Course


  • 4.  RE: CRAN Symposium

    Posted 09-01-2017 06:01 PM
    Hi Rebecca,

    I am excited to announce that next year's symposium will be held in Cincinnati, OH, my home for 10 years during and after college. If you've never been to Cincinnati, you will be pleasantly surprised by the city, the architecture, the revitalization of Over The Rhine, and the recent construction on the University of Cincinnati campus. The dates will be October 7-9, and we'll be at the Netherland Plaza Hotel, one of my favorite Art Deco places. 

    Regarding connecting you to Marica, feel free to send me a private email (dzuber@studiozarch.com) and I'll pass your information on to her. I wasn't very clear in my earlier post, but Marcia is co-presenting with Rena Klein, who also has some good insights on how to determine when the time is right to grow. We will record their presentation and hope to put it up on AIAU in the near future.

    I have also recently gone from a one-person firm to a three-person firm (and am now down to 2 people) and I think there are many of us in that position. It's such a risk and hard to know when to take the plunge.

    I look forward to meeting you in Cincinnati in 2018!

    ------------------------------
    Dawn Zuber AIA
    Owner
    Studio Z Architecture
    Plymouth MI
    ------------------------------

    CRAN March AIAU Course


  • 5.  RE: CRAN Symposium

    Posted 09-08-2017 07:28 AM
    Good morning, All,

    There are many unanswered questions regarding Hurricane Irma and I am sure the logistics of making the decision on whether this years Symposium is on or off must be daunting.  Question?  If the event is cancelled but by next Saturday flights are allowed in to MIA and the Intercontinental is open, are there any of my fellow Architects who would consider keeping their schedule and head to Miami for the sole purpose of assisting in any way we can?  Just a thought for consideration and discussion?

    ------------------------------
    John Lehman AIA
    Lehman Associates, PC
    Highland MD
    ------------------------------

    CRAN March AIAU Course


  • 6.  RE: CRAN Symposium

    Posted 09-08-2017 12:45 PM
    I'd seriously consider it, as long as I'm not creating more of a hassle than a help.  Sue

    ------------------------------
    Sue Weiland
    Weiland Sliding Doors and Windows Inc.
    Oceanside CA
    ------------------------------

    CRAN March AIAU Course


  • 7.  RE: CRAN Symposium

    Posted 09-11-2017 06:26 PM
    ​I had thought of that as well, thinking that we might be able to assist with the clean up in some way. However, since we were all scheduled to be there so soon after the event, I have decided that it's too soon for the local authorities to have volunteers and clean up efforts organized for those of us not with first responders, the Red Cross or the National Guard.

    It took South Florida 5 days to evacuate, empty grocery stores and gas stations and I fear that my presence in the area within 5-7 days after the event would only add to the drain on those still limited resources.
    Not only that, but I still can't figure out how to get from the airport TO any place! Assuming that mass transit is largely down and many taxis and uber drivers may have evacuated.

    I am planning, however, to donate a little of my refunded conference fee to the Red Cross as I'm certain their funds have been greatly depleted with this over-active hurricane season.






    ------------------------------
    Brenda Nelson AIA
    Alley Poyner Macchietto Architecture, Inc.
    Omaha NE
    ------------------------------

    CRAN March AIAU Course


  • 8.  RE: CRAN Symposium

    Posted 09-12-2017 09:21 AM
    Brenda brings up many good points which the CRAN symposium committee discussed as we decided to cancel the symposium. It was a really hard decision because so many of us put hundreds of hours of our time into organizing the event. We hope to bring many of the speakers to our symposium next year in Cincinnati, which will take place from October 7 - 9, 2018, at the Hilton Netherland Plaza Hotel, one of my all-time favorite places in the world!

    ------------------------------
    Dawn Zuber AIA
    Owner
    Studio Z Architecture
    Plymouth MI
    ------------------------------

    CRAN March AIAU Course


  • 9.  RE: CRAN Symposium

    Posted 09-12-2017 05:55 PM
    Two comments:
    • In southern CT after Sandy there was a desperate need for temporary housing of all sorts for people whose homes were uninhabitable. As things are in worse shape in southern Florida, you are helping by making your hotel room available to someone else. 

    • If you are looking for another conference and CEU's there is a mini AIA conference in Albany, NY November 9-11, the QUAD Conference. It is sponsored by the AIA chapters in NY, NJ, PA, and CT.  It includes tours and seminars.  Registration is now open. 



    ------------------------------
    Linda Batchelder AIA
    Baker Batchelder Architects
    Fairfield, CT
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    CRAN March AIAU Course