Retail and Entertainment

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The Retail and Entertainment Knowledge Community (REKC) fosters the creation, discussion, and dissemination of knowledge about the retail and entertainment environments among practitioners, clients, retailers, and the general public to advance the practice and improve the quality of retail and entertainment environments.

  • 1.  Call for Volunteers

    Posted 10-19-2012 10:54 AM
    I've started this several times in the last month or so, but every time I get busy, drawn away by something billable (or not...) and forget for awhile.  It seems we're all getting busier, which is a good thing, but for organizations built on volunteer effort, that's a problem and an opportunity.  David Kim's post awhile ago generated some interesting discussion that touched on that as well - both the burn-out from over volunteering and the feeling of excitement and accomplishment when you can help move a group or an organization forward, doing something for more than yourself.

    This is a call for those of you who, as you start to look ahead to next year, to commit or recommit to supporting your profession, and (selfishly) this particular piece of the Institute, by joining in.  REC (and any other Knowledge Community or local Chapter for that matter) is looking for people who would like to get more involved - beyond just reading a few emails, to actually being part of the effort.  

    We have committees working on Programming who are right now putting together programs for the Denver convention including "Retail around the World" with Jeff Gunning of RTKL, Adam Kushabi of Walt Disney Imagineering , Scott Kilbourn of Perkins Eastman and Cecilia Kuan of the Gap; Expertiential Architecture with John Eberhard from the Academy of NeuroScience for Architecture, Michale Lingerfelt or Lingerfelt International, and Karl Backus of Bolin Csynkinski Jackson (of Apple Store fame); and Sustainability in Retail Architecture presenters Micheal Hoover of SPG Design Group, Jacquelynn Henke of TDBank, and Rebecca Sherman of Kohls.  All look to be really exciting efforts and should be both educational and demonstrate the real significance of what retail and entertainment architects are doing.  There's also a reception effort which right now consists of me, so feel free to jump in there if you like!

    Our Awards Committee is currently pulling the jury together for the 2012 AIA REC/Retail Traffic SADI awards, which we have done for the last 6 years.  This committee has worked dilligently not just to get a jury together, but to clarify and improve the awards programs value as case studies and as representations of the value of retail architecture.  This effort is expected to grow and develop further in future years and your input would be valuable.

    The Advisory Group has also proposed, for 2014 tentatively, our first Retail and Entertainment Conference.  Michael Lingerfelt stuck his foot in his mouth, so now he's committed to leading this effort.  I have no doubt that he could use some help in developing this idea into something really exciting.

    There are other opportunities and initiatives including research, sponsorship and outreach that could use your time, effort and leadership.  There are numerous ways to get involved.  Start by responding to this post, or send me an email directly at eshriver@stradallc.com if you're shy.

      Yes it is time consuming.  Yes it requires a commitment.  All of that pays off when you see the profession we're all committed to, move in a direction you had a hand in forming.  You might make some new friends or useful business contacts.  You will certainly learning something new.  You will definitely have a chance to make a difference.  Back in the 60's they used to say "If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem".  

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    Edward Shriver FAIA
    Principal
    Strada Architecture, LLC
    Pittsburgh PA
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