AIA Mid Michigan

So excited for our upcoming event!

AIA Mid-Michigan invites you to attend the Spring Training on the Provisions of Mr. Ceb, An in-depth look into the requirements of the 2015 Michigan Rehabilitation Code for Existing Buildings. This joint program hosted by Mid-Michigan Code Officials Association (MMCOA) and AIA Mid-Michigan will include 6HSW credits, and is available to be registered for today!

6 CEU HSW,
March 27 830am-4pm
Last chance, ticket sales extended to March 26 at Noon
Get them here https://is.gd/IG2S1n

Location: MSU Brody Square

RSVP is required. Full Details including Learning Objectives, Registration, Parking and more can be found at the link above.

American Institute of Architects elevates local Lansing architect, Bryan Lijewski, to the College of Fellows for his exceptional work and contributions to architecture and society.

Congratulations, Bryan, on this remarkable achievement!!

Bryan Lijewski, FAIA, dedicates his career and passion to preserving the historic built environment by educated and engaging the public and professionals while saving lighthouses, landmarks, and downtowns.

Less than 3 percent of the architecture profession achieve AIA fellowship, as it is AIA’s highest membership honor.

After a short hiatus, the Lansing Architectural Walking Tour Series continues!

Stop #5: Christman Building (Mutual Building)
Architect: Pond & Pond, Martin & Loyd (Chicago), 1927-1928
Style: Elizabethan Tudor

This building was constructed to house the Michigan Millers Mutual Fire Insurance Company, a Lansing-based firm established in 1881 (and previously housed in Stop #4 of our tour!) the company’s business was symbolized by the grindstones from seven Michigan mills which were embedded in the front sidewalk during construction. The five-story, limestone trimmed, red-brick office building is an architecturally significant product of a prominent Chicago firm.

In 2006, The Christman Company of Lansing purchased the building and completely rehabilitated both the interior and exterior by combining the preservation of historic features with high quality interior design and sustainable building practices.

The Christman Building rehabilitation achieved Triple Platinum LEED certification, the first Triple Platinum designation ever awarded to a building by the United States Green Building Council. It was also listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.

Design has the power to solve some of the biggest issues facing cities today. These stories are among the most important stories we can tell. The annual AIA (American Institute of Architects) Film Challenge is a film competition that amplifies the stories of architecture projects transforming communities through the power of design. Join us Thursday, September 22, for a viewing of films by winners and finalists of the AIA Film Challenge.

Lansing Architectural Walking Tour Series

Stop #4: Biggby Coffee
(Michigan Millers Mutual Fire Insurance
Company Building)
Architect: Darius B. Moon, 1890
Style: Italianate and Richardsonian Romanesque

Nestled between the state House office building and the Samuel D. Ingham Building, 120-122 West Ottawa Street is a treasure. The Michigan Millers Mutual Fire Insurance Company was founded in 1881 to provide fire-insurance protection for mills. The company constructed this building in 1890 to house their offices and occupied it until 1928, when the firm built the larger Mutual Building around the corner.

Designed by prominent Lansing architect, Darius Moon, the building is a two-story, narrow fronted, late Victorian commercial building with a stone-trimmed, red brick façade that combines Italianate and Richardsonian Romanesque features. The principal feature of its picturesque façade is a tower projected out from the front wall plane and supported by short,
Romanesque inspired columns.

To the west you’ll see the east side of the seven story, Cora Belle Anderson House Office Building with a connecting bridge over Ottawa Street utilizing beautiful stain glass detail. This structure is in the Post Modern style and is part of the Michigan State House of Representatives executive office facility, designed by Hobbs + Black Architects in 1998 and completed in 2000.

We’d like to give a huge thanks to Granger Construction for guiding us on a tour of the new $80 million, 170,000 square foot Ingham County Justice Complex earlier this month!

The building is under construction and should be completed by early 2023. It will replace the 58 year old Ingham County Jail and combine it with other county buildings including the Sheriff’s office, a training center, an emergency operations center, and the 55th District Court. The majority of the complex, about 100,000 square feet, will be the new Correctional Facility which will hold 418 inmates.

The Ingham County Justice Complex was designed by multidisciplinary firm BVK Group and is being constructed by Granger Construction.

While we all hunker down during this summer storm, let’s take another look at our Lansing Architectural Walking Tour Series!

Third Stop: Lansing City Hall
Architect: Lee Black & Kenneth C. Black, Architects; 1956-1958
Style: International

Lansing City Hall is a prime example of the International style of architecture that emerged out of the modern movement of the 1920s-30s. The style gave new emphasis to the structure and enclosure. Revolutionary and new light weight materials lead to the development of the “Curtain Wall System”, promoted by architects such as Le Corbusier, Philip Johnson, Mies Van der Rohe and Walter Gropius.

The new materials gave architects greater freedom by not requiring the exterior walls to be structural. In effect, the exterior walls could be designed super thin and hung on the structure like a curtain. The 1950s-60s saw a wave of glass, colorful panels, and gleaming aluminum replacing the high-rise masonry structures of a decade earlier.

Lansing City Hall is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

-Lansing Architectural Walking Tour Series-

Second stop: Boji Tower
Architect: Hopkins & Dentz, 1929-1931
Addition: Kenneth C. Black Associates, 1961
Style: Art Deco with inspired detailing of Italian Romanesque

Topping out at 345 feet, Lansing’s tallest building has 25 floors above ground and two basement levels below ground. Its streamlined appearance and apparent lack of detailing is deceiving. The impressive multi-story entrance is just a taste of the rich detailing that is present in its interior.

Ransom E. Olds, the founder of Oldsmobile, built the building and had his offices in the tenth floor. He was able to finance its construction from the earnings he made on just one business deal.

The building is listed in the National Register of Historic Places, the State Register of Historic Sites, and has a Michigan Historical Marker.

Wondering what architectural gems our beautiful city has to offer? Follow along as we bring them straight to you with our Lansing Architectural Walking Tour Series!

First stop: Lansing State Capitol
Architect: Elijah E. Myers
Restoration: Richard C. Frank, AIA
Style: Renaissance Revival

The first of 3 state capitols designed by Myers, it quickly became the model that states followed for the next sixty years. It’s Renaissance Revival Style facade translates to the interior but with the elaborate use of decoration and color. Faithfully restored, the interior now ranks as one of the best surviving examples of Victorian decorative arts. The dome is divided into 16 sections by ribs, each with an oval window and capped by an octagonal lantern. The building becomes more elegant and decorative as it rises.

Several memorials, monuments, and statues can be found on the grounds of the Michigan State Capitol. The building is a National Historic Landmark, is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and the State Register of Historic Sites, and has a Michigan Historical Marker.

AIA Mid-Michigan would like to recognize and congratulate Kristin Pennock as the new Chapter President!

Kristin has worked the last 22 years here in Mid-Michigan, prior to that a year in New Jersey and 5 years in Texas after she received her M.Arch at UT.  Her focus has been primarily on public work, including a rich mixture of university, civic, historic preservation, accessibility, and industrial projects.  The past year she has taken a break and worked on small projects with collaborator Liz Harrow while exploring her other passion, oil painting! She is glad to have the time to contribute in the role of President this year.

Please join us in congratulating Kristin!

As construction continues on the new Auto Owners Insurance Building, we wanted to share some images of our building tour we had the privilege of taking in December of 2021. The new campus will host many Auto Owners existing staff, and allow for the company to continue to grow. We are looking forward to seeing this project complete this year!