e-newsletter of the
Construction Industry Coalition Council
PO Box 4163
McLean VA 22103-4163
703-734-2397 Fax 703-734-2908

December 2003

Five members of the Construction Industry Coalition Council met November 5 to discuss the success of the first year Forum Series and ways to improve future CICC meetings and fora. The Steering Committee members in attendance were:

• Nicole Testa, FIATECH
• Bruce D'Agostino, CMAA
• Brian Cubbage, ASA
• Marla McIntyre, SIO
• Noel Raufaste, CICC

Action items for the coming year include:

• Maximize value of forum topics by including coverage in CICC-member publications, articles in Construction Business Review magazine, and more prominent coverage on the CICC Web page.
• Provide registration lists at each Forum
• Develop guidelines for Forum presentations
• Identify topics for in-depth roundtable discussions
• Acknowledge support and volunteer efforts of CICC members
• Redesign CICC Web site page and include more information
• Identify new members for the CICC Steering Committee

Summary of Construction Industry Coalition Council Meeting October 31, 2003

Architecture and the Mind - Beyond Intuition 
John P. Eberhard, FAIA 
American Insititute of Architects (AIA) www.aia.org
All human experiences are a product of the mind. This includes the experiences people have working in offices, being educated in schools, being cared for in hospitals, and visiting famous architectural places. Recent advances in neuroscience (the study of the brain and mind) have begun to make it clear how humans have developed their advanced brains; and how these brains are organized to enable us to use our mind to remember the past, think about the future, and experience the present. 

Research being performed during the initial stages of development of the Academy of Neuroscience for Architecture (ANFA) and the American Institute of Architects (AIA) will explore ways in which links might be made between the intuitive understanding of architects and the rapidly growing knowledge base of neuroscience. The work of Stanley Graven on understanding how neonatal care units should be designed to better provide for the developing brains of premature infants is one of the only examples currently available. Graven has shown that both visual and auditory development may be impaired in premature infants exposed to inappropriate lighting and noise levels in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs).

Beyond Intuition, a 25-minute film, explores efforts to study the relationships among the brain, the mind, and architecture. The film included footage from the "Healthcare Facilities Design and Neuroscience Workshop," held in 2002 at Woods Hole, Mass. An interdisciplinary group of architects and neuroscientists spent two days discussing possible connections between the study of the mind and the built environment.

The film also explored the impact of the inspiring architecture of Assisi, Italy on Dr. Jonas Salk during his time spent developing the polio vaccine and its subsequent influence on the creation of the Salk Institute with architect Louis Kahn. 
 
For more information, visit the Web site of the Academy of Neuroscience For Architecture at www.neuroscienceforarchitecture.org.

When Good Buildings Turn Bad: Identifying & Solving Microbial Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Problems
Lance R. Rebels
Rick Vogel
Froehling and Robertson, Inc., www.fandr.com
The presentation addresses: 1. common indoor air quality issues in buildings such as molds and mildew, ventilation, and chemical contaminants; 2. various mold growth factors and reservoirs; and 3. consequential health effects from mold exposure. 

Standard of Care for Proper Indoor Air Quality
John Herzog, Vice President, Public Policy
Glenn Hourahan, Vice President, Research & Technology
Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) www.acca.org
To ensure the optimized operation and comfort of a building, it is necessary to take a holistic approach to indoor air quality (IAQ) and to use practices and procedures that optimize IAQ without sacrificing equipment effectiveness, energy utilization, or functionality of the occupied spaces. This presentation focuses on issues that construction professionals need to be cognizant of and to identify sound HVAC practices that will lead to proper building IAQ. Hence, building owners and consumers will receive the comfortable and healthy indoor environments they seek, and building professionals will minimize their callbacks/liability exposures while securing a profitable niche in the marketplace.

Next CICC Meeting - February 23, 2004

To register, contact Noel Raufaste, nraufaste@erols.com; 301-467-6767. There is no charge to attend CICC meetings.