Department News
SSAE OPTION SOCIAL
The Student Society of Architectural Engineers (SSAE) and the AE Department
co-sponsored the annual Options Social on March 29, 2004 at the Nittany Lion
Inn. Thirteen professionals represented the four options (structural, mechanical,
lighting/electrical, and construction management) in the AE curriculum. Everyone
who attended found the evening to be very informative and educational.
JUNE EVENTS
The Traditional Reunion weekend was held June 3 - 6, 2004. On Friday the 4th,
the College of Engineering held an Open House for alumni in Kunkle Lounge.
Following Dean Wormley’s speech, alumni had the option to visit and
tour the engineering departments.
NEW WEBSITE FOR AIHI
Check out the new American Indian Housing Initiative web site at http://www.engr.psu.edu/greenbuild/
index.asp
and learn about the sustainable building technology research currently in
progress at Penn State and how it benefits the American Indians. View a AIHI
promotional video and see photos of students in action. Alumni can be a part
of this important summer program. For more information, contact Dr. David
Riley at driley@engr.psu.edu or 814-863-2079.
PACE RESEARCH SEMINAR
The 12th annual PACE Research Seminar, “High Performance Teams and High
Performance Buildings,” was held on April 21-22, 2004, at the Tofftrees
Resort in State College, PA. Highlights of the event included the recognition
of Mike Arnold (AE' 89) of Foreman Program and Construction Managers with
the first annual PACE Excellence Award, and a discussion by W. Lee Evey on
the Rebuilding of Iraq. Seminar topics included Green Building Project Delivery,
Indoor Air Quality Management During Construction, 3D and 4D Planning Applications,
and Leadership Development in Construction. Over 40 industry professionals,
Penn State students, faculty and staff attended the successful event.
IPAC MEETING HELD
The Industrial and Professional Advisory Council (IPAC) meetings were held
in the College of Engineering on March 1-3, 2004. The theme of this year’s
meeting was “The ‘A’ in AE.” 23 staff and faculty
member were present, along with 21 graduate and undergraduate students.
IEC ADVISORY BOARD MEETING
The first annual meeting of the Indoor Environment Center Advisory Board took
place at the Hintz Family Alumni Center on March 24, 2004. The Indoor Environment
Center is an interdisciplinary research, teaching and outreach center headquartered
in Architectural Engineering and affiliated with the Penn State Institutes
for the Environment. The Advisory Board includes members drawn from engineering
and architecture practice, construction, manufacturing and academe who provide
guidance to the IEC on its research and other activities. Charter members
of the board are Rick Fedrizzi, Founding Chairman of the US Green Building
Council; Valentine Lehr, PE, of Lehr Associates Consulting Engineers LLP;
Daniel Nall, AIA, PE, of Flack+Kurtz Inc.; Peter Simmonds, PhD, PE, of IBE
Consulting Engineers; Lynn Werman, PE, of HDR Architecture, Inc.; Dan Kerr,
PE, of McClure Company; Ezzat Khalifa, PhD, of Syracuse University; and Dennis
Stanke, of Trane. Penn State participants in the meeting included faculty
from Mechanical Engineering, Material Science, Architecture, and Architectural
Engineering. The meeting began with welcoming remarks by AE Department Head
Dr. Richard Behr followed by an overview of the IEC and its activities since
its creation in November 2002 by Dr. William Bahnfleth, IEC Director. There
followed wide-ranging discussions of research needs related to indoor air
quality, lighting, green buildings and other indoor environment issues that
will help to shape the IEC's goals for the coming year. Board members also
received a tour of AE facilities used in indoor environment research and education.
PHI ALPHA EPSILON INITIATION
CEREMONY
Phi Alpha Epsilon, the AE Honor Society, welcomed 40 new student members to
its ranks on March 23, 2004, at the Days Inn Penn State in State College,
PA.
CLEAN ENERGY EXPO HELD AT PENN
STATE
AE faculty and graduate students were among more than 150 exhibitors who took
part in the Clean Energy Expo held at the Bryce Jordan Center on April 2-3,
2004. The Expo showcased cutting edge clean energy saving technologies available
today as well as the concepts of tomorrow, including low energy vehicles,
wind power, and green buildings.The AE Indoor Environment Center (IEC) booth
was developed by Drs. William Bahnfleth, James Freihaut, Martin Moeck, Richard
Mistrick, Stanley Mumma, and David Riley. The faculty, AE graduate students
Jing Song, Abhijit Sarkar, Carlos Gomes, and AE undergraduates Michael Carroll,
and Amy Pastor were available throughout both days of the Expo to discuss
ongoing research activities of the IEC. Display materials at their booth highlighted
mechanical design issues including combined heat and power systems, dedicated
outdoor air/radiant ceiling panel systems, and cool thermal energy storage;
illumination design issues including day lighting design, advanced lighting
control systems and passive solar design; and indoor air quality in design
and construction. Dr. Bahnfleth also presented a "community workshop"
on indoor air quality. A second booth was set up by graduate students Noah
Shaltes and Amy Grommes to display the work of the American Indian Housing
Initiative (AIHI). The booth included videos and models of AIHI projects and
flyers describing the use of sustainable technologies to address housing problems
on American Indian reservations.