The Boston Society of Architects (BSA) is moving to a 17,000SF space in the recently completed Atlantic Wharf skyscraper. Located near the Greenway, public transit, and museums, the new space will provide more public exposure and three times the space of the current BSA headquarters. Höweler + Yoon's design creates a strong street presence and makes the exhibitions visible from the outside. BSA is planning to expand its programming in order to better serve both the public and its members, and expects to move in by November 2011. We talked with Eric White, BSA Interim Co-Director, about reaching new audiences and building partnerships throughout the process of creating an architecture center.

Read the AAO interview with BSA's Eric White.

Rietveld's Universe is an exhibit at the Centraal Mueseum in Utrecht, but related programming takes visitors way beyond the museum walls. Rietveld designed more than 100 buildings in the Netherlands, and with the help of a GPS-enabled iPhone app, visitors can go out and explore his original work. "Rietveld bikes" painted in primary colors, are even available as transport between the museum and the famous Rietveld Schroder House. Across from the museum, the Rietveld Workshop allows visitors to build models of the Red Blue chair and other Rietveld designs from his original drawings. And one more thing that allows visitors to be immersed in Rietveld's Universe: the audio guide is the voice of Rietveld himself, taken from a 1959 recording.

Read the exhibition review by Colin Amery in The Wall Street Journal.

Can creativity be taught, measured, or even easily defined? Massachusetts is betting yes to all three. A bill introduced by State Senator Stanley Rosenburg and signed by Governor Deval Patrick formed a commission of experts who will create a "creativity index" to measure how effectively creativity is taught in public schools. Although it may prove challenging to quantify creative learning, the state's legislative body recognizes the importance of creativity in developing a generation that is more competitive in the global economy and is trying to encourage a climate for creativity. Watch for their report before the end of 2011.

Read commentary from John M. Eger, Director of the Creative and Innovative Economy Initiative.

Congratulations to AAO Member Dallas Architecture Forum for receiving the 2011 Institute Honors for Collaborative Achievement. Kudos to AIANY, as well, as the Active Design Guidelines was also awarded top honors in this category.
Read more about the AIA Collaborative Achievement Awards.

AAO member the American Architectural Foundation has just announced its own 2011 award recipients, to be honored at the Accent on Architecture Gala on February 4. Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley and New York City Department of City Planning Commissioner Amanda Burden are among the honorees.
Read more about the AAF Gala award recipients.

The Whitney Museum is moving to downtown Manhattan, so what will become of the iconic 1966 Breuer building? According to Robert A.M. Stern, "They should turn it into an architecture museum." Justin Davidson crafts an argument in favor of this proposal, explaining that because architecture is pervasive in everyone's lives, it ought to be promoted and demystified. He discusses the issue of displaying representations of the work instead of the primary product (actual buildings), and imagines innovative ways to reach a broad audience using a variety of media. For all our AAO readers involved in exhibitions, this one is for you.

Read "What to Do with the Whitney" in New York Magazine.

The San Francisco Planning + Urban Research Association (SPUR) is hiring for the position of Publications and Communications Manager. Responsibilities include producing print publications and online communications as well as creating new strategies for public engagement. Resume review will begin February 15.
SPUR Publications and Communications Manager job description.

In the article "Changing Skyline: For tourist and city, not re-created equal" critic Inga Saffron discusses how the redesign of Philadelphia's Independence Mall succeeds at boosting tourism but misses an opportunity to reconnect with the city. The park has been isolated from the urban fabric since the original 1950s design called for demolishing three blocks of historic structures in the middle of a vibrant neighborhood. In the recently completed redesign, new buildings and landscape design have tripled the number of tourist visits, but Saffron argues that it falls short of stitching the park back into the city and serving Philadelphia's residents.

Read Inga Saffron's "Changing Skyline" article in the Philadelphia Inquirer.

NEA's Our Town program will provide support for selected Creative Placemaking partnerships between nonprofits and government entities. Awards range from $25,000-$250,000. Deadline: 3/1/11
NEA Our Town grant information.

Opportunity to present at the 2012 Architecture Exhibition at the Venice Biennale and receive $100,000 in funding. Eligibility is limited to nonprofits. Deadline: 4/15/11
Grants.gov Venice Architecture Biennale grant information.

Open invitation for digital exhibition material. Upload eight images that fit the theme Mediated Cities: Your City, Your Work, Your Ideas. Deadline is Tomorrow: 1/28/11
8x8x∞ exhibit information.

What does the dirt on our buildings say about our cultural heritage? This is the topic that preservationist, architect, theorist, and artist Jorge Otero-Pailos explores in his work. In his most recent project, The Ethics of Dust, he covers walls with a latex cleaning solution. After it dries, he peels it off and displays the massive translucent latex panels marred by dust and pollution in exhibits, such as the 2009 Venice Biennale, where he used a wall of the Doge's Palace. Otero-Pailos, influenced by John Ruskin, argues that dirt acts as a time-stain and is intrinsic to the meaning of a building. This intriguing essay by Laura Raskin explores the role of cleaning in preservation.

Read Raskin's essay on "The Ethics of Dust" in the Design Observer.