There are also a variety of committees that
could use your help now and as we move closer to holding the 2011 CSI Southwest
Regional Conference in Albuquerque! If you are interested in helping with this
event's planning committee, the upcoming February chapter Bowling event, or any
other committee (Arrangements, Technical, or Marketing), please contact me at
505.934.0345 or stirlingmorris@pellasw.com or any other board member; all of our
contact information can be found at the chapter website, www.csiabq.org.
Stirling Morris, CSI, CDT
President Elect
CSI Albuquerque


If you think the NCS needs to be modified, now is your time to change it the ballot submission period is now open. The ballot submission period is the method by which the changes to the NCS are proposed, debated and ultimately voted upon to amend the current version of the NCS. Each proposed amendment must be documented on an NCS ballot form. Three forms have been developed to submit a proposed change to the NCS:
· a CAD Layers Ballot Form,
· a UDS Symbols Ballot Form, and
· a general Multiple Components Ballot Form for amendments other than layers or symbols amendments.
The forms must be submitted through the balloting module of the portal. Ballot forms are located on the balloting tab of the collaboration portal.
To gain access to the member portal go the NCS website at www.buildingsmartalliance.org/index.php/ncs/ and click on the “Member Portal Login” link.
We invite you take a tour of the new collaboration site by clicking on the “Take a Tour” video located on the portal landing page. The portal overview and the NCS balloting overview videos describe how to navigate, use, and submit a ballot to amend the current version of the NCS.
The ballot submission period will run through February 6, 2010.
Dear CSI Albuquerque Members and Friends,
This month’s president’s message highlights a change in our December 14th luncheon program. Our planned presenter had a conflict and will not be able to attend. We are fortunate to announce that the new December program will showcase the New Mexico Tri-Lab Building currently completing construction in Albuquerque. The presentation will be given by representatives of Jaynes Corporation General Contractors who are building the project.
The NM Tri-Labs project is truly a great and unique example of home-grown innovation in local construction delivery. As a case study, it is instructive in many ways. First of all, the building type itself is amazingly complex and an enormous amount of attention to detail in the planning and design stage was obviously demanded from the architects, Studio Southwest Architects, Inc. The presentation by Jaynes will briefly explain the qualifications-based process used to select the contractor and will go into detail on the creative tools and systems that are being used to administer the construction. This will be a good opportunity for our members to hear about such things as BIM, electronic submittals, creative tools used for quality assurance in the field, employment of special consultants by the contractor, and commissioning – just to name a few. The local nature of this project lends special educational value to this program since we hear about many new means and methods of constructing a project, but have few opportunities to hear from local companies who are actually exploring them. BIM is a great example of a national trend in design and construction technology that for many reasons, has not reached its full potential in New Mexico. Here we have a case study that shows the value of BIM, which, even in its limited use on the project, illustrates some cost and time saving benefits. It also makes us think of taking the next logical step to more extensive implementation. As more design firms become comfortable with and knowledgeable about incorporating BIM produced by parties usually not part of the design team (subcontractors), the full potential of the technology will be approached. As we know in New Mexico, it takes a while to absorb and decide how to utilize new things happening elsewhere in the U.S. whole-hog. No one wants to be a ‘guinea pig,’ and most often, for good reason. But here we have some local folks dipping their toe in the water of innovation and they seem to like it. I assume they also consider the experience to be profitable to the bottom line for most everyone involved. Come to the December 14th luncheon presentation and be well-prepared to ask questions. Did I also mention that they are striving to achieve LEED Silver?
See you there,
Andre Larroque, CSI, CCS, CCCA, AIA, NCARB
What is one thing that is common to every individual, relationship, team, family, organization, nation, economy and civilization throughout the world — one thing which, if removed, will destroy the most powerful government, the most successful business, the most thriving economy, the most influential leadership, the greatest friendship, the strongest character, the deepest love?
On the other hand, if developed and leveraged, that one thing has the potential to create unparalleled success and prosperity in every dimension of life.
That one thing is trust.
New Mexico Ethics Alliance presents internationally acclaimed author, Stephen M.R. Covey and the SPEED of TRUST Workshop
Thursday, November 19, 2009
7:30 am - Noon
Hyatt Regency Albuquerque
Spend the morning with us and learn why nothing is as fast as the SPEED of Trust. This fast-paced and engaging workshop is based on Covey’s New York Times best-selling book and dramatically reveals TRUST as the hidden variable that always affects two outcomes: speed and cost. Mr. Covey makes a compelling case for the economic and social benefits of building high-trust relationships.
Engineers: this workshop is eligible for 4 hours of professional development ethics credits!
To Register and for More Information, Go to www.nmethics.org
Dear CSI Albuquerque Members and Friends,
September has been a busy month for us in preparing for the 10th Annual Continuing Education Conference & Product Show on October 14th. This is our premiere event of the year. Our general interest in event quality was given an early preview on September 14th with the successful lunch meeting and tour of the Hotel Andaluz project in downtown Albuquerque. Pulling off this tour, given the logistical challenges involved, was no mean feat! Much credit goes to the hard work and planning of the Programs Committee headed by Peter Holloway. Special kudos goes to our Arrangements ‘czarina,’ Chris Morrison and Ron Burnstein, Education Committee Chairman. Ron and his firm Studio Southwest Architects arranged permission for the tour with the owner and provided ‘tour guides’ to make sure we accessed a great deal of the project and got all our questions answered. Chris handled the miraculous feeding of attendees at the Alvarado Transportation Center staging location two blocks away and managed the ‘orderly’ departure of tour groups. I would also like to thank Darren Sand from Goodman Realty, who gave what I can only describe as a perfectly timed and informative pre-tour presentation. Finally, recognition is due Victor Rosenthal and the entire communications team who effectively got the invitation message out to the membership about the event.
Member events such as these are a good example of the way our chapter can get things done in a successful manner. The essential element is the quality of the cooperation among capable team members that inspires confidence that the communication and hard work necessary to pull these things off will happen. Our theme for the coming CEC & PS is “Quality Control in Construction Documents: Getting it Right”. What is there worth doing if “getting it right” is not the ultimate objective? We think that this year’s CEC & PS will provide attendees with some good information towards that goal. I am personally looking forward to Michael Chambers’ lunchtime keynote presentation on “Interdiscipline Coordination: Creating a Coordinated Team”. It takes a coordinated team to pull off a highly-ambitious member tour of a downtown hotel in the last stages of major renovations. It takes the same kind of cooperation among team members to create a successful design and construction project on a much larger scale. That is, in essence, what CSI is all about. We thrive upon, and live by the team approach. CSI promotes it by developing the means to organize and communicate among team members. All that’s left is the hard work necessary to make it happen. Please consider becoming an active participant in the CSI Albuquerque Team by joining any of the impressively capable chapter committees.
See you at the CEC & PS!