Mike Shoulders and VPS Architecture are the favorite Architect/Architect Firm.  No doubt the architectural contributions of Mike Shoulders, CEO of VPS Architecture, will remain significant for decades, if not centuries, here in Evansville. Readers recognized Shoulders as Best Architect for his design achievements, including the Old National Bancorp Headquarters, the Centre, and North High School and Middle School.

 

FLOYD CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL WAS AWARDED THE 2011 ARCHITECTURAL PORTFOLIO AWARD 

Floyd Central High School’s renovation / addition project included a 3 phases building plan to bring this facility up to current standards and to accommodate population growth. 

 The main entrance was relocated to provide a secure entry point to the school which directs visitors to an atrium leading to all areas of the building. New administration offices were built to allow for much needed space for counselors and administrators.   

 Included was a complete rework of the academic areas to join junior/senior high areas together and increase classroom size from a 740 square foot average to a 900+ square foot average. Additions of classrooms, band, and orchestra areas allow for spaces that were outgrown.

 Natural Daylighting was installed throughout.  Ceilings were raised and sections of the roof were removed to reveal skylights throughout the halls.   A hallway, dubbed the spine, filled with light from a line of windows is the new commons area, which connects the academic wings to the arts and physical education areas.  Windows were installed in classrooms bringing more natural light into the building. 

 Seven additional science labs were created within the building to meet academic requirements. The new library and media center offers up-to-date technology in the use of computers for student projects and research. Public use spaces were established off of the spine to allow for secure after hours access by the public. The goal to bring Floyd High School into the 21st Century was accomplished

Given annually, the Edward D. Pierre Awarded is named in honor of Edward D. Pierre, FAIA (1890-1977). He was a crusader for the welfare of children, decent housing for all, peace and progressive urban planning. He was honored repeatedly for his outstanding service to the architectural profession and the public. Born in Fort Wayne May 22, 1890, he received his BS in architecture from the Institute of Technology in 1915 after studying one year at Valparaiso University. He worked for the office of Albert Kahn in Detroit three years before serving in the Army Corps for Engineers in World War I. Following the war, Pierre established a private practice in Indianapolis and associated with George Caleb Wright from 1926-1944. He was the head of his own firm from 1944 until he retired.

Indiana Architect Scott Veazey Installed as President of National Council of Architectural Registration Boards Washington, DC—Architect Scott C. Veazey, AIA, NCARB, of Evansville, IN, was installed as president/chair of the board of the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) at its 92nd Annual Meeting and Conference in Washington, DC in June. For more than 25 years, Veazey has volunteered his time and expertise to Council committees, task forces, and initiatives. He was first elected to the NCARB Board of Directors by the Mid-Central Conference (which represents the jurisdictions of Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin) as regional director in 2005. He has since served as NCARB secretary, treasurer, second vice president, and most recently first vice president/president-elect.Over the past two years, Veazey has chaired the NCARB CEO Transition Task Force and CEO Search Committee that prepared for and selected the next CEO for the Council. Over the years he has also co-chaired the Intern Devel-opment Program (IDP) Coordinating Committee and served as a Board liaison to the Committee on the IDP, the Member Board Executive Committee, and the Committee on Professional Conduct.Veazey has also been heavily involved with the Architect Registration Examination® (ARE®), the multi-division test developed by NCARB and taken by all candidates seeking architectural registration in the United States. He first began on the ARE Design Grading Committee in 1993, and served for several years on other on ARE committees including as chair of the ARE Grading Subcommittee from 2002-2004.In 2010, Veazey was awarded the Council’s highest honor, the NCARB President’s Medal for Distinguished Service, for his significant contributions to benefit the architectural profession and to the protection of the public’s health, safety, and welfare. Veazey’s commitment to the profession goes beyond his work with NCARB. He served as a member of the Indiana Board of Registration for Architects and Landscape Architects for 15 years, and was chair of the board from 1993-1994 and from 1997-1999.For more than 30 years, Veazey has been affiliated with VPS Architecture, where he currently is chief operating of-ficer. Located in Evansville, IN, the firm is a regional leader in the design of learning environments. As managing partner, Veazey has worked on a wide range of projects, including public education facilities, libraries, churches, and financial institutions.Veazey earned a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Kentucky and a Master of Architecture from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He holds the NCARB Certificate for national reciprocity and is regis-tered to practice in Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, and Ohio.

About NCARB The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards’ membership is made up of the architectural registration boards of all 50 states as well as those of the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. NCARB assists its member registration boards in carrying out their duties and provides a certification program for individual architects.NCARB protects the public health, safety, and welfare by leading the regulation of the practice of architecture through the development and application of standards for licensure and credentialing of architects. In order to achieve these goals, the Council develops and recommends standards to be required of an applicant for architectural registration; develops and recommends standards regulating the practice of architecture; provides to Member Boards a process for certifying the qualifications of an architect for registration; and represents the interests of Member Boards before public and private agencies. NCARB has established reciprocal registration for architects in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.Visit: www.ncarb.org Twitter: www.twitter.com/ncarbFacebook: www.facebook.com/NCARB

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world.  Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.  – Margaret Meade

VPS Architecture is celebrating 50 Years and all of the partnerships that have made these past 50 years so successful!  Our first celebration was with our talented and dedicated staff.  The staff retreated to RiRa’s on a recent Friday afternoon to reminisce about the days past and celebrate the days ahead.  Old photos of people and projects brought lots of tears and jeers! Mike Shoulders and Scott Veazey shared stories about life on Shawnee Drive, softball games, and general office practices. Wally Given, John Hieronimus and Bob Knapp graced our celebration in those photos and  tales.  They were the first generation of VPS Architecture!  Sarah Schuler and George Link excited the staff with an announcement of our next celebration…. Check back shortly to hear what is in store!

Veazey was also presented with the NCARB President’s Medal for Distinguished Service at the Annual Meeting. He was honored for his significant contributions to the protection of the public’s health, safety, and welfare through his service to NCARB and to the practice of architecture.

Veazey was first elected to the NCARB Board of Directors by his colleagues from the Mid- Central Conference (representing the U.S. jurisdictions of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin) as the Region 4 director from 2005-2007. The Council as a whole recognized his leadership skills by electing him secretary in 2007, treasurer in 2008, and second vice president in 2009.

For more than 25 years, Veazey has been a proactive member of numerous Council committees. He is currently the chair of the Transition Task Force, which is in charge of finding the next chief executive officer of the Council. He has also served as co-chair of the Intern Development Program (IDP) Coordinating Committee; Board liaison to the Member Board Executives Committee, the Committee on the IDP, and the Committee on Professional Conduct; and member of the most recent Practice Analysis Task Force.

Veazey’s long commitment to the Architect Registration Examination^® (ARE^®), the multi-division test developed by NCARB and taken by all candidates seeking architectural registration in the United States, began in 1993 when he served on the ARE Design Grading Committee. In 1994, he was named to the ARE Subcommittee to write questions for the Construction Services & Documents division. By 2000, Veazey was assigned to the ARE Grading Subcommittee, where he served as a member and then chair, from 2002-2004.

Veazey’s commitment to the profession goes beyond his work with NCARB. He served as a member of the Indiana Board of Registration for Architects and Landscape Architects for 15 years, and was chair of the board from 1993- 1994 and from 1997-1999.

VPS Architecture in Evansville is pleased to report that its Indiana school partners have been awarded nearly $6 million in Qualified School Construction Bonds (QSCB). These funds have been made available for school modernization and construction from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (stimulus funds). Of the nearly $53 million awarded in Indiana as of the 4th of August, VPS will be providing design services for more than 10% of Indiana’s awarded funds, with several other school partners still awaiting approval of their projects.

The school modernization efforts are in Scott County School District 2, Seymour Community Schools, and Richland Bean-Blossom Community School Corporation. Projects include the repair of building roofs, the improvement of safety and security of buildings including replacement of doors and hardware, the replacement of outdated mechanical equipment with efficient energy-saving equipment, and the renovation of an existing vocational building to meet the needs of a new Tech High School curriculum. By providing a “project based learning” experience that emphasizes technology, The Tech High School will prepare today’s high school student for the new economy.

VPS Architecture is proud to have provided conceptual plans and construction cost budgets for public discussion of these important projects.

VPS Architecture was awarded a grant from the Indiana Department of Energy to install an array of solar photovoltaic panels on the roof of our building at Sixth and Main. The state requires grant recipients to match its grant with an equal or larger financial contribution to the project.

In April of 2009, Morton Energy placed 36 solar panels on the roof of VPS’ Evansville offices. The panels are sized at three feet by five feet and can produce about 195 watts each. In the most favorable conditions, between late morning and early afternoon on sunny days, the cells will generate slightly more than 7,000 total watts of electricity, according to Brad Morton, president of Morton Energy. Morton has worked with VPS on other sustainable projects, including the new Ohio Township Library in Newburgh, a building that also utilizes photovoltaic panels to generate electricity.

About half of the electricity that VPS uses on a daily basis can be drawn from the new solar cells. “We are trying to walk the walk and not just talk the talk,” says Michael Shoulders, CEO of VPS Architecture. “We want to educate our clients about the advantages of clean energy and renewable resources.” When asked about the economic payback on the new solar system, Shoulders remarked, “We didn’t install the system for a quick payback. We installed it because, for us, we felt it was the right thing to do.”

Whatever is generated from the PV solar panels will not be stored in batteries, but will be sent directly to the Vectren electrical grid. VPS will be credited for every kilowatt it contributes and its utility bill will be lowered accordingly. On very sunny days, VPS’ electric meter will actually spin backwards. “That is way cool,” says Shoulders.