NEVADA’S SEVENTH AIA FELLOW - RIC LICATA, FAIA

Richard Licata, FAIA, principal of Licata Hansen Architects in Reno, Nevada, current AIA National Director for the Western Mountain Region, previous President of AIA Nevada, and AIA Northern Nevada Chapters has been elevated to Fellowship, and joins Nevada’s distinguished group of six other architects who have achieved this great honor.

Based upon his commitment to the community and his concern for the environment Richard Licata began teaching an Introduction to Solar Energy class in 1989 at Truckee Meadows Community College (TMCC). Licata’s position grew from a part-time instructor to full professorship, while still maintaining his practice and being active in the AIA. As a Professor and AIAS advisor Richard has helped students to understand the profession. He teaches that the AIA is a symbol, demonstrating commitment and being a part a profession that is dynamic, and makes a difference in the quality of life in the communities we serve. As the only architect to ever receive the AIA Nevada Livable Community Medal, Richard utilizes

Nevada’s regions, cities and environment as a teaching lab.

Ric’s students have won many national design competitions, in most cases two-year students competing against five-year or graduate students. His students are coveted by many architecture schools nationally and internationally for their excellent work and the excellent qualities of education they’ve receive. So respected is Licata’s work with his students that he was recognized as the 2005 Alumnus of the Year at the New School of Architecture and Design in San Diego. In his address to the New School commencement at the Salk Institute, Licata shared with the graduates his vision of sharing and that they connect to their creative essence; to believe and trust in themselves and their intuitive nature to connect to that something greater inside them to give hope, solidify dreams and continue to develop their unique abilities and bring forth their innate talents out to share with all.

Nominated three years running as Professor of the Year Richard Licata is respected by his students and his academic peers for his commitment to education and the belief that a design education should be accessible to all. Licata has chosen to remain teaching at the community college level believing that it provides access to those otherwise left un-served in a culturally diverse region where no accredited school of architecture exists. The numbers of students from TMCC transferring to accredited programs of architecture and landscape architecture has steadily grown under his tenure at the college. This trend shows the commitment and desire Licata helps to nurture in his students -- the fire within for the passion of design and the power of making a difference in people’s lives.

Ric Licata is recognized by architects and the public as a great resource for the profession, our communities and the American Institute of Architects, at both national and state levels. His lasting contributions have had a cumulative effect on the practice of architecture by virtue of his work, the effect he has on his students, his leadership on issues important to architects and the communities they serve, and for his continued vision for what the built environment can be. His efforts have transcended the standard notion of what architects do as a profession, into what it means to be an architect as a way of life.

He has connected the seemingly separate areas of practice, service and teaching to one flowing dialog of creative force; all the while, acknowledging the humbling experience of being recognized for doing what he believes in because “it’s the right thing to do.”

LHAA's Jet Ranch Project, Cover Story of Magazine

LHAA's Jet Ranch is a “State of the Art” Aircraft Hangar built at the Carson City Airport.

Together with 12 smaller lease hangars this multi-million dollar project is a unique

structure meant to make a visual statement.
 “A $9.6 million runway project and completion of a Jet Ranch private aircraft

competitive 21st century airport.”

Sandi Hoover, Nevada Appeal

Targeting high-end aircraft and their owner, this facility offers amenities usually found in

Large City Airports and Conference Centers. Aircraft maintenance and storage as well as

office spaces and pilot lounges are incorporated into the facility. Conference areas with

digital media capability and security second to none. Aircraft Owners will be able to view

their planes and storage areas while monitoring temperature, lighting, sound, motion and

other variables from anywhere on the planet.

facility in 2009 have significantly bumped up the Carson City Airport’s status as a

Richard Licata, FAIA Legacy in AIA Leadership

Licata addressing NewSchool of Architecture Commencement at the  Salk Institute

As Senior Regional Director of the AIA WMR, Licata sits on the AIA National Board, helping initiate many proposals on education and emerging professionals, the Associate Member as Regional Director Bylaw change proposal, the International membership Bylaw change proposal, and the new Dues Payment Plan. Ric has taken on issues focusing on issues of sustainability, education, and membership value while serving on both Board Community and the AIA Education Committees. In his many leadership roles within the Institute, Ric Licata, FAIA has always shared his vision for a sustainable future which will create more livable communities and foster the practice of architecture.

Galena High School Baseball Stadium and Events Plaza

Licata Hansen Associates Architecture created a Master Plan and designed the Press Box and Plaza Entry for a proposed Events Plaza on the Galena High School Campus. In 2009/2010 Galena Baseball moved into the remodeled and upgraded Baseball Stadium. THe High School is using the promotional video LHAA created to raise money to complete the facility.



"Very professional, accommodating, and responsive to suggestions and cost factors. They did a wonderful job of explaining the costs and needs of the site being improved. Matt did a great job creating ways to market the concept to our population. There was great thought put into the design and theme of our school. In such a tumultuous market Matt was able to create a cost line by line with flexibility for inflation or high rates. They were able to create 2d and 3d models and images that placed the design concept in the existing area, that is simply an excellent WOW factor." Shaun Finnigan Vice Principal, Galena High School

Western Nevada College Ballfields

Licata Hansen Associates is working with Western Nevada College to conceptualize and create architectural drawings for an athletics field and events plaza to be utilized by the WNC Wildcats women’s softball team and the champion WNC men's baseball team.  Work to date has included planning, producing schematics and drawings, and collaborating with multiple partners on the project.

AIA Sustainable Design Assessment Team for Northern Nevada and the Eastern Sierra

As President of AIA Northern Nevada, Ric Licata successfully engaged AIA membership with national leadership through the SDAT process which led to many workshops, design charrettes and town-hall meetings. During this process AIA members were compelled to expand and share their knowledge with members of the community and local leadership on the attributes of sustainable issues as a methodology for creating livable communities. As AIA Nevada President and 150 Champion, he again engaged AIA membership in the development of the AIA Blueprint for Nevada.

The AIANN conducted a SDAT study which provided the beginnings of a regional sustainable vision and has placed our architectural community at the forefront of sustainable planning for our area. . Through the charrette process the Team developed unique perspectives and new ideas based on their experience, and what they had heard and seen. The interdisciplinary team then presented their conclusions and ideas, based on past successes. The ideas put forth were a unifying vision of an interdependent effort to preserve the quality of life in our region. The community’s awareness of the need to nurture and expand this vision, and critical role design and architects play in developing planning efforts in preserving our region was raised, through the SDAT process. The SDAT process brought tremendous media attention and public awareness of sustainable issues and the design value the architectural community provides, to a level previously unheard of. Local leaders and citizens of our area now look to the AIA, and architects, for leadership in planning and the design of a sustainable future for our region.

Creative Energy Solutions & UNR Propose Sustainable Energy Initiative

Licata Hansen is part of the Creative Energy Solutions Committee, a diverse group working together in an informal public‐private partnership to explore and develop options for clean energy production and improved energy efficiencies in order to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels. The committee includes architects, engineers, educators, scientists, private foundations, industry providers and the University of Nevada.

I.   The Construction of a  10 Mega Watt geothermal power plant

The goal of the program is to totally remove the UNR Campus “off the grid.”  Provide research, development, demonstration and deployment of renewable geothermal electrical power as the basis clean energy generation in Nevada.   Achieving this goal will be the equivalent of the removal of a rural size Nevada community from the grid.

Job Generation as direct result of this program:

Direct employment: 70 green collar high skilled jobs for 20 years

Indirect job projection: 360 jobs in support and related industries

R & D Jobs: 15 Research scientists and engineers for 10 years

Projected jobs preserved at UNR: 100 due to actual dollars saved in cost of energy per year

II.  Hybrid Renewable Applications in Solar, Wind, Hydrogen and Bio-fuels

Wind applications 6-750 KW wind turbines

6000 KW Photovoltaic Application

Hydrogen fuel studies

Bio-fuel testing and research on algae based bio-fuels

Job Generation: 12 green collar jobs and 8 researchers

III.   Associated labs and facility expansion at the Redfield Campus

30,000 square feet of new facilities for management, testing, training and teaching labs (beyond existing facilities)

Job Generation: 120 construction jobs for 18 months

IV.   Energy Retro-fit program for University Buildings

Modify and retro-fit existing UNR facilities to lessen campus loads through energy efficiency and further develop clean energy applications-20 buildings first program.

Job Generation: 120 jobs for period of construction

V.    Rural Community Clean Energy Cooperative

Business development plan for systematically removing rural Nevada communities “off the grid.”

                Community Based Ownership

                NV Energy to manage and export power
Demonstrate the development and deployment of “community scale” clean energy applications.
Development of a flexible dynamic program based on available resources and community needs.

Job Generation: 24 jobs for period of program