Hello Masked Architects,

I am so excited about Alabama Council State Convention. The speakers ROCK! Finally a chance to get your CEUS from rock star architects, no snoozers at this convention.

• Ace Torre, AIA, ASLA, IIDA, LEED, Architectural license in 49 states, Landscape Architect in 19 states, projects in US, Canada, Europe and China. http://www.t-dcl.com/
• RENZO PIANO???!!!!! Not Renzo, but Elisabetta Trezzani, Renzo Piano  Building Mic PatWorkshop, Genova, Italy   http://rpbw.com/
• Mic Patterson – http://www.enclos.com/ Check out Mic too, he is on the cutting edge.

How did we get all of these speakers in one convention?

• Tour and Pour at Sloss, I hope we get to make something!
• And Robert Ivy….

And to celebrate AIA Birmingham, Mobile and Montgomery’s 50^th anniversary, we are bringing back the BEAUX ARTS (MASKED) Ball! Even if you can’t figure out a way to dress up as your favorite building – wear a mask! It’s a partay and be sure to check out the past design award winners in a way you have never seen them. That’s all I can say…buy a ticket to experience it all! See you at CONVENTION!!!

Peace,
Rhea Williams
Executive Director AIA Birmingham

Sponsors

Thank you to all our sponsors who paid for memberships in May (below). A complete list of sponsors is listed on the right side of the page. If you have not renewed, please see the sponsorship form here or email kathryn@aiabham.org with any questions.

50 Years of Freaking AWESOME ARCHITECTURE – Is your Firm Represented??

Birmingham will present the last nine years of AIA Birmingham Design Award winners in a MUST-SEE creative style. If you have photos of winners older than 2007, please email them to aiabirm@aiabham.org ASAP to be included in the presentation. AIA Birmingham only has digital entries from 2007 to present, so send us your award winning projects!!! Boards are welcome too. AIA Birmingham will have an exhibit at the Alabama Center for Architecture following state convention (date TBA).

Has your firm won any state or local Design Award in the past 50 years?? Bring your boards highlighting the win for the Beaux Arts Ball exhibit. Let Larry Vinson know how many you plan to bring so we have enough easels – AIA@gmsal.com!

FIRM History

AIA Birmingham firm history is almost complete!!! Well, it will never be complete, always evolving, you guys are always on the move. We will have the firm history on exhibit at the Beaux Arts Ball! To make sure you are included, email Brannon Foster at brannonfoster@hotmail.com!

AIA Birmingham 2015 Design Awards

Thanks to our member firms who entered Design Awards this year! We had 52 entries from 17 different firms!! Our jury will be held in New York City at the end of July, and the gala will be held in August (more details to follow)!

Click here to view the PowerPoint template that will be used for the jury – don’t forget, PowerPoints are due on June 18 on a flash drive.

May Meeting: What a Tenant Needs & Wants: An Owner’s Perspective

On May 20th, AIA and BOMA held a joint panel discussion at the Alabama Power Auditorium. The discussion centered on how architects can help building owners deliver what tenants need in a building.

The panel consisted of:

• David Blackmon, AIA, of Blackmon Rogers Architects
• Elizabeth Wilson of Elizabeth Wilson Design LLC
• Chad Wilson, of Murray Building
• Betty Swann, Property Manager at Harbert Realty

With Robin White of Alabama Power as moderator, the panel answered questions regarding elements of a building a tenant finds most valuable and what services a building owner finds most valuable in an architect.  Also discussed was exactly when an architect, engineer or designer are needed or required in the development of a tenant space.

With lunch provided by Urban Cookhouse, the attendees had a great lunch along with a lively and informative discussion. Thanks to BOMA for partnering with us for this meeting — maybe we will do it again next year!!

Urban Sketchers: New Times, New Days!

Tuesday, June 16 | 12:00 p.m.
Birmingham Museum of Art
2000 Rev. Abraham Woods Jr. Blvd.

Urban Sketchers is switching it up this summer! Join us at a NEW time and date for an hour of sketching and networking. Bring your lunch and practice your sketching. Email jonathanbmeadows@gmail.com for more information.

ALABAMA CENTER FOR ARCHITECTURE

dreamArchitecture 2015: Draw Your Dream Factory!

The 2015 dreamArchitecture Awards Ceremony, held on May 7 at the Saw Works Studio of Architecture Works, honored the “dream factories” of 35 elementary school children in the Birmingham area. DreamArchitecture, a community outreach program sponsored by the Birmingham chapter of the American Institute of Architects and funded by the Alabama Center for Architecture, is in its 19th year of encouraging children to think about the built environment. This year’s contest, with the theme “Draw Your Dream Factory,” had more than 650 entries from 14 Birmingham area schools. The artwork is on display at the Alabama Center for Architecture until June 5, so come by and see all of the amazing artwork!

Click here to view photos from the ceremony!

EMERGING PROFESSIONALS SECTION

Project Life Cycle: Site Visit

June 4 | 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. | Free with RSVP
Grandview Hospital on Highway 280

Happy Hour to follow at Blackwell’s Pub | 3151 Green Valley Road | Birmingham, AL 35243

RSVP to Anne.McCarley@thehartford.com TODAY and indicate which group you represent.

The young professional groups of CFMA (YPL), AGC (YCF), ASCE, SEA and AIA are teaming up to host a series of meetings tailored to the young professional. We are taking a known local project, the Grandview Hospital on 280, and using it to walk through a job from the perspective of each industry group.

Required: Hard hats, safety glasses, closed toe shoes, and high visibility safety vests. No shorts allowed, and keep in mind that the site may be muddy or dusty.

Parking: In Alostar Parking Lot directly behind the jobsite trailers. Enter off of 280 like you are turning to the hospital and then take a hard right to get to the Alostar lot. Please carpool if possible.

Meet: At field trailer in the conference room prior to beginning our tour. As you come in the gate (with your PPE on), you will see the trailers. As you walk up the steps to the trailer, the field trailer is on your right. 

ARE Seminar: Construction Documents & Services

Friday, June 12 | $50 AIA members, $75 nonmembers (Fee includes full registration to Convention)
8:00 – 8:30 a.m. Registration | 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Seminar
Alabama Power HQ Building | 600 N 18th Street

REGISTER HERE

Presented by the Alabama Board for Registration of Architects, Auburn University School of Architecture and Alabama Council AIA. This ARE division tests the ability to apply project management and professional practice knowledge and skills, including the preparation of contract documents and contract administration.

The class is an overview of the listing of knowledge and skills directly related to the following major content areas in the exam: Codes & Regulations, Environmental Issues, Construction Drawings & Project Manual, Project & Practice Management and the Building Section Graphic Vignette. For more information, contact Larry Vinson at AIA@gmsal.com.