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2021 Design Awards Special Edition Newsletter
What a great night celebrating D E S I G N after such a crazy year! It was so nice to see everyone again; we love getting to see all of you relaxed, having fun, and enjoying the company of one another outside of work. More than 200 people gathered at Regions Field on July 14th to celebrate winners of the 2021 AIA Birmingham Design Awards.
AIA Birmingham’s annual design awards recognize excellence in architectural design by member architects. The event featured Committee Chair Allison Vosicky, as the emcee, a baseball game, and delicious signature drink – the Pitch!
Each year, AIA Birmingham hosts Design Awards to recognize excellence in architectural design by architects in the Birmingham Chapter. These awards increase awareness of outstanding architecture and honor architects, clients, consultants, and contractors who work together to improve the built environment.
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Thank you to all of our sponsors, especially our title sponsor Spire Energy! We appreciate all of your support in the architectural community.
All the projects will be on exhibit in the Alabama Center for Architecture (ACFA).
(109 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. S., Birmingham, AL 35205)
CLICK HERE TO VIEW PHOTOS FROM THE EVENT!
Email anna@karmamanagementinc.com for high quality social media images.
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2021 Design Awards Committee
Allison Vosicky – Chair – Birchfield Penuel & Associates
Matthew Smith – Co-Chair – Williams Blackstock Architects
Kyle Stover – Past Chair – Williams Blackstock Architects
Emily Lopez – Christopher Architecture & Interiors
Patrick Nelson – Nelson Design (not pictured)
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2021 Jury
The jury met in Kansas City, where they look to elevate the value of architects, foster the future, create meaningful connections by intentional knowledge sharing, and equity + diversity + inclusion. The jury enjoyed deliberation and getting to see a glimpse of the work being done by AIA Birmingham members.
Robert Riccardi, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP – Gouldevans – Jury Chair
Robert’s blend of design sensibility, intellectual curiosity and personality benefits every project he touches. He has the rare ability to understand the various layers that exist within a single design opportunity, resulting in architecture that is truly multidimensional.
A gifted design leader, Robert engages clients and motivates his fellow designers. They are inspired by his belief that great design can make a difference and every project brings the potential for positive change. In turn, he is inspired by clients who are willing to engage in a process of mutual discovery, who challenge the design team to think deeply and solve problems in a manner that’s unexpected and delightful
Matthew Hufft, AIA, WELL AP – Hufft
With a Bachelors degree from the University of Kansas and a Masters degree from Columbia University, he is a LEED Accredited Professional, NCARB certified, and licensed in Missouri, Kansas, and New York. At the age of twenty-five, his first commission The Line House͛ was completed. Soon after, other commissions followed and Hufft was formed in 2005. Since that time, the firm has taken on over 300 architectural, fabrication and construction projects, ranging in budget from $20,000 to $60MM. Hufft’s work has been featured in Architectural Record, Metropolitan Home, Interior Design, Esquire, and many more publications, and has won multiple national and international awards.
Brad Satterwhite, AIA, LEED AP – Kem Studio
Brad Satterwhite is a Co-Founder and Principal of KEM STUDIO and a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design [LEED] accredited professional. He is continually intrigued and influenced by a holistic approach to design that blurs the lines between architecture, industrial design and art. Throughout all aspects of design, Brad believes in the power of a big idea, purity of form and material, economy, and clarity. Brad is the recipient of numerous design awards from the American Institute of Architects [AIA] and the Young Architects Forum. He has practiced in both the US and the UK and collaborated on projects with Moshe Safdie and Associates, KPF, Rockwell Group and Pentagram.
Amy Slattery, AIA, IIDA, NCARB – Odimo
Slattery is the Founder and CEO of Odimo, a growing architecture practice based in Kansas City, Missouri. She is an entrepreneur, industry leader, and architect. She has experience in ground-breaking high design and sustainability, combined with engineering-based project management. She was an American Institute of Architects (AIA) National Young Architects Award recipient in 2011. She is currently a Chair of the Kansas City ULI Women’s Leadership Initiative, a Trustee of the AIA National Trust, and has held positions within the AIA on local, regional, and national levels.
Kwame Smith, AIA, LEED, AP, BD&C – SFS Architecture
Kwame Smith has 15 years of experience working on a wide range of projects, but the first thing he notices when walking into a building isn’t the architecture: it’s the people. His enthusiasm for communicating, listening and solving problems, whether with peers or project team members, leads to successful projects. This focus on people influences his design approach, and he takes particular pride in facilities that have an “immediate, direct and profound impact” on the communities they serve. Kwame’s combination of creative and technical knowledge spans all phases of design and implementation.
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Honor Awards
This project is a delight! Extremely simple and comfortable in its own skin. Love how it hold the corner, is both refined with urban grit, and looks like a place you want to hang out and be happy. Add ice cream on top of that and you have a winner of a project.”
Jeni’s Ice Cream Pavilion WINNER
It reinforces a sense of community while allowing for individual intimacy with efficient living spaces and well-placed screening.
Celebrates the importance of human connection for users’ demographic. What stood out was how the design is both modern yet adaptable to the character of each resident.”
Williams Terrace WINNER
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Merit Awards
ZUMA- Alys Beach Wellness Center WINNER
The New Ideal WINNER
Mountain Brook Residence WINNER
Jury Comments: “Rigorous use of exterior materials and interior materials. Creates very compelling modern living spaces.”
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Citation Awards
“Innovative way of reusing an existing structure. “
“Compelling architectural forms (rear) and very clean execution of exterior material uses.”
Christopher Collection WINNER
Highland Park Office Renovation WINNER
Jury Comments: “A lot of refinement that respects the minimalist existing building, enhances it, and creates an exterior space that is as desirable as the rigorously planned interior.” “Beautiful interior organization and lighting.” “Compelling exterior landscaped spaces.”
ONEPRATT Park WINNER
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People’s Choice Award
Building C and Campus Renovations for United Way of Central Alabama WINNER
Entries
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Birmingham Zoo Arrival Experience
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Building C and Campus Renovations for United Way of Central Alabama
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Christ Health Center – Live Oaks Clinic
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Enoch Callaway Cancer Center Renovation/Expansion
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Highland Park Office Renovation
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Lee Building & 4th Avenue Parking Deck
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Mercedes-Benz U.S. International Workplace Transformation
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Pinnacle Cardiovascular Associates
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Renovation to Peter Bryce Hospital
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The Grand Hotel at Point Clear
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UAB University Hall, College of Arts and Sciences
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June Newsletter
Coffee or Walk on the Rotary Trail?
Hi AIA Family,
Do you have any idea how excited I am that we are back to face-to-face meetings?!?!?! I am doing my happy dance! Most of you know I love people and get my energy from being with people. And my favorite people are creatives, you give off the best energy. I have missed all of you. It is my goal to see each of you by the end of the year or at the very least have some type of one-on-one communication with you. I learned from COVID to appreciate spending time with you. I would love to catch up and hear how you are doing, where you are in life, what you learned from COVID, any new ideas for AIA, and just SEE you in person. Shoot me an email, call, or text and let’s get coffee or take a walk on the Rotary Trail.
I hope I see you at the June 22nd in PERSON, FACE to FACE chapter meeting at Evolutia. Yummy lunch catered by Tre Luna.
See you soon! Have a fun weekend and live grateful.
Peace & AIA Love,
Rhea Williams, Executive Director AIA Birmingham, Alabama Center for Architecture (ACFA)
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Our Chapter Sponsors are the best of the best. Their continued support is crucial in everything we do; grateful is an understatement! We encourage our members to consider Sponsors first if they are in need of products or services.
See right sidebar for a full list of 2021 Chapter Sponsors.
2021 SPONSORS: See below for upcoming sponsorship opportunities at the 2021 AIA Birmingham Design Awards! July 15 at Regions Field.
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VW Gallerie at VW Supply Company
(Silver Chapter Sponsor)
Thanks to V&W Supply Company for their support of AIA Birmingham!
Sponsors– As a reminder, Platinum, Gold, and Silver Sponsors get one free ad in one AIA Birmingham newsletter, a $250 value! Please email katie@karmamanagementinc.com to take advantage of this opportunity.
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6/17: Design Awards Opening Reception
AIA Birmingham Design Awards Submissions are going on exhibit at The Pizitz Food Hall from 6/15-26.
Online voting begins Monday, 6/14!
Don’t miss the Opening Reception on 6/17 and from 4:30-6:30 PM. We cannot wait to see all your faces and catch up over Happy Hour drinks! Happy Hour drink specials at The Louis Bar end at 6 PM.
Mark your calendars for Thursday, 7/15! AIA Birmingham Design Awards are happening in-person this year at Regions Field. Join us for a night of baseball and celebration of design!
Tickets & Tables- Purchase online or by check mailed to AIA Birmingham at 109 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. S., Birmingham, AL 35205. If you mail in a check, please let us know who your attendees will be.
Interested in sponsoring Design Awards?
Download a sponsor form below and email katie@karmamanagementinc.com with any questions.
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AIA Birmingham Events
Thanks to everyone who has continued participating in AIA Birmingham events virtually! We record many of our Zoom events, so feel free to check out the recordings of our March Chapter Meeting with Navigate Affordable Housing Partners and our April Meeting with First Light Shelter if you are interested.
We still have virtual events planned, but in-person events have returned!!! Keep reading to see what’s coming up.
Questions about an AIA Birmingham event or continuing education?
Email katie@karmamanagementinc.com!
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Click here to register for this FREE informational session!
Thanks to 1st Resource Credit Union for their support of AIA Birmingham and SEAoAL’s Emerging Professionals!
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Can’t wait to see you at the June Chapter Meeting!
The first in-person Chapter Meeting since February 2020.
(Lunch & 1.5 HSWs included)
Click here to register online!
- 11:30 AM-12:30 PM: Thermally Modified Wood Presentation by Thermory USA (1 HSW)
- 12:40-1:10 PM: Reclaimed Wood Presentation & Site Tour from Evolutia (.5 HSW)
Email katie@karmamanagementinc.com with any questions or dietary restrictions before 6/14.
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Another Great Site Visit on 6/30
Register online here!
Creature’s Mercantile on Morris project will include 47 residential condos available for purchase ranging from micro to two-bedroom. Units will feature historic charm with modern finishes. Residents will have access to a terrace that overlooks the bustling pedestrian plaza. The project has 14,000 SF of retail space available for lease. Some retail options include frontage on Morris Avenue and 1st Avenue North that opens into an interior pedestrian plaza. Through the creation of the pedestrian plaza, patrons and residents will be able to experience the development as a destination for their entire day. Join us on 6/30 to learn more!
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Emerging Professionals
- AIA Birmingham offers HSW opportunities and site visits throughout the year; these can also count as AXP Experience Hours!
- Free AIA Membership for new grads
- We have the Brightwood Architecture ARE 5.0 Study Guides available to check-out. Members provide a fully refundable $50 cash deposit. Click here to learn more.
4/28 Event Recap– ARE Prep: Understanding a Geotech Report
We had so much fun seeing our EPs for the first time in more than a year! Thanks to everyone who came out to MBA Engineers Geotech Lab in April. Huge shoutout to Drew Thornbury and the team at MBA Engineers, Inc. for being such gracious hosts.
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5/26 Event Recap — AG Gaston Site Visit w/ SEAoAL
We cannot thank Fred Keith and Rogers Hunt, III from AG Gaston Construction for sharing their time and expertise with us! It was a treat to see the AG Gaston Motel, a place where civil rights leaders such as Martin Luther King, Jr. stayed and planned.
Learn more about the AG Gaston Motel project:
- City of Birmingham
- Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation
- National Park Service
- National Trust for Historic Preservation
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Job Search Assistance for AIA Birmingham Members
- AIA Birmingham Careers Page
- New opportunities are listed regularly here!
- AIA Birmingham Member Firms can post openings free of charge. Email listings to katie@karmamanagementinc.com.
- Resume Review & Sharing
- AIA Birmingham can review your resume and share it with local firms looking to fill a position.
For additional job listings, check out the AIA National Career Center and AIA Alabama Job Board!
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Contract Documents
AIA Birmingham Members get a 10% discount when they order documents through AIA Birmingham. Click here for more information!
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Helpful Links from AIA National
- Free AIA Membership for new grads
- Free AIAU Courses for members on risk management, business strategies, and virtual practice
- AIA Knowledge Communities help members connect and are a source for information
- AIA Award Programs
- AIA Legislative Action Center advocates for architects
- AIA Trust – Exclusive financial planning and insurance tools
- COVID-19 Resources
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Register for all ACFA events & pay for Membership online here!
- 7/20/2021: Auburn University Urban Studio Project (HSW Pending)
- 8/10/2021: Zimmerman & David Baker Architects in Ensley (HSW Pending)
- Fall 2021: Affordable Housing Symposium with David Baker Architects (HSW Pending)
- October 2021: ACFA Golf Tournament (Benefitting Scholarship Program)
- October 2021: National Building Museum’s Evicted exhibit traveling to Birmingham
- Add the Pulitzer Prize winning book, Evicted: Poverty & Profit in the American City, by Matthew Desmond to your reading list!
Want to help the ACFA continue offering scholarships, educational outreach, and more?
Become a Member! Do you want to impact the lives of Alabamians through architecture? Give to the ACFA and help support their educational outreach initiatives such as dreamARCHITECTURE, N2 Architecture, and the ACFA Scholarship Program.
Pay for Membership online here OR mail a check to the ACFA at 109 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. S., Birmingham, AL 35233. Email katie@karmamanagementinc.com with any questions about ACFA Membership!
AIA Birmingham is proud to have many Member Firms and Sponsors who belong to the ACFA:
- Adams Gerndt Design Group
- Alabama Concrete Industries Association
- B-Group Architecture
- Bill Whittaker, Registered Architect
- Brasfield & Gorrie
- Blackmon Rogers Architects
- CCR Architecture & Interiors
- Ghafari Associates
- KPS Group
- Line Scale Form
- Revolutionary Architecture
- Risk Strategies
- Studio 2H Design
- Studio C Architecture & Interiors
- Taylor Plosser Davis, Architect
- Thompson Architecture
- Williams Blackstock Architects
Participate in fundraising HSW events! The ACFA is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Each time you attend an ACFA fundraiser, proceeds from your purchase go directly to carrying out their mission of advancing the enjoyment of architecture and design through engagement, education, and collaboration.
Are you an Amazon Shopper? If so, consider starting your shopping at https://smile.amazon.com, and choose the ACFA as your nonprofit. Amazon will donate a portion of your sale to the ACFA!
October 2020
Looking back on AIA Birmingham fall pre-COVID!
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Officers
- Danny Trotter, CCR Architecture & Interiors – President
- Laura Bartlett, Bartlett Projects – President Elect
- Travis Burke, Nequette Architecture & Design – Treasurer
- Topper Parham, KPS Group, Inc. – Secretary
- Charles Williams, Jr., Charles Williams & Associates – Second Year Director
- Tim Aho, Aho Architects, LLC – First Year Director
Councilors
- Tim Anson, Gresham Smith – Councilor
- Ty Cole, GA Studio/BLOX – Councilor
- Jeremy Cutts, Williams Blackstock Architects – Councilor
- Taylor Plosser Davis, Taylor Plosser Davis, Architect – Councilor
- Bo Skowronski, Poole & Company Architects – Councilor
- Matthew Smith, Goodwyn, Mills, & Cawood – Councilor
- Joel Solomon, Jeffrey Dungan Architects – Councilor
- Rebecca Whitlow, Revolutionary Architecture – Councilor
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If you live or work Downtown, you have homeless neighbors.
Happy Fall Y’all,
I really thought I would have seen your beautiful faces by now, but nope. Darn this COVID! I hope I see you before 2021!
At the beginning of the year, Madame President Lissy announced AIA Birmingham’s goal to listen to the needs of our communities, community awareness and engagement. Then once we’ve educated ourselves, we will see where AIA Birmingham can make a positive change. This is a long-term commitment.
We have upcoming presentations scheduled about; Chronic Homeless. Temporary Homelessness. Houselessness. Affordable Housing. Section Eight Housing. Labor Force Housing. Multifamily Housing. Safe Shelter. How can AIA BHM help? Even with all these types of housing, there is still an affordable housing shortage. AIA BHM does not have a solution; our hope is to help find a way to make more truly affordable housing available. If you are up for a challenge, care about others, and believe housing should be a social justice, consider joining the task force.
The Alabama Center for Architecture has secured the National Building Museums traveling exhibit EVICTED for October-December 2021. Alabama statistics will be highlighted in the exhibit. Please read the book Evicted, by Mathew Desmond who created the exhibit.
Visit https://www.nbm.org/exhibition/evicted/ to get a peak of the exhibit!
I am very excited and humbled to be a part of this long-term commitment. You make me so PROUD!!!!
Peace & AIA LOVE,
Rhea Williams, Executive Director AIA Birmingham & Alabama Center for Architecture
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Sponsors
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A Note to AIA Birmingham Members:
Join us in supporting our AIA Birmingham Sponsors.
When looking for vendors and consultants, please refer to our Sponsor list to the right of this page or our Sponsors page.
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Design Awards
More information coming soon!
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Community Engagement
We are excited to continue our educational journey exploring social justice in the built environment. First we learned from the great folks at Urban Impact, Inc. and BuildUP, and now we are getting into the housing piece with our upcoming meetings. We want to do more than just share the problems we are facing; we aim to share possible solutions too! We hope to follow each “problem” meeting with a “solution,” such as case studies and other innovative resolutions.
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If You Enjoyed the BuildUP Presentation in July, check this out!
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October Chapter Meeting: One Roof
10/27/2020 | 12-1 PM | HSW Pending
Join us for our next Chapter Meeting featuring Michelle Farley, Executive Director of One Roof. One Roof is a local nonprofit organization whose mission is to equip and empower our community to prevent and end homelessness through advocacy, education, and coordination of services.
One Roof is the coordinating agency for the homeless Continuum of Care of central Alabama. As a continuum organization, One Roof secures funding from Housing & Urban Development (HUD) for agencies who are a part of our continuum and provide housing services needs.
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November Chapter Meeting:
buildingcommunityWORKSHOP’s
Congo Street Initiative
(+ 2021 Slate of Officers Voting)
11/10/2020 | 12-1 PM | HSW Pending
Our November Chapter meeting will bring in Brent Brown, Founder of the buildingcommunityWORKSHOP ([bc],) a Texas-based nonprofit community design center that enriches the lives of citizens by bringing design thinking to areas of their cities where resources are most scarce. To do so, [bc] recognizes that it must first understand the social, economic, and environmental issues facing a community before beginning work. Brent Brown will specifically be discussing the Congo Street Initiative, a project that involved stabilizing the homeownership of five families on a street that was forgotten and slated to be redeveloped. This initiative grew through intense interaction with residents, stakeholders and partners into a collaborative design and redevelopment effort.
As the only community design organization working across Texas, [bc] is unique in its approach to community engagement. They form strong relationships through collaborative design work, educational outreach activities, and social media channels, enabling them to engage with a broad segment of the population. The success of their work is contingent upon reaching those residents not typically sought out by the design and planning community.
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Women in Architecture
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Emerging Professionals
Thanks to all who joined us for the ARE 5.0 Overview session with Scott Heywood, AIA, NCARB, VP of Ghafari Associates’ Alabama Office. We loved learning more about how the test is created and gained some helpful study tips!
If you are interested in receiving a recording of the presentation, please email katie@karmamanagementinc.com. The recording is $10 for both Members and Nonmembers. All proceeds will go into the AIA Bham EP Fund!
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AIA Birmingham Job Board
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AIA National Career Center
Check out the AIA National Career Center for all the hottest jobs and access to the Career Learning Center, which encourages an integrative career and professional development process that enhances your skill set.
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Need HSWs? AIA is offering a variety of FREE online courses for members!
Here are some great HSW options:
- The Housing Crisis: How Architects Can Drive Change – 1 HSW
- High Design for Low Income-Housing – 1.50 HSW
(Presented by David Baker, FAIA, LEED AP of David Baker Architects, an AIA Bham Member Firm!)
Visit AIAU for more FREE courses for AIA Members!
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Contract Documents from AIA Birmingham
Click here for information on contract documents!
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June 2020
Words of Encouragement from our President:
Even though we are part of a community, (architects, religious, neighborhood, etc.) we need to rely upon ourselves as individuals to make our society good. I am grateful to be a part of a profession that feels deeply and is not afraid of expressing it. We can’t legislate morality and love, just like we can’t legislate good taste or good sense.
We each need to take personal responsibility to affect those we influence, who we touch, who we elect, what we say, how we act, to make a difference. My mind gets crowded with so many directions right now. So many avenues that need to be pursued. I think if we can each try to focus on a few things, it will add up. Please let us all try to help each other stay strong, and make a positive difference through our work and our interactions.
Lissy Frese, AIA
2020 AIA Birmingham President
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Hi AIA Family,
I miss your faces so much! It has been since February that I saw some of you and 2019 for others. I hope it is not 2021 before I see you again.
What a year?!?! COVID-19 put the panic in all of us. Time for change regarding social justice and civil rights. If we could all remember the golden rule we learned in kindergarten, COVID would be under control and social justice would not be an issue.
Treat others like you want to be treated. And yes, it can be that simple.
Stay positive. Be kind. Live Grateful.
Peace & AIA LOVE,
Rhea Williams, Executive Director AIA Birmingham & Alabama Center for Architecture
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Design Awards Update
AIA Birmingham looks forward to celebrating design with all of you once it is safe to do so.
We will continue providing updates as we learn more!
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Platinum Sponsors
A Note to AIA Birmingham Members:
Join us in supporting our AIA Birmingham Sponsors. When looking for vendors and consultants, please be sure to refer to our Sponsor list to the right of this page or our Sponsors page. Thanks so much!
Check out the 2020 sponsorship brochure here!
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Want to help the ACFA reach its
fundraising goals & earn an HSW?
If you love an interesting story, this webinar is for you! SEAoAL and KELLER (Formerly Hayward Baker) have partnered with the ACFA to share the investigation, design & stabilization of the Pointe du Hoc Cliff in Normandy, France. This was an important site during the D-Day landings in Normandy on June 6, 1944!
Email katie@karmamanagementinc.com with any questions or concerns.
Visit the ACFA Square Shop to purchase a ticket
Funds from the virtual webinar will help support the ACFA’s dreamARCHITECTURE & Scholarship programs.
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Friday Conversation — Build Up Ensley
Friday, 7/10 // 11:30 AM-12:30 PM // 1 HSW (Pending) // FREE for ALL
Virtual Event via ZOOM — Registrants will be sent a link by email!
Build UP is the nation’s first and only workforce development model that provides low-income youth with career-ready skills through paid apprenticeships, leading them to become educated, credentialed, and engaged civic leaders, workers, homeowners and landlords. Build UP’s unique approach is an anti-gentrification revitalization model that empowers long-term growth driven by young leaders (Build UP graduates) from within the community.
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Need HSWs? AIA is offering a variety of FREE online courses for members!
Here are some great HSW options:
- Accessibility – A Photographic Look at Recurrent Non-Complying Elements – 1.50 HSW
- Leading Edge Sustainable Stadium Design – 1 HSW
- Copy-Catting: Intellectual Property Principles and Rights – 1 HSW
- The Housing Crisis: How Architects Can Drive Change – 1 HSW
- High Design for Low Income-Housing – 1.50 HSW
(Presented by David Baker, FAIA, LEED AP of David Baker Architects, an AIA Bham Member Firm!)
Visit AIAU for more FREE courses for AIA Members!
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Contract Documents from AIA Birmingham
Click here for information on contract documents!
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AIA Birmingham Silver Sponsor:
Bhate Geosciences
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AIA Birmingham Silver Sponsor:
VW Gallerie at V&W Supply Company
