Are you Making a Social Impact??

Happy 50^th AIA Birmingham Members,

One of our goals for our 50^th anniversary is to promote the IMPACT architecture has in a community, neighborhood, city… Architecture impacts everyone. Everyone at some point goes to the hospital, school, church/temple/mass, movies, shopping, grocery store, vet, state parks and rest areas or lives in a house, apartment or condo. Part of our challenge is getting each person to realize that an architect designed the majority of these structures/buildings. And architects take into consideration every move we will make in a building before we even walk in the door. You think about the user from the time we park our car and walk into the entrance. You solve problems on the front end that we, the user, never even knew about (saving client’s money too). You make our life easier, more enjoyable.

As part of our 50^th anniversary campaign, we have new ads sketched by you (members) promoting architects as problem solvers who make our daily life a better place.

SOCIAL IMPACT – There are so many of you who volunteer your time on boards & committees and have provided in kind services for non-profits, design review boards, city councils and school boards. All these volunteer hours are making a social impact. This is not about promoting you or your firm, this is about promoting the social impact the architectural profession has on our society. Let us know if you are making a social impact– email aiabirm@aiabham.org so we can include you in how the architectural profession is making a social impact.

We have a reason to celebrate this year, let’s make the most of it and EDUCATE others on the VALUE of an architect! Our 50^th Anniversary is an OPPORTUNITY to share your gift with others.

Peace and AIA love,
Rhea Williams,
Executive Director AIA Birmingham

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Save our Architecture Firm History!

As you know, we have a long and wonderful tradition of Architecture and Architectural Practice in this town. However, the connections between the team of amazing people designing these structures and the buildings themselves is often lost.

We are putting together a BIRMINGHAM ARCHITECTURAL FIRM FAMILY TREE for the upcoming 50-year anniversary. The goal is to create a mural size poster illustrating the evolution of architectural practice in Birmingham over the last 50 years (1965-2015).

To make this happen we need your help. If you are interested in having your firm represented, please click here for more information. Click here to view the latest version of the Birmingham Firm Tree – if your firm is not listed, contact Brannon Foster at brannonfoster@hotmail.com today!

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Save the Dates!

Don’t miss upcoming AIA and ACFA events! Check the right side of the newsletter to view Upcoming Events, or visit the events page on our website at aiabham.org/events. ______

Sponsors

We have a wonderful year planned for 2015! Thank you to all our sponsors who paid for memberships in January (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.

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Platinum
J.R. Prewitt & Associates

Gold
Building & Earth Sciences, Inc.

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Silver
ASSA ABLOY
Block USA / Cemex
Business Interiors
Mullins Building Products
Sherwood Cox Photography
VW Gallerie at V&W Supply Company [/twocol_one_last]______

Membership & Payment Plans

Have you renewed your AIA membership for 2015? If not, now is the perfect time so you can take advantage of all AIA has to offer! To see our local member benefits, visit our new Membership page. Renew today at www.aia.org/renew!

And remember, ALL renewing, new & reinstating Architect, Associate, International Associate, Allied (Institute only), and New Graduates are eligible to participate in the 2015 Dues Installment Program. For more information, visit AIA National’s FAQ page at http://www.aia.org/about/aiab081429 or contact Rhea or Kathryn with questions. ______

FAT TUESDAY– Let’s PLAY – Park Design & ADA Playgrounds – 1 HSW

Tuesday, Feb. 17 | 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. | $15 members, $25 nonmembers

Dave’s Pizza | 1819 29th Avenue South, Homewood, AL 35209

RSVP to kathryn@aiabham.org by Feb. 13.

FAT TUESDAY FUN WITH AIA! Wear your beads or mardi gras colors for this fun meeting. Nimrod Long, of Nimrod Long & Associates, and Lucy Beaver, of Kompan, will teach us how to create playground designs that meet the unique needs of all children. You will learn about the range of disabilities of playground participants, and tips and strategies will be provided on how to make small to major changes in their play spaces to make playgrounds not just welcoming, but engaging, challenging and therapeutic. This event is part of the Alabama Center for Architecture Fit Nation series, made possible by a grant from the Blue Cross Blue Shield Caring Foundation.

• Cancellation policy: Must give 24 hours’ notice of cancellation. If you cancel less than 24 hours before or do not show up to the meeting without notice, you will be billed the cost of the meeting.
• Please let us know if you have dietary restrictions. We want our lunch & learns to be inclusive for all dietary needs! ______ 

January Meeting – How to Get Recognition for your Projects

January’s chapter meeting at the Alagasco Center for Technology focused on building media relationships as an integral part of your firm’s Public Relations strategy. Ashley Kizzire, Senior Editorial Director for Constructive Communication, showed how to pitch stories that are seen as newsworthy and shared insights that will either ingratiate you with, or infuriate, writers and editors.

Ms. Kizzire emphasized treating the media like a client. Tailor your pitches for each publication’s specific target audience. Find the publication’s appropriate contact, understand their preferences for communication, and submit materials in their requested format. Use professional courtesy by refraining from haranguing inquiries and by meeting their deadlines. You’ll build lasting relationships by making the press’s job easier. The presentation concluded with strategies for managing the press during a crisis such as a roof collapse. Suggestions included never saying “no comment” (unless you want to look suspicious) and establishing a crisis communications plan with a clear hierarchy before an incident occurs. Also, special thanks to Tre’ Morton from UPS Caldwell Mill for showing us what his 3-D printer can do! To view photos from the meeting, click here. ______

March’s Meeting Preview: Skate Park Design & Autism – 1 HSW

March 17, 2015 | 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. | $15 members, $25 nonmembers
Faith Skate Supply | 1305 2nd Ave N, Birmingham AL 35203

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Great Temple of Travel: The Design and Legacy of Birmingham Terminal Station

50th Anniversary Exhibit Opening

Tuesday, March 10 | 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. | FREE, with RSVP to kathryn@aiabham.org

Alabama Center for Architecture | 109 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. South, Birmingham AL 35233

Featuring historical drawings, photographs and postcards, this exhibition highlights the architecture and impact of Birmingham Terminal Station. Built in 1909, in its early twentieth-century heyday Terminal Station was a hub of southern rail travel and an architectural marvel. Great Temple of Travel offers viewers a window into the station’s design, construction and status as a Magic City icon.

Presented in partnership with the Birmingham Public Library

Sponsored by Goodwyn, Mills & Cawood ______

Urban Sketchers

In January, the Urban Sketchers visited the historic Alabama Theater to practice our sketching of interiors. We had a good turn out with some new folks in attendance and visited Revelator coffee afterward to discuss our sketches.

Urban Sketchers meets the second Sunday of every month at various places around the city. We will meet on Feb. 8 at 2:30 at Kelly Ingram Park/Civil Rights Museum. As always, any skill level is welcome, and check out urbansketchers.tumblr.com to see more of our work![divider_flat]

ALABAMA CENTER FOR ARCHITECTURE

Embracing Silence Opening Reception

More than 130 people attended our opening reception of Embracing Silence, a black and white photography exhibit of Moss Rock Preserve by Joseph De Sciose. Special thank you to the City of Hoover for lending us this beautiful exhibit, and to our sponsors as well—Landscape Workshop, Asplundh and Presentations Etc. Studio. The exhibit will be displayed in the Alabama Center for Architecture until Feb. 13. The gallery is open from Tuesday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. See photos from the opening here. ______

dreamArchitecture Teacher Workshop

We say it every year, but this year was the BEST teacher workshop with 10 teachers. Brian Giattina, City of Birmingham School Board, Create Birmingham Board, and of course GA Studio gave an inspiring talk about statistics proving the arts are a driving force in our economy. To view the report click here. http://www.createbirmingham.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/CreativeBhamReport_Final.pdf

Chris Giattina presented BLOX and explained the process from the problem to the solution, because as we all know architects are problem solvers. The theme for dreamArchitecture is “draw your dreamFACTORY.” Chris gave the teachers a different way to approach the theme. Ask the students if they have a problem with the way something works, then ask them how they would solve the problem and could they solve it by building something or manufacturing something. Teachers loved it!

International artist Adrienne Retief ended the day with a watercolor workshop expressing to the teachers to let the watercolors happen, don’t try to control the colors when they blend. She gave them great tips to take back to the students. Can’t wait to see what the students come up with this year!______

EMERGING PROFESSIONALS

Site Visit – The Roundhouse in Mountain Brook

Thursday, Feb. 12 | 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. | FREE
3349 Brookwood Road, Mountain Brook AL 35233
Street parking; carpool if possible

Architect: Design Initiative
Original Architect: Fritz Woehle (early 1960s)

RSVP by February 10 to kathryn@aiabham.org.

This modest contemporary residence is benched into a wooded hillside in the quiet traditional neighborhood of Mountain Brook. The original Fritz Woehle design boasted a glass wall around a cylindrical volume pierced by a brick wall plane. The brick wall separates the living area from the rest of the program as well as creates a unique dining room with a conical ceiling, lit by a diffuse skylight. Throughout the years and subsequent renovations/owners, the original design intent was in many ways lost. This renovation aims to restore much of the original design, as well as create a new two story living room volume, optimize as much of the existing square footage, and act as a backdrop from the owners’ extensive art collection.______

NCARB & You: IDP, ARE & Certification – 1.5 LU

Tuesday, Feb. 17 | 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. | FREE
Alabama Center for Architecture | 109 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. South
RSVP to kathryn@aiabham.org by Feb. 16

Kimberly Tuttle, AIA, NCARB, from the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) will present on a range of licensure topics relevant to students, interns, supervisors, architects, and people in the architecture profession. The presentation will review the steps necessary to achieve licensure to become an architect and other programs to get the most out of your career in architecture.

Topics will include:

• Background of NCARB
• The entities involved in the licensure process
• How to establish an NCARB Record
• How to progress successfully through the Intern Development Program (IDP)
• What to expect with the Architect Registration Examination® (ARE®)
• Recent changes to NCARB programs
• Value of the NCARB Certificate______

Project Life Cycle Meeting Series: Pt. 2 (Architect)

Friday, Feb. 20 | 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. | Free with RSVP + Lunch
AGC Alabama | 5000 Grantswood Rd., Ste. 100, Irondale AL 35210

RSVP to nsommerville@lbyd.com by Feb. 18 and indicate which group you are a part of.

If you missed the first meeting, young professional groups of contractors, engineers, architects & financial managers 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. If you are new to your industry or a seasoned veteran, this is something you don’t want to miss.

Lecture 2 will focus on the Geotechnical and Structural design of the facility. The first 30 minutes we will be hearing from Chuck Burgin, Senior Principal at BHATE and Project lead on the Grandview Project. Following Chuck will be Greg Robinson, Senior Principal at LBYD who oversaw the structural design of the hospital and tower.  They both will have a presentation and be available to answer questions.

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Happy New YEAR and 50th Anniversary Beautiful Architects!

I hope all of you had a wonderful fun holiday and are ready to keep having fun in 2015 with us. We have so much to celebrate; AIA Birmingham is 50, a new website, new AIA Birmingham president, exhibits, lectures, Fit Nation – Part II, Celebration Series (with a wine pop up shop – cheers!), BEAUX ART BALL (YES!!!), Alabama Center for Architecture and each of YOU. Be sure and check out the new website www.aiabham.org and please check out www.alcfa.org too.

I had a great time with all of you in 2014 and am SO EXCITED ABOUT 2015!

Peace & AIA Love,
Rhea Williams,
Executive Director AIA Birmingham ______

President’s Goals for 2015

2014 will be remembered as a milestone in the life of AIA Birmingham. Thanks to TWO years of dedicated leadership by Past President Robert Thompson, an engaged Executive Committee and a tireless management team of Rhea Williams and Kathryn Moore, the Alabama Center for Architecture (ACFA) has been firmly established and has provided a public face for our community of architects. Also, we have begun to emerge from the recession still on a firm financial footing. For those still confused about the alphabet soup of AIA, ACFA, BAF and AAF, click here.

2015 will be a fantastic year for our chapter. We have assembled an energetic and forward thinking group of experienced professionals and up and coming young leaders who are eager to push our chapter to a level that we have never been.

One of our main goals for the coming year is to provide a clear and obvious benefit to being an AIA member. Membership numbers are crucial to our success. We need your help to spread the word that membership is a good investment. We will have quality chapter meetings and professional development programs, as well as many opportunities for service and outreach. I encourage you to experience dreamArchitecture or N2Architecture or our Governmental Affairs Committee to see firsthand what impact we can have on the community. Our management team is motivated, talented, and most importantly committed to helping us achieve our goals.

We want to also provide a clear and obvious benefit to sponsorship. We could not do near what we do without their loyal support. The best way to keep them around is to provide them business opportunities and to thank them….often.

We will be working to enhance our visibility, communication and interaction through social media. For those who are into that we encourage your input.

As you probably know by now, 2015 is our 50th anniversary. Plans are underway to mark the occasion with many special events. It will take the efforts of not just the Executive Committee but of the membership as well to ensure the success of the year-long celebration.

I look forward to serving as president of AIA Birmingham for the coming year. It will be an exciting time, and I hope to see all of you enjoying your membership. Your participation is vital to our chapter’s success. Check out the calendar on the new website [link when site is live] often, as there will be interesting things happening all the time!

Warmest regards and best wishes for the New Year,

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Carey F. Hollingsworth, III, AIA, CSI ______

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Save our Architecture Firm History!

As you know, we have a long and wonderful tradition of Architecture and Architectural Practice in this town. However, the connections between the team of amazing people designing these structures and the buildings themselves is often lost.

We are putting together a BIRMINGHAM ARCHITECTURUAL FIRM FAMILY TREE for the upcoming 50-year anniversary. The goal is to create a mural size poster illustrating the evolution of architectural practice in Birmingham over the last 50 years (1965-2015).

To make this happen we need your help. If you are interested in having your firm represented, please click here for more information.

Sincerely,
Brannon Foster, AIA, LEED AP
brannonfoster@hotmail.com

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Save the Dates!

Don’t miss upcoming AIA and ACFA events! Check the right side of the newsletter to view Upcoming Events, or visit the events page on our new website at https://aiabham.org/events/  ______

Sponsors

We have a wonderful year planned for 2015! Thank you to all our sponsors who paid for their sponsorship in December 2014 (see below). If you have not renewed, please see the sponsorship form here or email kathryn@aiabham.org with any questions.

Platinum Alabama Graphics AMA Lighting Crow Friedman Group Hohmann & Barnard J.R. Prewitt & Associates   Gold AFS Repair Ai Corporate Interiors Alabama Lighting Associates Boral Building Products Edmonds Engineering Gallery Services

Silver Acme Brick Company Camacho Associates Inc. Consulting Construction Engineering Continental Building Products Division 2-4 Dodge Data & Analytics G2 Lighting Agency Habiframe Storm Shelters Marvin Windows The Mell Group Office Environments Parrot Structural Services Robins & Morton Southern Bath & Kitchen ThyssenKrupp Elevator Americas Bronze   American Gypsum Brasfield & Gorrie Coral Industries LBYD Lighting Partnership Patterson Pope Sain Associates

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AIA Holiday Party

If you missed our annual holiday party on December 4th, you missed the event of the season! We had nearly 200 architects and sponsors pass through for delicious food from Savoie Catering, Cahaba Brewing beer and holiday cheer. A big thank you to Pro Construction for sponsoring the party! See more photos from the event here.______

Membership & Payment Plans

Have you renewed your AIA membership for 2015? If not, now is the perfect time so you can take advantage of all AIA has to offer! To see our local member benefits, visit our new Membership page. Renew today at www.aia.org/renew!

And remember, ALL renewing, new & reinstating Architect, Associate, International Associate, Allied (Institute only), and New Graduates are eligible to participate in the 2015 Dues Installment Program. For more information, visit AIA National’s FAQ page at http://www.aia.org/about/aiab081429 or contact Rhea or Kathryn with questions. ______

January Meeting – How to Gain Recognition for Your Projects – 1 LU

Tuesday January 20th | 11:30 – 1:00 | $15 members; $25 nonmembers
ALAGASCO Center for Energy Technology | 20 20th St. S 

RSVP to kathryn@aiabham.org by January 16. 

Ashley Kizzire, Senior Editorial Director, Constructive Communication, Inc.

This program will help you gain a sense of how to build a public relations program in order to effectively promote your company and projects. Gain a sense of how to identify news or stories that the media will be interested in, as well as provide tips and guidelines as to how to present projects and items of interest, how to work with the media, what information you should be prepared to release and how to develop a PR program. The content also will help participants in identifying projects and news items for award competitions. 

As Senior Editorial Director of Constructive Communication, Inc., Ashley specializes in the written word. With experience writing and editing for the media since 1995, Ashley helps clients effectively communicate key messages with their target audiences. Ashley’s success includes authoring numerous communication vehicles, such as feature articles, blogs, website copy, press releases, award submittals, brochures and newsletters. Ashley holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from Birmingham Southern College and a Masters of Education from Auburn University Montgomery. ______

December Meeting – Tools for your Firm’s Successful Future/Emerging Risk

Mike Jackson with Crow Friedman sponsored a lunch and learn at the Ruffner Mtn. Nature Center on Wednesday, December 17th. Robert van Arsdall with XL Insurance Group spoke about the general and specific risks faced by A/E firms and how those risks have evolved over the last 10 years. He also presented information on how firms can minimize liability through such practices thorough better client selection, effective COMMUNICATION, and specific contractual language.

Part II of the seminar covered employees and who to hire. Baby boomers are retiring, but we all know architects NEVER really retire. Hire the baby boomers on contract as project managers and mentors to your interns, freeing your time for business development and design. Boomers are tired of the administration and headaches of architecture, but as contract project managers, they get to enjoy architecture again. And an added bonus, they have insurance (Medicare)! This is just a tease of Part II of the presentation – much more solid info. Click here to view photos from the meeting! 

If you are interested in the PowerPoint presentation email mike@crowfriedman.com  ______

What Happens when LOCAL Firms enter INTERNATIONAL Design Awards?!

THEY WIN!!! – bDot Architecture – Winner of a 2014 Interior Design Best of Year Award!

We need more firms entering design competitions to show off the talent we have in Birmingham. All of you are so talented, and there are so many design awards you can enter and win. I know most of you do not care about awards, but it is about promoting architecture, good design and elevating awareness in our region of the talented firms. We encourage you to SHOW OFF!

On December 4th more than 950 designers and manufacturers gathered at the Frank Gehry-designed IAC Building in NYC for the 9th annual Interior Design Best of Year Awards. The auditorium was standing room only, as the winners were announced live by hosts Cindy Allen, Editor in Chief, and Mark Strauss, President and Publisher, using the IAC’s 80-foot video wall to present. This year’s Best of Year experienced record-breaking numbers: 2,000 submissions – growing by more than 60 percent in the last two years, with entries from Iceland, India, China, Russia, Canada and numerous countries in Europe. The product voting site experienced a 50 percent increase in number of unique visitors, with 600,000 page views and 60,000 votes. bDot’s project, The Clubhouse, won in the Budget category. WOW!! Click here to check out their project: https://boyawards.interiordesign.net/finalists/2014/projects/budget. Congratulations to Brian Roberson and bDot Architecture!!____________

EMERGING PROFESSIONALS

January Site Visit – Hill Student Center at UAB

Hill University Center, which was a fixture for student life since 1983, was torn down in 2013 to make way for a new and improved student center. Join AIA Birmingham Emerging Professionals on a site visit led by Herrington Architects and Doster Construction on January 22. Please note that this site visit begins at 3:30 so we have enough daylight to tour the site.

Street parking only. Construction entrance is off 15th Street, which is closed to vehicular traffic. Carpooling is suggested, if possible. Closed-toed shoes, hard hat, reflective vests and safety glasses required (per Doster and UAB). We will have a limited number of hard hats on site. RSVP by January 20 to kathryn@aiabham.org. ______

Sponsor Spotlight: AMA Lighting

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I hope everyone had a THANKFUL THANKSgiving. And now for the Christmas Holidaze. Try not to let the commercial side of Christmas stress you out. Enjoy your friends and family. You can be stressed anytime. Okay, friends and family can stress us (don’t know about your family, but mine is crazy!).
AIA has a SOLUTION for your stress. We have a lots of DE-stressing meetings for 2015 and lots of celebratory events for our 50th anniversary!

January – Moss Rock Photography Exhibit opens and then a meditation 101 class. Start the year with positive energy with some deep breaths and relaxation. Get your OMMMM on with us.

February – Time to celebrate AIA Birmingham’s 50th anniversary with a Bar Design and cocktails presentation. And later in the month learn more about ADA playgrounds as part of our Fit Nation series.
March brings our first official 50th Anniversary Exhibit Opening. We are bringing back blast from the past architects from the Birmingham Library Architectural Archives. And for part 2 of our Fit Nation series – ADA SKATE Parks. We may even hold this meeting at FAITH Skate Supply. Gasp!

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Save our Architecture Firm History!

As you know, we have a long and wonderful tradition of Architecture and Architectural Practice in this town. However, the connections between the team of amazing people designing these structures and the buildings themselves is often lost. We are putting together a BIRMINGHAM ARCHITECTURAL FIRM FAMILY TREE for the upcoming 50-year anniversary. The goal is to create a mural size poster illustrating the evolution of architectural practice in Birmingham over the last 50 years (1965-2015).
To make this happen we need your help. If you are interested in having your firm represented, please click here for more information].

Sincerely,
Brannon Foster, AIA, LEED AP
brannonfoster@hotmail.com

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March brings our first official 50th Anniversary Exhibit Opening. We are bringing back blast from the past architects from the Birmingham Library Architectural Archives. And for part 2 of our Fit Nation series – ADA SKATE Parks. We may even hold this meeting at FAITH Skate Supply. Gasp!

Brewery tour with a brew master, a Wine Pop Up shop at the AIA office for wine cellar products.
Don’t panic!  Of course we will host a wine tasting too!!!!
That is all I can tell you about 2015 – there are many MORE events/exhibits/tours/lectures/surprises planned.

OH!!!! We are even doing an ARCHITECTURAL FIRM TREE. Brannon Foster has volunteered to take on this DIFFICULT task. HE NEEDS YOUR BRAIN CELLS AND HISTORY to get the branches. Click here for more info!
Get involved, volunteer and we can make even more HAPPEN! Start having fun with AIA in 2015.
50 is a celebration and something to be proud of IF you are an organization.

Thanx for an amazing 2014 and I look forward to celebrating AIA Birmingham’s 50th Anniversary with all you.
I hope all of you have a safe and peaceful, Merry Christmas.
Peace and AIA LOVE,
Rhea Williams,
Executive Director, AIA Birmingham

2014-2015  SAVE THE DATES

aiabham.org/blog/events/

AIA Save the Dates
December 4	AIA Holiday Party – Sponsored by Pro Construction ACFA – 109 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd S., Birmingham AL 35233 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Casual Attire RSVP to kathryn@aiabham.org by Dec. 3
December 14	Urban Sketchers – 41st Street in Avondale 2:00 p.m http://urbansketchers.tumblr.com/ Contact jonathanbmeadows@gmail.com for more info.
December 16	Young Professionals AEC Christmas Party  5:00 – 8:00 p.m. Click here for invite Wine Loft – 2200 1st Ave N #100, Birmingham, AL 35203
December 17	Tools for your Firm’s Successful Future/ Emerging Risk – 2 LU Presented by Crow Friedman Group 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.; $15 members, $25 non-members Ruffner Mountain Tree House, 1214 81st St S, Birmingham 35206 RSVP to kathryn@aiabham.org by Dec. 12
December 24-25 December 30-January 1	Christmas – New Year Holiday AIA offices closed
January 20	AIA Chapter Meeting – Marketing & Branding 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.; $15 members, $25 non-members More info in Jan. RSVP to kathryn@aiabham.org by Jan. 16
ACFA Save the Dates
January 13	“Embracing Silence” Moss Rock Photography Exhibit Opening 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. – Joseph De Sciose (http://www.jdesciose.com/ ) ACFA – 109 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd South, Birmingham AL 35233 RSVP to kathryn@aiabham.org by Jan. 9
January 20	Meditation 101 with Sharon Nelson 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. suggested $10 donation to ACFA; BYO Mat ACFA – 109 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd South, Birmingham AL 35233 RSVP to kathryn@aiabham.org by Jan. 16
Continuing Education Opportunities from our Sponsors
December 9	“The Greening of Gypsum Wallboard” – Presented by American Gypsum–1 HSW 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Free to attend; lunch provided. ACFA (109 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd S, Birmingham AL 35233) RSVP by December 6 to Jimmy Dikis at jimmy.dikis@americangypsum.com. Click here for more info!

Sponsors!!

Sponsors, thank you for a wonderful 2014.  Just a reminder all chapter sponsorships expire at the end of December! Check out the 2015 sponsorship brochure here (link to 2015 sponsorship brochure final).
If you renew your membership by December 31 and pay by January 15, we will give you $100 off your Platinum, Gold or Silver sponsorship! See the brochure or contact Rhea or Kathryn with questions.

Committed Sponsors for 2015:

AFS Repair – Gold AI Corporate Interiors – Gold Alabama Graphics – Platinum AllSouth Appliance — Bronze AMA Lighting – Platinum ASSA Abloy – Silver Boral Building Products – Gold Brasfield & Gorrie – Bronze Building & Earth Sciences – Gold Camacho Associates Inc. – Silver Consulting Construction Engineering – Silver Continental Building Products – Silver Crow Friedman Group – Gold Division 2-4 – Silver Engineering Design Technologies – Silver G2 Lighting Agency – Silver

Habiframe Storm Shelters – Silver Hagerman & Company Highlands Tile & Stone – Silver Hohmann & Barnard – Platinum LBYD – Bronze Lighting Partnership — Silver Lighting Solutions – Silver Marvin Windows – Silver The Mell Group – Silver Patterson Pope – Bronze Office Environments — Silver Robins & Morton – Silver Sain Associates – Bronze Sherwin Williams – Silver Southern Bath & Kitchen – Silver VW Gallerie at V&W Supply Company — Silver

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Tools for your Firm’s Successful Future/Emerging Risk – 2 LU
Presented by Crow Friedman Group and XL Insurance
Join us on Wednesday, December 17 from 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. at the Ruffner Mountain Tree House for an informative session about securing the future of your firm. Our speaker will be Bob vanArsdall, director of Market & Sector Analysis at XL Insurance. RSVP to kathryn@aiabham.org by Dec. 12.

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“Embracing Silence” Opening Reception
Join us in the ACFA on January 13 from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. for the opening reception for “Embracing Silence,” an exhibition of black and white photography of Moss Rock Preserve.

This display features images captured at Moss Rock, a 349-acre refuge of boulder fields, sandstone glades, waterfalls, native plants and wildlife in the heart of Hoover. RSVP to kathryn@aiabham.org by Jan. 9.

About the photographer: Joseph De Sciose (http://www.jdesciose.com/ ) was a senior photographer at Southern Living Magazine for more than five years shooting gardens, travel and lifestyle stories.

He won the Garden Globe Award for “Best Photography for a Garden Book” by the Garden Writers’ Association for the Flower Gardener’s Bible. His work has also been featured in several additional books.

November Site Visit – Stockyard at Railroad Park
On November 20, the EPs visited the Stockyard at Regions Park, an office building with interesting use of shipping containers for offices and walls. The building is the future home of Shannon Waltchack and Scout Branding Company and is scheduled to be completed in January. Highlights from the project include a vertical shipping container dropped in through the roof, a “thinking” silo, and an area on the roof for keeping bees. Special thanks to Caron and Jacklyn of Cohen Carnaggio Reynolds for giving us a tour! Click here for more photos!

Habiframe Storm Shelters would like to invite everyone to come see us at the 2014 Inspiration Home (359 Chestnut Park Lane in Hoover), now through Dec 14.
Click here to buy tickets![divider][divider][divider]