Words of Encouragement from our President:

“Most of us are in a bit of a shock I think. I enjoyed a sermon this weekend:  it mostly said this too shall pass…and we need to not give up.  Easy to say, hard to do. ‘Look forward, don’t give up.’ I so look forward to resuming our chapter activities and our gatherings. One thing for sure, I can’t wait to hug everyone!”

Lissy Frese, AIA
2020 AIA Birmingham President

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Architects to the RESCUE Again

Hi AIA Family,

I miss seeing all of your beautiful faces, hugs, laughing with you and meeting you for coffee. I had no idea I would miss you so much until cooties hit us. Never again will I take for granted seeing you.

Once again, everyone will be looking to architects for design solutions that will help keep us cootie free. We expected you to save the planet by sustainable design, keep us healthy and fit by designs that makes us more active, keep our children safe while at school and now design healthier environments that do not spread germs/cooties/viruses. Each time the public throws the architectural profession a design challenge, all of you find a solution. We know so many of you are already turning hotels into hospitals and I am sure some of you are working on a long-term solution. Architects always step up to help with the most current crisis. YOU make me so proud.

I also know many of you are nervous about the economy, we have all been down this path before, back in 2008 when it happened overnight and in prior years. There will be a slow-down in all markets except healthcare. We will bounce back much quicker than in the past.

We have a list of resources HERE and linked on our homepage for a quick reference. From utility info and free CEUs to tips for a virtual office, loan deferments and more – We are here if you need us. My cell number is 205-601-2345 if you need to chat, vent, share worries or just to ask questions. I am here for you.

Stay strong, be patient, and do not go to the back of the cave to poke the bear. If you keep going back there, he will wake up.

Hoping to see you soon!

Peace & AIA Love,
Rhea Williams, Executive Director AIA Birmingham & Alabama Center for Architecture

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We have created a library of resources that is regularly updated with messages from local, national, & state government, as well as updates from AIA National. We have also been sharing helpful articles on the AIA Birmingham Facebook page!

Keep your hands washed & your spirits lifted! We will get through this crisis together & celebrate on the other side. In the meantime, let’s do our best to be compassionate & practice responsible social distancing. 

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Design Awards Update

We encourage those who can to mail in their PowerPoint submissions to AIA Birmingham at 109 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. S. Birmingham, AL 35233 on a flash drive, OR they may send a DropBox or Google Drive link to katie@karmamanagementinc.com. 

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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We had a blast with you all at our February Chapter Meeting! We were joined by Ivan Holloway, Executive Director and Elijah Davis, Strategic Growth Manager of Urban Impact, Inc. They gave updates on strategic initiatives and developments in the Birmingham Civil Rights District and spoke about expectations for the 2020!

This was our first “Friday Conversation,” a series that focuses on community engagement! We hope to share another soon, once gatherings are permitted again.

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A Note to AIA Birmingham Members:

Join us in supporting those who support our profession through AIA Birmingham. 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!

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Check out the 2020 sponsorship brochure here.

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Thanks to our Gold & Platinum Sponsors who came out to enjoy coffee and networking with our Executive Committee! This exclusive event was a great chance to get to know each other and make new connections.

Our gracious sponsors make our programs and events possible, so we were thankful for this chance to show them some extra AIA Bham Love!

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Need HSWs? AIA Birmingham is offering a variety of FREE online courses for members!

Here are a few:

• All Together Now: Applying Biomimicry to Your Practice – 1 HSW
• Copy-Catting: Intellectual Property Principles and Rights – 1 HSW
• High Design for Low Income-Housing – 1.50 HSW
• Better Senior Living Spaces: Creating a True Sense of Home – 1.50 HSW

Visit AIAU for more FREE courses for AIA Members!

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Need Help with AIA Membership?

AIA National is looking at all upcoming events and milestones through the lens of member safety and member needs. In an effort to help members who are impacted by COVID-19, AIA National has decided to move the membership lapse date from March 31 to April 28, 2020. We hope this will give you all more time to access AIA’s helpful resources until you can renew your membership.

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Contract Documents from AIA Birmingham

Click here for information on contract documents!

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A Message from our 2020 President:

Dear Colleagues and Friends,

First, I want to thank you for trusting me to be your president.  I am among many talented and committed colleagues, so it is an honor. I recognize that each of you makes a huge difference in our chapter.

I went to Grassroots last year and came away with the knowledge that our work and profession is very diverse, very complex and very personal. Each of us has our own ideas, our own “way” of  doing things. The AIA challenges us to put aside that and to look for what is the “best” way for our chapter and profession. I applaud all of you and our members that put aside their personal issues and step forward to meet this challenge.

Grassroots also made me recognize, what I am sure you all know, that there are no simple answers to the problems our communities face across the country face.  Many architects shared what they are doing, and what ideas have been generated.  But it all is a work in progress, and it generates a lot of questions.

So, my questions are:
1.) How can our AIA serve our members best?
2.) How can our members serve our community best?

I propose that both answers are the same: to help our members be better architects through Knowledge, Awareness, Tools, Support, Learning, Networking, and especially Friendship!

It is exciting to hear and see ideas and energy I have witnessed in many of our meetings.  I know change is often good, but I want to emphasize so much of what we have is golden.

Our Loyal Sponsors.
Our Members.
Our Office.
Our Management: Rhea Williams, our Executive Director and her Karma staff, Katie and Savannah.
Our Programs:
1. Chapter Meetings/Continuing Education
2. Design Awards
3. Government Affairs
4. Disaster Relief
5. Emerging Professionals (EPs)
6. Women in Architecture

I hope that 2020 can build on our work from 2019 under Richard Simonton’s leadership. We undertook a member survey which was very informative. It has been a great source of suggestions to make our chapter better. We drafted a 5-year strategic plan which will help guide our focus. We have hosted 26 events, reaching approximately 1,200 individuals.  Our finances are healthy.  I believe 2019 was a very good year.

My personal hope is that in 2020 we will have the opportunity to become better members of our community. I think most of you know that my son is in his 5^th year at Auburn University. Since he started, he has shared with me his work and lessons, and it has reminded me of what so many of us embraced in college: the belief that we can and should try to make the world a better place.

With that in mind, (and because you can’t do everything), I want this year to focus on AWARENESS. Specifically, awareness of Birmingham: its challenges, problems, and opportunities. Its make-up, its neighborhoods, its history. I am very selfish in that I want the focus on our local issues, because it is personal. We can know the location, know the people and know the impact. It is not abstract when you can see and touch it.

How can we raise awareness?
1. By listening
2. By inviting speakers & leaders
3. By sharing members’ work & knowledge of what they are doing

Will this make a difference?
I don’t know, maybe. Maybe by making the issues known, the many talented, bright minds, and good hearts of our members might create a few good ideas in response. They might share these, and it could grow. By reminding us as architects of what so many of us embraced during our education: that we should try. We are a passionate group, and I am hoping some of that passion can be harvested to make a very meaningful 2020.

I look forward to the year,

Lissy Frese, AIA – 2020 AIA Birmingham President
CCR Architecture & Interiors

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Sponsor Survey

We want to hear from YOU, our treasured Chapter Sponsors! Take this opportunity to provide feedback about AIA Birmingham can better serve you. We have decided to incentivize the survey by offering a FREE pair of AIA Birmingham Design Awards tickets ($100 Value!) to ONE lucky participant! Sponsors of all levels are encouraged to complete the survey.

If you are one of the few that took the survey prior to 1/28, please email Katie Parker to have your name added into the drawing! If you have not taken the survey yet, what are you waiting for?! 

CLICK HERE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE AIA BIRMINGHAM SPONSOR SURVEY! (Sponsors Only Please)

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EXCLUSIVE EVENT FOR PLATINUM & GOLD SPONSORS!

Contact Katie Parker to renew for 2020, so you can take advantage of this FREE new perk for our highest level supporters.

Registration – No Tickets Necessary! // FREE for Platinum & Gold Sponsors

RSVP by 2/26 – katie@karmamanagementinc.com

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Thank you to our 2020 AIA Birmingham Chapter Sponsors!
A full list of Chapter Sponsors is listed on the right column of this page.

If you do not see your company listed, please contact Katie Parker at katie@karmamanagementinc.com to renew your Sponsorship for the new year!

Want to pay for your 2020 Sponsorship? Click here!

Check out the 2020 sponsorship brochure here!
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February Chapter Meeting

Join us on Friday, February 21st at the Alabama Center for Architecture (ACFA) from 11:30 AM-12:30 PM for a Civil Rights District Update from our friends at Urban Impact, Inc.
This event will be catered by Chicken Salad Chick; please email Katie Parker with any special dietary requests!

Interested in learning more about what our speakers will be discussing? Click the links below for more info:
1. Next City – Freedom Walk
2. NW Downtown Plan Request for Proposal
3. 4th Avenue Main Street Update

Urban Impact Inc. is a 501 (c)(3) local place-based community and economic development agency that advances asset building, economic opportunity and revitalization of the Historic 4th Avenue Business District and the Civil Rights District. They strive to lead, build and grow traditionally underserved and historic African-American commercial districts and communities.

Registration  – $15 for Members // $30 for Nonmembers
RSVP to katie@karmamanagementinc.com before February 18th to ensure a spot!

Sign up early, because there is limited space!
No tickets will be guaranteed at the door.

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February Chapter Meeting Speakers:      

Elijah Davis
Strategic Growth Manager, Urban Impact, Inc.
An ecosystem builder, Davis coordinates the administration of new programs that support small business retention, expansion, attraction and policy. Elijah holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Ivan Holloway, MURP
Executive Director, Urban Impact, Inc.
Ivan Holloway, a community economic financial services veteran, serves as the Executive Director. Since 2016, he has led the re-branding and repositioning of the agency. He holds a Master’s in Urban & Regional Planning from Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University.

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AXP Study Sessions are BACK!

Need an AXP Study Buddy? Join us every Monday at The Lumbar from 6:30-7:30 PM for FREE study sessions.
Our AXP Liaisons on the EP Committee will be present on the first Monday of the month to answer questions and provide support! They are also available to answer exam-related questions anytime Monday-Friday via email. Please allow at least 24 hours for a response from our volunteer liaisons.

• Janine Mwenja, AIA – janinemwenja@dbarchitect.com
• Kyle Stover, AIA – kyles@wba-architects.com

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We have both Brightwood ARE 5.0 and Kaplan ARE 4.0 in the AIA Birmingham library. Email katie@karmamanagementinc.com to see if your set is in stock. If your set is not in stock, we will add you to the waiting list! The wait should be no longer than two weeks (typically much less!)

Deposit:
AIA Birmingham members: $50 CASH deposit (returned to you when all materials are checked in)
Non-members: $50 CASH deposit ($25 returned to you when all materials are checked in)
Check out period: 2 weeks (no exceptions if there is a waiting list)

Late Fees:
ARE 5.0: $2 per day for every day past 7 calendar days (high demand)
ARE 4.0: $1 per day for every day past 14 calendar days

Click here for the details about AXP Resources & test taking tips!

Click here to learn more about what AIA Birmingham offers to Emerging Professionals!

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Site Visits

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Working on an interesting project? Our Emerging Professionals are ALWAYS looking for site visits, especially those that could help with exams!
Click here to download our Site Visit Form! Fill it out and send it to katie@karmamanagementinc.com at least two weeks prior to proposed site visit date.

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Jobseekers – we have many jobs listed on our website! Don’t miss AIA Birmingham’s Career Page for the latest local opportunities.

Attention Employers! Post your job openings on the AIA Birmingham website. It is FREE for local member firms! Email katie@karmamanagementinc.com for more details.

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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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Contract Documents from AIA Birmingham

Click here for information on contract documents!

Happy August,

I love survey results! The AIA Birmingham Executive Committee is working on a five -year strategic plan and the survey results will help guide our plan. MEMBER input is crucial for us to be successful and have the greatest impact. I am loving the results we have collected to date, most of you are on the same page regarding social/community engagement, chapter meeting attendance, and using the AIA Birmingham office as a resource.

If more TIME could be a member benefit, we would have more members than any other organization. TIME is what keeps you from attending events or getting involved. The average time spent on taking the survey; 6 minutes and 15 seconds. We need more survey results please CLICK HERE FOR THE SURVEY.

We want to be INCLUSIVE with our five-year strategic planning, and speaking of INCLUSIVE, make sure you register for the INCLUSIVE Workshop that is around the corner, August 20th. Learn challenges and solutions from local case studies. Are you familiar with Recreational Therapist? People first language? Register for the INCLUSIVE workshop to find out more!

Peace & INCLUSIVE AIA Love,

Rhea Williams, Executive Director; AIA Birmingham & Alabama Center for Architecture

Take the AIA Birmingham Survey to help with our Five-Year Strategic Plan! ______

2019 AIA Birmingham Member Survey

AIA Birmingham’s leadership wants to understand the needs and preferences of its members as it develops a new 5‐year strategic plan. This 25-question survey should take less than ten minutes and will make your voice heard. All answers are anonymous. Thanks for being an engaged member and follow the link that pops up after you complete the survey for your chance to win one of multiple $25 Amazon gift cards! Take the AIA Birmingham Member Survey now!

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Thank you to our 2019 AIA Birmingham Chapter Sponsors!
A full list of sponsors is listed on the right column of this page.
Check out the 2019 sponsorship brochure here. ______

Join us on Tuesday, August 20^th at the Alabama Power Old Auditorium from 11:30-3:00 PM for “Inclusive”, a jam-packed workshop and EXPO with 3 HSW’s & speakers from PlayCore, the City of Hoover, and Goodwyn Mills Cawood.

Registration  – $40.00 Advance Tickets // $60.00 Late Registration

RSVP to katie@karmamanagementinc.com before August 16th to ensure a spot!

Click here to purchase tickets! 
Click here to become an exhibitor or sponsor for this event!

Speakers & Topics:       

Jennie Sumrell, PlayCore
Director of Education: Programs, Partnerships & Professional Development

“Inclusion Matters: Making Play a Priority for Everybody!”
Be inspired to innovate high quality outdoor play experiences for people of all ages and abilities by aligning evidence-based design best practices to inclusive play destinations to encourage active, independent, and meaningful play for all. Both a physical and social event, inclusive play is not solely about physically accessing an environment, but what experiences happen once an individual gets there. Learn inclusive design principles that go beyond minimum accessibility and intentionally address the needs of the whole child.

Dee Nance, CTRS, CADAP, City of Hoover
Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist & Certified Americans with Disabilities Professional

“Therapeutic Recreation”
Attendees will learn about Therapeutic Recreation and the role that it plays in an inclusive environment. Then they will be introduced to the concept of “people first” language and will learn about its importance. Participants will also learn the value of including a CTRS/ADA specialist, or a person with a disability, on their design team. Learn challenges and solutions to local project case studies. Dee thinks of everyone who wants to experience parks and playgrounds – all ages and all disabilities. Let’s all learn to think like Dee.

Dale Brasher, PLA, Goodwyn Mills Cawood
Landscape Architect

“Accessible Site Design: Point A to B”
Dale will discuss accessible site design and the challenges site accessibility requirements can present. Though your design does have to meet ADA requirements, there are ways to be creative and accessible while not sacrificing the quality of your design. Dale will share case studies and project applications for inclusive site design.

Click here to learn more about our speakers! ______

Goodbye Sarah

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What is it about Chicago??!!! We are so sad Sarah is leaving us for the Windy City to chase her big city dreams. She joined the AIA (Karma) family in February 2017 and fell in love with architecture (as you can see in our social media). She took our social media to a whole new level and came up with a strategic social media campaign. Sarah is responsible for creating our Instagram account and now we are at more than 1000 followers. We have all had good times with her at annual Posters, Pies, & Pints, Building with Bricks, design awards, chapter meetings, site visits, trivia night, EP Film Series, Liquor Treat, Block Party, meetings, and golf tournaments. Great memories! She will always be a part of our AIA family, and her goal is to stay in the A/E industry in Chicago. Send her an email, text or go old school and call her to let her know how much you appreciated her kind nature and willingness to help all these years. She made us all look good. Flights are cheap to Chicago, when do you want to go visit her?? Let’s crash at her new place, free place to stay in Chicago!!

Hello Katie

Hello Katie Parker! Most of you have met Katie Parker who is stepping into the Executive Assistant role. Katie has been working with AIA part time since late Spring. Hopefully, she will fall in love with architecture too and architects (but not like Danya Humaideh Segrest did, lol). Katie recently graduated from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) with a degree in Communication Studies and a concentration in Public Relations. She also has a minor in Social Media Marketing Strategies. During her time at UAB, Katie worked pro bono as a student PR Consultant for Collat Jewish Family Services and the Laura Crandall Brown Foundation. She also completed three internships, one of which was at the prestigious Birmingham Museum of Art. Throughout her senior year, Katie served as Vice President of Programs for the UAB chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America and the Public Relations Council of Alabama. She is excited to join the AIA Birmingham family and grow as a professional. Be sure to welcome Katie into the AIA family and be nice! ______

MOVIE NIGHT!!! Join AIA Birmingham Emerging Professionals on August 6th from 5:30 PM-6:45 PM as we explore the impact & importance of design and beauty in everyday life through a series of NOWNESS short films called Great Gardens. This is a series of intimate portraits showcasing some of the world’s most beautiful gardens and the people who create them. Libations and light snacks will be provided. We can’t wait!

NOWNESS is an online video channel premiering the best in global arts and culture across Art & Design, Culture, Fashion & Beauty, Music and Food & Travel.

Registration – $7 // RSVP to sarah@aiabham.org before August 2^nd to ensure a spot!
Purchase your ticket here!
SPONSORED BY: Foresite Group, Inc. ______

Thank you to everyone who attended the 2019 ACFA Awards Ceremony! Many of us gathered at The Club on July 16th to celebrate ACFA scholarship winners and newly licensed architects. Our keynote speaker was Craig Lewis FAICP, LEED AP, CNU-A from Stantec. Lewis gave an insightful presentation titled, “Downtown Vibrancy: Let’s Walk One More Block Together!” He spoke about urban trends and the City of Birmingham Master Plan. His talk discussed designing our cities to be more pedestrian-friendly and livable. What a great presentation! Click here to learn more about the City of Birmingham Master Plan.

The ACFA would like to thank Title Sponsor, Creature & Speaker Sponsor, Dix Hite. They are also grateful for Spire, the Medallion Sponsor & Webster Henry, Awards Lunch Sponsor. Spire provided the beautiful medallions for our newly licensed architects, and Webster Henry supplied lunches for the honorees. In addition, there are many other Support Sponsors who helped make this dream a reality, including Aho Architects, Birchfield Penuel & Associates, David Baker Architects, Fifth Dimension Architecture & Interiors, LLC, Herrington Architects, Poole & Co Architects, LLC, and Jim Griffo. We could not have this special day without their support!

Congratulations to the 2018-2019 Birmingham Newly Licensed Architects!

• Raphael Arsenian – KPS Group
• Robert Benner – Davis Architects
• Justin Collier – Coendeavor
• Kim Edwards – Birchfield Penuel & Associates
• Roger Mainor – ArchitectureWorks, LLP
• Derek Needham – Williams Blackstock Architects
• Allison Vosicky – Birchfield Penuel & Associates

Congratulations to our 2018-2019 ACFA Scholarship Winners!

• Adam Davis (Spanish Fort); Auburn University- $1,500
• Andrew Edwards (Oxford); Auburn University- $500
• Jihoon Jeong (Oak Mountain); Auburn University- $1,500
• Caroline Jones (Dothan); University of Texas- $500
• Adam Koons (Huntsville); Auburn University- $750
• Alden Peterson (Hoover); Auburn University- $750
• Miriam Villamonte (Athens); Auburn University- $500
• Lauren Wertz (Mobile); Auburn University- $2,500 ______

Jobseekers – we have many jobs listed on our website! Don’t miss AIA Birmingham’s Career Page for the latest local opportunities.

Attention Employers! Post your job openings on the AIA Birmingham website. It is FREE for local member firms! Email katie@karmamanagementinc.com for more details. ______

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. ______

Contract Documents from AIA Birmingham

Click here for information on contract documents! ______

AL Concrete Industries Association CEU Day

A Day of Concrete Knowledge is designed to provide valuable education programs on concrete topics. This full-day seminar provides 8 hours of AIA approved HSW LU & engineering PDH credits. Certificates will be issued to both architects and engineers.

There is a fee of $30 to attend. All proceeds go to the Alabama Concrete Industries Foundation (ACIF). The ACIF yearly awards two $8,000 scholarships to students enrolled in architecture, engineering, or building sciences at one of Alabama’s universities. Payments can me made online or the day of class.

Click here to view the flyer & session topics and speakers! ______

Moss Rock Festival GLAMPOUT Exhibition

The Moss Rock Festival at The Preserve has been going on for 14 years, each year attracting more than 10,000 visitors for a weekend of eco-creative experiences through Nature, Eco Ideas, and Art + Design. This year, Moss Rock Festival will engage the public’s imagination by showing them into the endless possibilities of experiencing nature through THE GLAMPOUT.

One installation will be chosen for a grand juried cash prize of $2500, with up to five juried cash honorariums of $250 to selected proposals.

The challenge is to create a +Design project which conceives an innovative glamping outdoor space/room design with a sustainable twist of inspiration. The Moss Rock Festival conceives the outdoors as a multi-sensorial space. They ask that the participants demonstrate reflection and interaction in their concept, and design to advance the preservation and enjoyment of natural resources as a foundation for design and space use.

Moss Rock Festival promotes an encounter between diverse disciplines and as such encourages participants to form interdisciplinary teams to submit proposals, if desired. These teams may include partnerships between different A+D firms, furniture and retailers, contractors, etc.

Criteria for Glamping projects include: 

1. Installation within a 16′ x 16′ wooden platform (provided)
2. use of recycled/upcycled objects or natural elements as part of the design
3. Delivery + Installation in the space chosen by the participants or as allocated by the MRF
4. Project statement, quote, or object/source of inspiration image provided for signage onsite
5. Decor and furniture items may be offered for sale (optional) (MRF manages sale)

For questions, please contact Lindsey Christina, Glamping Coordinator, at findart2@findartbirmingham.com.
www.mossrockfestival.com

Click here to view the application!

Click here for more information about the Moss Rock Festival GLAMPOUT Exhibition! ______

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE ACFA MID-YEAR UPDATE!

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2019 Call for Entries Now Open!

Since 1989, the Brick Industry Association (BIA) has sponsored one of the country’s most prestigious architectural award programs. For decades, BIA has been recognized by the architectural community as the authority on clay brick. As such, the Brick in Architecture Awards has become the nation’s premiere architectural award featuring clay brick.

With 8 categories, you can submit your projects in a variety of areas. All entries must be complete by the October 31, 2019 deadline.

To learn more about categories, prizes, and the online submission process, visit: www.gobrick.com/ArchitectureAwards or View the official flyer here!