Hello Architects who Make Our World a Better Place,
WOW, AIA members! All of you are doing such good things and I only know about what a handful of you are doing. The past two chapter meetings have been about Architecture & Humanity. John Hudson, AIA spoke about the design work 100Fold Studio has been doing around the world and in the US. Phil Black, AIA talked about his volunteer work in LA, AL and Haiti. So many of you are using your design talent to make other people have a better quality of life. Both of these presentations showed people with so little and yet they were so thankful for what they do have in their life.
I hope these presentations were inspiring to you and made you think about the easy peasy life we have in the US. We have cars, boats, houses, vacation homes (not all of us), dogs, cats, other pets, so many clothes, shoes, accessories, cell phones, gadgets…this list could go on and on and on…. Yet, we stress over such trivial things, kvetch about our jobs that pay fairly, the heat, our bills (that we create), and so much more. Most of the stress in our life is caused by “stuff” we do not need.
I have caught myself whining about things that I should be grateful for every day.
Thank you John and Phil for reminding us to be thankful for our easy life we live each day in the beautiful USA.
Peace and AIA Grateful,
Rhea Williams, AIA Birmingham & ACFA Executive Director______
2016 Sponsorships
Thanks to all the sponsors who paid in July (below). A full list of sponsors can be found on the right side of the page.
Gold
Edmonds Engineering, Inc.
Bronze
A-R-T & Associates, Inc.
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August Chapter Meeting
ARCHITECTS & FILM: Location Scouting & Set Design (1 LU)
Lights! Camera! Action! Film and architecture. Have you ever wondered how producers select a location for a film? And the expenses! CREATE Birmingham has been courting film producers to choose Birmingham for set locations. It is less expensive and we are known for our Southern Hospitality. Anthony Stabley, http://www.anthonystabley.com/ who is production designer filming a movie in Birmingham this month, will discuss how they select locations, create sets and tell us more producer secrets of the trade. One time they recreated 3 city blocks in Mexico to look like it was 3 city blocks in the US. They painted buildings, put up mail boxes, stop signs and street signs. It is crazy what they do to create the right set. Let’s find out how they picked Birmingham and the locations for the filming! See you August 16th at Cahaba. RSVP to kathryn@aiabham.org.
Make all checks payable to AIA Birmingham.
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.______
Third Annual AEC Mega Meeting: Zap the Gap: From Bookers to Linkster, How to Work with Multiple Generations (1 LU)
Monday, September 19th
Regions Field
Tradeshow begins at 10:30 a.m.
Lunch served at 11:30 a.m.
Speaker begins at 12:00 p.m.
Join the AEC Mega Group for the third annual Mega Meeting, featuring generational humorist Meagan Johnson! Johnson will present “Zap the Gap: From Bookers to Linkster, How to Work with Multiple Generations.” We all talk about how we struggle working with multiple generations, Meagan will give us helpful hints on how each generation can learn from the next one creating a much more productive work environment. This event will also feature a tradeshow featuring professional vendors who can help you run your business more efficiently. Register today at: www.aecmegagroup.org. Register today! ______
2016 ACFA Golf Tournament on October 13th
Click here to view the Registration & Sponsor form
Teams of 4 | Individual Player
Hole Sponsor | Meal Sponsor | Drink Cart Sponsor | Music Sponsor______
RECAP: AIA July Chapter Meeting
Phil Black, AIA of Simonton Swaika Black Architects gave a presentation on the role of an architect in various disaster relief situations, both domestically and internationally. He showed videos of Haitians making concrete blocks by hand and how they used their hands as trowels. Another volunteer brought a suitcase of trowels for the men and showed them how to use them. They are so appreciative of small things we take for granted each day. He also showed a video of a human chain they used to get the building materials on the roof. And we think we have it rough! We would never survive their typical work day! Phil also described his experiences working in New Orleans and Haiti, exploring code changes and implementation, the opportunity for urban planning and improvement to the built environment. It is a different world. Thanks to all who attended! Click here for more photos. ______
Emerging Professionals Section
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Site Visit Recap: Carrigan Loft
On July 14, the EPs hosted a site visit to a downtown loft on 1st Avenue South overlooking the Rotary Trail. Designed by Bruce Lanier of Standard Creative, the 3-story loft boasts a state-of-the-art kitchen, raised living room, large garage for cars, motorcycles and other toys, as well as a pool and hot tub with an incredible view of the Birmingham skyline. Thanks to all who joined us for this visit, and to Bruce and the owner for allowing us to peek inside! Click here for more photos. ______
AIA TN Announces Convention Speakers 
Read more here: 2016 Speaker Lineup for Convention
Register here: http://convention.aiatn.org ______[divider_flat]
Sherwin Williams CEU & Expo (1 HSW) 
CEU starts at 11:00 a.m.
RSVP by calling 205-968-3775 or emailing Tim at Swrep4457@sherwin.com.
CEU Description: Advanced Coatings for Healthcare Facilities Course Description ______
AIA National Corner
Need Help Getting Visibility and Press?
Looking to get media attention for your project or firm? Get advice from PR professional Julie Taylor, Honorary AIA, as she talks with AIA’s CEO Robert Ivy about how to get visibility in the media.______
Awards Opportunities and Webinars
- Upcoming AAH webinar ” Patient Safety Fundamentals for Healthcare Architects” on August 9 from 2-3pm, EDT. Earn 1.0 AIA LU/HSW. Register today.
- Apply for the AAH Herman Miller Intern Healthcare Scholarship to attend the Healthcare Design Expo & Conference this November. Submit materials to AAH by August 26.
A full list of Knowledge Community events is always available at network.aia.org/RoundUp______
Career Center
Jobseekers – check out the AIA 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. Also don’t miss AIA Birmingham’s Career Page for the latest local opportunities.
Employers – post your jobs on the AIA Birmingham website! FREE for local member firms. Email Rhea or Kathryn for more details.______
On Tuesday, June 7th the ACFA honored the 2016-17 Scholarship Winners at a luncheon at The Club. John Hudson, AIA of 100 Fold Studio in Montana gave the keynote address, “Red Clay to Rice Fields: The Value of an Architect in Developing Nations,” which discussed the work Hudson’s non-profit architecture organization does throughout the US and abroad in the developing world. Who knew that dormitories in Cambodia would look like the high-end vacation homes in Alys Beach?
AIA National Corner
July 8-10th
AIA Gulf States: Design Award Winners
NCARB Headlines
The AIA National Conference rolled into Philadelphia two weeks ago, bringing together diversity of creative fields to share how design is shaping our collective future. Julia Louis-Dreyfus, the incredible comedian known for her role on Seinfeld and more recently Veep, spoke to her approach to acting through innovation, disruption, and risk-taking. Neri Oxman helmed the second keynote, and through her MIT-based research at the intersection of architecture, fashion, 3D fabrication and ecology, delivered a presentation which was equal parts technical marvel and vibrant awe, and gave attendees a glimpse of the bleeding-edge of contemporary design. Rem Koolhaas, in his interview with Harvard Graduate School of Design dean Mohsen Mostafavi, made a case for a diversity of approaches when creating architecture.
This is but a taste of the offerings at AIA Philadelphia – from the numerous CEU sessions covering a remarkable variety of topics, to the enormous trade show, and my personal favorite: the Emerging Professionals party, featuring hundreds of young designers dancing at the feet of Benjamin Franklin. I think the statesman would have approved.
RSVP by April 15th to 
On March 15, 2016, AIA Birmingham and CSI Birmingham members met at the Federal Reserve Bank building to hear a presentation about historic rehabilitation tax credits. More than 100 people showed up to hear Jennifer Bailey and Cloe Mercer of the Alabama Historical Commission discuss federal and state tax credits. Hoar Construction led guests on a tour of the building. Thanks to Harbert Realty Services for partnering with us on this event! 
Thursday, April 21 | 4:00-5:30 p.m.
Starting this summer, design professionals with more than five years of experience will be able to pursue licensure through NCARB’s new e-Portfolio option. – See more at: 
On Tuesday, March 22, AIA Birmingham and the ACFA hosted students and mentors from ACE Mentor of Alabama, a program that helps mentor high school students and inspires them to pursue careers in design and construction. More than 25 high school students from all around Birmingham attended the meeting, where Kathryn told them about the ACFA scholarship for collegiate architecture students. The students split into groups to start their final projects – design and construction of a working trebuchet! Thanks so much to ACE for allowing us to host. To get involved in ACE, email Cale Smith at 
Ward Scott Architecture, a full service architectural firm located in Tuscaloosa is pleased to announce promotions for three leadership positions:
Ask an Architect – For Sponsors!
