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!

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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

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!