March 2009 
 

Dear Friends of Public Architecture:

This past month, Public Architecture saw the highest-ever growth in The 1% program’s firm registration as well as a greater volume of firm-initiated activity in the program’s matching portal. While the current economic climate presents formidable difficulties for the design profession, firms such as JHP Architecture / Urban Design, which registered with a graphic display of their commitment to pro bono design (at right), are rising to the pro bono challenge, seeking opportunities to make a larger impact in these times.

This month, we are pleased to welcome an important new member, Brad Liebin, to our team. Brad comes to Public Architecture with experience including work for the New York City offices of Tina Manis Associates and Field Operations, where he worked on the High Line Park in Manhattan among other projects. An essay written by Brad, on new models of design practice for addressing inequalities in the global built environment, was recently selected for inclusion in the 2009 ‘Unspoken Borders’ Conference at the University of Pennsylvania.

As Project Associate, Brad will be working most directly with Liz Ogbu, our Associate Design Director, to advance the “Act” component of our “Commit. Act. Share.” agenda.

John Peterson
Founder & President

2. Public Architecture Accepting Applications for 2009 Summer Associate

Deadline: Friday, March 27, 2009

Public Architecture seeks candidates for its annual Summer Associate program. The summer associate will join a unique organization composed of top design industry leaders who have chosen to use their skills and passions to serve traditionally overlooked or underserved populations.

Candidates must be current students in a MArch program or in year 4-5 of a BArch program or equivalent. Applications will be accepted until Friday, March 27, 2009.

Click here for the position description and application as well as eligibility details.

3. Material Reuse Survey Reminder

In last month’s newsletter, we mentioned the upcoming launch of a material reuse survey that is part of a USGBC (United States Green Building Council) funded project. The overall project builds on our previous work with ScrapHouse and the TAF Community Learning Center, and the survey seeks to assess existing knowledge regarding deconstruction and material reuse. We also seek to identify barriers that exist to the greater incorporation of material reuse within the building industry.

Many of our newsletter readers will be receiving the online survey in your inbox in the next week or two, and we hope that you will support our work by participating in this important effort. Higher survey participation rates mean more robust data, significantly advancing the overall research project.

Suggestions and questions about the survey and/or research project are welcome. Results from the survey will be featured in an upcoming newsletter. Please email info@publicarchitecture.org with any questions or suggestions.

4. New Pro Bono Action Tank Website & Case Studies

The Pro Bono Action Tank, which was established by Public Architecture’s institutional partner, The Taproot Foundation to support pro bono service by corporations, has launched a new website featuring extensive resources and case studies of successful pro bono endeavors.

Public Architecture is pleased to have contributed case studies of three successful pro bono design projects by members of The 1% program. The case studies chronicle pro bono projects by CAST Architecture, Boor Bridges Architecture and Bartizan Group Architects & Project Managers as well as the impact of their work on nonprofits and communities.

The case studies are but one element of Public Architecture’s “Share.” strategy, which aims to publicize examples of high quality, high impact pro bono and public-interest design. Public Architecture is constantly seeking exemplary projects to serve as case studies and welcomes case study suggestions and resource comments at info@publicarchitecture.org.

Visit www.probonoactiontank.org for more information.

5. Contract Magazine Launches “Inspiration Awards” for Social Responsibility

Deadline: Wednesday, March 4, 2009

More and more, the commercial design community plays a leadership role in furthering global efforts for social responsibility. In response to these accomplishments, and true to its mission of inspiring commercial design solutions, Contract magazine presents its First Annual Inspiration Awards.

Through a holistic view, Contract Inspirations will recognize commitment in the built and unbuilt environments:

--Recognizing social responsibility in commercial interior architecture
--using design and/or design skills to improve the quality of life for those in need, and
--Recognizing cause-related work by the commercial interiors community.

Top honors will each receive a $5,000 grant to the cause that this inspirational work supported.

Click here for more information about Contract Inspirations.

6. Reminder: Register Now for Structures for Inclusion 9

March 20-22, 2009 | Dallas, TX

Registration is now open for the ninth annual Structures for Inclusion (SFI9) conference, presented by Design Corps in conjunction with the buildingcommunityWORKSHOP (bcWORKSHOP) and the architecture schools of Texas. Addressing the theme "GENERATE.ACTIVATE.MAINTAIN," this year’s SFI explores the process of community-based practice, and, ultimately, how designers can insert themselves into the cycle of thought and action.

From its inception in 2000, the dual mission of SFI has consistently been to showcase design efforts that reach out to and serve a diverse clientele and to provide information on alternative career paths available to students and young designers. Public Architecture, in association with Urban Ecology, was proud to host SFI6 in 2006, and remains an annual supporter of this important gathering.

Visit www.structuresforinclusion.org for more information about SFI9.

7. Upcoming Presentations & Participation

University of Miami | Miami, FL | March 5-7, 2009
Keynote speaker, AIA National "Redefining the Architect's Role" conference

DePaul University | Chicago, IL | March 18-19, 2009
Invited panelist, Converge: Exchange Symposium

Steelcase | Chicago, IL | March 19, 2009
Invited respondent, “Expanding Architecture: Conversations on Design as Activism”

Structures for Inclusion 9 | Dallas, TX | March 20-22, 2009
Invited moderator

Humanscale | San Francisco, CA | April 30, 2009
Invited speaker, Design Smart Showroom Seminar Series

AIA National Convention | San Francisco, CA | April 30-May 2, 2009
Invited panelist, "Architecture for Social Responsibility" (F56)
Invited panelist, "The Power of Pro Bono in Practice" (S31)

Click here for a complete list of upcoming and past Public Architecture presentations.