 May 2008 
Dear Friends of Public Architecture:
In the six years that Public Architecture has been around, we have sought to leverage design to serve the public good. While we have taken on various initiatives to accomplish this, we have consistently placed considerable focus on transforming the architectural profession itself. It is that focus that makes recent recognitions and actions particularly significant.
This past month, we received two commendations from the AIA San Francisco chapter in recognition of the change we are bringing about in architecture. The first was a Special Achievement Award for the organization for The 1% program. On behalf of everyone here and our program partners, we appreciate receiving this honor for our three-year old program.
Additionally, the AIA San Francisco also recognized one of our design campaigns, presenting a Citation Award in the Unbuilt Category for the Day Labor Station. The award is a great validation of the campaign, and we are grateful to all the partners who helped us accomplish this feat.
At a national level, John Cary, our Executive Director currently on leave in Rome, will receive one of the AIA Associates Awards at this year’s AIA National Convention in Boston. As the Public Architecture staff member with the longest tenure, John has been instrumental in our vision, growth, and execution, and we send him our congratulations.
Finally, we find two events heartening to our work. Last month, the eighth annual Structures for Inclusion Conference was held at the Harvard Graduate School of Design (GSD) under the banner of “Systems for Inclusion.” A leading forum in showcasing an expanded role for designers to reach out and serve a diverse clientele, we are encouraged to see the GSD community embrace the issues surrounding this conference and hope that prominent institutions follow suit. Also noteworthy, is this year’s AIA National Convention, which is under the theme “We Are the People.” Looking to address the “power of architecture on behalf of all people,” it presents an important mainstream professional forum to engage several issues close to the heart of Public Architecture’s mission.
Change is happening, but there is still much to do. We hope that you will join us as we continue to forge ahead and thank you for all of your support that has helped us along the way.
John Peterson
Founder & Chair
Contents:
1. The 1% Program Reaches 100,000 Milestone
2. Day Labor Station wins 2008 AIASF Design Award
3. Public Architecture at the AIA National Convention
4. Recent Press
5. Upcoming Presentations and Participation
6. 10 Ways you can contribute to Public Architecture
1. The 1% Program Reaches 100,000 Milestone
 This month marks another significant milestone in The 1% program with over 100,000 hours pledged annually toward pro bono work (100,813 at the time of this writing). That’s an estimated $10,000,000 in contributions annually to the public good, pro bono. It seems as though word of mouth, recent presentations, and online searches continue to grow our program nationally.
In preparation for the future of The 1% program, the staff at Public Architecture is doing our best to understand what we can do to support current 1% firm and nonprofit participants. Our first annual survey on the matching program directed at our nonprofit participants will go out later this week, and we are currently taking information from the first annual matching survey for firms, and making updates to the online matching process. Stay tuned for more information.
There’s nothing better than hearing what our participating firms are up to. Starting this month we will be reaching out individually to firms regarding The 1% program and their online profile to help support and promote the good work being done by all of our 1% participants. If your firm has a project they would like featured in the project gallery, please do not hesitate to contact Evelyn, the program manager at evelyn@publicarchitecture.org.
2. Day Labor Station Wins 2008 AIASF Design Award
 This past month, the Day Labor Station continued to demonstrate its ability to be a vehicle for social change and a significant contribution to the design world.
As part of the Day Labor Station design campaign, we continue to seek out partnerships with other organizations actively working within the day labor community. One such group is Catholic Charities. The organization is the largest private network of social service organizations in the US, and through its agencies and affiliates, works to support families, reduce poverty, and build communities. The organization is also an important voice for immigration rights, with numerous services offered at the local level and important advocacy work at the national level. This month, the organization’s national publication, Catholic Charities USA, features an article written by Design Campaign Manager Liz Ogbu, promoting the Day Labor Station and its potential to positively impact the debate about day laborers and their role in the fabric of the community. To read the article, click HERE.
Several weeks ago, the Station was honored by the AIA San Francisco (AIASF) with a Citation Award in the Unbuilt Design category. Awarded alongside several high caliber projects, this recognition is yet another example that “just” design and “quality” design are not mutually exclusive. An exhibition featuring all the winners of this year’s AIASF Design Awards will be on view at the AIASF gallery space throughout the month of May. More information can be found through the AIASF.
We are working hard to move this campaign into the “built” category. A few key initiatives are in the works with several of our current partners, but we continue to look for new partnerships to help make this happen. If you would like to join this effort, let us know. Contact Liz, the campaign manager, at liz@publicarchitecture.org.
3. Public Architecture at the AIA National Convention
 Our small staff at Public Architecture will be on site in mass during the AIA National Convention: “We the People” in Boston next week both presenting and celebrating. Keep an open eye for John Peterson, John Cary, Liz Ogbu, and Evelyn Lee wandering the convention halls and the expo floors.
Additionally, Liz Ogbu will be participating as participating on a panel entitled “Leadership Through Pro Bono Community Service: Architects in Service to Society.” The panel, which is cosponsored by the AIA Committee on Leadership Education and the National Associates Committee, will also feature Brandy Brooks, Executive Director of Boston’s Community Design Resource Center, one of our 1% partners. The panel will take place on Thursday, May 15th, from 4 to 5:30pm. Refer to the final convention program for location details.
Also occurring at the same time, Public Architecture resident and well decorated architecture advocate, John Cary will be among the first recipients of the newly elevated Associates Award at the annual institute Honors and Awards ceremony. Currently on 6 month leave in Rome, John will be making the trip stateside for the ceremony. If you are in attendance, please feel free to join in on our celebration in the General Session hall Thursday, May 15th, from 4 to 5:30pm.
4. Recent Press
The work of Public Architecture continues to garner press coverage, helping to promote our design campaigns, The 1% program, and the issues we support.
"Public Architecture's Day Labor Station: Dignifying an Honest Day's Work" [Read]
Catolic Charities USA Magazine, Spring 2008
"Sustainability Grows Up" [Read]
Steelcase 360, April 2008
"The 1% Solution Program Passes 300 Firm Mark" [Read]
Institute of Management and Administration, April 2008
"Architects Work for Seattle’s Homeless" [Read]
Real Change News, April, 2, 2008
5. Upcoming Presentations and Participation
Center for Architecture, AIA NY | New York, NY | May 12, 2008
Lecturer
AIA National Convention | Boston, MA | May 15-17, 2008
Invited panelist
Sarasota Design Conference | Sarasota, FL | June 5-7, 2008
Keynote Speaker
 6. 10 Ways you can contribute to Public Architecture
Click here for 10 ways to contribute to our work.
Established in 2002, Public Architecture identifies and solves practical problems of human interaction in the built environment and acts as a catalyst for public discourse through education, advocacy, and the design of public spaces and amenities. Visit www.publicarchitecture.org for more information.
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