By Brian Cavanaugh AIA MAIBC NCARB, Architecture Building Culture, 1% Design Advocate

The 1% Design Advocates are representatives from firms across the country that are helping to build architecture’s commitment to public service by sharing their pro bono experience as well as the benefits and resources available to design professionals, and the nonprofits they serve. They do this by hosting outreach events, such as brown bag office lunches, walking tours of projects, or panel discussions to demonstrate the potential for pro bono design to improve communities.

Portland, Oro. based Design Advocates Architecture Building Culture recently held an exhibition, “The 1%: Design for the Public Good,” and reception at ADX to spark local interest in The 1%.

The architectural exhibit, which ran from October 20 to 23, 2011, featured a wide range of work, 23 projects in all, from Pacific Northwest architecture firms including Seattle area offices CAST Architecture, Grouparchitect, The Miller Hull Partnership, ORB Architects, Perkins + Will, Schemata Workshop, VIA Architecture, Workshop for Architecture|Design, and WPA, and Portland area offices Architecture Building Culture, SERA Architects, Lorraine Guthrie Architect, Scott|Edwards Architecture and Yost Grube Hall Architecture.

The unique collection of projects offered the public an inspiring look at the work being done through The 1% program. Most notably, the exhibition featured an incredible diversity of projects. On display was everything from a concept design for a community health clinic in Afghanistan, a park in Seattle, the design for an underutilized tenant space for a Portland, Oro. based bicycle advocacy group, and a master plan and concept design for a collection of 200sf prefabricated animal shelters for a nonprofit located in Redmond, Wash.

The opening reception was marked by a presentation from The 1% Program Manager at Public Architecture, Amy Ress, as well as a presentation of the p:ear project by SERA Architects. Suzanne Blair from SERA Architects and Beth Burns, p:ear’s Executive Director, presented an insightful and compelling case study of the project and its impact on the organization. It was a rare opportunity to learn about how firms manage pro bono work within their practices, the client/architect experience and expectations within the context of pro bono projects, and measures of accomplishment.

The success of the event was due in no small part to our sponsors, ACE Hotel, ADX, AIA Portland, Precision Images, and Hopworks Urban Brewery. We would also like to thank Monograph Bookwerks for setting up shop at the opening night reception and making the book, The Power of Pro Bono available for purchase.