 April 2007
Dear Friend of Public Architecture:
We would like to express our deep gratitude to Ryan Associates and the many other partners that are helping to make our Day Labor Station project a reality. Special thanks as well to those of you who have responded to our recent and ongoing appeal for donations. Because of your outpouring of support, we will be launching a dedicated website in the coming weeks to document this important project.
We also look forward to unveiling a full-scale section of the Day Labor Station and other materials at the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum in New York, as part of the "Design for the Other 90%" exhibition, which opens May 4. The title of the exhibition alone speaks to our vision for Public Architecture, and the recognition of a group like day laborers as worthy clients.
John Peterson Founder & Chair
Contents:
1. 1% Solution Welcomes Nine New Firm Pledges 2. People and Thinking Behind the Pledges 3. Open Architecture Network 4. ScrapHouse Documentary Screenings 5. Upcoming Public Architecture Presentations 6. Public Architecture Seeks Model Maker and Flash Animator 7. What You Can Do to Support Public Architecture
1. 1% Solution Welcomes Nine New Firm Pledges
Since our March 5 newsletter, Public Architecture has welcomed nine new firms to our 1% Solution program, bringing to 134 the total number of firms signed on to date. Among the new nine are our first graphic design firm, second structural engineering firm, and fourth consulting firm. Breuker Design, LLC (Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA)
Brown & Keener Bressi (Philadelphia, PA)
CitiZen Design Group (San Diego, CA)
Columbia Associates Architecture & Interior Design Inc. (Columbia, MO)
Fougeron Architecture (San Francisco, CA)
JB|RS Architecture Design Planning (Athens, GA)
Kellogg Consulting (Berkeley, CA)
MendeDesign (San Francisco, CA)
Peter A Opsahl Structural Engineering (Seattle, WA) Visit www.theonepercent.org/pledge to pledge your firm's 1% today.
2. People and Thinking Behind the Pledges
"We have given of our time in the past simply where and when we see a need. We try and donate our time at least once a year. We have been quite active in particular with the Nicole Brown Charitable Foundation in designing shelters for survivors of domestic abuse. Most recently we helped with a preliminary design for a small gay and lesbian community center...This is exactly what we see as the most vital use of our time. As a fairly new design collaborative, I hope we can learn from you and others and continue to give back in meaningful ways." --Jimmy Sullivan, CitiZen Design Group (San Diego, CA)
"We have been providing pro bono work to churchs and other nonprofit entities in our area since 1984. Last year we provided over almost $100,000 of architectural services for the betterment of the mid Missouri area. Giving to others is one sign of our firm's dedication to making the world a better place through design." --Kathy Miller, Columbia Associates (Columbia, MO)
"We do a great deal of pro bono work. We work with a number of nonprofits clients who need design services. Each pro bono job is individually negotiated." --Andy Clark, Fougeron Architecture (San Francisco, CA)
"We believe in it, and have kept a steady stream of pro bono projects in the office since its inception in 2000." --Jennifer Bloomer, JB|RS Architecture Design Planning (Athens, GA)
"I provide services to causes/organizations that I respect and believe in." --Clark Kellogg, Kellogg Consulting (Berkeley, CA)
"We do not have a written policy, but are interested in doing more pro bono work and would like it to become an official policy in the future." --Beata Bowen, Peter A Opsahl Structural Engineering (Seattle, WA)
"We are thrilled to be able to help our communities with great design. Please call upon us for site/building analysis, project programming, Building design, and construction administration." --Remko Breuker, Breuker Design, LLC (Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA)
3. Open Architecture Network
In early-March, Architecture for Humanity introduced the "Open Architecture Network," an online, open source community broadly focused on innovative and sustainable design. In the open source spirit, people of all persuasions can: share their ideas, designs, and plans; view and review designs posted by others; collaborate with each other, people in other professions and community leaders to address specific design challenges. As of this writing, over 3,500 people have registered as OAN members, posting nearly 300 project profiles.
Architects, designers, engineers and anyone else involved in the building trades are welcome to share their ideas on the network, though it is not just for professionals. Community leaders, nonprofit groups, volunteer organizations, government agencies, technology partners, healthcare workers, educators and others are also invited to collaborate on projects and share their expertise.
Visit www.openarchitecturenetwork.org for more information.
4. ScrapHouse Documentary Screenings
There will be two public screenings of the "ScrapHouse" documentary this month, the first taking place in Tampa, Fla., on April 11, and the second on April 23 at the National Building Museum in Washington, DC. "ScrapHouse" (46 min., 2006) documents the nearly impossible challenge of constructing a house using only scrap and salvaged materials. Led by Public Architecture, a team of architects, artists, contractors, city officials, and engineers had one month to build this extraordinary temporary demonstration home in front of the San Francisco City Hall. The process became the subject of a National Geographic Channel documentary.
Following the National Building Museum screening on April 23, there will be a discussion with Public Architecture's founder, John Peterson; San Francisco's Chief Building Inspector, Laurence Kornfield; and Emmy award-winning filmmaker, Anna Fitch, who conceived of the ScrapHouse project. The screening is being held in conjunction with the exhibition "The Green House," which will be open for viewing.
Visit www.scraphouse.org for more information on ScrapHouse.
5. Upcoming Public Architecture Presentations April 4-5, 2007 Residential Design Show (Boston, MA) Session host
April 5, 2007 AIA Kansas City (Kansas City, MO) Invited speaker
April 11, 2007 AIA Tampa (Tampa, FL) ScrapHouse documentary screening and respondent
April 13-15, 2007 Structures for Inclusion 7 (Charlotte, NC) [Register] Sponsor and past host
April 23, 2007 National Building Museum (Washington, DC) [Register] ScrapHouse documentary screening and panel discussion
April 24-25, 2007 Perkins+Will (New Orleans, LA) Panelist, Annual Partners' Retreat
May 4-September 23, 2007 Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum (New York, NY) Participant, "Design for the Other 90%" Exhibition
May 3-5, 2007 AIA National Convention (San Antonio, TX) Panelist, "Social Justice & Sustainability" Recipient, 2007 AIA Honor Award for Collaborative Achievement Click here for a complete list of presentations for Spring 2007.
6. Public Architecture Seeks Model Maker and Flash Animator
Public Architecture is seeking volunteer services of a skilled physical model-maker as well as someone familiar with Flash animations to assist with our Day Labor Station project and upcoming website. The volunteers would work closely with Public Architecture staff.
Contact liz@publicarchitecture.org for more information.
7. What You Can Do to Support 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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