Center for Architecture and Design

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Coordinates: 39°57′14″N 75°09′37″W / 39.9538°N 75.1604°W / 39.9538; -75.1604
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Center for Architecture and Design
Founded2002 (2002)
Type501(c)(3) charitable organization
Location
Area served
Greater Philadelphia
Websitehttp://philadelphiacfa.org/
The AIA Bookstore at the Center
1218 Arch Street, Philadelphia

The Center for Architecture and Design is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Center produces educational programs related to the topics of architecture, urban planning, and design, including talks, workshops, festivals, design competitions, and exhibitions. Their venue at 1218 Arch Street serves as a public forum as well as a home for the offices of the Center, for AIA Philadelphia, and for the Community Design Collaborative. The organization was founded in 2002 by the Philadelphia chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA).[1]

History[edit]

AIA Philadelphia is the second oldest AIA chapter after New York, having received its charter in 1869. The Chapter is a registered nonprofit with IRS 501(c)(6) status, designating it as a professional membership organization. The Chapter includes members from Philadelphia, Delaware, Chester and Montgomery Counties in southeast Pennsylvania.[2] AIA Philadelphia has a history of community engagement, including helping to create Independence National Historical Park [1948],[3] the Community Design Collaborative [1991],[4] the Charter High School for Architecture + Design [1999],[5] and the Center for Architecture and Design [2002].[1]

During John Claypool's tenure as executive director of AIA Philadelphia [2001-2014], the Center was established as a separate organization with IRS 501(c)(3) status, designating it as an educational non-profit. Its purpose was to support charitable and educational initiatives to benefit the community at large, on behalf of the architectural profession.[1] In its early years, it produced educational and fundraising programs to support that mission, most notably the annual Louis I. Kahn Memorial Award + Talk, which brings a famous architect to speak in Philadelphia while raising funds to support the Charter High School for Architecture and Design.[6]

The Center purchased and renovated a physical space on the ground floor of the Smyth Young Field Company Building in 2008.[7] The building, at 1218 Arch Street, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[8] Once its new home opened in May 2008 with a full-time staff member, the Center expanded its offerings to include walking tours, speaker series, workshops, film screenings, design competitions, exhibitions, children's programs, and a gift shop. The gift shop, the already established AIA Bookstore founded in 1976 by AIA Philadelphia,[9] moved into the Center from its Rittenhouse Square location upon the Center's 2008 opening.[10]

In 2013, the Center acquired the DesignPhiladelphia festival, which had been founded independently in 2005.[11] In 2016, to better reflect its now expanded programmatic focus, the Center changed its name from the Philadelphia Center for Architecture to the Center for Architecture and Design, along with a rebranding initiative.[12] At the same time, their facilities were renovated to allow further expansion of their programs and exhibitions.[13] In 2018 the walking tour program, which launched when the Center opened in 2008, was transferred to the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia.[14] Also in 2018, the AIA Bookstore, formerly located at the front of the Center, closed permanently.[15]

Programs[edit]

The Center produces a variety of annual and ongoing programs for the general public on the topics of architecture, urban planning, and design,[16] including:

  • Architecture in Education, an in-class program which introduces public school students to architecture and design (year-round)[17]
  • Better Philadelphia Challenge, an international urban design competition for university students (annually in autumn)[18]
  • Building Philadelphia: Architecture, History, + Politics, 10-part speaker series (annually in winter)[19]
  • CreativeMornings PHL, a monthly speaker series on creativity (year-round)[20][21]
  • DesignPhiladelphia, the oldest festival of its kind in the United States (annually in October)[22][23][24]
  • Edmund N. Bacon Memorial Awards + Talk, honoring an accomplished urban planner (annually in winter)[25][26]
  • Louis I. Kahn Memorial Award + Talk, honoring and accomplished architect (annually in spring)[6]
  • Park(ing) Day PHL, a one-day festival in which on-street parking spots become mini public parks (3rd Friday each September)[27][28]
  • Read + Make and Design + Build, hands-on workshops to introduce families to architecture and design (year-round)[29]
  • Spooktacular, a Halloween experience for families produced by young architects and students from the Charter High School for Architecture + Design (annually in October)[30]

The Center's largest signature event, DesignPhiladelphia, was founded independently by Hilary Jay in 2005. She was inspired by one of the first design festivals, in London.[23] The DesignPhiladelphia festival moved with Jay: from its founding at the Design Center of Philadelphia University in 2005, to the University of the Arts in 2010, and finally to the Center for Architecture and Design in 2013, where it remains today.[31][32]

External videos
video icon “Constructing Play: Classic Building Toys”, Philadelphia Center for Architecture
video icon “A Decade of DesignPhiladelphia”, Philadelphia Center for Architecture

Exhibitions[edit]

The Center hosts recurring and special exhibitions,[16] including:

  • CANstruction PHL food can sculpture competition and food drive (annually in spring)[33]
  • Constructing Play: Classic + Modern Building Toys (annually in winter)[34][35]
  • Degrees of Design: Student Work from Local Architecture + Design Schools (annually in spring)[36][37]
  • On The Rise: Emerging Firms + Young Architects (annually in winter)[38][39]

Organizations housed in the Center[edit]

  • Center for Architecture and Design
  • Philadelphia Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA Philadelphia)
  • Community Design Collaborative

[1]

Leadership[edit]

Rebecca Johnson has served as executive director for both the Center and AIA Philadelphia since 2014.[40][41] John Claypool previously served in this role from 2001 to 2014.

Hilary Jay became the first director of the Center in June 2013,[31] serving in that role until May 2015.[32][42]

David Bender was hired as the first full-time employee of the Center in May 2008 and has served as associate director since January 2014.[43]

Administration[edit]

Under the original 2002 bylaws, the AIA Philadelphia board held the authority to annually appoint the entire Center board. In 2016 the Chapter and Center boards each drafted updated bylaws to allow more independence for the Center while maintaining coordination between the two organizations. Under the new bylaws, the Chapter is authorized to appoint five of the Center's twenty five board members.[44]

While both organizations' missions are focused on the built environment in Philadelphia, the Center's mission "to engage and educate the public about the importance of architecture and design to the quality of their lives"[1] is distinct from AIA Philadelphia's mission to provide local architects with "opportunities for professional development, service, and collegiality among peers".[2]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e "About the Center for Architecture". Center for Architecture and Design. Retrieved 2019-01-03.
  2. ^ a b "About AIA Philadelphia". AIA Philadelphia. Retrieved 2019-01-03.
  3. ^ "History | 1950 - 1969". AIA Philadelphia. Retrieved 2019-01-03.
  4. ^ "History". Community Design Collaborative. Retrieved 2019-01-03.
  5. ^ "About CHAD". Charter High School for Architecture + Design. Retrieved 2019-01-03.
  6. ^ a b "Louis I. Kahn Memorial Award + Talk". Center for Architecture and Design. Retrieved 2019-01-03.
  7. ^ "Congratulations on your new home: The Center for Architecture". AIA Philadelphia. Retrieved 2019-01-03.
  8. ^ McVarish, Douglas C. (1992). "Young, Smyth, Field Company Building" (PDF). Pennsylvania CGRIS. Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. Retrieved 2019-01-03.
  9. ^ "History: 1970 - 1989". AIA Philadelphia. Retrieved 2019-01-03.
  10. ^ "AIA Philly Opens a Center for Architecture". Architectural Record. Retrieved 2019-01-03.
  11. ^ "Hilary Jay Named Director of Philadelphia Center for Architecture". Center for Architecture and Design. Retrieved 2019-01-03.
  12. ^ "Looking Back | Pushing Forward: Inside the Exhibit Design Process". Center for Architecture and Design. Retrieved 2019-01-03.
  13. ^ "Center Closed for Renovations". Center for Architecture and Design. Retrieved 2019-01-03.
  14. ^ "Architecture Tours". Center for Architecture and Design. Retrieved 2019-01-03.
  15. ^ "With Love, From the AIA Philadelphia Bookstore". AIA Philadelphia. Retrieved 2019-01-03.
  16. ^ a b "Programs + Exhibitions". Center for Architecture and Design. Retrieved 2019-01-03.
  17. ^ "Architecture in Education (AIE)". Center for Architecture and Design. Retrieved 2019-01-03.
  18. ^ "Better Philadelphia Challenge". Philadelphia Center for Architecture. Retrieved 2019-01-03.
  19. ^ "Building Philadelphia: Architecture, History, + Politics". Center for Architecture and Design. Retrieved 2019-01-03.
  20. ^ "CreativeMornings PHL". Center for Architecture and Design. Retrieved 2019-01-03.
  21. ^ "CreativeMornings/Philadelphia". CreativeMornings. Retrieved 2019-01-03.
  22. ^ "DesignPhiladelphia Festival". Center for Architecture and Design. Retrieved 2019-01-03.
  23. ^ a b "About DesignPhiladelphia". DesignPhiladelphia. Retrieved 2019-01-03.
  24. ^ Gorshin, Maria (October 10, 2014). "A Decade In, Reflecting On DesignPhiladelphia". Hidden City Philadelphia. Retrieved 2019-01-03.
  25. ^ "Edmund N. Bacon Memorial Awards + Talk". Center for Architecture and Design. Retrieved 2019-01-03.
  26. ^ "Ed Bacon: Iconic Urbanist Now Inspiring Farms". NextCity. Retrieved 2019-01-03.
  27. ^ "PARK(ing) Day PHL". Center for Architecture and Design. Retrieved 2019-01-03.
  28. ^ "About Park(ing) Day". Park(ing) Day PHL. Archived from the original on 2017-06-19. Retrieved 2019-01-03.
  29. ^ "Design Workshops for Families". Center for Architecture and Design. Retrieved 2019-01-03.
  30. ^ "Spooktacular". Center for Architecture and Design. Retrieved 2019-01-03.
  31. ^ a b "Center for Architecture Names Hilary Jay Director". AIA Philadelphia News. 12 June 2013. Retrieved 2019-01-03.
  32. ^ a b "Center for Architecture's Jay steps down, DesignPhiladelphia goes on". The Philadelphia Inquirer. May 22, 2015. Retrieved 2019-01-03.
  33. ^ "CANstruction PHL". Center for Architecture and Design. Retrieved 2019-01-03.
  34. ^ "Constructing Play". Center for Architecture and Design. Retrieved 2019-01-03.
  35. ^ "Philadelphia Center for Architecture Launching Free Exhibit Full of LEGO, K'NEX, & OMG Why Aren't We There Right Now?!". Geekadelphia. November 20, 2014. Retrieved 2019-01-03.
  36. ^ "Degrees of Design exhibition". Center for Architecture and Design. Retrieved 2019-01-03.
  37. ^ "Degrees of Design: An Annual Exhibition of Student Work from Philadelphia's Architecture + Design Schools". Global Philadelphia. Retrieved 2019-01-03.
  38. ^ "On The Rise: Emerging Firms + Young Architects". Center for Architecture and Design. Retrieved 2019-01-03.
  39. ^ Maule, Bradley (March 15, 2013). "Young Philadelphia Architects Take Center Stage". Hidden City Philadelphia. Retrieved 2019-01-03.
  40. ^ Massie, Caroline (June 18, 2014). "Rebecca Johnson Named Executive Director of AIA Philadelphia and Philadelphia Center for Architecture". Architect Magazine. Retrieved 2019-01-03.
  41. ^ "Rebecca Johnson Named Executive Director of AIA Philadelphia and Philadelphia Center for Architecture". AIA Philadelphia News. 17 June 2014. Retrieved 2019-01-03.
  42. ^ "Hilary Jay: After 10 years with DesignPhiladelphia, time for reinvention". 2015-06-01. Archived from the original on 2015-06-01. Retrieved 2019-01-03.
  43. ^ "Staff and Board". Center for Architecture and Design. Retrieved 2019-01-03.
  44. ^ "Center for Architecture Bylaws" (PDF). www.philadelphiacfa.org. Retrieved 2019-01-03.

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Philadelphia Center for Architecture.

39°57′14″N 75°09′37″W / 39.9538°N 75.1604°W / 39.9538; -75.1604

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