AIA Minnesota — Outreach – Partnership Opportunities

Events for the Public | Grand Plans/Press | Initiatives | For Firms

AIA 150

Events for the Public

Design on a Human Scale
Provide Choices
Encourage Mixed-Use Development
Preserve Urban Centers
Vary Transportation Options
Build Vibrant Public Spaces
Create a Neighborhood Identity
Protect Environmental Resources
Conserve Landscapes
Design Matters

Capitol Exhibit
Building on the ten principles of livable communities, the exhibit at the State Capitol during Architecture Week, presented livability examples through planned and built work statewide. The exhibit of 90 projects exemplified how communities are taking an active role in shaping their future development by employing these principles.

Firm Open Houses
Those who ventured out to firms during Firm Open Houses on Thursday, April 12, got a behind-the-scenes look at what goes on at a firm. Over 45 firms in the metro area as well as Duluth and St. Cloud, opened their doors to showcase their latest projects and provide tours. View a map of the firms that participated.

Stone to Stainless 5K Run
The Saturday, April 14 5K race from the Stone Arch Bridge to the Weisman and back again was a success! One hundred runners and walkers came out on a sunny April afternoon to join us in the race. The group didn't go unnoticed in their AIA red t-shirts and huge red AIA150 balloons along the route. Congratulations to Adam Rickell, a first-place winner with a time of 16.02.

Architecture in the Schools
Over 75 schools across the state signed up to request an architect for their 5th-grade classroom during Architecture in the Schools, May 7-11, 2007. The committee reached the goal of getting 150 architects into these schools and provided the workbook and curriculum for the program.

Grand Plans

AIA Minnesota continues with grand plans to celebrate AIA national's 150 years in 2007. AIA national, founded in 1857, has provided grants to components nationwide to carryout legacy projects that enhance their cities. AIA Minnesota, AIA Minneapolis, AIA Saint Paul and AIA Northern, all received funding for ambitious programs that will tie into community and education efforts and use thousands of architect and citizen volunteer hours to benefit our communities. Read the press release.

During Architecture Week, April 9-14, 2007, AIA Minnesota joined in the AIA national celebration of 150 years, through events and exhibits including a weeklong exhibit at the Capitol of over 90 projects exemplifying livable communities statewide, 45 architecture firm open houses on April 12 from 4:00 - 8:00pm, and a 5K Run on April 14. The events were both educational and celebratory, aiming to create awareness of the role of the architect in our communities. Read the press release.

Architects are getting out there in 2007. We'll be in communities, working with neighborhoods, public officials and students to share all aspects of architecture from the process to the finished product - a livable community. Over the year, we'll be a voice in improving connections between buildings in Minneapolis, planning the future Central Corridor LRT from St. Paul to Minneapolis, and reestablishing connections to the waterways in Duluth.

See below for a summary of events.

Initiatives

AIA Minnesota

AIA150 Minnesota Champion: Ann Voda, AIA, AIA Minnesota, the over-arching umbrella to next year's efforts, will engage public officials, community leaders, citizens of all ages, and architects in the processes that determine the livability of our communities.

The first in a public discussion series on livable communities, Town Hall Forum, took place in September 2006, featuring a presentation by Ben Lee, FAIA, Minnesota mayors and case studies from the Minnesota Design Team. 2007 Town Hall Forum events will present the stories, case studies, and lessons learned from our three components' initiatives.

Livability will also be showcased through events with experts in sustainability on a national scale, including Timothy Beatley's keynote address at the 2006 convention on Green Urbanism. In addition, a traveling display, first presented at the State Capitol, of communities exemplifying the ten principles.

Recognizing the importance of educating our current architects on livability and giving them the tools for effecting change, is met with inspiring new generations of architects in the Architects in the Schools 2007 plan to get 150 local architects in classrooms across the state using an interactive curriculum developed for students at the fifth-grade level.

AIA Minneapolis
AIA150 Minneapolis Champion: Vicki Hooper, AIA

Re-Weaving the Urban Fabric
This initiative, announced in February 2006 in collaboration with Mayor RT Rybak, will build the capacity of communities to engage effectively with the architecture, urban design and development community and reweave the urban fabric of Minneapolis. The Mayor's Great City Design Teams (community charrettes/case studies), Community Toolbox (educational component); and the Existing City Urban Conditions Inventory (inventory component), all work to educate the community on the principles of livable communities and build better connections between the signature buildings that have recently put Minneapolis on the design map. Read more about the charrettes and locations on the Great City Design Teams section of the Minneapolis Chapter Page.

AIA Northern
AIA150 Northern Champion: Tari Rayala, AIA

Re-Establishing Connections
Over the years, communities have developed without a full appreciation for, and at times without conscious regard to, the natural waterways that originate from the Laurentian Divide ending in Lake Superior. Towns naturally located on river systems, utilizing the water as an early means of transportation. As these communities developed, we have experienced a disconnection to our waterways that at times has resulted in a lack of appreciation for, or the proper use of, our creeks, streams and rivers. AIA Northern plans to explore opportunities to enhance existing connections and create new connections between the waterways and our neighborhoods and commercial areas.

AIA Saint Paul
AIA150 Saint Paul Champion: Michael Huber, AIA

Approaching the Central Corridor, Block by Block
In this community service project, architects will engage the public, local government officials, and other professionals in an exploration of the challenges and opportunities surrounding a proposed Light Rail Transit (LRT) project currently in the planning stages in the Twin Cities. Local architects will facilitate a series of design charrettes to study the potential impact of light rail on the neighborhoods along the proposed route and to share how local decisions could maximize the benefit of light rail on their businesses and neighborhoods. Read the release and view the map.

For Firms

Promote the AIA150
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Grand Plans
AIA Minnesota has grand plans to celebrate AIA national's 150 years in 2007. AIA national, founded in 1857, has provided grants to components nationwide to carryout legacy projects that enhance their cities. AIA Minnesota, AIA Minneapolis, AIA Saint Paul and AIA Northern, all received funding for ambitious programs that will tie into community and education efforts and use thousands of architect and citizen volunteer hours to benefit our communities. Learn more at www.aia-mn.org/ext_outreach/partnership/aia-150.cfm.

Outreach » Partnership Opportunities » AIA 150