1st Quarter Update

Happy Spring All,

A big thank you to all who made the Evicted exhibit a reality; from financial support to the volunteers who installed and built the Evicted exhibit houses. It took a village to make it happen and countless volunteer hours.

We still need YOU. As a result of the Evicted exhibit, we have a group of volunteers working on designs for temporary shelter for our Birmingham “street residents” and providing affordable housing barrier information to the city of Birmingham.
And the latest endeavor is creating a statewide coalition to advocate for a Alabama State Low Income Housing Tax Credit. If you are interested in getting involved, we need you.

We are also in desperate need of volunteers for our Building with Bricks exhibit (LEGO). I think the kids will be very disappointed when it is only Anna and I building models with them. They want to meet and build with architects.
One hour of your time is all the kids need.
Click here to volunteer

DreamARCHITECTURE is in full swing now! Read more in the newsletter and get involved. Guns and Fun is around the corner (AKA CLAY SHOOT).

Our goal is to bring back our in-person scholarship luncheon this summer too. Stay tuned for more exciting news.

Thank you to everyone who makes the Alabama Center for Architecture possible.

Peace & Architecture Love,
Rhea Williams, ACFA & AIA Birmingham Executive Director

Evicted Follow-Up

The National Building Museum’s ‘Evicted’ Exhibit left the Birmingham Public Library January 14, 2022 traveling to Wisconsin. After 85 days of being on exhibit, the ACFA is still working hard to improve housing for people in our community.

Evicted Statistics

  • 85 Days on Exhibit
  • 20 Sponsors
  • 13 Partners
  • 21 Volunteers (115 hrs)
  • 22 Statewide Programming Events
  • 31 Avg. Attendees to Companion Lectures
  • Library Gate Count:
    –October 21, 2021 – January 14, 2022 – 54,402

As a result of the ‘Evicted’ Exhibit, and it’s companion, ‘Evicted Alabama’, the Alabama Center for Architecture has partnered with the City of Birmingham and Mayor Woodfin to find out what the barriers are for affordable housing within the Birmingham Metro area. We are reaching out to ULI, Greater Birmingham Association of Homebuilders, and AIA Birmingham for what barriers they have faced for developing and designing affordable housing. The more input we have, the more successful we will be in making housing affordable in Birmingham.

The ACFA was also presented the opportunity to help create shelters for the homeless who will be displaced due to security parameters during the 2022 World Games in Birmingham. After forming a housing committee, volunteers are working hard to design sustainable shelters by mid-July. Members of the team interviewed our street residents to find out their top priority needs for a safe shelter. Others are working on site plans & programming to ensure there is a place for security, food trucks, and resources for all temporary residents. If you would like to get involved or learn more, contact Rhea Williams at rhea@karmamanagementinc.com.

We would like to recognize and thank the following people for their time & commitment to this project:

  • Addie Harchelroad, Chambless King Architects
  • Andrew Bryant, AIA, Design Initiative
  • Anthony Penny, Assoc. AIA, Williams Blackstock Architects
  • Auriell Towner
  • Bruce Lanier, AIA, ArchitectureWorks
  • Carlos Hernandez, AIA, ArchitectureWorks
  • Emily Davis, Urban Studio
  • Jared Fulton, AIA, Chambless King Architects
  • Jeremy Cutts, AIA, Williams Blackstock Architects
  • Myriah Towner
  • Page Ledbetter, InTerra Design
  • Rayven White, Urban Studio
  • Ragan Eaves
  • Suchithra Prabhu, AIA, Williams Blackstock Architects
  • Will Hall, Assoc. AIA, Chambless King Architects

The ‘Evicted Alabama’ companion exhibit will be on display at the Alabama Center for Architecture during the 2022 World Games (July 7 – July 17).

dreamARCHITECTURE 2022

This years theme: Draw Your Dream Hospital!

Our elementary school outreach program, dreamARCHITECTURE, is an annual art competition that encourages K-5 children to think about their built environment. Contest themes vary each year, allowing students to express their creativity through drawing their dream house, zoo, park, and more. This widely successful program sees participation from nearly 2,000 area children in Birmingham each year. In 2015, we expanded our program to serve schools in the Huntsville & Mobile areas.

Interested in sponsoring dreamARCHITECTURE this year? See below for more information!

Birmingham Sponsorship Form
Huntsville Sponsorship Form
Mobile Sponsorship Form

Click here to pay for your sponsorship online!

Checks can be made payable to the Alabama Center for Architecture and mailed to 109 Richard Arrington Jr Blvd. S, Birmingham, AL 35233.

For more information contact anna@karmamanagementinc.com.

“Building with Bricks” LEGO® Exhibit

Join us for our annual “Building with Bricks” exhibit! We invite children and adults alike to come into the ACFA and experience the joys of building and design!

If you’re interested in volunteering, click here to sign up!

For more information on sponsoring the event, click here.

Save the Dates

March Fundraiser – The World Games Compassion Project – 1 HSW
Thursday, March 24, 12:00 – 1:00 PM via Zoom | $10

Register here!

Sporting Clays Tournament

ACFA Scholarship Fundraiser

Thursday, May 19 – Registration deadline May 12!

Fill out a registration form here!

Event Schedule:
8-9 AM- Registration & Safety
9 AM – Noon – Flight A
12-1PM – Lunch & Flight A Awards

Don’t Shoot? Spend the day playing cornhole! $75, includes lunch, networking, and ear plugs.

ACFA Events

This year is already off to a great start! Check out some of the events we’ve hosted in 2022.

Membership

ACFA Members are an important part of what we do. They make our programs possible, and we are so grateful for their support! Please see sidebar for a full list.

Interested in becoming a Member?

Click here to for more information or to join today!