A Message from our President

Hello Everyone,

Despite our diverse backgrounds, life stories, and professional experiences, we in the design community have a distinct thing in common: we have never been through anything remotely like what this pandemic has brought to bear on us. From learning to work from home, then back to the office, then back to home again; From mask up, to unmask, to mask up again; From get a shot, to don’t get a shot, to get a booster; From learning to navigate Zoom, then back to live meetings, now back to Zoom again….We have all been facing strange and stressful choices, and we are left staring down an uncertain path.

The resulting social and professional pressures have had a dramatic effect on Non Profits across the board. The ACFA is no exception. Our normal fundraising, community outreach, and continuing education programming have been postponed, curtailed, or in some cases, cancelled altogether. Now, just as we seem to be getting back to some degree of normalcy…..here we go again! Throughout it all, Admiral Rhea and crew of Katie and Anna have been working feverishly, reacting, adapting, and planning in order to keep the ship afloat and on course. Despite many obstacles, the ACFA has continued to provide quality programming. There have been several interesting and informative Zoom CEU’s, dreamARCHITECTURE resumed and was a “virtual” success, and we had a really fun sporting clay shoot. Most importantly, despite little fundraising, the ACFA awarded $7,500 in scholarships to deserving students from all around the state of Alabama. Planning for the National Building Museum’s Evicted Exhibit, and the golf tournament are in full swing, so we expect a busy Fall season.

All that being said….we need your help! Please consider joining the ACFA as an individual, as a firm, or help by sponsoring an event. If you are already a member, THANK YOU!!! Help us spread the word about how we are helping promote the profession on a statewide level. Your continuing support is crucial to the future of the ACFA. I hope to see your face (or at least part of it), at an event soon. 🙂

Carey Hollingsworth, 2021 President

25th Anniversary Golf Tournament

Join us October 7, 2021 for the 25th Annual ACFA Golf Tournament, benefitting the ACFA’s educational outreach programs and the ACFA Scholarship Program.

Tournament Schedule:

• 10-11:30 AM: Registration
• 10 AM @ Driving Range: Free Range Balls
• 10:30-12 PM: Boxed Lunches
• 5-7 PM: Awards & Door Prizes

Click here to download a 2021 ACFA Golf Brochure

Interested in playing in the Golf Tournament? Register before Friday, October 1st!

• Team of Four — $580
• Single Player — $150
• All playing spots include: three mulligans per player, green fees, cart with baggage service before play, range balls, and lunch.
• 70% of registration costs are tax-deductible.

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

Click here to register and pay for your team online!

Sponsorship Information:

Interested in Sponsoring the 2021 ACFA Golf Tournament?

• NEW SPONSORSHIPS: Contact anna@karmamanagementinc.com for more information!
  • Gift Sponsor
  • Tent Sponsor
• $450: Music Sponsor
• $500: Hole Sponsor
• $600: Drink Cart Sponsor
• $600: Meal Sponsor
• In-Kind: Prize Sponsor
• Sponsorships are 100% tax deductible.

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

Click here to pay for your sponsorship online!

*1 HSW AVAILABLE!*

Join us for this virtual seminar Thursday September 30, 2021 from 12:00 – 1:00 PM via Zoom! David A Northern, Sr., President/CEO of the Housing Authority of the Birmingham District will present the work of his organization. The Housing Authority of the Birmingham District (HABD) provides housing opportunities and assistance for up to 23,000 people through it’s combined programs throughout Jefferson County. HABD is a mission driven agency that strives to be the leader in making affordable, safe, decent, and sanitary housing available for low-and-moderate-income families and individuals.

Register here!

N2 ARCHITECTURE!

N2 ARCHITECTURE! brings local practicing architects to your intermediate, middle, or high school to present a 30-45 minute PowerPoint presentation designed to educate students about the built environment and the architectural profession. This program is offered at no cost to the school.

The presentation includes:

• An overview of building and design
• Architecture through history and around the world
• The daily life of an architect
• The impact of Architecture on our lives, communities, & environment

Please reach out to Anna Ortiz at anna@karmamanagementinc.com if you are interested in getting involved.

Click here to download a presentation request form!

National Building Museum’s Evicted Exhibit

The National Building Museum’s exhibition Evicted is traveling to Birmingham, AL from October 21 to December 30, 2021 at the Birmingham Public Library’s Central Location (2100 Park Place, 35203).

Click here to learn more about sponsoring the exhibit

Facing the Housing Crisis in Sweet Home Alabama

The ACFA is curating a companion piece to the Evicted exhibit focused on eviction, housing, and poverty in Alabama and its four largest metropolitan areas: Birmingham, Montgomery, Huntsville, and Mobile. This companion exhibit will visualize the state of housing and poverty over time in these communities and highlight organizations working to improve housing for families across the state.

dreamARCHITECTURE 2022: Draw Your DREAM HOSPITAL!

Made Possible by:

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 wildly 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 and Mobile areas.

Get your firm involved! See below for more information:

• Birmingham Sponsorship Form
• Mobile Sponsorship Form
• Huntsville Sponsorship Form

Click here for more information on participating in our program!

Join us as we explore the state of Alabama with our Map of Design!

Map of Design celebrates the design achievements of our region that raise our aspirations. The selections emphasize various types of design creations, including works by urban planners, landscape architects, local craftspeople and builders. Selections emphasize a collective sense of place created in cities and towns, and in structures designed by individual architects.

Spanning the entire period of human settlement in Alabama, the list contributes a strong historical dimension to understanding the vast power of our shared architectural culture. The series will provide a forum for professional and citizen dialogue about the importance of quality design, beautiful public spaces, good civic architecture, and sustainable family-friendly communities.

Map of Design will continue to honor the ACFA mission statement, advancing the enjoyment of architecture and design through engagement, education and collaboration.

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!