The ACFA's Mid-Year Newsletter — Alabama Center for Architecture

Let’s take a look back at all the ACFA has Accomplished!

2024 has been an incredibly eventful and successful year for the ACFA, filled with non-stop activities and fundraising efforts. As we reach the mid-year mark, we wanted to take a moment to celebrate the remarkable accomplishments our members have achieved.

The Alabama Center for Architecture (ACFA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the appreciation of architecture and design through engagement, education, and collaboration. This year, thanks to the unwavering support and commitment of our members and sponsors, the ACFA has already raised more than $4,500 for scholarships and awarded more than $10,000 in scholarship opportunities to eight deserving students.

These accomplishments wouldn’t have been possible without the dedication of every one of our members and sponsors. Your active participation in our events, including our annual Clay Shoot and the upcoming Golf Tournament, directly contributes to the success of our scholarship program. Additionally, this year’s Posters, Pints & Pies show raised more than $4,500 to support dreamARCHITECTURE—a program designed to introduce elementary students to the world of architecture and inspire them to learn more about what architects do.

We want each of you to take a moment to reflect on how your volunteering, sponsoring, donations, and ongoing efforts have positively impacted students across the state. Your hard work has made a tangible difference, and we are incredibly grateful for your contributions. Thank you for making 2024 a year to remember!

A Special Thanks to our 2024 Board Directors & Members!

7th Annual Posters, Pints & Pies

The Committee

Cliff May, Jonathan Argo, Marcial Mendez, Patrick Nelson, Bill Allen, and Robert Bruner

The 7th Annual Posters, Pints & Pies event successfully raised more than $4,500 to support the ACFA’s dreamARCHITECTURE program. These funds play a crucial role in covering program expenses, including prizes, a teacher workshop, art supplies for underfunded schools, and an in-person awards ceremony for the participants. The event, which has become a significant occasion for the ACFA, brings together music enthusiasts and ACFA members in support of dreamARCHITECTURE. This achievement was made possible through ticket sales, silent auction items, and raffle tickets.

4th Annual Sporting Clay Tournament

The Committee

Les Tillery, Barrett Penney, and Stuart O’Dell

The 4th Annual Sporting Clay Tournament took place this year in Athens, Alabama, with 16 teams competing. First place was claimed by the Alabama Concrete Industries Association. Through this event, the ACFA raised over $4,500 for student scholarships, with funds generated from team registrations, a raffle, Station Sponsors, and the purchase of a perfect score station. This tournament not only provides a fun and engaging way to raise money but also offers an excellent opportunity for our North Alabama members to network and connect.

Building With Bricks

The ACFA and the Structural Engineers Association of Alabama once again partnered to host Building with Bricks, a spring break activity designed to engage Alabama students in a fun and educational experience. Local architects and LEGO enthusiasts generously donated their intricate builds for display, inspiring students to create structures capable of withstanding our seismic shake table. Building with Bricks not only offers a creative outlet for students during spring break but also provides a unique opportunity for one-on-one learning. Architects and structural engineers work directly with young participants, teaching them the importance of design, a strong structural foundation, and introducing them to the fascinating world of built environments.

dreamARCHITECTURE: Draw your Dream PARK!

dreamARCHITECTURE is a community outreach project sponsored by the Alabama Center for Architecture. Open to elementary school children in the Birmingham, Huntsville, and Mobile area, the competition stimulates children to think about architecture and their built environment.

For 28 years, students have been imagining and drawing their dream factories, parks, houses, cities, and more while gaining insights into architectural design. Over time, the program has expanded from just Birmingham to include dreamARCHITECTURE in Huntsville, and Mobile. This year, in collaboration with ASLA Alabama, the theme was "Draw Your Dream Park!" We want to take a moment to recognize and thank the architects in each city who contribute to every aspect of dreamARCHITECTURE, from leading teacher workshops to serving on the jury. Your hard work and dedication are truly appreciated!

dreamARCHITECTURE Teacher Workshop

Adrienne Retief, AIA, hosted a workshop for teachers across Alabama, where she shared her expertise on the roles of architects and landscape architects, along with the requirements of the profession. During the workshop, Adrienne covered topics such as iconic architects and buildings, the path to becoming an architect, and key goals for teachers to emphasize as they guide students participating in *dreamARCHITECTURE*.

The Jury

Each dreamARCHITECTURE jury is comprised of architecture firms from their local city. Each firm is assigned a different grade level to judge, selecting winners based on architectural merit. Once the grade-level winners are chosen, another firm reviews all the entries to select the overall winners. This process ensures that winners are recognized not only for their creativity but also for their ability to think and perceive the world like an architect.

Birmingham, AL - 1132 Entries

The Committee

Bruce Lanier, AIA, Alicia Pughley, AIA, Corey Sosebee, ACIP, and Rebecca Whitlow, AIA

Huntsville, AL- 455 Entries

The Committee
Karin Bell, AIA, Sheree Holland, Assoc. AIA, Sami Rambo, Lauren Sanford, Assoc. AIA, and Les Tillery, AIA

Mobile, AL- 513 Entries

The Committee
Jim Bray, Rebecca Bryant, AIA, LEED, Nic Gray, AIA, Christian Preus, ASLA, and Shannon McIntyre, Assoc. AIA

2024 dreamARCHITECTURE Ceremonies

Each dreamARCHITECTURE city hosts an awards ceremony featuring prizes, framed artwork courtesy of Gallery Services, pizza, and CANDY! During the ceremony, students excitedly discover the award their artwork received. As part of the celebration, each student's dream statement, written about their artwork, is read aloud for everyone to hear. These ceremonies provide a wonderful opportunity for the ACFA to celebrate and showcase the creativity of all the students while raising awareness of the world of architecture.

Birmingham, AL- 32 Winners from 9 Schools

Huntsville, AL- 25 Winners from 5 Schools

Mobile, AL- 24 Winners from 16 Schools

Environment: Structure/Sound III

The ACFA partnered with artist Sara Garden Armstrong to host a summer-long art exhibit that explores the intersection of art and sound in the context of healing. The exhibit features sixteen canvas-covered forms arranged in a circle, gradually changing colors as they emit low acoustical murmurs that resonate throughout the space. Visitors experience a 12-minute sound loop designed to promote healing and meditation, creating a serene and immersive environment.

Opening Night

For the opening of Environment: Structure/Sound III, Sara Garden Armstrong created a complementary exhibit displayed at her studio alongside the main structure. Both exhibits were available for the public to view. Additionally, Sara Garden Armstrong produced prints of the structures and sold her books, generously donating 25% of all proceeds to the ACFA. These funds will be used to purchase art supplies for City of Birmingham schools participating in dreamARCHITECTURE.

Summer Visitors

Throughout the summer, the art exhibit attracted a diverse audience, including architects, UPS and USPS workers, Columbia Graduate School architecture students, and meditation groups.

2024 Scholarship Luncheon “Promise Me”

For 17 years, the ACFA has been awarding scholarships to support aspiring architects. This year, eight Alabama students received over $10,000 in scholarship funds to attend accredited architectural schools and pursue their dreams of becoming architects. The ceremony, held at Samford University—where two of the recipients will receive their architectural education—featured Cheryl Morgan, FAIA, as the keynote speaker. She spoke on the goals and responsibilities architects must embrace to create meaningful change and add value to our communities. During the event, Cheryl Morgan, FAIA, also received the AIA Alabama Gold Medal award, making the occasion even more special.

N2 Architecture

The N2 Architecture program is designed for middle school students, providing opportunities for architects to visit schools for career days and other events. Through these interactions, students gain insights from practicing architects, broadening their career horizons and inspiring them to consider architecture as a future profession. This year, the ACFA visited six middle schools to share knowledge about the world of architecture.