There is growing recognition of the importance of good design in the region and the important effects of the built environment in society.  This was a record-breaking year for Design Pittsburgh and there is only more to come. Design Pittsburgh Numbers: 470 Attendees (most ever!) 93 Project Submissions 23 Awards Given 4,139 People’s Choice Award Votes (512 more than last year and most ever!) Media Coverage: (We’ll post more here as it is published) Pittsburgh Post-Gazette “Presley’s Place wins People’s Choice Award at architects’ gala” NEXTpittsburgh “Check out the winners of this year’s AIA Design Pittsburgh Awards”

AIA President Bill Bates, FAIA, announces that the organization is launching a comprehensive review of the process used to select its award recipients “to promote the highest professional standards among members and within the profession” at A’19 in Las Vegas. This past June more than 20,000 architects from all over the US and beyond gathered in Las Vegas for A’19, and took a stand for a sustainable future. Architects designing for a better future means taking on the critical challenges facing cities, and our world, today. This was a key message of A’19 as the theme of Blueprint for Better was interwoven throughout the conference. Blueprint for Better, an initiative of AIA National, highlights how architects are working with clients and...

Age 69 (though age never mattered!), Kent Edwards, AIA, of Pittsburgh and Confluence, passed away on July 20, surrounded by his family after a valiant medical struggle.  Kent was born in Sharon, PA, to Reese and Geraldine Edwards, both deceased.   He attended Kent State University, graduating with a double major in Philosophy and Architecture.  After 30 years as an architect in Ohio and Pennsylvania, where he served as President of AIA Pittsburgh, Kent and his wife, Cathy, started a community development consulting firm.  He was also a proud member of Leadership Pittsburgh, Class VII. Kent will be missed terribly by his wife, partner, and great love of 18 years, Cathy McCollom.   He sadly leaves behind his sons Ben (Sarah)...

At the end of each year, members of the AIA Pittsburgh community gather together to celebrate at the President’s Holiday Party. This year, the party was held at IKM, Incorporated. The Annual Meeting portion of the evening kicked off with the election of four AIA members to serve on the AIA Pittsburgh Board of Directors – Lisa Carver, AIA, Principal at Perfido Weiskopf Wagstaff + Goettel: NCARB, LEED AP, Leadership Pittsburgh Graduate; Patricia Culley, AIA, Senior Associate at Bohlin Cywinski Jackson:  WELL AP, LEED AP BD+C, member of the PA COTE Committee, John Ryan, AIA, Project Architect at DesignGroup, LEED AP, Leadership Institute graduate.  Brian Gaudio, Assoc. AIA was renewed as Associate AIA Board representative. Next, the membership voted on the proposed by-law changes. The new Bylaw changes that were unanimously accepted...

December:  Members will vote at the Annual Meeting and President’s Holiday Party to approve the slate of AIA Pittsburgh Board members. The slate is determined by a candidate process overseen by the Governance Committee that includes outreach, an open call to members, submission of written statements and bios, and in-person interviews.  There is also a Bylaws amendment to be approved that can be viewed here.

S. Philip Hundley, AIA, Medal of Distinction honoree Richard DeYoung, FAIA, Chip Desmone, AIA, John Martine, AIA, and Michelle Fanzo at the AIA PA Awards viewing party held at Bohlin Cywinski Jackson. This past Thursday, November 15th, the AIA Pittsburgh community gathered to watch the AIA Pennsylvania Architectural Excellence Design Awards.  The awards were live-streamed during a viewing party at Bohlin Cywinski Jackson’s downtown Pittsburgh offices. Remarks from president-elect of AIA Pennsylvania, Chip Desmone, AIA kicked off the evening.  Mr. Desmone let the crowd know that AIA Pittsburgh was proudly celebrating four Special Award Recipients this year: Timothy Khalifa of Carnegie Mellon University was the Student Award Recipient, Rich DeYoung, FAIA received the Medal of Distinction, Urban Design Build Studio was selected as  Impact...

November: Design Pittsburgh was just the kick off for your architecture awards season.  On November 15 join your colleagues in Pittsburgh at the offices of Bohlin Cywinski Jackson from 5:30 – 9pm to celebrate architectural excellence with AIA Pennsylvania’s 2nd annual digital design awards reveal.

Photo credit Rob Larson. October: Design Pittsburgh month has dropped.  Make sure you are voting with a purpose for the People’s Choice Award. Voting will end on October 18th, so cast your votes now. You can vote 1x in each category.  Then, make sure to get your tickets to help us celebrate the winners at Design Awards on October 25th at Nova Place.

The AIA Pittsburgh Governance Committee is compiling a list of nominated and solicited names for the following positions for the 2019 AIA Pittsburgh Board of Directors. (2 or 3) Directors (3-year term, renewable once for a total of 6 years max; serving 2019-2021) (1) Associate AIA (1-year term, renewable once for a total of two years max, serving 2019) If you are an AIA member in good standing interested in being considered for one of the open positions, please submit: your resume and in 100 words of less tell us why you want to be on the board, by 5:00pm September 28th  to Jeffrey Murray, FAIA, Chairman of the Governance Committee: jmurray@cannondesign.com The Governance Committee will review nominees for skills and experience the Board...

Longtime AIA Pittsburgh supporter Mack Godfrey passed away this past Sunday, September 9th. During his long tenure at Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania, and beyond, Godfrey, understanding the importance and impact of good design on the region was a champion of AIA Pittsburgh’s mission. Godfrey served as a professional affiliate board member of AIA Pittsburgh for close to a decade and was a good friend to so many in the AIA Pittsburgh community. Former AIA Pittsburgh board member and principal at Strada Ed Shriver, AIA remembers his friend Mack: “I first met Mack while on the board of AIA Pittsburgh. We came on about the same time, somewhat unsure about our roles. At least I was unsure. Mack already knew what he wanted...