The Pittsburgh Architecture Foundation (PAF) is a 501c3 Non-Profit Organization whose mission is dedicated improving the built environment (our shared neighborhoods, communities, and towns) to create a higher quality of life for all citizens. We achieve this by advancing architecture’s meaningful and collaborative involvement throughout the Greater Pittsburgh region. We foster civic engagement through the facilitation of pro-bono and low-cost design support for underserved communities, sustainable initiatives to advocate for public health and environmental benefits of good design and advocating for our communities.
PAF supports the following programs:
Held each Fall, Pittsburgh Architecture Week (PAW) is 7 days of exhibits, panels, awards and tours that celebrate the past, present, and future of architectural design and the built environment in greater Pittsburgh.
This initiative shares how architects – and all who design and build our spaces and places – create our built environment, how architecture impacts everyone’s daily lives, and highlights our region’s unique architectural identity.
PAW is part of our effort to develop energy and excitement for design excellence in everyday life in our region. Design is not just how something looks, it is more how something works and how it makes you feel. We want to promote meaningful design in our built environment that supports sustainability, equity, innovation and a unique sense of place everyone can be proud of.
Structured around a nine-month training program, the Leadership Institute for Emerging Professionals provides early to mid-career architects and other AEC community professionals with the skills and mentorship necessary to be leaders in both their profession and their community. During the training, participants collaborate on a group project focused on how to apply architectural and design skills to pressing issues such as immigration, affordable housing, and sustainability.
The PGH Platform is a movement and meeting space for people who care about making places healthier and more just for everyone. At the heart of the work is environmental health equity — the idea that everyone has the right to live in a healthy environment. The PGH Platform brings together people from across fields — design, planning, healthcare, community development, research, the arts, and more — to share knowledge, ask questions, and build better ways forward.
MAPS is an award of financial aid for a high school student, college student, or professional in the Pittsburgh region to be used for educational advancement for minority designers and communities in transition. There are so few minority architects working in Pittsburgh. Of the very few, an even lower percentage occupy positions of firm partner or principal. For those of us committed to the work of racial justice and social equity in the profession, this status quo is not acceptable. We believe that the removal of economic barriers for aspiring BiPOC designers and minority architects will go a long way towards creating a more diverse and inclusive profession.
In Pittsburgh’s tight-knit communities, small businesses often serve as the hubs for entire neighborhoods, though many lack the resources to maintain or upgrade their storefronts. To help these businesses thrive, the Façade Renovation Program pairs volunteer architects with small business owners to facilitate a collaborative partnership that makes every stage of the rehabilitation process a reality. These collective efforts uplift small businesses, revitalize local economies, and elevate Pittsburgh’s diverse neighborhoods.
Learn more about the PAF Facade Renovation Program.
Contact the Pittsburgh Architecture Foundation at info@aiapgh.org.