AIA Southern Arizona
a Chapter of The American Institute of Architects
proudly presents
Architecture Week 2012

September 29 – October 7, 2012

_________

ARIZONA CENTENNIAL – Looking Back To See The Future

Architecture Week is a celebration of design by architects in Tucson and is presented annually by AIA Southern Arizona – a Component of The American Institute of Architects. AIA Southern Arizona will host the 20th annual self-guided Home Tour along with lectures, mall exhibits, KIDSTRUCTION competition, and the 3rd annual CANSTRUCTION®. The events will emphasize the positive influence of architecture in our community.

The goal of Architecture Week is to promote a greater appreciation and awareness for the design of our built environment. All events are designed to educate, entertain and inspire.

The 2012 AIA Southern Arizona Architecture Week, taking place between September 29 and October 7, 2012, will focus on the theme “Arizona Centennial – Looking Back To See The Future,” highlighting locally designed architecture of today as well as the past.

Architecture Week is scheduled to include:

Hosted again this year in the center court of Park Place (www.parkplacemall.com) the third annual CANSTRUCTION® build will kick off on the morning of Saturday, September 29, bringing together several Tucson architect and engineering offices in a competition to design and build sculptural installations using only canned food. The creative sculptures will be on display in the The Park Place from September 29—October 7.

The project was originally founded by the Society for Design Administration (SDA) and has become a national organization and competition. The local CANSTRUCTION® competition results in literally tons of food that is then given to the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona (www.communityfoodbank.com) to feed thousands of hungry people. CANSTRUCTION® results in a greater awareness of the issues surrounding hunger, and a spotlight being placed on the design and construction industry giving back to the communities it helps build.

On Friday, October 5th, honors will be awarded to the most creative CANSTRUCTION® entries in a Happy Hour Reception & Awards Presentation –time/location to be determined. One CAN Make a Difference!

For more information about CANSTRUCTION visit the national website at www.canstruction.org.

BICYCLE & PEDESTRIAN TOURS – historic downtown neighborhood GUIDED BICYCLE and GUIDED WALKING TOURS led by local Architects on Sunday, September 30, 2012 all beginning near the downtown depot plaza. A specially designed hike or bike self-guided tour map furnished by the AIA will also be provided for all attendees providing locations and descriptions of the tours. Living Streets Alliance (www.livingstreetsalliance.org) has been very involved in the planning and preparation of the tour path and details. More details about the tour schedule and starting point will be available soon!

LECTURES SERIES – On Saturday, October 6, enjoy a full day of presentations about Architecture in Tucson throughout the century. Presentations will be scheduled in 30-40 minute intervals throughout the day at the Tucson Museum of Art beginning at 10:00 a.m. The intent is to celebrate a century of thoughtful architecture and to inspire community members in the accessibility of good design both in the community and at home. The presentations will explore why certain architectural solutions are so appropriate for this region, and how good architecture can both positively impact lives and create a more sustainable built environment in Tucson and our region. A complete schedule of presentations will be available soon.

AIA ARCHITECTURE FIRM BOARD EXHIBIT – Local Architectural firms from all over Southern Arizona will prepare display boards of their own work to be exhibited in The Park Place. The Architecture Firm Board Exhibit, along with KIDSTRUCTION and CANSTRUCTION®, will be on display at The Park Place from Saturday, September 29 through Sunday, October 7. The FIRM Board Exhibits will be moved and reset for display at the AIA Western Mountain Region / Northwest Pacific Region JOINT conference which will be held the following week in Tucson.

11th Annual KIDSTRUCTION – KIDSTRUCTION is a design/build competition among middle school students sponsored by the Southern Arizona Chapter of the Society for Design Administration (SACSDA) (www.sacsda.com) as part of the AIA Southern Arizona Architecture Week. In order to compete, teams from Tucson’s middle schools design and build structures based on a theme – “Celebrating Arizona’s Centennial.” The student entries must be built using only business cards, toothpicks and glue and must fit on a 12″ x 12″ base. Awards will be presented in the mall on Saturday, September 29th. Design entries will be on display at Park Place from Saturday, September 29 through Sunday, October 7.

20th Annual HOME TOUR: The final event of Architecture Week, this year’s self-guided tour will be held on Sunday, October 7th, and will feature six high quality residential projects for the public to walk through and experience. The homes will feature a variety of design and site options from the modern home in the desert to multi story urban dwelling and promises to impress and inspire.

Architecture Week event information and Tour tickets will be available at various ticket outlets beginning mid-August. Ticket outlets are listed below and will also be available on the AIA Southern Arizona website

(www.aiasouthernarizona.org).

A portion of every ticket sold will directly benefit Habitat for Humanity Tucson! For more than 32-years, Habitat for Humanity Tucson has served 734 low-income families through our homeownership programs that include new homes, recycled homes, down-payment assistance grants, weatherization services and global building. The goal is to serve families – and they are in need your help! For more information on how you can help visit www.habitattucson.org

For more 2012 Home Tour ticket information please contact the AIA Southern Arizona office at 520-323-2191.

If you haven’t seen the terrific CANSTRUCTION (food cans built into amazing structures) I encourage you to check it out at Park Place mall center court area. You will be awed by the creativity of the architecture & engineering teams that build these creations. The canned food is then donated to the Community Food Bank. Also take some time to admire the middle school students’ creations at KIDSTRUCTION nearby…homes, public buildings, churches, fantasy structures. Over the years I’ve attended a number of lectures & tours for Architecture Week, which gives you a growing sense of appreciation for the work of architects and how beautiful buildings/structures have changed & survived over the decades and centuries. Enjoy Architecture Week 2012.

If you can’t read this detailed flyer (due to the small print), log onto www.aiasouthernarizona.org, for information on the upcoming evening & Saturday lectures, guided walking tours, as well as the popular Architecture & Home Tour on Sunday October 2, 9 to 4 p.m. The lectures are open & free to the public, but the 19th Annual Home Tour costs $20. A portion of the proceeds from the tickets will aide Habitat for Humanity Tucson to assist a local family in home ownership.

Of note this year is the lecture on September 28 at 7 p.m. by architect Dino Sakellar about the renovated Wilmot Branch Library, which was originally designed by his architect father Nick. I know Dino & his family, and this should be a fascinating talk.

More info: Southern Arizona Chapter of American Institute of Architects, 520-323-2191, 1001 N. Alvernon Way, Ste. 101, Tucson, Arizona 85711.

From Imagine Greater Tucson (IGT) –”Our Shared Values and the Future of
the Greater Tucson Region” Join us to see how closely they align!

Thursday, April 7
Tucson Marriott University Park
880 E. Second St., Tucson
Registration begins at 3 p.m.
Program starts promptly at 3:30 p.m.
Open to the Public

Keynote Speaker: Lattie F. Coor, Ph.D.
Chairman and CEO,
Center for the Future of Arizona, The Arizona We Want

Presenting: Mobilizing to Secure your Vision

Program

Keri Silvyn
Imagine Greater Tucson Board

Eileen Fagan
Executive Director
Imagine Greater Tucson

Michael McDonald
Executive Director
Habitat for Humanity Tucson

Robert Grow
Founding Chair Emeritus
Envision Utah

Lattie F. Coor, Ph.D.
Chairman and CEO
Center for the Future of Arizona,
The Arizona We Want

Frances McLane Merryman
Vice President and Senior Wealth Strategist
Northern Trust NA

My previous blog (click here) when this group kicked off last September, 2010. And read blogger Pam Power’s report on the November 30 community conversation at the Ward 6 office, which I also attended (click here).

Let us all imagine (and work together) for a better future for Tucson. And attend this meeting when the Phase 1 results will be revealed. Here’s preliminary stats from IGT’s March newsletter:

By the numbers, here are the results of the Phase 1 engagement:

* Over 3,300 surveys completed (adult and youth)
* 51 Community Conversations held
* 741 participants, from Marana to Vail, from southern Tucson to the foothills
* 600 random sample surveys completed.

…and heads up for future Phase 2 “Scenario Building Workshops: Designing our region of the future based on our shared values.” Schedule below:

* May 18th: Tucson Convention Center, 260 S. Church, copper ballroom
* May 24th: Hilton El Conquistador Resort, 10000 N. Oracle Rd.
* May 25th: Desert Diamond Casino (I-19 & Pima Mine Rd.)

All the workshops run from 5:30pm to 8:00pm (registration at 5:30pm, program begins promptly at 6:00pm). Go to the IGT website to find out more about the workshops or RSVP.

Habitat Tucson and the Habistore home improvement center have bought a new store, and will be opening on Wed. January 5 at their new location, 935 W. Grant Rd., 1/2 mile east of I-10.

Grand opening Jan. 7 & 8, 2011.

The HabiStore is changing the world one couch at a time! By selling surplus new and used building and home improvement materials, appliances and furniture to the public the HabiStore is diverting more than 200 tons of material from the landfill each year.

Usable materials, donated by retail businesses, contractors, individuals, and other organizations, are sold at below cost prices. Proceeds from the HabiStore fund the Habitat Tucson mission of eliminating poverty housing within our community.

The Habitstore is operated by Habitat for Humanity Tucson,
www.habitattucson.org.

Last day at Ajo/Palo Verde location (3840 S. Palo Verde) is Friday December 10, by 5 p.m. Shop now for the holidays before they move to their new location.