Contact:
Dominic Mercier, Communications Director, AIA Philadelphia
(t) 215.569.3186, (m) 215.876.7781

CREATE. COLLABORATE. ENGAGE.
CENTER FOR ARCHITECTURE TO OPEN
ON ARCH STREET THIS SPRING

DIGITAL IMAGES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST

PHILADELPHIA (April 1, 2008) - Founded on the three core principals of public engagement, collaboration among design professionals, and championing design excellence, the Center for Architecture, AIA Philadelphia's charitable and educational arm, opened its doors at 1218 Arch Street, Philadelphia, in early June. The Center will serve as the new home for AIA Philadelphia, the AIA Bookstore and Design Center, and the Community Design Collaborative. This winter, AIA Philadelphia and the AIA Bookstore left their longtime homes in the Architects Building, where the Chapter resided since the late 1920s, to make way for a Kimpton Hotel.

"While Philadelphia is undergoing a renaissance in its rapid development and change, it is imperative that we establish a place for education, interpretation, and discussion of our built environment," says John P. Claypool, AIA, AICP, Executive Director of AIA Philadelphia. "Exciting not only for architects, but also related industry professionals and the public at large, we envision the Center for Architecture as a gateway to experiencing and learning about Philadelphia's rich and evolving design environment."

Themes in the design profession are constantly changing and carry a relevance that often emerges in the mainstream. Ideas, such as "green" building - championed by politicians, activists, and commercial retailers alike - the future of Philadelphia's skyline, and the introduction of casinos to the city, all carry a significance that prompts discussion and debate. The Center for Architecture offers a venue for those discussions and debates through a dynamic and attractive meeting space for programs, competitions, and symposia, a wide array of technological capabilities, and a gallery for architecturally relevant exhibitions.

Established programs carried out by the Center for Architecture include the Louis I. Kahn Memorial Lecture each spring, the Architecture in Education program in area schools, and the Architectural Guide to Philadelphia. The Community Design Collaborative and Philadelphia's Charter High School for Architecture and Design also benefit from the Center's charitable support.

The AIA Bookstore opens with a new look, new energy, and a new audience. The Bookstore, a longtime leader in architecture books, unique gifts, and contract documents, joins the stores of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and The Fabric Workshop and Museum - all within a few blocks of one another - creating a unique shopping experience north of City Hall. The Bookstore, established in 1976, will continue to service its loyal customers and fully embrace its new customers from the convention and hospitality industry.

To establish the Center, unit #1 of the historic Young, Smyth, Field Building, which currently operates as a commercial condominium, was purchased. The unit is about 23,000 square feet and includes two floors, the first floor and the basement. Its physical configuration, location, and industrial loft style will provide many opportunities for the Center. To secure the Center's space, its board, comprised of committed volunteers, embarked on a $1.75 million capital campaign. The Center is expected to receive a LEED Gold rating for environmental sustainability.

An intensive design charrette laid the groundwork for the Center's design, with KlingStubbins taking the lead on architectural drawings. Construction was led by Clemens Construction Co. Additional contributors include Ballinger, the City of Philadelphia, the William Penn Foundation, Cope Linder Architects, High Concrete Group, Kimmel Bogrette Architecture + Site, UJMN Architects and Designers, Keast & Hood Co., Knoll, Steelcase, and a large number of individual donors.

The Center for Architecture's board of directors includes:
President - James F. Bogrette, AIA, Kimmel Bogrette Architecture + Site
President-Elect - Don M. Jones, AIA, Ewing Cole
Past President - Robert F. Keppel, AIA, AICP, Cope Linder Architects
Treasurer - Julie E. Hoffman, AIA, RDLA
Vice President - Danielle DiLeo Kim, AIA, MGA Partners
Vice President - Mario Zacharjasz, AIA, PZ Architects
Daniel E. Bosin, AIA, Dan Bosin Architects
Joseph A. Castner, AIA, KlingStubbins
Beverly Coleman, Neighborhoods Now
Adam LeGrand, Assoc. AIA, Ballinger
Matthew J. Koenig, AIA, J.K. Roller Architects
Walter Palmer III, GBCA
Steven W. Pouppirt, Clemens Construction Co.
John Gattuso, Liberty Property Trust
Ex Officio - John P. Claypool, AIA, AICP, Center for Architecture
Ex Officio - Beth Miller, Community Design Collaborative

AIA Philadelphia, a Chapter of The American Institute of Architects founded in 1869, serves more than 1,700 architects and related professionals in Philadelphia, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties. In addition to providing professional and educational support to members, AIA Philadelphia is a resource for the community through its programs, publications, public service projects and AIA Bookstore & Design Center.