Center for Architecture and Design facts for kids
Smyth Young Field Company Building
at 1218 Arch Street |
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| Founded | 2002 |
|---|---|
| Type | 501(c)(3) charitable organization |
| Location |
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Area served
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Greater Philadelphia |
| Website | http://philadelphiacfa.org/ |
The Center for Architecture and Design is a non-profit organization located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This means it's a group that helps the community and doesn't aim to make money. The Center teaches people about architecture (how buildings are designed), urban planning (how cities are planned), and design in general.
They offer many fun activities like talks, workshops, festivals, design contests, and art shows. Their building at 1218 Arch Street is a place where people can learn and share ideas. It's also home to the Center's offices and other groups like AIA Philadelphia. The Philadelphia chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) started the Center in 2002.
Contents
History of the Center
The AIA Philadelphia group is very old, starting in 1869. It is a professional organization for architects. This group has a long history of helping the community. They helped create Independence National Historical Park in 1948. They also helped start the Community Design Collaborative in 1991. In 1999, they helped create the Charter High School for Architecture + Design. Finally, they founded the Center for Architecture and Design in 2002.
The Center was set up as a separate organization to support educational programs for the public. It aimed to teach everyone about the importance of architecture. In its early years, the Center held events to raise money for its mission. A notable event was the annual Louis I. Kahn Memorial Award + Talk. This event brings a famous architect to speak in Philadelphia. It also raises money for the Charter High School for Architecture and Design.
A New Home for Design
In 2008, the Center bought and renovated a space in the Smyth Young Field Company Building. This building, at 1218 Arch Street, is a historic landmark. When its new home opened in May 2008, the Center had a full-time staff member. They began offering more programs. These included walking tours, speaker series, workshops, film screenings, and design competitions. They also started children's programs and opened a gift shop. The gift shop was actually the AIA Bookstore, which had been around since 1976. It moved into the Center from its old location.
In 2013, the Center took over the DesignPhiladelphia festival. This festival had started on its own in 2005. In 2016, the Center changed its name to the Center for Architecture and Design. This new name showed that their programs had grown to include more types of design. At the same time, their building was updated to allow for even more programs and exhibitions.
Exciting Programs and Events
The Center offers many yearly and ongoing programs for everyone. These programs focus on architecture, city planning, and design.
- Architecture in Education: This program goes into public schools. It teaches students about architecture and design all year long.
- Better Philadelphia Challenge: This is an international urban design contest for university students. It happens every autumn.
- Building Philadelphia: Architecture, History, + Politics: This is a series of 10 talks. It takes place every winter.
- CreativeMornings PHL: A monthly talk series about creativity. It runs all year.
- DesignPhiladelphia: This is the oldest design festival of its kind in the United States. It happens every October.
- Edmund N. Bacon Memorial Awards + Talk: This event honors a great city planner. It takes place every winter.
- Louis I. Kahn Memorial Award + Talk: This event honors a great architect. It happens every spring.
- Park(ing) Day PHL: A one-day festival where parking spots become small public parks. It's held on the third Friday of September.
- Read + Make and Design + Build: These are hands-on workshops for families. They introduce kids to architecture and design all year.
- Spooktacular: A fun Halloween event for families. Young architects and students from the Charter High School for Architecture + Design create it every October.
DesignPhiladelphia is the Center's biggest event. It was started by Hilary Jay in 2005. She was inspired by a design festival in London. The festival moved to different locations before finding its home at the Center for Architecture and Design in 2013.
Exhibitions to Explore
The Center hosts both regular and special exhibitions.
- CANstruction PHL food can sculpture competition and food drive (annually in spring)
- Constructing Play: Classic + Modern Building Toys (annually in winter)
- Degrees of Design: Student Work from Local Architecture + Design Schools (annually in spring)
- On The Rise: Emerging Firms + Young Architects (annually in winter)
Groups at the Center
The Center for Architecture and Design building is home to several important groups:
- Center for Architecture and Design
- Philadelphia Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA Philadelphia)
- Community Design Collaborative
Leadership
Rebecca Johnson has been the executive director for both the Center and AIA Philadelphia since 2014. Before her, John Claypool held this role from 2001 to 2014.
Hilary Jay was the first director of the Center from June 2013 to May 2015.
David Bender was the first full-time employee of the Center in May 2008. He has been the associate director since January 2014.
Images for kids
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The AIA Bookstore at the Center
1218 Arch Street, Philadelphia
