What:  November, 2006 Program: Between Buildings: The Human Dimension in Urban Planning and Design

Guest Speaker:  Jan Gehl

Date:  Thursday, November 9, 2006

Location:  Calvin College Chapel, Grand Rapids

Sponsors:  Bazzani & Associates, The Frey Foundation, ICCF, Jade Pig Ventures, Nederveld, and Progressive AE

As part of its monthly program series to bring awareness to issues impacting the quality of life in West Michigan, The Grand Valley Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA Grand Valley) presented ”Between Buildings: The Human Dimension in Urban Planning and Design“ on Thursday, November 9, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Calvin College Chapel in Grand Rapids.  The program waas co-hosted with Calvin College. The public was invited.  Read more and watch the video...

What:  October, 2006 Program: Cohousing

Guest Speaker:  Steve Faber

Date:  Thursday, September 19, 2006

Location:  DeVos Place, Grand Rapids

Sponsors:  Monsma Marketing Corp. and Laidlaw & Morgan

As part of its monthly program series to bring awareness to issues impacting the quality of life in West Michigan, The Grand Valley Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA Grand Valley) presented ”Cohousing: Bringing Back an Old-Fashioned Sense of Neighborhood“ on Thursday, October 19, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at DeVos Place in downtown Grand Rapids. The public is invited.  Read more and watch the video...

What:  September, 2006 Program: Neighborhood Design

Guest Speaker:  Mark Cameron, ASLA

Date:  Thursday, September 21, 2006

Location:  UICA, Grand Rapids

Sponsor:  Crites-Tidey and Sternberg Lighting

As part of its monthly program series to bring awareness to issues impacting the quality of life in West Michigan, The Grand Valley Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA Grand Valley) presented ”Neighborhood Design“ on Thursday, September 21, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Urban Institute for Contemporary Art in Grand Rapids.  Special guest speaker for the event was Mark Cameron, ASLA, Executive Director of the Neighborhood Design Center, Baltimore, Maryland. The public was invited.  Read more and watch the video...

What:  Lecture: Competing Architectural Identities of Modern Cairo 

Guest Speaker:  Dr. Nasser Rabbat

Date:  Saturday, April 15, 2006

Location:  Meijer Theater, Van Andel Museum Center

Sponsor:  Lincoln Brick

As part of its sponsorship of the Treasures of Ancient Egypt exhibit at the Public Museum of Grand Rapids, The Grand Valley Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA Grand Valley) presented "Competing Architectural Identities of Modern Cairo" on Saturday, April 15, 2006 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in the Meijer Theater at the Van Andel Museum Center in Grand Rapids.  Special guest speaker for the event was MIT Professor of Islamic Architecture, Dr. Nasser Rabbat. The public was invited.  Attendees had the option of combining the program with lunch and access to the Treasures of Ancient Egypt exhibit.  Read more and watch the video...

What:  April, 2006 Program: Multicultural Modernism - The Architecture of Steven Ehrlich

Guest Speaker:  Steven Ehrlich, AIA

Date:  Thursday, April 6, 2006

Location:  Prince Conference Center, Calvin College

Sponsors:  Custer Office Environments and Steelcase

As part of its monthly program series to bring awareness to issues impacting the quality of life in West Michigan, The Grand Valley Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA Grand Valley) presented ”Multicultural Modernism – The Architecture of Steven Ehrlich“ on Thursday, April 6, 2006 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Prince Conference Center on Calvin College’s campus in Grand Rapids.  Special guest speaker for the event was internationally-known Architect and speaker, Steven Ehrlich, principal of Steven Ehrlich Architects. The public was invited.  Read more and watch the video...

What:  February, 2006 Program: The State of the Region

Date:  Thursday, February 16, 2006

Guest Speakers:  Birgit Klohs and Greg Northrup

Location:  Cook-DeVos Center for Health Sciences

Sponsor:  Retractable Solutions, Inc.

As part of its monthly program series to bring awareness to issues impacting the quality of life in West Michigan, The Grand Valley Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA Grand Valley)  presented ”The State of the Region“ on Thursday, February 16, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Cook-DeVos Center for Health Sciences in Grand Rapids.  Special guest speakers for the event were Birgit Klohs, president of The Right Place, Inc., and Greg Northrup, president of the West Michigan Strategic Alliance. The public was invited.  Read more and watch the video...

What:  October, 2005 Program: First Look: Grand Rapids J.W. Marriot Hotel

Date:  Thursday, October 21, 2005

Location:  Amway Grand Plaza Hotel

Sponsors:  Virginia Tile & Rockford Construction

As part of its monthly program series to bring awareness to issues impacting the quality of life in western Michigan, The Grand Valley Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA Grand Valley) presented ”First Look: Grand Rapids J.W. Marriot Hotel“ on Thursday, October 21 at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel in Grand Rapids, with special guest speaker Michael F. Kaufman, AIA, Principal and Executive Vice President of Lohan, Caprile, Goettsch Architects.  Mr. Kaufman  talked about his storied firm’s history and projects since its founding by famed modernist Architect, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe.  The program was sponsored by Rockford Construction, Grainger Construction, and Virginia Tile.  The public was invited.  Read more and watch the video...

What:  April, 2005 Program: Historic Preservation as an Economic Development Strategy

Date:  Thursday, April 28, 2005

Location:  GVSU, Loosemore Auditorium

Sponsors:  McGraw-Hill

As part of its monthly program series to bring awareness to issues impacting the quality of life in western Michigan, The Grand Valley Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA Grand Valley) presented ”Historic Preservation as an Economic Development Strategy" on Thursday, April 28 at the GVSU Loosemore Auditorium in Grand Rapids, with special guest speaker John Gallagher, award-winning journalist and Architectural Critic for the Detroit Free Press.  Mr. Gallager is co-author of the book, "The AIA Guide to Detroit Architecture".  The program was sponsored by McGraw-Hill.  The public was invited.  Read more and watch the video...

What:  February Program: An Evening with Sarah Susanka

Date:  Thursday, February 17, 2005

Location:  St. Cecilia Music Society

Sponsors:  Herman Miller, Lumbermen's, Wilsonart, Trendway, Work Squared, Michigan Architectural Foundation, Riverbend Timber Framing, Shaw Contract Group, Rivertown Builders, Trendway

”An Evening with Sarah Susanka, AIA“ on Thursday, February 17, 2005 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Saint Cecilia Music Society, 24 Ransom Avenue, NE, Downtown Grand Rapids.   A  book signing was scheduled for 8:20 p.m.  Special guest speaker was Sarah Susanka, AIA. Sarah Susanka is a cultural visionary leading a movement that is redefining the American home. Today, her "build better, not bigger" approach to residential architecture has been embraced by homeowners, architects and builders across the country and her Not So Big philosophy has sparked a national dialogue.  Read more and watch the video...

What:  February Program: Building For Our Time - The GSA's Design Excellence Program

Date:  Thursday, January 20, 2005

Location:  Prince Conference Center, Calvin College

Sponsor:  West Michigan Lighting

”Building For Our Time - The GSA's Design Excellence Program“ was presented on Thursday, January 20, 2005 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Calvin College Prince Conference Center, Willow Room. Special guest speaker will be Robert Theel, AIA, Directror of Design, GSA Great Lakes Region. This was a multi-media presentation and discussion of how the private sector interacts with the GSA on new facility design, including selection criteria and the GSA's new Federal Courthouse Initiative.  In addition, Mr. Theel will provide an overview of the GSA Design Excellence Program, featuring the work(s) of several nationally known architectural firms.  The program will demonstrate through example how the GSA is addressing curren important design issues, including sustainable design and national security.  Read more and watch the video...