Virginia Governor Robert F. McDonnell issued a proclamation recognizing April 8–14, 2012 as Virginia Architecture Week. Each year in April, to commemorate Architecture Week, components of the American Institute of Architects and the Virginia Center for Architecture present a series of activities highlighting the importance of the built environment in our lives.
On Thursday, April 12, the Virginia Center for Architecture debuts a new exhibition about the Washington Monument with an Opening Reception from 5:30-7:30 p.m. The exhibition, Someday in the Park with George, explore the history of the Monument and its grounds, from funding shortages and political disagreements that left the Monument unfinished for nearly 50 years, to the numerous planning and design challenges posed by the site. It also highlights the results of the National Ideas Competition for the Washington Monument Grounds, which poses new solutions for the unfinished grounds. The exhibition will be on view from April 12 through June 24, 2012. The Center also hosts Is Architecture School Right for You? on Saturday, April 14 from 1–2:30 p.m. to help high-school students learn more about a career in design and the admissions process to architecture school. There is no charge for either event. To attend the Opening Reception or Is Architecture School Right for You?, call (804) 644-3041, ext. 100, or email aliguori@aiava.org.
Of course, components have organized activities celebrating Virginia Architecture Week throughout the state. Below is just a sampling of events, with links for more information.
Activities in the Richmond region kick off on April 9 with a film competition and a special lecture by Jorge Silvetti at the Virginia Historical Society. The lecture called An Evening with Jorge Silvetti features world-renowned, international architect Jorge Silvetti of Machado & Silvetti Associates presenting preliminary design ideas to restore a nationally significant historic landmark, the Menokin House. To learn more about these events and other Richmond-area Architecture Week programs, visit http://aiaric.org/.
In the Hampton Roads region, Architecture Barbie rings in Architecture Week with an event aimed at second- through eighth-grade students on April 14 from 9 a.m.–2 p.m. and a Downtown Norfolk Firm Crawl on April 20 from 6:30-9:30 p.m. To find out about these, and other Hampton-area events, visit http://aiahr.com/calendar.html.
In the Northern Virginia area, the AIA Northern Virginia Chapter celebrates architecture with their popular walking tour of Alexandria, an exhibit and lecture highlighting award-winning architecture and a Dress for Success Clothing Drive. For more information, visit http://aianova.org/.
In the Roanoke region, AIA Blue Ridge Chapter offers the Roanoke Parklet Experiment and the Kidstruction: The Big City events. The Parklet Experiment transforms automobile infrastructure in to temporary public spaces, and Kidstruction engages children in building activities, allowing them to take on the role of an architect. To discover more about events in the Blue Ridge region, visit http://aiablueridge.org/
To find out what’s going on around the country, visit http://www.aia.org/about/AIAB093325.