From November 7th – 9th, we will convene for our annual conference, Architecture Exchange East, in Richmond. This may very well be the best one we have ever hosted. The theme of the conference is TENSION. From the physical tension that empowers buildings to stand to the tension between creative vision and practical restrictions. We will even have a dialogue on how tension is present between architecture and social equity.
Headlined by award-winning architect and TED-presenter, Francis Kéré, Hon. FAIA as the keynote and an appearance by The Hip Hop Architect, Michael Ford, I guarantee you will be moved in a special way. For the first time, we will engage the public within our conference for our Housing Equity Panel that folds under the Institute’s “Blueprint for Better Communities” initiative. This year, our education track is themed to cater to Practice Management, Design, Historic Preservation, Educational Environments, Healthcare Environments, Residential, Technology and Practice, and Building Performance. This means that there is content shaped to accommodate all of our members who have various practices with wide-ranging needs.
On Wednesday, we will offer our full-day program workshops that include our Safety Assessment Program training that will allow you to be instrumental contributors in getting communities back on its feet after a natural disaster. Thursday and Friday promise to offer exceptional content culminating with Visions for Architecture. For this special event at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, we will celebrate those whose work make especially strong contributions to society and celebrates the recipients of AIA Virginia Honors Awards and the Awards for Excellence in Architecture.
Would you rather be in your cubicle or do any of the following:
- Francis Kéré’s keynote address
- Michael Ford – The Hip Hop Architect. Enough said.
- Housing Equity Panel consisting of a prominent architect, the Virginia Poverty Law Center, and the Better Housing Coalition
- Safety Assessment Program disaster assistance training
- Join members of small, mid-size, and large firms to discuss relevant issues in roundtable format
- See the 2018 Emerging Leaders in Architecture (ELA) present its class project and how it will benefit the City of Charlottesville
- Engage in dialogue with Higher Education decision-makers on improving collaborate with architects
- Tour of Historic Petersburg in collaboration with Preservation Virginia
- CONNECTIONS party and networking dinners that include ELA alumni and Virginia Women in Design
- Engage with over 70 Vendors that are showcasing cutting-edge materials
If your answer was “yes” to any of the above, then come join us at the conference.
Look forward to welcoming you to Richmond next month!
Corey Clayborne, AIA, MBA
Executive Vice President