Economic Impact Survey

NOMA Detroit is collecting information on how minority architects in south east Michigan have been impacted by the "Great Recession".

Participate in Survey here.

Partnership-in-Scholarship Grants for African American Historic Places

From: http://www.preservationnation.org/resources/find-funding/nonprofit-public-funding.html

Partnership-in-Scholarship Grants support collaborative projects between African American Historic Places and college/university scholars. In spring 2010, up to twelve grants of $5,000 each (1:1 match required) will be awarded for projects that help sustain current or attract new audiences at historic sites or enhance the interpretation of challenging topics at historic sites. Eligible projects include improving public access to African American historical and cultural resources at historic places, strengthening teaching and education at colleges and universities through historic places, promoting research and original scholarship of a significant theme related to African American history and culture to support joint public programs, providing opportunities for lifelong learning through a collaborative program, strengthening each institution’s humanities programming in order to preserve, enhance, or enjoy significant African American historic places. Download the grant guidelines and application form here or contact aahp@nthp.org or the NTHP Regional Office near you. National Trust Historic Sites and elementary and secondary schools are not eligible to apply. Deadline for applications is April 30, 2010. This grant program is supported in part by the Ford Foundation.

How AIA Members Navigate Through a Difficult Economy

Detroit Public Schools Industry Opportunity Fair

Detroit Public Schools Industry Opportunity Fair
Wednesday, February 24 from 8-12:00 p.m. at Cobo Hall in the Riverview Ballroom.
For More Information: http://www.detroit.k12.mi.us/proposal_s/facilities/
This first Industry Opportunity Fair is targeted towards General Contractors and Architects/Engineers.
4 certification groups will be in attendance; they are as follows:
· City of Detroit
· MMSDC
· WBEC Great Lakes
· MDOT
To register, send an email to: opportunities@detroitk12.org.
Include a note that you will attend along with your company name, and number of attendees, please include events@mmbdc.com in the cc:

HOWARD F. SIMS, FAIA

Black Architects Forum will begin running a series of profiles of Practicing African American Architects you may or may not have heard of.

Howard Sims is the founder and chairman of SDG Associates, LLC, an architectural and planning firm founded in 1964. He graduated from Northwestern High School in Detroit, and earned Bachelors and Masters degrees in Architecture from the University of Michigan.

His architectural firm is noted for many distinguished and award winning buildings including The Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History and The Cobo Hall Convention and Exhibition Center. Clients of the firm are numerous and include The University of Michigan, Wayne State University, Wayne County Community College, General Motors Corporation, The City of Detroit and The City of Atlanta. He is currently licensed in Michigan, Georgia, Arizona and Ohio, and throughout his career has also been licensed to practice architecture in Illinois, Wisconsin, Connecticut, Tennessee and Florida. Both he and his firm have been the recipients of numerous awards for outstanding architecture and excellence in the field.

A long serving member of The American Institute of Architects (AIA) and a current Emeritus Member, Howard was elevated in 1977 to the College of Fellows, the second highest honor that AIA can bestow upon one of its members. In 1988 they awarded him the Gold Medal of The Detroit Chapter, their highest honor for outstanding contributions to the profession. He has served on many national and local committees and has also held multiple officer positions at AIA. Additionally, he served as the first Chairman of The State of Michigan Construction Code Commission, was a member of the Board of Directors of The Engineering Society of Detroit, and is a founding member of The National Organization of Minority Architects.

With a longstanding role in community involvement, Howard has served in such capacities as the Trustee of The Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, Trustee and Chairman of The W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Trustee and Chairman of Oakland University, and Board Member and Chairman of The Detroit Branch of The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. He also co-chaired the Education Task Force of the Detroit Strategic Plan for the Detroit Renaissance. He is also a former Board Member of New Detroit, Inc, Metropolitan Detroit Youth Foundation, St. John’s Hospital, The Detroit Economic Growth Corporation, and The Inner City Business Improvement Form. In the business community, he has served as a member of the board of directors for Primark Corporation, Comerica, Michigan Consolidated Gas Company, MCN Corporation and DTE Energy.

Howard is a life member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and a life member of the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity. He is currently an Emeritus Member of the Detroit Boule of the Sigma Pi Phi fraternity and has been instrumental in sponsoring educational programs for young people. Many years ago, Howard and his wife created a graduate fellowship for African American students in architecture at the University of Michigan. Later, they created additional annual student award programs open to students studying Social Work, Education and Architecture. Recently, he endowed a fellowship in Alternative Energy Applications and Sustainable Architecture at Lawrence Technological University.

Architects for Haiti (Re)Construction

Architects from around the world lets pool our talents to to provide direction and guidance in the (re)Building of the Nation of Haiti.

Facebook Group

reFACING DETROIT : A HOUSING NARRATIVE : PART 1

REHABILITATING DETROIT. In 2009, the federal government passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. It was enacted as an economic stimulus package and immediately pumped $12.7 billion towards the modernization of the nation’s public housing. New leadership at the Detroit Housing Commission (DHC) has earmarked $8 million toward breathing new life into a scattered sites housing program that has proven national success. Through this capital outlay, the DHC is continuing its mission to provide quality housing for all Detroiters. Hamilton Anderson Associates is one of four teams of architects asked to take this journey of rehabilitation with the DHC. Our specific task is to assess the physical condition of 80 homes, but as our work continues, we realize our assessments are also about restoring the human condition.

Complete Blog post from Rob Saxon here