Mikey discusses the importance of weatherization.

On November 5th, Mikey Naucus and Richard Reilly led the AFH part of a Weatherization Workshop for Big Brothers Big Sisters. Parents of the littles in the program attended the event. A representative from the Community Action Agency opened up the evening with an energy quiz and a discussion on quick ways to save energy. Then AFH spoke about 10 basic weatherization techniques. After that, Mikey and Richard led caulking demonstrations and weatherstripping installation. All the attendees had a chance to try it out for themselves on an awesome mock-up door and window built by AFH with materials and help from Boa construction and Architectural Millwork of St Louis. Everyone was pretty excited to take their new weatherization techniques and apply them at home.

In addition, BBBS is looking forward to potential future weatherization workshops. Thanks to all who helped out on this project!

Richard oversees an attendee caulking a window.

Monday, August 24th, we are having a very informal get together at Tucker’s Place in historic Soulard.

The address:
2117 S. 12th Street
(1/2 block South of Russell)
St. Louis, MO
(314) 772-5977

We’re hoping to see some new faces as well as just enhance our existing camaraderie!  Come see what we’re all about – we’ll be meeting about 6ish, though stragglers won’t be punished (too much). We also have a few things on the agenda related to AFH to discuss… including:

• the booth for the upcoming Green Homes Festival on Sept. 26th
• a Skype-led conversation with other nearby Architecture For Humanity chapters regarding a possible ‘AFH retreat’ to connect and learn from one another….

Our next meeting is Wednesday, September 2nd 2009 at 7pm.

LOCATION:
Large meeting room (NE corner)
SLPL Schlafly Branch
225 North Euclid Avenue, 63108
(314) 367-4120

The meetings are for anyone interested in Architecture for Humanity – so don’t be shy!

Richard, a member of both Architecture for Humanity and Habitat for Humanity, has posted on his blog a more in-depth look at the (NOMA) National Organization for Minority Architects Conference coming up this October.

Click here to be linked to the NOMA post on Richard’s personal blog The Art of Construction.

Last Wednesday, August 5th, we held our monthly meeting.  We had a good turn-out with some new faces (myself included!).

We had a representative from NOMA (National Organization for Minority Architects) talk to us about their upcoming 2009 INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE & EXPOSITION that is taking place here in St. Louis the weekend of October 8th-10th. THE TIME TO GET INVOLVED IS NOW: as the Conference won’t take place again here in St. Louis for probably another 10-12 years!!!   It was also great to hear about some of their outreach goals involving high school students; the kids that may be affected by that outreach are indeed fortunate!!!

We talked about getting together to help finish up things at The Urban Studio, which we put hours in on Friday night and most of Saturday.  I’ll detail that a little more in the next post.

We’ve been given the go-ahead for our Gateway Greening project.  We’re meeting together next Wednesday, August 12th, to draw up some more designs for the shed.  Details will follow!

We talked about the tool-shed for Earthdance Farms, and we’re still determining the most efficient time-line for this project.

We are also working on a Teen Center project,  and Holly, Mikey, and Josh have rounded-up some lighting.  We’ve decided taking inventory of what’s been collected will be COMING SOON!

A date has been set by Big Brothers, Big Sisters.  November 4th, AFH will be training the parents of the ‘littles’ from Big Brothers, Big Sisters on Weatherization.  AFH will be coming up with a curriculum in the upcoming months.

Don’t FORGET!  The St. Louis Green Homes and Renewable Energy Festival is coming up September 26th from  10am to 6pm.  Mark your calendars (AGAIN if you need to!).

We also talked about National and Regional chapter retreats where AFH chapters get together and discuss success and failures – from projects to memberships – and how can we improve upon all of these things.  That will be something we certainly look forward to being involved in.

And if you didn’t read the previous blog… AFH_STL now on twitter!

Help get the word out!  As the summer mania winds down, now is a great time to join us, and to help fill in those gaps in your busy, busy schedule!

If you have any question, email: info@afh-saintlouis.org

Let me introduce myself.  My name is Sera.  I have a passion for the building arts, green design and helping others.  I’m a newcomer to St. Louis as of January 09, and completely new to AFH-St. Louis, yet passionate enough about the cause to confidently offer myself to happily pick up as their blogger.  I do have a mini-passion for the written word as well.

My plan is to keep this blog updated as frequently as possible on current projects, our meetings, and upcoming projects, gatherings, outreaches, and anything relevant!!  I’d also like to delve into the history of Architecture for Humanities as a whole to give newcomers a little background (like myself), as well as the history of this particular chapter.

AND… if they’ll let me, (I am the new gal!), I’d love to talk a little about all the great people involved with the St. Louis chapter.  Everyone loves a good story with some background, right?!?

Well here it is.  My first blog.  Without any AFH content just yet… but, oooh boy, just wait.

You can also now follow us on twitter at AFH_STL.

Cheers!

http://boaconstruction.blogspot.com/2009/05/awi-green-symposium.html

This is a link to the invite. Good info, free food in a LEED Platinum building

On May 2, 2009, Architecture for Humanity will be kicking off a yearlong capacity building campaign by hosting a 10th Anniversary event at the Autodesk Gallery at One Market in San Francisco. This event coincides with The American Institute of Architects (AIA) 2009 National Convention being held in San Francisco from
April 30 – May 2, 2009.

Over the past decade Architecture for Humanity has transformed from an idea to create change to an international organization that is building it. Since its inception in 1999, Architecture for Humanity has been involved in the construction of more than 100 structures worldwide, impacting the lives of millions. Through a worldwide network of affiliates and design teams, Architecture for Humanity has become more than a design centered non-profit, it has proven its skills in long term sustainable development as well as structuring the financial mechanisms needed to rebuild after disasters. “We’re about to round an important milestone, our 10th Anniversary. What a great 10 years it’s been. I can remember working to put a small webpage up inviting architects to share their ideas for rebuilding in Kosovo. Here we are today with more than 40,000 strong,” reflects Kate Stohr, Managing Director and Co-Founder.

Today AFH provides design services to small non-profits and local organizations, and is now also working with far reaching organizations like FIFA, Oprah’s Angel Network and UN Habitat. “Architecture for Humanity represents the finest of the new breed of architectural leadership, employing architectural skills and directing them for the larger good. Committed, unapologetically architectural in name and mission, Architecture for Humanity stands up for people in need,” said Robert Ivy, Editor in Chief of Architectural Record magazine.

In the next decade, Architecture for Humanity will continue bringing design services to communities in need by scaling up to provide hands-on and online training for informal local builders who construct 98% of the world’s structures without the aid of a design professional. These solutions will not only be financially transformative but will also protect the fragile environment we live in. Architecture for Humanity aims to become the catalyst for change in these communities.

Supporting Sponsors: Autodesk, Grey Goose, West Elm, Heath Ceramics

Event Information:

When: May 2, 2009
7-10pm

Where: Autodesk Gallery
1 Market Street
San Francisco, CA

For more information, please contact: development@architectureforhumanity.org

About the Autodesk Gallery at One Market

The 16,500-square-foot Gallery is the first space in the San Francisco Bay Area dedicated to the spirit of design innovation, with 20 exhibits including the California Academy of Sciences, Ford Shelby GT500, Cathedral of Christ the Light in Oakland, CA and the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge seismic retrofit. The space is intended as a location where designers can discuss the latest in technology and be inspired by others’ work.

For images and more information about the Autodesk Gallery, visit http://www.autodesk.com/thegallery.

About Architecture for Humanity

Architecture for Humanity is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that seeks architectural solutions to humanitarian crisis and brings design services to communities in need. We believe that where resources and expertise are scarce, innovative, sustainable and collaborative design can make a difference.

By tapping a network of professionals willing to lend their time and their talents to helping those who would not otherwise be able to afford their services, we support community development, help communities rebuild after disaster and provide pro bono design services to community partners around the world.

Through the power of professional design, we build safer, more sustainable and highly innovative structures–structures that become assets to their communities and ongoing symbols of the ability of people to come together to envision a better future.

Our vision is one of a world where designers innovate globally to build housing, schools, clinics and other essential infrastructure locally. We believe that this can be achieved not by replicating a design that was successful in one situation in another, but by encouraging locally inspired designs and by enabling these solutions to be shared and freely adapted by all.

To realize this vision, Architecture for Humanity created the Open Architecture Network http://www.openarchitecturenetwork.org, the first site on the Web to provide access to open source architectural plans.

Finally, through competitions, workshops, educational forums, exhibitions, and other activities, we foster public appreciation for the many ways that architecture and design can improve lives.

Please visit: http://www.architectureforhumanity.org

AFH-STL would like to thank the following St. Louis Area Contractors….

• BOA Construction Co. Inc.
• R.G. Ross Construction Co. Inc.
• Interface  Construction Corp.

These contractors quickly (!!!) put together a construction bid, which allowed one of our AFH partners to proceed with a grant proposal.  With luck, AFH will continue work on this transitional housing.

THANK YOU for your time and dedication to the St. Louis community!!!

AFH – St. Louis was represented in the Green Building Group at Conservation Lobby Day in Jefferson City last week. A group of over 100 environmental activists cruised the halls of the state capitol, meeting with legislators and offering our services in understanding green measures as well as advocating for the same. AFH was mentioned as one of the grassroots groups working with NFPs to provide services that would otherwise be out of reach to groups in need of good programming and planning.

http://movotesconservation.org/lobbyday.aspx is a link to a summary of the days activities.

Richard Reilly, an AFH- Saint Louis member and COO of Boa Construction, wrote an article last month about green jobs, energy savings and the regional grassroots movements tackling these issues. The article was published by the Post Dispatch and St. Louis Beacon, and text of the article can be seen here. He mentioned the chapter’s ongoing work with North & South County Tech to develop a green curriculum. Thanks Richard!