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ASSOCIATE AFFAIRS Committee Archives
2006 Annual Conference of the American Institute of Architecture Students
AIAS forum - 2006
The 2006 Annual Conference of the American Institute of Architecture Students – AIAS FORUM was a memorable event for the over one thousand students that attended it. The four-day Conference took place in Boston Massachusetts from December 29, 2006 to January 1, 2007, and marked the culmination of the 50th Anniversary of the AIAS. This year’s conference was themed “Transitions.”
The conference reflected back on transitions made in the last fifty years in architecture and design, and also explored the changes needed to improve the quality of architecture and design. Issues of sustainability, urban development, technology, and design were discussed through a variety of seminars, tours and keynote presentations.
FORUM is the annual meeting of the AIAS. The conference provides students with the opportunity to learn about important issues facing architectural education and the profession, to meet students, educators, and professionals with common interests, and to interact with some of today's leading architects through keynote addresses, tours, workshops, and seminars.
With support from the AIABaltimore and Mahendra Parekh, AIA, Dr. Richard E. Lloyd of the Institute of Architecture and Planning at Morgan State University, and other local architecture firms which we sincerely appreciate, Morgan State University was represented by four members of the AIAS—Deneal Belgrave, Ronnie Thomas, Jessica Jones and Titilayo Ayodele. To these four Morgan ambassadors, FORUM was an exciting adventure. The 8-hour road trip was memorable. It was filled with laughter and excitement although we did not know exactly what to expect, since it was the first AIAS forum Morgan State University attended. The four days, turned out to be educating, inspiring, and eye-opening.
Trips and tours, among the events program to help enhance our learning experience by exploring the city’s historic nature, its unique architecture and attributes included visits to the Exeter Library and the Yale Center for British Arts by Louis Kahn; World Headquarters of Christian Scientists; the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library by I.M. Pei; MIT Baker House by Alva Aalto; Trinity Church by H.H. Richardson; and the MIT Stata Center by Frank Gehry,
The Forum included keynote speeches from Brian Healy, AIA; Ted Landsmark, MEvD, JD, D.A (Hon), PhD; Jane Weinzapfel, FAIA; and Stephen Kieran, FAIA. Apart from the encouragement and information delivered by the speakers, most importantly about the importance of sustainability and the value of our education, and the growing need for graduates in architecture as well as understanding the responsibility that comes along with the degree, we also felt the importance of an increase in the number of minority students in architecture. From the over one thousand students, only 1% were black, a staggering reality.
Enhancing the experience even more, was a night of fun and feasting. The New Year Beaux Arts Ball in the heart of historic downtown Boston was the best way to relax, dance, and meet other architecture students.
Although the conference itself has long ended, its impact is still alive. The students of MSU-AIAS with the support of our local AIABaltimore, are coming up with ways to reach out to our fellow students, to establish a stronger AIAS at Morgan State University. Some of the things we learned at Forum such as Freedom by Design, an AIAS community service program, utilizes the talents of architecture students to radically impact the lives of people in their community through design and construction solutions.
With this, we can accomplish a lot, and establish awareness for all. As we look forward to the next conference, FORUM 2007 to be held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, we hope that our chapter begins to gain the awareness needed and the information and education these events have to offer.
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