AIASF Announces Equity in Education Initiatives
The San Francisco chapter of the American Institute of Architects
envisions a hub for equity at its new Center for Architecture + Design
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA CONTACT:
Erin Cullerton | Lisa Boquiren
media@aiasf.org
AIA San Francisco and the Center for Architecture + Design’s new proposed café/retail store-front space is designed to feel welcoming, spark curiosity, and encourage dialogue between professionals, students, and the public alike. Rendering courtesy of Aidlin Darling Design.
San Francisco, CA | May 20, 2021 – The American Institute of Architects San Francisco chapter (AIASF) proudly announces new and expanded initiatives related to equity in education, in keeping with the chapter’s mission to reduce barriers to professional development for its members and to provide even more accessible paths to education for all architecture and design students.
AIASF is launching The Pflueger Architecture Scholarship—supported by a matching grant from AIA National—to benefit architecture students at City College of San Francisco (CCSF). The scholarship is named after Timothy Ludwig Pflueger, a working-class draftsman who never attended college, but who went on to become a prominent architect in the San Francisco Bay Area during the first decades of the 20th century. He designed every major building at the Ocean campus of what became CCSF, where its architecture department is located.
More than 560 students a year are enrolled in the two-year program in either architecture, interior design, or construction management at CCSF—more than 70% are BIPOC, nearly 60% are below the age of 35, and most have either part-time or full-time jobs. Amily Huang, CCSF Architecture Department Chair, states, “Any help to students matters. Through the scholarship program, our students who strive for excellence —and help not only themselves, but also the department and the entire student body—can also be formally acknowledged and rewarded for inspiring others.”
In addition to the scholarship program, AIASF is expanding its student memberships to those who are currently enrolled in over 12 units per semester in community college architecture programs at CCSF and at College of Marin. For George X. Lin, Architecture Program Coordinator and faculty at CCSF’s Architecture Department, access to the AIA is one way to bridge the divide between community colleges and universities like UC Berkeley, Harvard, and Sci-Arc. He explains, “Education should be a right, not a privilege. For many students, CCSF is their only pathway to becoming an architect. Through the membership opportunity with AIASF, CCSF architecture, design, and construction students can be introduced to the AIA and its integral role in helping shape their career paths—through mentorship and internship programs, continuing education, and perhaps, crucially, professional development and networking opportunities.”
The Pflueger Architecture Scholarship will build on the success of AIASF’s existing initiatives—The Sandra I. Vivanco Community Alliance Education Award, which recognizes an organization or individual for excellence in the advancement of architectural education and the Equity by Design (EQxD) committee programming, which features ongoing professional events related to “minimizing barriers to maximize potential for success.” In partnership with AIA National, AIASF also runs The AIA Emerging Leader Scholarship, to support the future of practice, and the annual Perspectivas exhibition at California College of the Arts (CCA), as well as The Howard Friedman Scholarship at the College of Environmental Design (CED) at UC Berkeley. AIASF has provided $30,000 since 2000 for both programs.
AIASF’s Latinx in Architecture (LiA) committee, which produces the Perspectivas exhibition, has also granted nearly $53,000 over the last five years, through its partnership with alumni of the Chicano/a Architectural Student Association (CASA) at UC Berkeley’s CED and ByDESIGN, who have been awarding scholarships to CASA for 10 years. Beneficiaries include students like Samantha Andalon, an honor student in the architecture undergraduate program, who plans to focus on low-income and BIPOC communities and Anthony Gonzales who was born in an agriculturally-based city in California, and raised by his immigrant, single mother. He says, “I was in the 8th grade when I decided to study architecture, and when I think of the future, I envision working hard, traveling, and moving to another place to explore opportunities. Thanks to CED and CASA, my dreams will become possible.”
Among AIASF’s early partners for its equity in education initiatives is California College of the Arts (CCA), which in 2012-2013 hosted AIASF’s The Missing 32 Percent symposia on women in practice. CCA Dean of Architecture Keith Krumwiede notes, “Throughout our history, CCA has been a progressive institution with a strong impulse toward equity.” He adds, “We’re proud that our campus can provide a platform for our community partners and other like-minded organizations, like AIASF.”
“Our equity in education initiatives are focused on advocacy, action and equally importantly, impact,” states Stacy Williams, AIASF Executive Director. She notes, “With the street-front location for AIA San Francisco’s new hub for architecture and design opening next year, we are creating a cultural venue for equity to significantly expand our capacity for onsite programs and resources, and make these accessible to even broader audiences of professionals, students and the general public.”
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About AIA San Francisco | www.aiasf.org Instagram Facebook Twitter LinkedIn
Serving the Bay Area for nearly 150 years, the American Institute of Architects, San Francisco (AIASF), is committed to enhancing the quality of life in the Bay Area by promoting excellence in architecture, design, and the built environment. AIASF represents members practicing architecture, as well as allied community professionals in San Francisco and Marin counties. As a resource for our members and the public, AIA San Francisco strives to improve the quality of life in the Bay Area through community involvement, education, advocacy, public outreach, and member services.
About the Center for Architecture + Design | www.centersf.org, https://aiasf.org/futurehq
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The Center for Architecture + Design (the Center) is a 501(c)3 organization dedicated to creating a public-focused dialogue on architecture, design, and the built environment in the San Francisco Bay Area. Established in 2005, the Center enhances public appreciation for architecture and design through more than 400 virtual and in-person exhibitions, lectures, tours, film series, and other programs, including the annual Architecture + the City festival and San Francisco Living: Home Tours. Located within a 10,000 square foot storefront in the historic Hallidie Building designed by an exciting “Community of Builders,” spearheaded by Aidlin Darling Design, BCCI, and Salter, AIA San Francisco’s new Center for Architecture + Design will inform, educate, and inspire new ideas about architecture and design in the Bay Area.
About the Architecture Department at City College of San Francisco (CCSF) | ccsf.edu
CCSF’s mission is to provide a foundation of education in architecture, interior design, and construction management with an emphasis on enabling students to transfer to a baccalaureate program to continue their education and providing students with training and skills to support entry into the job market. CCSF believes in the promise of every student and challenges each individual to live a creative and productive life based on their social and cultural values. The Architecture Program prepares students with core skills to advance in the architecture profession and related fields to professional degree-granting institutions to continue on a path to becoming licensed architects.
For interviews, please contact Erin Cullerton or Lisa Boquiren at media@aiasf.org.
