UCFA Returns After a hiatus caused by COVID, the Utah Center for Architecture (UCFA) is back and functioning as the charitable partner of the Utah Chapter of the American Institute of Architects. UCFA is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to educate the public about the power of the built environment to shape our lives, communities and culture. It is the outward-facing facet of the architectural community. While AIA Utah serves the profession and professionals directly, UCFA provides a platform for interactions between design professionals and the public to promote a dialogue about the built environment. It does so through programming, grants and initiatives such as the Elizabeth Mitchell Travel Grant, EECTA and the Utah Architects Project. Unlike the AIA, UCFA is a 501(c)(3) and can fundraise for efforts directly related to its mission. In 2025, UCFA will be reinitiating the Elizabeth Mitchell Travel Grant and the Educating Elementary Children Through Architecture program, also known as EECTA. Elizabeth Mitchell Travel Grant According to Robert Pinon, AIA, UCFA’s president, the $2,000 travel grant will be awarded to an emerging professional who has graduated from the University of Utah within the last eight years and has been working in the architectural industry for the past 12 months. The purpose of the grant is to help the recipient travel and study design by experiencing architectural innovations in other places. As part of the grant requirements, the recipient will also do a public presentation about their experience. The application opened on March 28, and details are shared on the UCFA website at utahcfa.org. The deadline for applications is April 25, and the award winner will be announced in late May. Educating Elementary Children Through Architecture During the fall of 2025, UCFA will revive its EECTA program. Usually taught by architects in the K-12 market sector and supported by classroom teachers, EECTA is an eight-week curriculum that teaches the basics of architectural design to students in grades 4-6. The one-hour sessions encourage creativity, and students learn problem-solving techniques by designing structures, neighborhoods and communities. The final project is a “box city” comprised of multiple schools’ connected cityscapes. Over 2,000 students from Logan to Provo have participated in the past. Pinon says that the primary goal of the program is to visit schools and create interest in architecture among elementary school students from all backgrounds. Interested firms are invited to provide teams to participate in this program. They can contact Angie Harris Roberts at ahroberts@aiautah.org or Robert Pinon at robert.pinon@mhtn.com. The Utah Architects Project The Utah Architects Project is a database of Utah architects and projects. It is a rich and valuable resource for understanding Utah’s history. Phase 1, which includes architects from roughly 1847 through 1949 is complete. Pinon noted that the project was initially funded by a partnership between the University of Utah and the UCFA, but the cost of the endeavor was too high to continue. If, in the future, funding becomes available, UCFA will embark on Phase II. Robert Pinon, AIA, President, UCFA 22 REFLEXION
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