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Our History
Founded in 2009, AIA Philadelphia initiated a mission to spark passion for architecture and design creating an organization and physical hub at 1218 Arch Street called the Center for Architecture . The AIA Bookstore was our public face, flanked by AIA Philadelphia Chapter and Community Design Collaborative offices. By 2013, we embraced the DesignPhiladelphia festival, leading to our 2016 rebranding as the Center for Architecture and Design, showcasing our multidisciplinary approach. Today, we've rebranded our organization as DesignPhiladelphia and renamed our building as the Center for DesignPhiladelphia. This critical step reinforces our dedication to inclusivity and collaboration in design.
Our Vision
Together we will create a Philadelphia that is designed for and by everyone.
Our Mission
We foster a vibrant design community from K through Career committed to excellence, inclusivity, and connections. As an invaluable partner in Philadelphia’s progress we do that through multidisciplinary design education, our annual festival, and public programs.
Our Purpose
For Students We Will: Open doors and create economic opportunities in underserved communities, providing support and sparking new aspirations, from kindergarten through career.
For Designers We Will: Support and unify the design industry across the region; make it less siloed, more inclusive, and more consequential in Philadelphia’s progress.
For the Philadelphia Region We Will: Ignite the narrative that Philadelphia is a global design hub, charting a new course to make design by and for everyone.
Board of Directors
|
Paul Avazier, AIA,
LEED AP BD+C, NCARB |
Board Chair
Principal, Atkin Olshin Schade Architects
|
Elizabeth Class-Maldonado |
Board Vice Chair
Program Director, Trust for Public Land
|
Robert Shuman Jr. ,
AIA, LEED AP
Board Treasurer
Associate Professor of Architecture, Temple University
|
Uchenna Okere
Board Leadership Committee
CEO & Founder, RevitGods
|
Chesenia Burgos, NCIDQ, IIDA
Associate, Interior Designer, Stantec
|
Anne Cummins
Chief Operating Officer, Gattuso Development Partners, LLC
|
Kristin DeFrancisco
Vice President, Operations & Finance,General Building Contractors Association
|
Richard J. Davies, Esq.
Partner, Milber Makris Piosadis & Seiden LLP
|
Lauren Dougherty
Executive Director, Design & User Experience, FS Investments
|
Alex Feldman
Managing Director, U3 Advisors
|
Rob Fleming,
AIA, LEED AP, NOMA
Director of Online Innovation, University of Pennsylvania
|
Steven H. Gendler
Principal, MIS Capital LLC
|
Michael Herrmann, PE
Principal, O'Donnell & Naccarato
|
Christine Sabatini
Senior Business Development Manager, Langan
|
Alan Jacobson
Founder & President, Exit Design
|
Alicia Karr
President, Meyer Design Inc.
|
William W. McDowell, III
Senior Director, Development, National Development
|
Stephen W. Pouppirt
President, Clemens Construction Co., Inc.
|
Katrina Rogus
Studio Director, SALT Design Studio
|
Lance Rothstein
Former Vice Principal, Hill International Inc.
|
James W. Rowe, AIA
Principal, Studio Agoos Lovera
|
Denise Thompson, AIA , LEED BD+C
Principal, FCA
|
Joe Val
Principal, Ally Partners
|
Kelly Vresilovic,
AIA, LEED AP
Senior Architect, Preservation Design Partnership, LLC
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Tya Winn, NOMA
Executive Director, Community Design Collaborative
|
Rebecca Johnson
Executive Director
|
Michael Spain,
Associate AIA, NOMA
Director of Design Education
|
Jermaine Jenkins
Director of Development and Strategic Partnerships
|
Lois Sesskin
Events and Venue Sales Coordinator
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Jelani Abdul-Aziz
Creative Projects Manager
|
Liza Niles
Program Manager of Design Education
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Tiffany Mercer-Robbins
Communications Consultant
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Carly Clifford
Program and Content Coordinator
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Jordan Kauwling
Facility Assistant
