Join AIA Cleveland for the second Sketch & Sip of the summer!

Sketching is an important tool for architects: it is used to communicate with clients and to express ideas. The end product can be as simple as a few lines on a napkin or a detailed study of a specific object. Whatever your sketching style or experience, AIA Cleveland invites all professionals, students, and friends to join us for the second of four Sketch & Sips to be held throughout the summer at various locations around Cleveland.

The July event will take place at BrewDog where attendees can take in the view of Downtown Cleveland from across the river as inspiration for a sketch.

Drinks and food will be available for purchase at BrewDog.

Items to bring: a sketchbook and your favorite drawing utensil.

Business of Architecture is intended to help AIA members and the greater Cleveland design community to enhance their business acumen through expert presentations or moderated panel discussion, interactive peer discussions, and the exchange of practical tools, all centered around topic-specific facets of the design practice. 

A healthy and balanced workplace isn’t just good for the employee’s well-being, it’s essential for business success! 
This session will explore how evolving workplace expectations, shaped by multiple generations, are influencing organizational culture today. We’ll take a closer look at how changing attitudes toward work-life balance, flexible scheduling, and remote work are impacting employee satisfaction, retention, and overall firm performance.

Through real-world examples, we’ll analyze workplace policies such as family and personal leave, parental benefits, mental and physical health initiatives, and professional development programs. These policies play a vital role in promoting diversity, supporting long-term success, and building resilient, engaged teams.

Join us as we unpack generational mindsets and share strategies to foster a more balanced, inclusive, and high-performing workplace.

EVENT LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

1. Evaluate generational expectations on workplace policies such as family and personal leave, maternity and paternity benefits, vacation time, leadership development, community advocacy, to assess their impact on employee retention and organizational success.

2. Explore real-world examples of workplace policies that have fostered diversity, loyalty, and long-term success by challenging traditional generational expectations.

3. Discuss the evolving expectations of work-life balance, office culture, including standard work hours, flexible schedules, and remote work options, and how these shifts impact employee satisfaction and productivity.

4. Understand the critical role of mental/physical health and well-being in the workplace, recognizing that a well-balanced employee contributes to a more engaged and effective workforce.

PANELISTS:
Elizabeth Corbin Murphy, FAIA, APT-RP, NCIDQ
Principal Emeritus at Perspectus
Adam O'Brien, AIA
Principal | Business Center Practice Leader at Stantec
Emily Leu, Assoc. AIA
Designer at GPD GROUP

MODERATOR:
Katie Lester, AIA, NCARB
Project Architect at HBM Architects, LLC

Cleveland is repositioning its future as a dual waterfront city.

Take a deep dive (pun intended!) into Cleveland’s river and lakefront development and lend your experience and expertise to plans and projects that re-imagine our city’s shore-core-shore relationship.

The second event of “From Cleveland to Coastland” features a Downtown Cleveland design-your-own adventure discovery tour* followed hosted by local professional chapters of AIA, APA, ASLA, ULI and coordinated by the Greater Cleveland Partnership.

Don't delay, registration closes on 6/23 at noon.

3 HSW available!

In Fall 2024, we set the groundwork for a “design-your-own adventure” walking tour of Downtown Cleveland in June 2025, where small groups of multi-disciplinary professionals will explore, document, discuss and make recommendations for enhanced connections, wayfinding and placemaking in our collective vision to remake Cleveland as “Coastland”! We are thrilled to be one of the first events partnered with the new North Coast Yard on Cleveland’s downtown lakefront. Join us on June 26th and get exclusive access to the space and the people who made it happen.

All “Coastland” events enable collaboration, encourage discourse and feedback between design professionals and civic decision-makers as well as enhance cross-sector networking across members of our professional design organizations, student chapters and allied businesses.

Make new industry connections! Experience Cleveland’s newest outdoor space at the North Coast Yard! Win prizes! All are welcome to register with special pricing for students, under 35s and members of AIA, APA, ASLA and ULI!

Thursday, June 26th, 2025

3:30pm - Doors Open / Registration

4:00pm - Program & Adventure* Begin

5:30pm - Post-Walk Program &

Networking Social Begin

AIA, APA, and ASLA members use code CLEAIA-APA25 to receive a discounted member rate. Registration closes on 6/23 at noon.

Earn up to 3 CEUs (AIA, APA, ASLA & ULI members) ***Exact # pending!***

Ticket includes: Pre and post walk materials and program and the design-your-own walking adventure, Uber transportation to the team “drop point”, on-site parking at the North Coast Yard, food and 1 beverage from Zanzibar Soul Fusion, chances for prizes and up to 3 CEUS (in the works!).

AND Don’t miss out on event #3 on Wednesday, July 30th in Playhouse Square hosted by the City Club of Cleveland where we will publicly present discoveries, gather YOUR recommendations and strategize with decision-makers on how to move the vision into reality.

Event sponsorships are still available! Learn more online here.

About North Coast Yard

North Coast Yard is a temporary pop-up lakefront public space opening this summer on the city-owned lot next to the Steamship Mather and north of Browns Stadium. Launched by the North Coast Waterfront Development Corporation,  the project marks an important first move towards a vibrant, equitable waterfront that connects people with nature and the city— building on the community vision established in the North Coast Master Plan. Learn more at northcoastyard.com.

About the North Coast Waterfront Development Corporation 

The North Coast Waterfront Development Corporation (NCWDC) is a not-for-profit entity that is charged with the equitable development of Cleveland's North Coast Lakefront as a destination for residents, business, recreation and visitors. It is responsible for the planning, financing, land management, development coordination and oversight, community benefits, and oversight of a New Community Authority and development districts to implement Cleveland's downtown waterfront development project. Our mission is to implement a unified vision for the Lakefront and drive the execution of catalytic projects that will reshape the city. Learn more at clevelandnorthcoast.com

Take a breather before the summer fun begins with this month's Wellness in Design event: Yoga & Wine! Yoga instructor Angela Sanders will guide us through an all-levels flow, followed by a variety of snacks and drinks courtesy of our event sponsors. All are welcome at this event, so bring a friend or co-worker!

If we are lucky, we will practice outside on the Superior Viaduct.

Sign up today!

Join AIA Cleveland for the first Sketch & Sip of the summer!

Sketching is an important tool for architects: it is used to communicate with clients and to express ideas. The end product can be as simple as a few lines on a napkin or a detailed study of a specific object. Whatever your sketching style or experience, AIA Cleveland invites all professionals, students, and friends to join us for the first of four Sketch & Sips to be held throughout the summer at various locations around Cleveland. The June event will take place on the second floor of the Edgewater Beach House where attendees can take in the view as inspiration for a sketch.

Drinks will be available for purchase at the Edgewater Beach House bar.
Items to bring: a sketchbook and your favorite drawing utensil.

This seven-story, 273,000 square-foot mixed-use development will introduce 184 residential units—comprised of studios, one-, and two-bedroom layouts—in the heart of the Gateway District, between Erie Court and Bolivar Road. The project creatively incorporates a previously existing underutilized parking garage into its design, while a second former garage on-site has been demolished to make way for the new structure.

Attendees are required to bring their own PPE. The following PPE is required to tour the site: Hard hats, gloves, glasses, safety vest, long pants, close-toed & hard soled shoes or boots. A portion of this tour will take place outside; attendees should dress appropriately for the weather.

Each year, AIA Cleveland members in conjunction with other design organizations and Cleveland young professionals board the Goodtime III cruise ship for the Annual Design Cruise. 

With yearly attendance regularly over 350+ people this is a great networking opportunity and a fun way to kickstart your weekend. Passengers will enjoy food and drink while the Goodtime III navigates down the Cuyahoga River and out onto Lake Erie.

Boarding begins promptly at 5:30pm.

Cruise departs promptly at 6:00pm and cannot wait for anyone.

Sponsorships:
Commander = $600 (Includes 4 Cruise Tickets + 8 Drink Tickets)
Lieutenant = $300 (Includes 2 Cruise Tickets + 4 Drink Tickets)

Tickets:
$32 (+ Transaction Fee) = General Admission
$16 (+ Transaction Fee) = Children (Ages 5-12)
$160 (+ Transaction Fee) = 6 Ticket Bundle (Buy 5 Tickets, Get 6th Free)

Tickets Include: Boat Admission, Pizza + Additional Food Options
Attire: Dress is Casual (Theme is Coastal/Nautical)

Celebrate spring with a walk around the Brookside Reservation with this month's Wellness in Design event!  This event is free to attend, so lace up those sneakers, grab those walking sticks, and bring a friend (or pet!) along for the evening.

Please plan on meeting by the restrooms that are near the parking lot.  We will wait around until about 6:05 before heading out.

An optional Happy Hour is planned after our walk at Opal on Pearl.  More information will be provided at the time of the event.

The St. Ignatius Campus Expansion project is part of school's Vision '30 strategic plan, a central pillar of which is Academic Preparation and Excellence. The project is a much-needed reimaging of the school's instructional spaces. With no major renovations or expansions in over 20 years, core academic classroom facilities were outdated and in need of significant improvements. The core elements to the project are the renovation of existing academic spaces and the construction of a new addition. The renovation portion of the project focuses on spaces for the arts, 3D printing/making, liberal arts classrooms, student commons, a varsity locker room, athletic training room and space for athletic administration. The new addition enables the school to offer space for student services such as tutoring, counseling, and college prep.

The tour will be led by members of the design team (Perspectus, architect of record) with representatives from Turner Construction.
Other project partners include Fielding International and Ozanne Construction.

Learning Objective 1: Attendees will observe the construction, detailing and installation of the firewall that separates the existing construction from the new construction.
Learning Objective 2: Attendees will observe the construction of the bridge that will connect the 1895 building to the new addition. With little to no documentation of the 1895 building, some conditions could not be known until demolition began. The project team will discuss the challenges of matching floor elevations and working through details as construction is in process.
Learning Objective 3: Attendees will understand the process the design team underwent to reallocate the central plant operations to make way for the new building addition.
Learning Objective 4: Attendees will tour the project construction and have an opportunity to ask questions about observed conditions.

Attendees are required to bring their own PPE. The following PPE is required to tour the site: Hard hats, gloves, glasses, safety vest, long pants, close-toed & hard soled shoes or boots. A portion of this tour will take place outside; attendees should dress appropriately for the weather.

1 HSW CEU

PPE needed: Bring your own hardhat, glasses, safety vest, and closed toed shoes/boots.

Looking to test your architectural sketching skills? Ready to go head-to-head against other design professionals? In this electrifying night of architectural artistry, teams will compete in a battle of speed, skill, and architectural knowledge.

Sketchers will transform blank canvases into rapid fire depictions of the world's most iconic buildings in this quick and high-stakes game of architectural picture guessing.

1 LU

Learning Objectives:

• Attendees will visualize different building typologies and historic structures.

• Attendees will consider how best to illustrate concepts quickly and in a way that best conveys the written prompt.

• Attendees will observe different drawing and sketching techniques and interpret how these different styles express the architectural concepts.

• Attendees will identify different architectural concepts and structures being sketched by other attendees.

This session describes how the characteristics of materials used for drinking water, wastewater, and fire-suppression systems impact the health, safety, and sustainability of buildings.

1 LU /1 HSW

Learning Objectives:

• Assess strengths and weaknesses of common materials used for drinking water and wastewater systems, including cast iron, (C)PVC, copper, HDPE, PEX, & steel, in contrast with failed piping materials such as lead and polybutylene plastic.

• Describe sustainability issues and relative product lifecycles of piping materials starting from production, through use, and after demolition.

• Give examples of fire risks and firestopping considerations that impact the health and safety of occupants and first responders.

• Understand how material characteristics relate to other important health and safety factors such as leaching, permeation, and water age.

Presenter:

Paul Hagar serves as Executive Director of Safe Piping Matters. Prior to that, he worked at a major manufacturer of architectural products for two decades, becoming a passionate advocate for improving the sustainability and health of the built environment. Paul partners with organizations across the AEC industry to raise awareness of the role of piping in safe, high-performing buildings.

Virtual Event: A link will be emailed closer to the event date.

Join the AIA Cleveland Historic Resources Committee in celebrating Preservation Month!

On May 8th, you are invited to attend a presentation about the beginnings of the movement to preserve Cleveland’s architectural heritage, the beginning of the Cleveland Landmarks Commission and the importance of these efforts to this day for economic revitalization a and the city’s cultural identity.

CSU Professor Stephanie Ryberg-Webster, Ph.D. addresses this topic in her 2023 book “Preserving the Vanishing City”, as well as the unique challenges, conditions, and opportunities facing Cleveland’s historic preservation community during the 1970s and 1980s.

She will expand on the topic, share her research, and answer Q&A’s from the audience.

Schedule

5:30 refreshments served in the Special Collections Lobby

5:45 Explore items from the Special Collections

6:10 Presentation

6:45 Q&A

Enjoy the outstanding spaces of the Cleveland Public Library Building and join the Library in celebrating the building’s 100 year anniversary.

Attendees will have the opportunity to see up-close rare architecture books from the CPL Special Collection, as well construction-trades-related brochures form the Schweinfurth Collection and preservation-related archival papers from the Robert C. Gaede Collection.

AIA members can count this lecture towards their Continuing Learning goals. The event is open to the public and the book will be available for purchase, courtesy of Mac’s Backs.

This event is co-sponsored by AIA Cleveland and The Cleveland Public Library.

Accessible accommodations are available – please notify hosts for directions.

Prepaid parking in the garage across the street available.

We will recognize and celebrate the Green Building Challenge winners.  These projects, both new build and renovation projects, have saved energy, conserved water, reduced emissions or created a healthy environment for those who live or work in the building. This year our judges added an additional category: Community Redevelopment – to recognize a special project.  We’ll hear highlights from each project.

Overall Winner: Cleveland Museum of Natural History

Energy Conservation / Management Winner: ODOT District 4 Headquarters

Water Conservation / Management Winner: Cleveland Public Library Hough Branch

Water Conservation / Management Honorable Mention: Cleveland Public Library Rockport Campus

Transportation Emissions Reduction Winner: Medley and Fairfax Market

Healthy Buildings Winner: Fremont Ross High School

Community Redevelopment Honorable Mention: Cleveland Pickleball Center

 2 continuing education credits for: BOMA, AEE, ASHRAE, AIA HSW, certificate of attendance available for self reporting for Professional Engineers, LEED and others.

$15 for members of AIA, ASHRAE, 2030 Districts, Cleveland State University, Greater Cleveland Partnership, USGBC, City of Cleveland

$20 for non-members

Students attend for free

Zoom link will be sent once registration is complete.

THANKS TO OUR PRESENTING SPONSOR NOPEC

Celebrate the end of those April showers with this month's Wellness in Design event, Yoga & Wine! Certified yoga instructor Leo Walsh is back to lead us through an hour of all-levels yoga... which may be outside if those pesky showers hold off!

After our session, we will have time to connect over wine and snacks courtesy of our event sponsors. This event is open to ALL (even non-members!) so sign up today. Space is limited!

SAVE THE DATE!

AIA Ohio advocates for the profession of architecture - but we can't do it without you!

Hold Wednesday, April 30, on your 2025 calendar for AIA Ohio Advocacy Day.

Design is the heart of architecture—and Body of Work is bringing it back to center stage. This powerful lecture series will celebrate design in its purest form, featuring historic and contemporary architects who shape the built environment with beauty, intention, and innovation.

Body of Work is more than a lecture series—it is a movement to reaffirm the primacy of design in architecture, to honor Cleveland’s architectural past and present, and to create a lasting and collective Body of Work resource for future architects to understand the legacy of those who went before and the importance of what they have inherited.

5:00 - 5:30 Check-in and Wine Social / light appetizers  (Schweinfurth's original drawings of Trinity Cathedral hand drawn on linen will be on display)

5:30 - 6:10 Anthony Hiti presents Charles Schweinfurth's Body of Work 

6:10 - 6:30 Q&A Session 

6:30 - 7:15 Cathedral Tour with special behind the scenes access to the columbarium (crypt) under the cathedral

The WIA+ Annual Celebration will feature Catie Newell, founding principal of “Alibi Studio,” and Director of the MS in Digital and Material Technologies program at the University of Michigan!

Catie Newell captures light and darkness in material and optical assemblies that amplify our connection to a living and spinning earth. As the founding principal of the architecture, art and research practice Alibi Studio and Professor of Architecture at University of Michigan’s Taubman College, Newell's research and creative practice has been widely recognized for exploring heartfelt design construction and materiality in relationship to location and geography. The work ranges in scale from buildings to products and explores the world most deeply with material systems and optical captures. Alibi Studio deploys material explorations, illumination and darkness, and novel modes of occupation, all created through rigorous prototyping and custom fabrication tools. The process of fabrication is a vital act in the work, often amplifying material effects and situational influences, intertwining the processes of making and design across the entire project. Her work has been shown in secret venues in Detroit, in the Arsenale of the Venice Biennale, in night-sensitive museum solo shows, and in the landscape of rural Michigan. Newell is a Lucas Fellow, a Kresge Artist Fellow, a WOJR/Civitella Fellow, and a Fellow of the American Academy in Rome.

Join AIA Cleveland as we fight to the last bell in this month's Wellness in Design event: Beer and Boxing! Noel Salwan, an award-winning boxer & supporter to two Olympians, will lead us through an hour of all-levels boxing before we recover with some snacks and beer courtesy of our event sponsors.

The cost to attend is only $7 and is open to everyone - even if you aren't an AIA member. Sign up today.... space is limited!

This event has been cancelled.