VIDEO: AIA Opens Architectural Resource Center
Date Posted: October 29, 2019
Posted In: Ideas, News, Organizations,
Tuesday night (Oct. 29) a celebration was held to recognize the successful completion of a two-year collaborative effort by the American Institute of Architects St. Louis (AIA St. Louis) with the grand opening of “The Resource Center @ AIA St. Louis”.
The 1,600 sq. ft. Resource Center is located adjacent to the first-floor AIA offices in the Lammert Building (now known as the T-Rex Building) at 911 Washington Ave. in Downtown St. Louis.
The Center will house over 250 product lines and samples through which designers can peruse samples, products and brochures to specify products for their projects. Over 150 lines are currently represented at the Center; each day new products lines are being displayed in the materials library.
In addition to the products library, the Center will feature “product-of-the-month” and regular programming during early morning coffee; as well as CEU programs, lunch and learns; and happy hour learning opportunities.
The Center will be open during the weekdays and in the evenings with keypad access.
“The Resource Center is an education and materials library collective to benefit the entire design and construction community in St. Louis,” Lucy Williams, AIA St. Louis president, said. “We hope to foster collaboration between material and product selection, lunch and learns, and product demonstrations.
“Our goal is to be the biggest and best materials library in St. Louis while increasing partnerships and opportunities between product representatives and the design community.”
Williams acknowledged project contract LANDCO and its subcontractors. She thanked donors to the project including LANDCO, AUTCO Home Appliances, Engraphix Architectural Signage, Golterman & Sabo Architectural Products, Hallmark Stone, Lighting Associates, Negwer Materials Inc., Silestone, and St. Louis Lighting Group.
She recognized the Resource Center Committee, a group of AIA members contributed to surveys, financial data, evaluate feasibility and location, design options, lease negotiations, cost estimates, recruitment of product representatives and contract administrations. Members of that group included David Kehm, Christner; Steve Anton, Anton Architecture, Inc.; Steve Hunsicker, 527 Architects PC; Todd Jacobs, TRJ-Facility Advisor; Valerie Michalek, Lamar Johnson Collaborative; and Michelle Swatek, executive director, AIA St. Louis.