For AIAS Chapters
The AIAS is committed to giving students educational resources, professional development, and community service opportunities. FBD empowers architecture students to become owners in a process that radically impacts the lives of people through design-build and engagement solutions.
HOW TO START A FREEDOM BY DESIGN™ PROGRAM
- Identify these key roles for your FBD leadership team:
- Director: The Director acts as the primary link between the local AIAS Chapter, FBD Program and the AIAS National Office. Directors are responsible for general oversight of the program, attending the annual AIAS Freedom by Design tracks and Orientation each year at AIAS Grassroots, leading client interviews and overseeing the selection process, and periodically with support from their chapter president, updating the AIAS on the progress of the program.
- Project Manager: The Project Manager is responsible for overseeing a specific Freedom by Design project, including establishing the schedule, coordinating the building approval process, and coordinating team members.
- Fundraising Manager: The Development Manager is responsible for developing a fundraising strategy and locating donated materials.
- Public Relations/Historian: The Historian is responsible for recording the progress of the team and assembling presentations for the AIAS Office.
- Design Mentor: The Design Mentor is a licensed, local architect who helps to guide the team through the design process, including critiquing design solutions and overseeing the creation of construction documents.
- Construction Mentor: The Construction Mentor is a local builder who helps to guide the team through the build process, including providing the necessary equipment and overseeing the actual construction. You will need to include a form signed by all team members acknowledging their willingness to participate for the project year.
- Attendance at the annual AIAS Grassroots Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C. is strongly encouraged for incoming FBD leaders, especially the FBD Director. FBD sessions at Grassroots will establish the fundamentals of FBD management and project delivery.
HOW TO START A FREEDOM BY DESIGN™ PROJECT
- Starting in the Fall of 2017, chapters can declare a FBD project at any point in the year. After finding a client and defining a project, declaring allows the AIAS National Office to feature your project nationally and provide support.
- After declaring, chapters also have the option apply for *grant funding. Grant applications close: November 15th, March 15th, May 15th.
*Grants are allocated based on quality of grant application, grant availability, and attendance at Grassroots.
For Communities
The AIAS Freedom by Design Program empowers architecture students to become owners in a process that radically impacts the lives of people through design-build solutions. While our students are eager to design and build this work – this must be a community effort. The AIAS is seeking participation from individuals, companies, and organization to support this innovative and important endeavor.
How You Can Support A Freedom By Design Program
Professional Involvement
Local professionals are crucial in the client selection and design build process. Licensed architects, contractors, and health professionals make ideal mentors as students design, attain permits, and construct life-changing solutions. Your volunteered time is a two-fold benefit to AIAS Freedom by Design. While you help create a safe and affordable project for the client, your mentorship of the students in an AIAS Freedom by Design team is also invaluable.
Community Involvement
Partners within communities are not only critical to the execution and completion of projects but also in the selection of clients in need. If you know of a person, business, or family in your community that could benefit from the work of Freedom by Design connect with us at freedom@aias.org.
For Professionals and Mentors
Architectural Mentorship
Architecture is a practice that is deeply rooted in a value for mentorship between professional and student. A Design Mentor is vital to the success in projects in a variety of ways though client relations, professional guidance, and experience.
Construction Mentorship
The most meaningful part of the program for some students in the program is the opportunity to build a client their own custom made design. Students crave an opportunity to gain firsthand experience from building these powerful projects. This portion of the program would not be possible without the professional skills of a Construction Mentor.
During this mentoring opportunity, construction professionals can work closely with the students to create cost-effective solutions while also educating the next generation of designers on aspects of site conditions, common building practices, and site.
