Archinect - News

Executive Director of Open Architecture Collaborative responds to lawsuit against Architecture for Humanity

2016-07-22T18:04:00-04:00

Whatever the outcome, we will learn from their actions. I am confident that those who committed wrongdoing will be held accountable, and that any malfeasance will come to light. I am also confident that the final story will adequately celebrate all the good that AFH did.

Garrett Jacobs, executive director of the Open Architecture Collaborative, responded to the $3M lawsuit against AFH via a statement on medium, taking care to make clear as crystal the fact that while OAC grew out of AFH, it is "unequivocally an independent organization, a California LLC and Public Benefactor Corporation, and is pursuing our own 501(c)3 federal nonprofit status." As such, OAC won't be affected by the lawsuit.

After AFH shuttered and announced bankruptcy in early 2015, many volunteers felt as if the rug had been pulled underneath them, unsure of what led to such an end. About a year later, the OAC was founded on the basis of the strong community of volunteers who hoped to continue AFH's mission. While the lawsuit may not affect the OAC structurally or its members directly, it could certainly change the way the volunteers regard AFH—potentially compromising its much-lauded reputation as a non-profit focused on humanitarian design.

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Introducing Open Architecture Collaborative, the rebranded offshoot of Architecture for Humanity affiliates

2016-03-10T06:00:00-05:00

After Architecture for Humanity closed in 2015, affiliate Chapter Network took its place, appointing Garrett Jacobs as its leader (with whom Archinect had the opportunity to speak with on its podcast). Now, the Chapter Network organization is formally rebranding itself as the Open Architecture Collaborative (OAC), and after they formalize their bylaws, they will apply to become a 501(c)3 organization. The OAC's twin goals are to help younger design professionals get field experience while also providing greater access to design services for marginalized communities.

In a press release, Jacobs said that “The OAC’s launch shows that our process works. This past year we turned participatory design on ourselves to create this organization. There are hundreds of people who experienced this process and now feel an incredible sense of ownership over this name and this brand. Imagine what our places would be like if everyone felt as proud in their creation and change. We are working to ma...

Architecture for Humanity's Next Chapter: Garrett Jacobs, executive director of AFH-offshoot the Chapter Network, on One-to-One #11

2016-02-15T14:59:00-05:00

This week's guest is Garrett Jacobs, executive director of the phoenix rising from Architecture for Humanity's ashes, known as the Chapter Network. When Architecture for Humanity went bankrupt last year and shut down its formal, executive functions, many affiliated chapters continued business as usual, that is, operating independently with volunteer coalitions. To rally those troops and continue AFH's mission of humanitarian and sustainable development, the Chapter Network was formed, and Jacobs, formerly an outreach coordinator for AFH, became its organizing leader.

As an architectural designer trained literally in the midst of Hurricane Katrina, and with past experience organizing for Code for America, Jacobs has big plans for the newfangled Network. We spoke about how to continue Architecture for Humanity’s legacy without making its same mistakes, and how to create a sustainable organization on a shoestring.

Listen to One-to-One #11 with Garrett Jacobs:

iTunes: Click here to list...

"How the Sausage Is Made" – All the recent news that's fit to podcast, on Archinect Sessions #50

2016-01-28T18:44:00-05:00

For our 50th (!!!) episode, we discuss the biggest news items from the last week – everything from the latest BIG and DS+R shake-ups to a surprisingly controversial Seattle homeless shelter – and it's been a doozy. We take a look at:

The "sphincter from which digital art issues" (according to one Archinect commenter), aka DS+R's new Berkeley Art Museum; the controversy surrounding BIG's latest client (referred to here as the Washington "Pigskins"); recent discussions of diversity issues that have arisen on the site; the 25-year old who won a big World War I memorial design contest; MoMA's updated expansion plans; Architecture for Humanity's potential second life; and more.

Listen to episode 50 of Archinect Sessions, "How the Sausage Is Made":

iTunes: Click here to listen, and click the "Subscribe" button below the logo to automatically download new episodes.
Apple Podcast App (iOS): click here to subscribe
SoundCloud: click here to follow Archinect
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Architecture for Humanity spin-off, Chapter Network, appoints Garrett Jacobs exec director

2016-01-21T17:06:00-05:00

Although Architecture for Humanity officially closed in 2015, a new international, volunteer organization that was affiliated with AFH called The Chapter Network is following in AFH's sustainable-development footsteps, and has chosen Garrett Jacobs as its executive director. Jacobs attended Tulane University before going on to work with both Architecture for Humanity and the Chapter Network. “I am incredibly honored to serve this network,” Jacobs said in a press release. “It is a true privilege to organize with designers committed to creating a more equitable, sustainable and socially just world using the power of participatory design. I started with this group as a volunteer, and I will strive to build an organization where anyone can envision a similar pathway to leadership. Through honesty, trust, patience, and really hard work, we will build the organization we believe can change the world through design.”

Related:

Anatomy of a non-profit: dissecting Architecture for Humanity's ...