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ARCHITECTURAL FOUNDATION OF CINCINNATI
Architectural Foundation of Cincinnati is a nonprofit membership organization dedicated to increasing awareness and appreciation of the built environment of Greater Cincinnati. AFC is headquartered at 127 West Ninth Street, Cincinnati OH 45202.

The foundation sponsors publication, lectures, tours, and exhibitions that explore architecture and design in the United States, especially the designs of architects, planners, and landscape architects with significant works in Greater Cincinnati.

Membership is open to the public, and the foundation seeks to establish a dialog between design professionals and the public. Its outreach programs connect professionals with adults, schoolchildren, and college students.

AFC is the principal sponsor of Architecture By Children, an annual competition that has grown to involve as many as 40 schools, thousands of children, and hundreds of architect volunteers who visit public, private, and parochial schools to teach about architecture.

AFC was founded mainly by members of AIA – Cincinnati Chapter, but now draws widespread support from the community and other design and construction professionals. Cincinnati had hosted the American Institute of Architects’ national convention in 1980. It was only the second national AIA convention to be held here, and the first in the 20th century. Robert Gramann and Robert Dorsey were among the leaders who wanted to keep alive the national interest in Cincinnati's built environment. They decided to do that through an architectural foundation, and a generous bequest from architect Nelson Felsburg assisted their effort.

The Architectural Foundation of Cincinnati (AFC) was incorporated in 1982. AFC founders decided that the mission of the organization would be to foster awareness, appreciation, and improvement of the built environment of Greater Cincinnati through education.

Some of the group's early advocacy efforts were to educate architects and engineers about the merits of sustainable design and to make the public more aware of the talents of area architects and designers. They gathered a number of architectural drawings by distinguished local architects and deposited them in the Cincinnati Historical Society Library, where they are preserved and available to researchers.

Early publications and programs
For a time, AFC operated an architectural bookstore in partnership with AIA on the second level walkway of the 580 Building. In 1987, AFC published a book Architecture and Construction in Cincinnati: A Guide to Buildings, Designers and Builders, which is out-of-print. The foundation sponsored a television documentary, exhibits, and lectures by local and nationally known speakers, including William Turnbull, Robert Stern, and Graham Gund.

Youth education a priority
Michael Schuster created the Architecture by Children (ABC) program, which he directed for four years. David Scott Ross and Cole + Russell Architects (now CR architecture+design) continued the tradition for AFC until the program was adopted by AIA, with AFC dedicated to providing financial aid. The program has won national acclaim.

Architectural history book
With the support of President David Ross and Treasurer Don Junker, AFC sponsored research for a major book. Architecture in Cincinnati: An Illustrated History of Designing and Building an American City. Alice Weston spearheaded the project and contributed more than 200 color photographs of existing buildings, cityscapes, and landscapes. Ohio University Press published the 368-page book, written by a team of architectural historians, in 2006. It is the first comprehensive history of the significant public, institutional, and commercial architecture in the area. Readers and libraries throughout the world have purchased the book. Sue Ann Painter was lead author and managing editor. Co-authors were Beth Sullebarger and Jayne Merkel. Professor John Hancock served as editorial advisor.

An early initiative of AFC had been to recognize important contributors to the built environment. Carl Strauss was the first recipient of the honor, which became known as the Apple Award. Many other notables have since been honored.

The Foundation grew extensively during the 2006-2007 presidency of Michael Moose. The book was published and proceeds from sales enabled the foundation to increase educational programs and grants. Moose led AFC participation in two Over-the-Rhine design charrettes, and he edited and designed the published reports for both. He and Kelly Kolar also initiated the annual Hammer Award, which AFC gives to a practitioner.

Downtown office and gallery
In August 2008, with Christine Schoonover as president, the Foundation moved into its own headquarters in a renovated historic house at 127 West Ninth Street, Downtown, where it is able to host small meetings and exhibitions. AFC’s first research publication premiered online in 2008 on www.architecturecincy.org. It is architectural historian Walter E. Langsam’s Biographical Dictionary of Cincinnati Architects, 1788-1940. The dictionary is widely used by scholars and journalists in the United States and abroad. The AFC office accepts reference calls from researchers.

Mary Ellen Goeke, an art historian and museum professional, volunteered to be the AFC exhibit advisor, and in 2009 she installed two exhibits—Urban Panoramas: Recent Photographs of Thomas R. Schiff and SAMARA: Realization of a Usonian Dream, drawings, furniture, and artifacts from a Frank Lloyd Wright designed house in Indiana. David Arends was elected president at the Annual Meeting in November 2009.

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