Cincinnati / Ohio / United States
Cincinnati hosted the American Institute of Architects national convention in 1980. It was a big success only the second national AIA convention to be held here, and the first in the 20th century. Robert Gramann was a member of the national board. David Richards was Cincinnati Chapter AIA president that year. Robert Dorsey, who co-chaired the convention, became president of the AIA chapter in 1981.Encouraged by national and local interest in Cincinnatis built environment, the local convention leadership decided the time was right to establish an architectural foundation. They wanted to involve people beyond the architectural community in fostering appreciation for local architecture. One impetus for setting up a nonprofit organization was a generous bequest to AIA from architect Nelson Felsburg. A portion of the Felsburg fund was given to establish the Architectural Foundation, which organized informally in 1981.The Architectural Foundation of Cincinnati ( AFC ) was incorporated in 1982. There were 81 founding members. Leaders of the movement were Woodie Garber, Gavin Gray, Gary Herfel, Loren Poff, Robert Robertson, Thomas Tilsley, and Robert Williams. 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.The first annual meeting was held March 4, 1982. At that time Robert Dorsey, who had served as chairman, was elected interim president and, subsequently, president. Larry Bonhaus was vice president ; Louise Wiedeman, secretary and executive director ; and Gavin Gray, treasurer. Other founding board members were Woodie Garber, Dennis Back, James Murphy, Gerald Hammond, George Roth, Robert Robertson, Martin Rose, Thomas Tilsley, and Robert Williams. Some of the groups 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. The founders had a sense of history. They gathered a number of architectural drawings by distinguished local architects and deposited them in the Cincinnati Historical Society Library, which cataloged and preserved the collection.As one of its first projects, AFC operated an architectural bookstore in partnership with AIA. The attractive shop was on the second level walkway of the 580 Building. In 1987, AFC published a book of its own Architecture and Construction in Cincinnati: A Guide to Buildings, Designers and Builders. George Roth was a driving force for this ambitious Cincinnati Bicentennial project. Other team members were Robert Dorsey, Forest D. Atkins, and Russell E. Moody. P. Richard Krehbiel designed the handsome pocket-sized book, which was printed by the C.J. Krehbiel Co.In addition to the guidebook, AFC sponsored a number of educational programs in the late 1980s. A film produced by WCET-TV, Bricks and Mortar: People and Dreams, told the story of local construction projects and the individuals who built them. In 1988, AFC curated a temporary architectural exhibition in the Westin atrium. It was produced for the Cincinnati Bicentennial celebration. The foundation sponsored lectures by local and nationally known speakers, including William Turnbull, Robert Stern, and Graham Gund.
