A Decade of Houston Initiatives: The Rice Design Alliance Grant Program

The Rice Design Alliance (RDA) is planning an exhibition of winning projects of the Initiatives for Houston grant program. The program supports projects that focus on Houston's built environment, its history, present condition, and future development. The exhibition will run from January 14 – February 26, 2010 at the Architecture Center Houston (ArCH). The public is invited to attend the opening reception on Thursday, January 14, 2010 from 6-8pm at ArCH. EVENT INFORMATION What: A Decade of Houston Initiatives: The Rice Design Alliance Grant Program Dates: January 14 – February 26, 2010 Location: 315 Capitol, Suite 120, Houston, Texas 77002 Details: Parking is available in the Hobby Center Garage The exhibition will highlight and celebrate past winners of the RDA's Initiatives for Houston grant program. More than 15 of the past grant recipients will be featured. Jean Krchnak, RDA Board member and curator of the Architectural Visual Resources at the University of Houston College of Architecture, and the visionary behind the exhibition idea, said "The RDA Initiatives for Houston program provides students and faculty of the area's schools of architecture with the extraordinary opportunity to explore new and emerging practices: a chance to do in-depth studies of complexities in the real world in a much more highly nuanced manner than is offered in conventional practice. This exhibition will celebrate the first decade of winning projects and share the imaginative vision of the participants.” RDA is dedicated to the advancement of architecture, urban design, and the built environment in the Houston region through educational programs, publications, and active programs to initiate physical improvements. Initiatives for Houston illustrates RDA’s commitment to impact the betterment of the Houston region, through tangible projects and funding. The Initiatives for Houston program is designed for students and faculty of the Rice University School of Architecture, the University of Houston College of Architecture, Prairie View A&M University, and Texas Southern University. A jury evaluates proposals for their potential for making a significant contribution to our understanding of the city. To date, RDA has awarded more than $80,000 in grants through Initiatives for Houston. Past grant recipients have created an astonishing range of publications, plans, and built projects. For example, the green roof of the Burdette Keeland, Jr. Design Exploration Center at the University of Houston was funded in part by an Initiatives for Houston grant from the Rice Design Alliance. The Initiatives for Houston program was the topic of a presentation called ”The Power of Philanthropy” given at the Texas Society of Architects convention in Houston on October 24 at the George R. Brown Convention Center. About Rice Design Alliance Rice Design Alliance is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of architecture, urban design, and the built environment in the Houston region through educational programs, the publication of Cite: The Architecture + Design Review of Houston, and active programs to initiate physical improvements. RDA commentary on current Houston architecture and design issue is at www.offcite.org. Membership is open to the public.