This April, we invited architects, designers, contractors, students and our neighbors to join us and answer the question: how would you build the future?   By hosting this thought experiment via a community event in a local park, our aim was to connect the architecture and design community of Atlanta with new ideas and fresh insights, and learn more about how we can all shape our future. We got answers from architects, mothers, designers, artists and kids.   We now move that goal forward, online. At www.functionatl.com/CBE2011, you can see some photos of the event, add your own vision of the future and spur the conversation on by sharing through social media.

As an architect, a successful project is a combination of your vision and the right product specifications to meet your project’s design goals. To help building product manufacturers (BPMs) develop better products to meet architects’ design challenges, Function: is hosting its first meet-up June 11 at 10 am during the AIA 2010 National Convention and Design Expo in Miami. We will be touring 10 booths as a group to interact with products in person and talk with manufacturer experts. Exploring some booths together will provide BPMs with much needed feedback that can ultimately help us all design and build better buildings.

FUNCTION: HOSTED AEC CONFERENCE VIA TWITTER Hosted on Twitter, Function:140 was a day-long online conference designed to address topics of importance to the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) community. Understanding that time is valuable and connectivity is critical, Function: planned the conference to reach the community in an innovative and efficient way. Using #Function140, Function: created an informal atmosphere for open discussion, questions and idea-sharing amongst industry peers.   Overall, the conference was a success, with participation from people across the AEC community including architects, media and Building Product Manufacturer (BPM) marketing professionals. Held from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm on April 16, conference participants Tweeted about the usefulness of social media in the industry, discussed industry trends, shared useful AEC blogs and exchanged ideas for coping with the difficult economy. Questions were asked. Advice was given. Experiences were shared.   As involvement in online social media in this industry continues to grow, Function: looks forward to hosting more of these events to promote dialogue within the community.  To learn more about future online conferences and events, follow Function: online @FunctionAtlanta.

One thing that we are all short on is time. It seems that 24 hours is never enough and our lives continue to get increasingly busy. When it comes to our jobs, we all want to learn, succeed, share knowledge and experiences and meet with our peers. For many in the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry, building codes, trends and even materials change or are updated so often that connectivity is critical. And let's face it, in today's economy staying on top of your game and networking are crucial. Conferences are great for helping people connect to other industry professionals. But, they can also be time consuming; often requiring travel, conference fees, transportation expenses, etc. At Function: we realize how busy you are, so we’ve created a new sort of “meeting of the minds”: Function 140. Hosted via Twitter, it's an online conference where you can quickly hear others thoughts (in 140 characters) and share your own. Log in and out all day long. Bring up whatever topics interest you the the most. You're the expert. Not to mention you can search the tag #Function140 to track the conversation! This will be an open forum onFriday, April 16, 2010 starting at 10am EDT. A place where architects, buidling product manufacturers and others can share ideas, ask questions and get to know each other a little bit better. We will discuss topics including product specification, LEED, BIM, retrofit and more. Using #Function140 as a hashmark, we’re hoping to create an informal, easy place for everyone in the AEC industry to connect and talk. As the date gets a little closer, we’ll tweet to remind you, so make sure you’re following us @FunctionAtlanta! See you there!

FUNCTION: Helps Support Young Architects and Designers as a Sponsor for Emerging Voices 08 and 48 Hour Design Competition Exhibitions Dedicated to Celebrating the Work and Talent of Atlanta’s Young Architecture and Design Community 

To help highlight the work of young architects and designers in Atlanta, Function:, an integrated marketing agency that specializes in reaching the building, architecture and design community, recently signed on to be a sponsor of the Emerging Voices 08 and 48 hour Design Competition. The exhibitions are hosted by the Museum of Design Atlanta (MODA) and presented by the Young Architects Forum of Atlanta’s AIA Chapter. The exhibitions will be open at MODA from October 16 through mid- December.

 “We are excited to be a part of these exhibitions and to have the opportunity to help Atlanta’s young architects and designers present their work to the public,” said Dana Castle, principal and director of strategy for Function:. “For years, Function: has worked closely with architects and designers throughout North America to gain insight into their views of the industry, which helps us provide clients with a deeper understanding of these critical influencer groups. Our sponsorship of the Emerging Voices 08 and 48 House Design Competition is another way for us to show our support for the architectural community and stay connected with our audience.”

 Emerging Voices is an annual competition that highlights the high quality work of young architects and designers throughout Atlanta. Established by Atlanta’s Young Architect’s Forum (YAF:ATL) and theAIA Atlanta Chapter, Emerging Voices provides a public forum for winning entrants to exhibit their work and draw attention to architectural practices in the area that might not otherwise be recognized by the architectural community. This year’s winners are ai3, Houser Walker Architecture and Ed Akins II.

 The 48 Hour Design Competition will be the first event of its kind and an annual tradition for years to come. Modeled after the “charette” – a pre-1900 exercise at the Ecoloe des Beaux in France – the competition will test the design ability of Atlanta’s students, designers, and architects (up to 10 years of licensure) to respond in a brief period of time to pertinent design issues facing the city of Atlanta. All entries will be exhibited in the gallery at MODA in conjunction with the Emerging Voices 08 exhibition.

For more information on Emerging Voices 08 and 48 Hour Design Competition, visit www.museumofdesign.org or http://www.aiaatlanta.org/members/index.cfm?menuval=members&Fuseaction=yaf.

Atlanta-based integrated marketing agency Function recently hosted a group of leading architects for a roundtable discussion to obtain a deeper knowledge of architects as an influencer segment in the building and construction industry, aid in the development of strategic marketing programs, and to keep clients ahead of the competition and privy to the latest industry trends.