• The mission of the Michigan Architectural Foundation is to increase public appreciation of how architecture enriches life.

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Founded in 1957 by the Michigan Society of Architects (now AIA Michigan), the Foundation is one of the oldest architectural foundations in the United States. Its close link with AIA Michigan continues to this day despite the growing independence and strength of the Foundation. The Michigan Architectural Foundation is recognized as a tax-exempt organization, as described in the Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3), whose mission is to serve and promote good Architecture. The Foundation is governed by an elected Board of Trustees, with a majority being members of AIA Michigan. The Foundation develops and funds programs that advance the public awareness of good architecture and quality environments.

Our goal is to support a variety of activities and programs of related organizations that showcase or preserve good architecture and to develop funds to support the Mission of the Foundation. Our programs include:

Public Awareness Chapter Grants
Presidents Scholarship
Evans Memorial Preservation Grant
Silent Auction at AIA Michigan Mid-Summer Conference
“Architecture – It’s Elementary” Program
Special Projects

The main source of income to the Foundation continues to be growing the money derived from the accumulated assets and investments of the Foundation. Solicited gifts and donations to the Foundation, primarily from AIA Michigan members, indicate an increased awareness of the Foundation’s value to the profession. We continue to nurture new sources of funding and the growth of what will one day be a self-sustaining endowment. The Foundation has the fiduciary obligation to build and protect its investments so that its mission of support can continue and grow for many years to come. The Foundation’s assets are carefully invested in conservative funds.

MAF Presents the David Evans Preservation Award
By Ralph Graham, Hon. Aff. AIAMI, MAF Trustee

One of the most satisfying projects and events at the Michigan Architectural Foundation (MAF) is the administration of The David Evans Preservation Award. It is awarded through a competition of non-profit organizations, which are engaged in architecturally significant preservation projects and demonstrate adequate financial resources and member capacity.

This year the grant is being awarded to the Charlevoix Historical Society for its efforts in rehabilitating its 1867 lighthouse. The renovation is in progress including returning the exterior to the original fiery red color. Completion of the project is scheduled for early August at which time the $7500 award will be marked with a ceremony at the lighthouse, located at the entrance into the Pine River channel.

Ralph Graham, left, presents the check for the David Evans Preservation Award to
the Charlevoix Historical Society at the recent MAF Award Reception in Lansing.

The David Evans Presentation Award has, since 1998, been awarded to projects throughout the lower and upper peninsulas of Michigan. MAF, The Clannad Foundation in Bloomfield Hills, Quinn/Evans Architects in Ann Arbor and an anonymous endowment presently fund the annual award.

The grant is administered by jurors; Nancy Finegood, Director of Michigan Historic Preservation Network; Jennifer Radcliff of the Michigan Lighthouse Association; Kathryn Eckert, noted architectural historian; and architects Randy Case, Park Smith, Carl Roehling, Ed Francis, Mike Quinn, Les Tincknell, and David Knapp. Jeanne and Ralph Graham represent Clannad Foundation and Ralph serves as chairman of the Evans Award Committee.

Qualified non-profit organizations interested in applying for The David Evans Preservation Award in 2010 should contact Lynne Merrill-Francis at AIA Michigan, 313-965-4100 for information and details about how to apply.

Evans Grant Application at: MAF Grants
 

The non-profit Michigan Architectural Foundation helps the public understand, evaluate, and enjoy architecture and recognize the importance of the built environment. To that end MAF sifted through nearly 500 of Michigan’s most architecturally significant buildings to winnow the list for this volume to 150. With photographs by Balthazar Korab and text by John Gallagher, this book will be indispensable for anyone wanting to learn more about Michigan’s impressive architectural legacy... 

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