Center for A+D
Grand Opening Day
Friday, September 8
Center for Architecture + Design at 140 Sutter Street in Downtown San Francisco!
Kick off the 20th Annual Architecture + the City Festival and celebrate the new Center for Architecture + Design opening with all-day architecture-inspired activities, music, exhibitions, and tours of the new Center.
Spread the word — see our 2023 Media Toolkit here!
Center for Architecture + Design Grand Opening
6:00 - 9:00 PM
Let the festivities begin — live music by The Tipsy Gypsy Trio in Trinity Plaza around the corner from the Center and FREE pizza and beer/wine from Escape From New York Pizza to Grand Opening ticket holders only!
Designed by the team at Aidlin Darling Design and brought to life by BCCI Construction, this space will surely breathe new life into San Francisco's downtown. It will serve as a public arena for architecture and design exhibitions, discussions, and much more.
The creation of this Center has been a collaborative endeavor that spanned many years, made possible through the generous support of AIA San Francisco members, industry partners, and individual contributors. Countless individuals, companies, and architectural firms have pitched in, offering financial support, services, and materials to bring this vision to life.
We invite you to celebrate this milestone with us!
AIA Member: $85 | Non-Member: General Admission: $100 | Student: $35
Daytime festivities are free and open to the public!
In the Center
9:00 - 11:00 AM | Fresh Brew: Rebuilding DowntownSF
An informal, around-the-table morning conversation in the Center's new cafe—coffee provided by Système D Cafe by Cento Coffee. A 20-minute guided tour of the new Center follows this Fresh Brew program.
All are welcome for this discussion moderated by Daniel Perez, AIA, 2023 AIASF Board President
Around the table will be:
- Allison Albericci, AIA, AICP, LEED AP BD+C, Senior Architect / Urban Design, City and County of San Francisco
- John Quintos, Owner, Cento Coffee
-Judy Najera, General Manager, Wilkes Bashford
- Julia Pfeiffer, CEO, Holy Nata Portuguese Bakery
- Mark Hogan, AIA, LEED AP, Principal, OpenScope Studio
10:00 AM / 12:00 PM / 2:00 PM | Guided Center Tours
Gain insights into the journey that brought the Center to life and explore the contributions of numerous individuals and companies that turned this visionary idea into reality. Tours will begin at the 140 Sutter Entrance.
12:00 - 4:00 PM
Love Letters to San Francisco / Sketch Sessions
Join the AIASF Urban Design + Infrastructure Committee (UDIC) and write a Love Letter to San Francisco — the beautiful city that we call home. A palimpsest of histories and personal stories layered on its physical form, this city has a unique urban character. Think of your favorite memory of a place in San Francisco and why it’s special to you. Take this opportunity to express to the city what you love about it and what your hopes and dreams for it might be! Sketch at your leisure in the Système D Cafe with MakeArt Kits provided by our partners at the Museum of Craft and Design.
In the Gallery
Featured Artist Ryan Bucko. A San Francisco-based painter and sculptor, Bucko’s work focuses on connecting with architecture and the pursuit of purity within form and composition.
Digital Exhibitions
Experience "Lost Landscapes of San Francisco" from the Prelinger Archives, which will feature exciting archival discoveries with evergreen favorites from past years showing San Francisco's people, neighborhoods, infrastructures, and celebrations from the early 20th century through the 1980s.
AIA San Francisco is creating a short film with CRE8R about creating the Center. Images from the film will be on display in our lecture hall.
In Trinity Plaza
As we celebrate the arrival of the new Center, we will also activate downtown San Francisco alongside our neighboring businesses in Trinity Plaza, a POPOS (Privately Owned Public Open Space) nestled between our neighbors at Barry's Bootcamp, Escape from New York Pizza, Caffe Ambrosia, Holy Nata Portuguese Bakery, and 34 Trinity Arts & News.
Stop by for lunch to support these amazing local businesses.
10:30 AM - 4:00 PM -- 20% off your order
Discount applied when you mention "Architecture + the City Festival"
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM -- 10% off your pizza order
Discount applied when you mention "Architecture + the City Festival"
4:00 - 6:00 PM -- Happy Hour pricing;$3 slices and $4 beers
6:00 - 9:00 PM -- FREE pizza and beer/wine to Grand Opening ticket holders only
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM -- 10% off your order
Discount applied when you mention "Architecture + the City Festival"
12:00 - 4:00 PM
Purchase afternoon delights from this family-run business that started in San Francisco in 2011.