Member Spotlight!  We love our members!

Kenneth Dennis, AIA of Studio Architecture

Bio: I am a transplanted Floridian living in Middle America.  I received my Bachelor of Design from the University of Florida (Go GATORS!) in 1992 and attended graduate school at the University of Oklahoma where I received my Master of Architecture in 1994 and met my wife of 22 years, Tiffany.  We have three children - Carter (20), Brody (18), and Madison (14).  I am a Principal at Studio Architecture.

How long have you been a Member of AIA?   20+ years

What is your favorite AIA Central Oklahoma event?  The Architecture Tour during Architecture Week.  It is a great opportunity to showcase the amazing work that is being done right here in Oklahoma City by some incredibly talented architects!

What is your favorite thing about AIA? I love the camaraderie of the various social events throughout the year - AIA luncheons, Architecture after 5, etc.

What attracted you to the architectural profession? As a child, I was always drawing and designing things, building models, etc.  In high school when I started exploring my options for college and future career, I became intrigued with architecture and decided to study it at the University of Florida.

What is one of your favorite designs in Central Oklahoma?   One of my favorite projects that I have worked on here in Central Oklahoma is the Homeless Alliance WestTown Resource Center and Day Shelter.  This project opened my eyes up to the number of homeless people, individuals and families, here in Oklahoma City, and their struggle to access services that could help them.  It also gave me an opportunity to work with a project team that truly understood that "design makes a difference in everyone's life" and we were able to create a warm, welcoming environment for people that are typically overlooked in society.

Do you do any volunteer work? Yes.  I am currently serving my second term on the Board of Education for Deer Creek Public Schools.  Education is a passion of mine and I love having the opportunity to serve my community!  Additionally, I have created an interactive learning experience for elementary school students that explains what architecture is and how it relates to what they are learning in school (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math).  The program is titled, "Architecture - It's Elementary".  I have presented this program to several schools in central Oklahoma and have a blast doing it!

Window or aisle?  Window - I love looking at the changing patterns of landscape and geography as the plane flies overhead.

On a Saturday morning, where would we typically find you? After dropping my daughter off at dance class, I work out at the Downtown YMCA for a couple hours - cardio, weight lifting, swimming - I mix it up.

This year, the Oklahoma City Foundation for Architecture and AIA decided to change up the KIDesign program and take it from a Saturday program and bring it into some of our local schools.  Our goal is to reach a wider audience of children and to be able to reach those who may not otherwise come in contact with an architect. 

 

This fall semester we will be bringing KIDesign to Eugene Field Elementary's  after-school  program.  We will be teaching 4th and 5th grade students each Wednesday from 3:30 - 5:30 p.m.  One hour will be 4th grade and one hour 5th grade.  We will teach the same program to both classes.  This is where you come in.  We need architects to volunteer to teach a day.  We have the curriculum outlined by topic but the architect volunteers would be responsible for putting together the activities for your day.  We are using Architecture, It's Elementary  as a guide so this will give you ideas for your program.  

 

So to sum it up, the volunteer's commitment would be putting together the class activities for your day, teaching the day of the program and completing the volunteer form for a background check for OKC Public Schools.  That's it!  And your participation may inspire one of the kids you teach through this program to pursue architecture someday.  How cool is that?! 

 

Below are the dates we still need help.  We'd like two architects or intern architects for each class and then two additoinal volunteers.  We expect 15-20 kids in each class.  To volunteer or for more information, please email Melissa at [email protected].

September 12

Shapes & Streetscapes / Neighborhood Walk / Sketching

from Architecture It's Elementary: K-1, K-2, 1-3, 2-6, 3-4, 5-6)

September 26

Our Environment & Sustainability / Ecology and the Built Environment / Animal Houses/ Build Bird Houses

from Architecture It's Elementary 5-7, 4-7

October 26

Infrastructure / Structures

from Architecture It's Elementary 5-4, K-5, 2-3

November 7

Design A City: Part 1: City Layout / Building Type Selection / Meet with the Client

November 28

Design a City Part 3: Final Building / Learn About Virtual Reality

As part of Leadership AIA we ask each class to take on a Community Service Project. This year's class is ambitious and decided to take on 3!!

We are asking for support to complete the three projects: Happy Hands Education Center, Positive Tomorrows and Tulsa Girls Art School.  

CLICK HERE for more information and opportunities to donate.

A big thank you to:

Marcia Gallant, AIA

Zach Pate

Steven Sprague, AIA

Kristi Warren 

for supporting this endeavor through their donation!  

MORE INFORMATION HERE!

These events are free but let us know you're coming.  

It's a great opportunity to meet new people, support a 

local brewery and learn from architects.  

Robert and Cara Barnes have recently purchased the two story building  at 626 W Main (across from Main Street Arcade). They will be moving into the loft upstairs and will lease the ground floor commercial space .