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Have A Seat

What is Have a Seat?

The Young Architect's Forum of AIA Triangle's community service project began in 2008 when Henry Newell, a local intern architect, read an article in the News&Observer detailing the lack of seats or shelter at bus stops around the Triangle. A mear 25% of these bus stops have benches and less than 10% have shelters. With this inspiration in mind, YAF set out to make a difference through the design and building bus benches.

The Have a Seat project all started with a newspaper article and an idea. Henry Newell, an intern with PBC+L in Raleigh, read a disturbing article in the News & Observer which painted a picture of people sitting on shopping carts or precariously standing in the street while waiting for the bus. 

At the time this article was published, a few of the local young interns were trying to create an informal gathering to talk architecture. Although Raleigh has a surplus of young talent, there are very few creative outlets for that talent. The big question was, could AIA Triangle help provide an outlet to the young architects in the area? Could the AIA help to establish a community service oriented design build project that solved both problems simultaneously? Would young architects in the area come together to use their design talents and building knowledge to design and build bus stop benches?

A lot has transpired since Henry first brought the idea to me, as director of the Young Architects Forum. We met with representatives from Capital Area Transit and the City of Raleigh Transit Authority to gain a better understanding of how they work, what they need and how to best serve the community through this project. The program goal is to provide a desperately needed service to the public and enrich the discourse between the community and the local architects. Also, the project will provide a vehicle for intern architects to fulfill their volunteer service requirements for the Intern Development Program.

Currently, Capital Area Transit, on average, spends $200 per bus bench. Through the use of innovative design, volunteer labor, recycled materials and some AIA sponsorship, we hope to offer an alternative that speaks meaningfully to the community while balancing those real budgetary challenges. The project will be a huge success if just a few benches are constructed in this first year.


Check Out Our Bus Benches

2010

2011  

Want to get involved in Have a Seat?

e-mail yaft.seat@gmail.com or come back to this site for announcements.























Have a Seat Recognition 

01.11.2010 :   
Follow up coverage in the News&Observer: 

10.07.2010 :  
Have a Seat wins a Sir Walter Raleigh Award!