by Center for Architecture
On March 7, 2019, the Center for Architecture welcomed over 200 of the architecture industry’s brightest at the seventh annual Guess-A-Sketch, an architecture-themed, Pictionary-style competition that asks teams to guess the names of famous buildings, drawn each year by a different slate of architects brave enough to put charcoal to paper during the game’s high-stakes guessing tournament. Handel Architect‘s team took home the title of 2019 champion, ousting RAMSA as the previous year’s winner.
Emcee Marc Kushner, AIA (Hollwich Kushner) hosted the lively evening while more than 30 buildings were drawn by this year’s honoree sketchers: architects Astrid Lipka, AIA, LEED AP (Rice+Lipka Architects); Suchi Reddy, AIA (Reddymade); Rob Rogers, FAIA (Rogers Partners); and Adam Yarinsky, FAIA, LEED AP (Architecture Research Office).
To Center for Architecture Director of Education Catherine Teegarden, Guess-A-Sketch’s fun and educational atmosphere is a perfect fit for the organization’s mission. “Fundraising for scholarships and subsidies to enable low-income youth and schools to participate in our educational programs is one of our top priorities. Guess-A-Sketch was the brilliant product of brainstorming by our Board and Development staff several years ago when we were looking for a way to raise funds that was consistent with our mission and our approach to teaching kids about architecture through fun and engaging activities,” says Teegarden. “Everybody has fun, learns something about the world of architecture, and helps to raise funds that will allow others to have their own fun, learning experiences with architecture.”
The architect’s best sketches were sold throughout the evening in the Sketch Shop for $50 each. Additionally, audience members were invited to tweet their guesses to win prizes from the following: ((305)) Fitness; The American-Scandinavian Foundation; Artist & Craftsman Supply; Bernhardt Design; Blick Art Materials; Chelsea Piers Fitness; The Cliffs at LIC; Dance Parsons Foundation, Inc; The Drawing Center; Foods of New York Tours; Frames Bowling Lounge; Freud; Insomnia Cookies; Mille-feuille Bakery; Parsons Dance Foundation, Inc.; PopBar; Queens Museum; Strand Book Store; Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre.
“Guess-A-Sketch is one of my favorite events at the Center for Architecture,” says Benjamin Prosky, Executive Director, AIANY | Center for Architecture. “Not only does it raise essential funds for our K-12 Educational programs, it is an excuse for architects and design fans to get together just for fun, while “nerding out” on their knowledge of internationally-renowned buildings.” He adds, “I also love that you can even leave with some of your favorite sketches… I have three framed in my office!”
The event raised over $110,000 to support the Center for Architecture’s K-12 design education programming for schools, kids, and families. We thank all generous participants, especially the competition teams of Ennead Architects, Gensler, Handel Architects (2019 Champions), Lutron, ODA Architecture, RAMSA (2018 Champions), Silman, and Thornton Tomasetti. We’ll see you next year at Guess-A-Sketch!