APRIL 2001
ALUMNI PROFILE:
KIPPY TATE, AIA
In March 2000, Kippy Tate, AIA was appointed by Governor Don Siegleman as the first African-American Director of the State of Alabama Building Commission. The Commission's primary function involves promulgating and enforcing the State Building Code through plan reviews and inspections, and serving as the state's contract adminstrator for state-funded construction.
After graduating with a Masters of Architecture degree from Tuskegee Institute (now Tuskegee University) in 1985, Mr. Tate was employed by Gresham, Smith and Partners in Birmingham, Alabama for more than 12 years. While in Birmingham Kippy worked with the Birmingham Chapter of the American Institute of Architects to honor Wallace A. Rayfield, a notible African American pioneer architect. In 1994, the first Wallace A. Rayfield Award was presented to clients who promoted positive social change through architecture.
Kippy serves on the Board of Directors for the Montgomery Habitat for Humanity, Montgomery Area United Way, Landmarks Foundation, and the Alabama Historical Commission. In 1998, he was the Business Outreach Chairman for the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce and in 1999, Kippy was appointed to the Community Business Advisory Board for the Montgomery Advertiser. Kippy also served as a judge for the 2001 Engineering Excellence Awards Statewide Competition and on the Old Schools in New Century Task Force. Currently, Mr. Tate makes space available in his private office for Tuskegee University's architecture students to conduct their Urban Studio activities.
Professionally, Kippy is a member of the American Institute of Architects, Montgomery, Alabama Chapter, Southern Building Code Congress, and the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards, and National Association of State Facilities Admistrators. Mr. Tate is licensed to practice architecture in 15 states and since 1985, he has obtained experience in a varity of building types which supported his leadership role in the following projects:
Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail-Predesign for the City of St. Jude Interpretive Site Development and Museum, Montgomery, AlabamaGreyhound Bus Station Museum Predesign, Montgomery, AlabamaDexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church-Parsonage Masterplan, Montgomery, AlabamaAlabama Power Company Headquarters, Addition and Renovation, Birmingham, AlabamaTrident Neuroscience Center, North Charleston, South CarolinaVanderbilt Stallworth Rehabilitation Hospital, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TennesseeProfessional Office Building III, Baptist Medical Center Princeton, Birmingham, Alabama Westside Gardens Townhomes, Detroit, MichiganTendercare Veterinary Clinic and Hospital, Montgomery, AlabamaEastlake OB/GYN Clinic, Addition and Renovation, Jackson, MississippiAlabama Sheriff Youth Ranch Headquarters, Montgomery, AlabamaHEALTHSOUTH Rehabilitation Hospital in Alabama, Florida, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and TexasHEALTHSOUTH Diagnostic Centers in Alabama, Georgia, and New York, and TexasHEALTHSOUTH Outpatient Centers in Alabama, Arkansas, California, Idaho, Maryland, Ohio, Tennessee, and TexasKippy is a native of Montgomery, Alabama and is the son of Charles and Arcadia Tate. He is married to the former Gena Cillie of Montgomery, Alabama and they are the proud parents of two sons--Kippy Kole Tate and Koby Kyle Tate.
Mr. Tate has been selected as the ALUMNI OF THE YEAR by architecture and construction students, and faculty of Tuskegee University. Kippy will be presented with the Alumni of the Year award at the Annual Student Awards Banquet, schedule to be held the evening of April 20, 2001, in Tuskegee, Alabama. He Attributes his sucess to God, his partents, his co-workers, and his family.
END
4/4/2001
