Month: October 2014

New Deadlines

2015 Oculus Editorial Calendar
The Oculus 2015 Editorial Calendar has been set. If you are an architect in practice or by training, or see yourself as an astute observer of New York’s architectural and planning scene, Oculus wants to hear from you! You may submit projects/topics from anywhere, but architects must be New York-based. Please submit story ideas/projects by the deadlines indicated below to Kristen Richards, Hon. AIA, Hon. ASLA: kristen@ArchNewsNow.com.

Spring 2015: President’s Theme: “Dialogues from the Edge of Practice” A look at how innovative practices are boldly enlarging the purview of the architect, expanding beyond the traditional scope of practice with new services and revenue models, new modes of collaboration with other disciplines, designing new computational tools to better create design, etc.
Deadline for story ideas, projects: 11.07.14

Summer 2015: AIANY 2015 Design Awards
Submission deadline: 02.06.15

Fall 2015: “Home” (In conjunction with the Housing Exhibition + Archtober)
Housing progress report/report card: whether market rate or affordable, is it living up to our expectations for design, community integration, environmental responsiveness? For affordable and low-income housing, is innovation helping us hit the number of units New York City needs? Continuing controversy about “inclusionary” housing (80/20 and such). Off-site/modular construction. BSA Housing Awards. (To include input from social scientists, urban anthropologists, psychologists, etc.)
Deadline for story ideas, projects: 05.22.15

Winter 2015: “Makers in a Digital World” or “Architecture & the Digital World”
How we present and build what we do: 21st-century visual representation, mapping, big data. Life-cycle of a building: an idea, draw it, digitize for CNC milling machines, construct, share via Instagram, etc. Cooper-Hewitt tech “pencils”; etc.
Deadline for story ideas, projects: 08.14.15 Continue reading “New Deadlines”

On View: At the Center for Architecture + About Town

At the Center for Architecture

On View

“The Swiss Touch in Landscape Architecture”
Through 10.31.14

“QueensWay Connection: Elevating the Public Realm”
Through 10.31.14

“ABC Stone Presents “Live Your Life in Stone”
Through 10.31.14

“Archtober Lounge”
Through 10.31.14

“New York New Design”
Through 11.02.14

“New Practices New York 2014”
Through 01.17.15

Opening

“Koen Deprez: Structure and Event”
Opening 11.06.14 Continue reading “On View: At the Center for Architecture + About Town”

Happy Archtober!

Archtober 2014 is finally here! The AIA New York Chapter and 48 partner organizations have been hard at work to bring you a jam-packed month of architecture and design activities. From weekend walking tours, to summits and conferences, children’s programs, and exhibitions, there is something for everyone in Archtober.

Tonight, we kick off the festival with the opening of “New Practices New York 2014,” an exhibition that presents the work of six young NYC-based architecture and design firms. If you couldn’t make it, be sure to stop by the Center for Architecture and check out their site-specific installations in our double height storefront and learn about their unique approaches to the field. While you’re here, don’t forget to head to the Pentagram-designed Archtober lounge to pick up your favorite Building of the Day postcards.

If you don’t know where to start, follow Archtober on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to learn about what’s coming up. We hope to see you celebrating New York City’s architecture and design!

Roundtable Roundup

During Climate Week, the New York League of Conservation Voters (NYLCV) brought together a “City Council Environmental Roundtable” on Tuesday, 09.23.14, with a score of environmental groups and leaders of the New York City Council, which, in concert with Mayor Bill de Blasio, had passed landmark legislation mandating significant carbon emission reductions. NYLCV President Marcia Bystryn praised the “ambitious goal” and introduced the Council Members present, including Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, who Bystryn commended for “sharing their sustainable priorities for the coming year.”

There were introductory remarks by the chair of the NYC City Council’s Environmental Committee, Council Member Donovan Richards, whose district includes the Rockaways, and whose home had no heat or electricity for a month after Hurricane Sandy. He noted: “We understand now we have an obligation to be good stewards on the earth,” adding that “climate change is real; it’s here whether we want to admit it or not.”

Following Richards was NYC Council Member Brad Lander of Brooklyn, who was well known as co-chair of the Council’s progressive coalition and as former chair of the Pratt Center. He spoke of the world we are leaving behind for our children and grandchildren: “It’s no exaggeration to say that we are living at a critical juncture for the future of the planet. Climate change threatens to wreak havoc on the world (and the city) that we hand off to our kids.” Lander said: “At the City Council, we’re using this moment to look closely at how NYC can become more resilient, more energy efficient, more carbon neutral, and more environmentally just. Together with Speaker Mark-Viverito and our colleagues, and with the de Blasio Administration, we are working toward legislation to push building retrofits for energy-efficiency (which also create good jobs and saves money), reduce City purchasing of fossil fuels, update our air and building codes, improve mass transit options, and more.”

Speaker Mark-Viverito started her remarks by saying, “I wanted to share a little bit about what our agenda looks like – public policy that will have a positive impact. It includes the quality of life for communities that have been historically overburdened. We look forward to moving very quickly in partnership with the mayor.” She shared specifics: “We can set ambitious goals because we are building upon a strong foundation, including the 2007 PlaNYC goals on carbon emissions. We are now two-thirds of the way to meeting those 30% reduction goals. We must do more: 80% by 2050. The Council will continue to place New York on the leading edge of combating global climate change. It is not enough to set ambitious goals. The Council will aggressively reduce our own emissions by mandating zero emissions for municipal buildings. Building on our 2009 Greater Greener Buildings Plan, we will require training for building operators and help finance retrofits. Many more of the Green Codes Task Force recommendations will be implemented.” Consistent with the social equity mandate of the de Blasio Administration, she siad, “It is very important to me that all New Yorkers share in the benefits that will result, including NYC Housing Authority residents, through new jobs generated by these initiatives.” She concluded by saying that “the PlaNYC update due in April 2015 must also talk to jobs and widely shared benefits.” Continue reading “Roundtable Roundup”

Power of the People

The UN Climate Summit at the UN Headquarters in New York City on 09.23.14 was assembled to garner support for an agreement that would limit the world to a less than 2-degree Celsius rise in global temperature, an initiative that would require international input. Before the world leaders and industry experts even convened, 400,000 people from all over the world took to the streets of NYC to demand climate justice and political change. On 09.21.14, the whole world was watching the People’s Climate March.

The march sent a powerful message to the UN: the world’s citizens are frustrated with government inaction towards climate change. AIANY members, staff, and friends marched alongside other allies and advocates representing an enormous range of disciplines and priorities. The movement was all-encompassing, and everyone was united in sharing the same goals. The AIANY group joined fellow Green Building Contingent organizations – New York Passive House, GreenHomeNYC, Regional Plan Association, Solar One, and Urban Green Council – in the “We Have Solutions” group, which included renewable energy, food and water justice, environmental organizations, and more. Continue reading “Power of the People”

Taking On Housing Preservation

On 09.16.14, the Historic Districts Council (HDC), the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation (GVSHP), and the Center for New York City Affairs at The New School hosted “Affordable Housing/Historic Preservation: A Roundtable Discussion” at The New School. Moderated by GVSHP Executive Director Andrew Berman, the panel focused on the challenges associated with preserving affordable housing units in New York City.

Panelists included Gale Brewer, Manhattan Borough President; Rosie Mendez, NYC Council Member; Harvey Epstein, associate director and project director for the Community Development Project at the Urban Justice Center; Nadine Maleh, director of Inspiring Places, Community Solutions; and Rachel Meltzer, assistant professor of Urban Policy at the Milano School of International Affairs, Management and Urban Policy at The New School. Speakers emphasized the importance of community participation in the planning processes, and debated how the city should structure inclusionary zoning policies. Continue reading “Taking On Housing Preservation”

Architecture 2030: Design Matters

AIANY 2014 President Lance Jay Brown, FAIA, remembers how, at a 2007 centennial conference at the University of Michigan, Architecture 2030 founder and CEO Ed Mazria, AIA, concluded his presentation on the architect’s role in creating a carbon-free environment by projecting a full-screen headshot of his very beautiful granddaughter: “As I recall, he somewhat tearfully related his concern for her future based on our environment.” Seven years later, and following on the heels of the UN Climate Summit, the People’s Climate March, and Mayor Bill de Blasio’s climate-conscious announcement, Mazria’s outlook seems more optimistic. On 09.24.14, after reiterating the architecture and design community’s critical role in securing a livable future, he outlined the progress made in the building sector since issuing the 2030 Challenge.

The data is harrowing enough to make a pessimist out of anyone. Mazria reminded the audience that, according to the scientific community, an increase above the 2°C global average threshold would result in catastrophic, irreversible climate change. If we continue with business as usual, greenhouse emissions will escalate steadily, and temperatures will rise to levels with no recorded precedents: “By 2050, the Earth’s coldest years will be warmer than the warmest years we’ve ever experienced.” Continue reading “Architecture 2030: Design Matters”

Holcim Awards 2014: “Move Over Pritzker”

On 09.18.14, the Holcim Foundation announced the winners of the 2014 North American Holcim Awards for Sustainable Construction during a ceremony held at the Evergreen Brick Works in Toronto. The location was certainly not an afterthought on the part of the program’s organizers. A former quarry and industrial site located in Toronto’s Don River Valley, it re-opened in 2010 as a environmentally-focused community center designed by prominent firms including Du Toit Allsopp Hiller Architects and Diamond Schmitt Architects.  It is also a former Holcim Award winner, receiving an acknowledgement at the Montreal ceremony in 2008, two years prior to its construction.

As Mark Jarzombek, associate dean at the MIT School of Architecture and a juror for the North America region, noted, the Holcim Awards for sustainable construction are awarded to “shovel-ready” projects – those still in planning phase but with a high probability of being built. The Holcim Foundation hopes that the prestige of winning the award will serve as an impetus for the project’s completion. “The Holcim Awards help projects on the way from paper to realization, sometimes in cement,” added Montreal broadcaster and host Dennis Trudeau.

The fourth international awards competition attracted 6,103 entries from 152 countries.  After all submissions were vetted, eligible submissions were evaluated by jurors representing five different geographical regions – North America, Latin America, Europe, Africa Middle East, and Asia Pacific. Toronto was the location of the second of five regional award ceremonies, following Moscow. At the Evergreen Brick Works, 13 projects from the North American region were recognized, with prizes $330,000. Winners were awarded Gold, Silver, and Bronze Medals, as well as four acknowledgements and six “Next Generation” awards for young professionals and students. Throughout the rest of 2014, ceremonies will take place in Medellín, Beirut, and Jakarta, after which three global award winners will be selected from the 15 regional medal winners.  Continue reading “Holcim Awards 2014: “Move Over Pritzker””

Oculus Book Review: “Szenasy, Design Advocate”

When one signs on to read a book to review, the book becomes your friend. It sits with you on the subway, it waits with you to pick up your child. In this case my new friend, Szenasy, Design Advocate, is the friend I have been looking for years. She is pragmatic, seasoned, enlightened, funny, and fully of New York City. She is the reason you moved to New York City as a youth – a friend like Susan Szenasy, Hon. AIANY (or the book) shows you the magic of the built environment. In fact, the book, edited by Ann Hubner, Akiko Busch, and Angela Riechers, is mapped out in chronological fashion and unfolds through Szenasy’s life. Each decade presents a focus or cultural event that contributed to Szenasy’s development as a critic and writer.

On 09.03.14, the Center for Architecture hosted Szenasy in conversation with the formidable John Hockenberry, who asked questions and offered some wonderfully unorthodox insights. Questions like “Who have you pissed off the most?’” and “What would you like to rant about?”  prompted Szenasy to confide that the Skidmore, Owings & Merrill-designed One World Trade looks unfinished, and Hockenberry to add that he thought the top was a memorial to diabetic syringes. Both Szenasy and Hockenberry are too cultured and professional to let their opinions get too out of hand, but it certainly was a lively discussion that was appreciated by the audience. The evening aptly re-enforced the ethos of community, friendship, and the deep passion for design that Szenasy’s book constructs. Continue reading “Oculus Book Review: “Szenasy, Design Advocate””