Author: Jessica Sheridan Assoc. AIA LEED AP

Convention 2009, The Power of Diversity: Call for Big Ideas

Radicalism and big ideas are what John Hockenberry, WNYC and PRI host and moderator of the “Focus on Design and Global Practice” session, called for from architects during these poor economic times. With so many bad, small ideas out there, he exclaimed, architects need to think beyond pragmatism and look to idealism to bring hope back to the U.S.

Perhaps one of the biggest ideas presented was the “2007 Latrobe Prize Presentation” on the On the Water — Palisades Bay project. Awarded to Guy Nordenson, Stan Allen, AIA, Catherine Seavitt, James Smith, Michael Tantala, Adam Yarinsky, FAIA, and Stephen Cassell, AIA, the team has been studying the effects of the rising sea level in NYC’s Upper Harbor. As the water rises, major storms are a growing threat to the city. Looking to the history of the shoreline and using various types of analysis and modeling, the team combined engineering, research, planning, and economic analysis to analyze the effects of future weather conditions and propose a solution to lessen its impact.

By marrying design with detail analysis, the proposal incorporates everything from oysters to filter the bay, windmills and algae farms to generate energy, and artificial reefs to restore wildlife habitats. Artificial islands will be strategically placed to roughen the edge of the channel, decreasing the energy of a potential storm surge and replacing some of the lost wetlands. Piers and slips will help re-contour the edge of Lower Manhattan to help break the wave energy, lessening the impact of a potential hurricane.

Ultimately, the team hopes to “turn the challenge of a problem into an optimistic opportunity,” said Nordenson. This conceivably was the mantra repeated throughout the convention overall. By next year’s convention in Miami, let’s hope to see some of the positive results.

While Architects Change Practice, AIA is Stuck in the Past

With the many discussions centered on how the architecture profession can change with the times, this year’s convention was inspiring for me. Many firms garnering awards are changing the profession through their practice. They spoke of treating their employees with esteem, respecting their needs for more flexible hours, supporting involvement in their local AIA chapters as well as in their communities, and mentoring emerging architects by giving them responsibility and allowing them ownership of design. It was most disappointing for me, then, to discover the results of the annual business meeting, in which three AIA National Bylaws Amendments were voted down: changing the term International Associate to AIA International; allowing Associate members to serve as Regional Directors; and creating a Public Membership category in the AIA. Although AIANY voted in favor of all of these motions, ultimately, they were defeated.

By turning away Associate members from regional directorship, the AIA is turning its back on the enormous number of professionals practicing in the field of architecture. Although they may not (yet) be architects, the field of architecture is dependent on them and they deserve a right to hold a voting position on the Board. In a time when the AIA is trying to grow its membership, devaluing the associates will hurt the cause. Also, as architecture increases in public consciousness, it is important that the AIA acknowledge individuals who contribute to the profession in many ways outside of just being licensed. Many individuals are helping promote architects in the public realm and do the profession a service by participating.

In addition, I think it is outrageous that someone who has practiced architecture successfully for many years in other countries cannot claim that they are architects in the U.S. They should not have to register in the U.S. to use AIA after their names.

Seminar after seminar, panelists spoke of diversifying practice, collaborating with experts in other fields, and broadening firms to include specialists who are not architects (See “Convention 2009, The Power of Diversity: It Begins At the Workplace,” in this issue). It may be that the voting is reactive to the economic downturn, and architects are scared of losing their jobs and their control over the profession. But as was evidenced by the award winners who are younger and run practices that are collaborative and comprised of nontraditional unions, the future of the AIA depends on expanding its umbrella. The AIA needs to find new ways to accept more people if it is to truly represent the architecture profession.

04.29-05.02.09: Approximately 22,500 architects convened in San Francisco for the 2009 AIA Convention. From awards to convocations, New Yorkers were honored on many accounts.

Barbara Nadel, FAIA, received the Edward C. Kemper Award.

Rick Bell, FAIA

Venesa Alicea, Assoc. AIA, LEED AP (center), received the AIA Associates Award. Marvin Malecha, FAIA (left), and Chris McEntee, FAIA (right), presented her with the award.

Franklin Ortiz, Assoc. AIA

The NY-based architects elevated to Fellowship (l-r): Belmont Freeman, FAIA; Kenneth Drucker, FAIA, LEED AP; Annabelle Selldorf, FAIA; John Grady, FAIA; Sylvia Smith, FAIA, LEED AP; Frank Lupo, FAIA, LEED AP; Robert Heinteges, FAIA; Joanna Pestka, FAIA. Not pictured: Christopher K. Grabé, FAIA

Rick Bell, FAIA

Marcy Stanley, Hon. AIA, received Honorary AIA membership.

Rick Bell, FAIA

04.29.09: The AIANY New Practices Committee celebrated the opening of the New Practices San Francisco showcase at the Hafele Showroom in San Francisco.

Co-chairs of the AIANY New Practices Committee Matthew Bremer, AIA, (who also received the Young Architects Award at the convention) and Marc Clemenceau Bailly, AIA, with Rick Bell, FAIA, discussing the evolution of the program as AIASF New Practices winners look on.

Kristen Richards

04.30.09: AIA New York State hosted a party at the City Building, sponsored by Ibex Construction.

Andy Frankl, President of Ibex Construction (left), with George Miller, FAIA, AIA President-elect (right).

Darcy Padilla

(L-R): AIANY President-elect Tony Schirripa, AIA, IIDA; AIANY President Sherida Paulsen, FAIA; AIANY Executive Director Rick Bell, FAIA.

Jessica Sheridan, Assoc. AIA, LEED AP

(L-R): AIANY Vice President of Public Outreach Margaret Castillo, AIA, LEED AP; AIANY Secretary Abby Suckle, FAIA, LEED AP; AIANY President-elect Tony Schirripa, AIA, IIDA.

Kristen Richards

FXFOWLE Architects Senior Partners Bruce Fowle, FAIA, and Sylvia Smith, AIA, LEED AP.

Kristen Richards

05.01.09: AIASF Host Chapter Party at San Francisco’s magnificent Asian Art Museum (formerly the city’s Main Library).

(L-R): Pelle Lind Bournonville, Commercial Affairs Officer for Construction & Civil Engineering, Consulate General of Denmark; AIANY Director of Development Sophie Deprez; AIASF Assistant Director Erin Cullerton; AIANY Executive Director Rick Bell, FAIA.

Kristen Richards

The NY State Associate Members gathered at the National Associates Committee Reception. (L-R): Elizabeth Shipley, Assoc. AIA; RK Stewart, FAIA (Past AIA President); Franklin Ortiz, Assoc. AIA; George Miller, FAIA (AIA President-elect); Shanntina Moore, Assoc.AIA (Associate Director AIANYS); Javier Gonzalez, Assoc. AIA; Venesa Alicea, Assoc. AIA (Associate Director AIANY); Stephanie Burns (AIA National Staff).

Courtesy Venesa Alicea

Architecture for Humanity’s 10th anniversary fete at the very engaging and entertaining Autodesk Gallery at One Market: AFH co-founder Cameron Sinclair and Margaret Castillo, AIA, LEED AP.

Kristen Richards

04.21.09: The annual Design Awards Luncheon took place at Cipriani Wall Street.

John Hockenberry, WNYC and PRI host, gave the keynote speech.

Courtesy AIANY

Center for Architecture Gallery Hours
Monday-Friday: 9:00am-8:00pm, Saturday: 11:00am-5:00pm, Sunday: CLOSED

Join an Architalker for a Hosted Tour of Center for Architecture
Exhibitions
Join us for free Architalker-hosted tours of the Center for Architecture exhibitions Fridays at 4:00pm. To join one of these tours, meet in the Public Resource Area on the ground floor of the Center for Architecture.

CURRENT EXHIBITIONS

Helfand Spotlight Series:
Max Bond 1935 – 2009

May 12 – June 11, 2009

Max Bond: 1935 – 2009 was organized by AIA New York with Davis Brody Bond Aedas to commemorate the life and work of J. Max Bond, Jr., FAIA

This exhibition is made possible through the generous support of ABC Printing and Davis Brody Bond Aedas.

Max Bond: 1935 – 2009 is presented as part of the Margaret Helfand Spotlight Series.

SPONSORS

Supporters:
ABC Imaging
Davis Brody Bond Aedas

Friends:
IBEX Construction
The Margaret Helfand Fund

2009 Design Awards and Building Type Awards

April 23 — June 13, 2009

AIA New York’s Annual Design Awards Program is the largest competition held to recognize excellence in architectural design for projects in New York City and by New York City architects worldwide. The 2009 Design Awards Program also includes the Building Type Awards in collaboration with the Boston Society of Architects to honor excellence in architectural design in Housing and Health Facilities.

The thirty-two winners of these awards will be on display at the Center for Architecture beginning April 23 and through June 13.
For the full list of winners, please visit the AIANY Awards Web site.

Exhibition organized by: AIA New York

Exhibition design by: Remake with Corey Yurkovich

Benefactor


Patrons



Lead Sponsor:

Arup

Dagher Engineering
The Durst Organization
HOK
Mancini Duffy
Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects

Sponsors:
AKF Group
Building Contractors Association

FXFOWLE Architects
Hopkins Foodservice Specialists
Ingram Yuzek Gainen Carroll & Bertolotti
JFK&M Consulting Group
KI
Langan Engineering and Environmental Services
Mechoshade Systems

New York University
Pei Cobb Freed & Partners Architects
Rogers Marvel Architects
Steelcase
Studio Daniel Libeskind
Tishman Construction Corporation
VJ Associates
Weidlinger Associates

Zumtobel Lighting/International Lights

Friend:

Associated Fabrication

Related Events

May 18, 2009, 6:00 — 8:00pm
Interiors Winners’ Panel Discussion

May 28, 2009, 6:00 — 8:00pm
Housing Winners’ Panel Discussion

June 3, 2009, 6:00 — 8:00pm
Project Winners’ Panel Discussion

June 10, 2009, 6:00 — 8:00pm
Health Facilities Winners’ Panel Discussion

Hockenberry Stimulates Big Ideas

Event: AIA New York 2009 Design Awards Luncheon and Ceremony
Location: Cipriani Wall Street, 04.22.09
Keynote Speaker: John Hockenberry — WNYC & PRI Host, “The Takeaway with John Hockenberry and Adaora Udoji”
Master of Ceremonies: Bruce Fowle, FAIA, LEED AP — Principal, FXFOWLE Architects
Organizers: AIANY, with Boston Society of Architects for the Building Type Awards
Sponsors: Benefactor: ABC Imaging; Patrons: Cosentino North America; Syska Hennessy Group; The Rudin Family; Lead Sponsors: Dagher Engineering; The Durst Organization; HOK; Mancini Duffy; Sponsors: AKF Group; Arup; Building Contractors Association; FXFOWLE Architects; Hopkins Foodservice; Ingram Yuzek Gainen Carroll & Bertolotti; JFK&M Consulting Group; KI; Langan Engineering & Environmental Services; MechoShade Systems; New York University; Pei Cobb Freed & Partners; Rogers Marvel Architects; Steelcase; Studio Daniel Libeskind; Tishman Realty & Construction; VJ Associates; Weidlinger Associates; Zumtobel Lighting/International Lights

“All economic booms are alike; prosperity is alike; but bubbles burst in their own ways.” Loosely referencing Leo Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina, WNYC and PRI Host John Hockenberry urged architects to think beyond President Obama’s stimulus plan to help bring NYC out of the recession. For Hockenberry, it’s history’s great design ideas that have helped pull the country out of recessions before — whether it was the Bonneville Dam, Lyndon Johnson’s idea for rural electrification, Rockefeller Center, or the Empire State Building. In the 1930s, design was equaled with prosperity. The bigger the idea, the more wealth was associated with the city. The Empire State Building did not relate to the rest of the city in terms of scale. It wasn’t a typical structure, such as the repetitive, unoriginal glass boxes that are scattered through the city currently, stated Hockenberry. Instead, it projected the idea that people can do something huge, something that transcends the poor state of the city.

Hockenberry thinks “stimulus” is the wrong word; it does not have meaning, it is not sustainable. He does not understand how money is being divided around the country, yet nothing seems to be reaching the places that need it most. For example, stimulus money could be used to make the U.S. accessible. To him (wheelchair-bound himself), that would not be a simple gesture. It would demonstrate that this country cares about people with disabilities in a way no other country in the world does. It is through design that the country could be elevated to new levels. Referring to this year’s Design Awards recipients, Hockenberry hopes that ideas bigger than “stimulus” will inspire a new age of prosperity.

PlaNYC Sticks to the Plan

During this year’s Earth Day, PlaNYC issued a Progress Report with an update on how the city has fared since the initiative’s launch in 2007. In general, NYC is doing pretty well at achieving, or staying on track, with the 127 proposals. The city has planted almost 200,000 trees, increased the number of hybrid vehicles on the streets, issued a Sustainable Stormwater Management Plan, and opened the NYC Office of Environmental Remediation, among other programs.

Each of the nine sections of PlaNYC — housing, open spaces, brownfields, water quality, water network, transportation, energy, air quality, climate change — is showing that 2009 milestones have been met on time, completed, or are in progress. Relatively few initiatives have been delayed, except for transportation. Yes, new bicycle lanes have been constructed, regulation of parking placards has been instituted, and a pilot Bus Rapid Transit route was piloted. However, as we all recall, the failed congestion pricing plan did damage to the transportation goals. As I wrote in my last Editor’s Soapbox (See NYC Transportation Funding Doesn’t Add Up, 04.07.09), the stimulus plan is not doing much to help our mass transportation issues.

As someone who was skeptical about the survival of green initiatives as soon as the economy took a turn for the worse, the overall progress of PlaNYC is encouraging. Hopefully the payback will soon be more evident, and we will have more substantial numbers backing the proposals.

Architectural Record Highlights Host City

Architectural Record has dedicated a portion of its website to explore San Francisco, host city of the 2009 AIA Convention. RECORD REVEALS: San Francisco includes recommendations from Bay Area architects; video tours of the city through the eyes of luminaries; photos; a portfolio of San Francisco-based projects; a blog; and other relevant links of interest.

04.16.09: The Paley Center for Media unveiled The Kissinger Global Conference Room. Designed by Lee H. Skolnick Architecture + Design Partnership, it is a high-tech, media-based room for teleconferencing meetings, presentations, and discussions. (L-R): Henry Kissinger, Lee Skolnick, FAIA, and Pat Mitchell, CEO of the Paley Center./p>

Courtesy Lee H. Skolnick Architecture + Design Partnership

04.16.09: Spacebuster, an inflatable, portable pavilion designed by Raumlabor Berlin, spent its first of 10 evenings in NYC, sponsored by Storefront for Art and Architecture and the Goethe-Institut New York, under the High Line.

Kristen Richards

Kristen Richards

Center for Architecture Gallery Hours
Monday-Friday: 9:00am-8:00pm, Saturday: 11:00am-5:00pm, Sunday: CLOSED

Join an Architalker for a Hosted Tour of Center for Architecture
Exhibitions
Join us for free Architalker-hosted tours of the Center for Architecture exhibitions Fridays at 4:00pm. To join one of these tours, meet in the Public Resource Area on the ground floor of the Center for Architecture.

CURRENT EXHIBITIONS

Helfand Spotlight Series
Public Art + Architecture New York

April 17 — May 9, 2009

The images in this exhibit, taken by photographer Francis Dzikowski for the book Public Art New York, represent the wide variety of works of public art in the five boroughs of New York City. Illustrating that public art consists not only of monumental sculpture in outdoor plazas but also decorative sidewalks, sculpted facades, and evocative lighting, Public Art New York broadens the dialogue on how art can complement and enrich architecture and public space. From the Coney Island’s Parachute Jump, to Dubuffet’s Groupe des Quatre Arbres in Chase Manhattan Plaza, to James Carpenter’s “Ice Falls” in the lobby of the Hearst Building, these photos reveal the magnificent range and richness of the works that enliven New York’s urban landscape and are accessible for all to enjoy. As Kent L. Barwick noted in his introduction to the book, “these striking photographs of both the new and what we thought familiar remind us of the ever-changing and compelling landscape we are so lucky to inhabit and so rarely take the time to see.”

Public Art New York by Jean Parker Phifer FAIA was published by W.W. Norton in March 2009. Francis Dzikowski is represented by Esto.

Public Art + Architecture New York is presented as part of the Helfand Spotlight Series.
The series highlights competitions, projects under construction, and projects recently completed that will have a far-reaching impact on New York City’s built environment. Projects are exhibited as a means of generating public interest as well as presenting in-depth information to the Center’s professional audience.

This spotlight will be on view through May 9, 2009.

Organized by AIA New York

Related Events

Friday, April 17, 2009, 6:00 — 8:00pm

Exhibition Opening Reception

Monday, April 20, 2009, 5:30 — 8:00pm
Panel: Public Art + Architecture New York

2009 Design Awards and Building Type Awards

April 23 — June 13, 2009

AIA New York’s Annual Design Awards Program is the largest competition held to recognize excellence in architectural design for projects in New York City and by New York City architects worldwide. The 2009 Design Awards Program also includes the Building Type Awards in collaboration with the Boston Society of Architects to honor excellence in architectural design in Housing and Health Facilities.

The thirty-two winners of these awards will be on display at the Center for Architecture beginning April 23 and through June 13.
For the full list of winners, please visit the AIANY Awards Web site.

Exhibition organized by: AIA New York

Exhibition design by: Remake with Corey Yurkovich

Benefactor


Patrons



Lead Sponsor:

Arup

Dagher Engineering
The Durst Organization
HOK
Mancini Duffy
Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects

Sponsors:
AKF Group
Building Contractors Association

FXFOWLE Architects
Hopkins Foodservice Specialists
Ingram Yuzek Gainen Carroll & Bertolotti
JFK&M Consulting Group
KI
Langan Engineering and Environmental Services
Mechoshade Systems

New York University
Pei Cobb Freed & Partners Architects
Rogers Marvel Architects
Steelcase
Studio Daniel Libeskind
Tishman Construction Corporation
VJ Associates
Weidlinger Associates

Zumtobel Lighting/International Lights

Friend:

Associated Fabrication

Related Events

Thursday, April 23, 2009, 6:00 — 8:00pm
Exhibition Opening

May 6, 2009, 6:00 — 8:00pm
Architecture Winners’ Panel Discussion

May 18, 2009, 6:00 — 8:00pm
Interiors Winners’ Panel Discussion

May 28, 2009, 6:00 — 8:00pm
Housing Winners’ Panel Discussion

June 3, 2009, 6:00 — 8:00pm
Project Winners’ Panel Discussion

June 10, 2009, 6:00 — 8:00pm
Health Facilities Winners’ Panel Discussion