AIA National News – News – What’s New at AIANY and the Center for Architecture.

In Architecture, Collaboration is Key

All architects know that this industry is a team sport – the questions are more often about who is on your team, who is on the other team, and how apparently adversarial relationships and goals might be managed to create joint missions and effective collaborations instead.

The 2016 AIA New York State Saratoga Design Conference (09.29-10.01.16) provided an important array of programming that highlighted the importance of collaboration. Educational sessions included technical presentations in the “Spec Academy” and a host of projects from around the world. General sessions focused on how firms can collaborate to reach their goals. These featured Kai-Uwe Bergmann, AIA, of BIG – Bjarke Ingels Group; Darko Hrelajanovic, AIA, of STV; Craig Metro of Ford Motor Company; Kashyap Bhimjiani, Assoc. AIA, of Gensler; and Paulo Faria of Grimshaw. Continue reading “In Architecture, Collaboration is Key”

AIA New York State President’s Award: Green is Beautiful

At the AIANYS 2016 Saratoga Design Conference, Bruce S. Fowle, FAIA, LEED AP, recipient of the State Chapter’s 2016 President’s Award, used his time on the podium to preach the critical importance of green design. His remarks follow.

If there is one lesson that I have learned over and over, it is the importance of being informed and prepared. I have often said, and read, that the key to sustainable architecture is not in the bells and whistles – it is the hundreds of nitty-gritty decisions that one makes on any given project. Everyone at the table must be totally on top of the green game. No discussion should occur without the people who can and will make the right – the greenest – choices. That is why my firm, FXFOWLE, has been striving since 2004 to have 100% of our staff, including our support teams, LEED-accredited. Why haven’t we been able to get to 100%? Because we have no choice but to hire staff from offices and schools with no such requirement. It’s very frustrating. We give our new hires six months to take the exam and learn how to talk the talk. Continue reading “AIA New York State President’s Award: Green is Beautiful”

Convention Special: Hudson Yards – New York’s First Post-Digital Neighborhood

A filled-to-capacity session about Hudson Yards, New York City’s newest neighborhood, was informative for both New Yorkers and architects from around the country who attended the 2016 AIA Convention. Built over the active tracks of the Long Island Railroad, Hudson Yards is a feat of architecture, landscape architecture, and engineering. Upon completion, it is expected that 125,000 people with live, work, or visit – as many people that live in Burbank, CA! Continue reading “Convention Special: Hudson Yards – New York’s First Post-Digital Neighborhood”

2014 AIA Convention Special: From Ed Kemper to Ed Mazria, Rick Bell Recognizes Colleagues, Past and Present

It’s no surprise to those who know him that AIANY Executive Director Rick Bell, FAIA, received the Edward C. Kemper Award for his significant contribution to the profession through service to the AIA during the keynote presentation titled “Powerhouse Panel: Sustainability & Resiliency.” He was an instrumental player in the creation of the Center for Architecture, AIANY’s home and a model for architecture centers nationwide. He is also an advocate of sustainability and Active Design, leading AIANY’s annual FitCity conferences and promoting our “FitNation” traveling exhibition worldwide (currently in London). For those who may not know Bell, a video set to “Burning Down the House” by the Talking Heads introduced the 2014 Kemper Award recipient and is available here. Continue reading “2014 AIA Convention Special: From Ed Kemper to Ed Mazria, Rick Bell Recognizes Colleagues, Past and Present”

2014 AIA Convention Special: New Yorkers Acclaimed for Designing with Purpose

At the 65th Annual Honors and Awards Celebration, the AIA bestowed honorary membership upon 10 individuals outside the profession, and recognized the winners of the 2014 Young Architect Award, Associates Award, and the Institute’s Honors for Collaborative Achievement. Many of this year’s projects were tied to the convention’s theme, “Design with Purpose,” and, as expected, AIANY members shone. Continue reading “2014 AIA Convention Special: New Yorkers Acclaimed for Designing with Purpose”

2014 AIA Convention Special: 11 AIANY Members Inducted into the AIA College of Fellows

The Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University, designed by Chicago architecture legends Dankmar Adler and Louis Sullivan in 1889, was the perfect setting for the investiture ceremony for 139 new AIA Fellows, including 11 members of the AIA New York Chapter. Out of 80,000 AIA members, around 3,000 are distinguished with this honor nationwide. Our own Chapter of just over 5,000 members includes 283 AIA Fellows. Continue reading “2014 AIA Convention Special: 11 AIANY Members Inducted into the AIA College of Fellows”

2014 AIA Convention Special: Learning from Sandy with Lance Jay Brown, FAIA

At “Coordinated Disaster Recovery: Lessons from Hurricane Sandy,” AIANY 2014 President and AIANY Design for Risk and Reconstruction Committee (DfRR) founding co-chair Lance Jay Brown, FAIA, took a holistic look at disaster recovery, imparting lessons learned through a thorough account of the many different initiatives that AIANY and the DfRR participated in after Superstorm Sandy. Continue reading “2014 AIA Convention Special: Learning from Sandy with Lance Jay Brown, FAIA”

2014 AIA Convention Special: AIA Elects 2015-2016 Leadership

On 06.28.14 at the 2014 AIA Convention in Chicago, AIA delegates elected new national leadership for 2015 through 2016, including two members from New York State. Russell S. Davidson, FAIA, of AIA Westchester Hudson Valley, will serve as the 2015 first vice president/president-elect and 2016 AIA president. Francis M. Pitts, FAIA, of AIA Eastern New York, and William J. Bates, AIA, of AIA Pittsburgh, will serve as vice presidents, and John A. Padilla, AIA, of AIA Santa Fe, as the Institute’s secretary. Continue reading “2014 AIA Convention Special: AIA Elects 2015-2016 Leadership”

Grassroots 2014

It is my pleasure to send you the following report on our recent visit to Washington, DC, for the annual Grassroots Leadership and Legislative Conference.

The AIA New York Chapter delegation included Lance Jay Brown, FAIA; Abby Suckle, FAIA; Illya Azaroff, AIA; Jessica Sheridan, AIA; Venesa Alicea, AIA; Rick Bell, FAIA; and Emma Pattiz. Additional AIANY members involved in legislative efforts at the conference included Susan Chin, FAIA, and Anthony P. Schirripa, FAIA. We were also joined by AIA New York State President Raymond L. Beeler, AIA, and Burton L. Roslyn, FAIA, 2012-2015 Regional Director, among others. Continue reading “Grassroots 2014”

2013 AIA Convention Special: New Yorkers Shine as the AIA Honors Design Excellence and Public Service

At the 64th Annual Honors and Awards Celebration, the AIA bestowed honorary membership upon seven distinguished professionals and recognized the 2013 Young Architect Award and Associates Award winners. The Renzo Piano Building Workshop-designed Menil Collection was honored as the Twenty-five Year Award recipient, while Honor Awards winners in the areas of Architecture, Interior Architecture, Regional and Urban Design, and Collaborative and Professional Achievement were celebrated. AIANY members, of course, came up big. Continue reading “2013 AIA Convention Special: New Yorkers Shine as the AIA Honors Design Excellence and Public Service”