eOCULUS 09.19.05

Editor's note: Autumn is in the air as the Center for Architecture and the city heat up with activities and celebrations. The New Practices Roundtable on 9/29 will be enlightening, and Architecture Week 2005 promises to be dazzling!
Kristen Richards—kristen@aiany.org
Dan Hillman—dhillman@aiany.org
Linda G. Miller

ABOVE THE FOLD

See also: Architects Weigh In
Architectural Record canvassed architects across the country about rebuilding (or not rebuilding) New Orleans. New Yorkers include: Hugh Hardy, FAIA; Ernest Hutton, Associate AIA; Margaret Helfand, FAIA; and Lance Brown, FAIA.

Thursday, September 29, 6:30-8:30pm: New Practices Roundtable Offers New Businesses A Running Start
Finance, insurance, law, and accounting. That's what you need to know to get to get a new architectural practice up and running. If you are starting your own practice or are thinking about doing so, we encourage you to attend "Architectural Business: A Running Start," the second in a series of four New Practices Roundtables co-sponsored by the Architect's Newspaper. Click link for details.

Job Opportunity
AIA New York Chapter Communications Technology Coordinator Click here (PDF) for more details.

(For those reading eOculus via email, please note that clicking on a link in the Table of Contents may open this issue in your Web browser).

REPORTS FROM THE FIELD

On September 15, New York New Visions and the AIA New York Chapter hosted the first of three public forums focusing on the World Trade Center Memorial Museum. It was the "unveiling" of the proposed programming—not the design—for the 110,000-square-foot museum to be located almost entirely underneath the "Reflecting Absence" memorial at Ground Zero. The presentation was based on the WTC Memorial Center Advisory Committee Draft Recommendations.

On hand to introduce the presenters and responding panelists were Ernest Hutton, Assoc. AIA, Co-chair, New York New Visions; Stefan Pryor, President, Lower Manhattan Development Corporation; and Gretchen Dykstra, President and CEO, WTC Memorial Foundation. The presentation team included Anne Papageorge, RLA, Senior V.P. for Memorial and Cultural Development; Jeff Howard, Principal, Howard+Revis Design Services; and Carl F. Krebs, AIA, Partner, Davis Brody Bond.

Krebs put the project into perspective: the museum will be five times the size of Grand Central's Great Hall—and mostly underground. The challenge will be to create a sequence in the descent, a narrative of events. He also pointed out that the slurry wall will be an important element in the museum experience. Before launching into the illustrated description of the programming, Howard expressed the team's eagerness to "engage in a public dialogue" about the project.

Central to the programming, according to Howard, will be to synchronize artifacts and telling the story, beginning with an iconic artifact at the entrance to establish scale. Also located at the entrance will be a "bypass elevator" that descends directly to the family room. Howard then described the proposed sequence of exhibits and what they might entail:

The responding New York New Visions panel included Hutton; Marcie Kesner, AICP, Planning and Development Specialist, Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel; and Jordan Gruzen, FAIA, Partner, Gruzen Samton. Hutton said it was an excellent concept, but "going to the next stage—design and detailing—will need to ensure the power of the presentation is maintained without over-designing, over-interpreting." Howard answered: "That is the challenge we're up against. The intent is to minimize 'museum-talk' and maximize the experience."

Kesner (and several audience members during the Q&A) brought up the question of the "survivors staircase." Papageorge explained that it might be included, but at this point, it remains part of the Port Authority's portion of the site, and the PA is spearheading a study of what should be done with it. Gruzen asked: "Where in the sequence is the big message about what caused 9/11, and how it would be presented?" Without being specific, Papageorge responded that "it should be factual with any interpretation left to the visitor."

When the audience Q&A portion started, moderator Rick Bell, FAIA, Executive Director, AIA New York Chapter, requested that questions stay "on topic," and, for the most part, they did. The first question: "How will you balance the fine line so the message is not one of blame and hate?" Howard answered that visitors will be led "through the process to hope." Other issues, questions, and protests raised included whether the fragment of the north facade and other artifacts now in Hangar 17 at JFK would be included. Papageorge: "That will be considered as we go forward; we're evaluating a range of options." Concern was expressed about often-used words in the presentation such as "facts" and "our nation." Howard: "We're trying to include as much first-hand experience as possible." Where is the money coming from to build the museum? HUD and fundraising by the WTC Memorial Foundation. Asked whether the Visitors' Center would be located within the International Freedom Center (IFC), the answer was categorically "no"—it will be in the Cultural Center. Asked if artifacts would be located in the IFC, the answer was inconclusive—only because the question was premature. (The complete transcript of the presentation portion of the evening is available at renewnyc.com/content/pdfs/AIA_Forum_Pres_Transcript.pdf)

The Civic Alliance to Rebuild Downtown New York, LMDC, and the World Trade Center Memorial Foundation are co-sponsoring two more opportunities for the public to review and comment on the museum's programming, on September 19 and October 11. The workshop presentations will be the same at both, and will be held 6:00-8:30pm at the NYU School of Continuing and Professional Studies in the Woolworth Building, 15 Barclay Street. The workshops are free and open to the public, but advanced registration is required; click on link or call 212.253.2727 x317.

An Evening with CPC Chair Amanda M. Burden and HPD Commissioner Shaun Donovan
by Linda G. Miller

On the eve of the primary election, one thing was clear at the Center for Architecture: Amanda M. Burden, AICP, Hon. AIA NY, Chair of the NYC Planning Commission, and Director of the Department of City Planning (DCP), and Shaun Donovan, Commissioner, NYC Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) got most of the audience's vote of approval for the jobs they are doing to further design excellence in the built environment and improve the quality of life for all New Yorkers. Also participating in the evening event were Susan Chin, FAIA, President, AIANY Chapter, Mark Ginsberg, AIA, Past President, AIANY Chapter; Joan Blumenfeld, FAIA, 2007 President Elect, AIANY Chapter; and J. Max Bond Jr., FAIA, Partner, Davis Brody Bond.

At the September 12 program, "New Directions in Neighborhood Planning & Affordable Housing," co-sponsored by the AIA NY Chapter Housing Committee and Planning and Urban Design Committee, it was evident that the DCP and HPD do not work in a vacuum—but rather collaborate with each other. United under the aegis of Deputy Mayor Dan Doctoroff, DCP and HPD focus on a common vision: to create affordable housing in safe, stable neighborhoods throughout the city.

Burden laid out Mayor Bloomberg's $3 billion plan, "The New Housing Marketplace: Creating Housing for the Next Generation," that will fund the creation and preservation of 65,000 homes and apartments by 2008. Included are initiatives to facilitate private investment in housing, remove barriers to development, and reduce construction costs. In conjunction with the Mayor's housing plan, the DCP has prioritized rezoning in neighborhoods, such as Hudson Yards, Greenpoint-Williamsburg, and West Chelsea, which are ripe for private housing development. This should result in the creation of an estimated 30,000 housing units. With inclusionary zoning, nearly 8,500 units will be affordable. And the bonus for New Yorkers will be acres upon acres of landscaped public space for all to enjoy.

Commissioner Donovan (who happens to be an architect) recalled the time when Howard Cosell told the world "Ladies and gentlemen, The Bronx is burning" during the 1977 World Series. We've come a long way—from abandoned buildings and vacant lots to a city teeming with development activity: Long Island City, Jamaica, Midtown West, Upper and Lower Manhattan, Downtown Brooklyn, the Hub in the Bronx, St. George on Staten Island, both the shores of the East River waterfront, and even in a place mowed down and abandoned by urban renewal—Arverne on the Rockaway peninsula.

New York is, after all, a city of neighborhoods, something Commissioner Burden takes to heart. She spoke passionately about the preservation of the distinct character of neighborhoods in the five boroughs, along with facilitating housing production in transit corridors, strengthening mixed-use and business districts, improving public spaces, rejuvenating the waterfront, and reviewing the law for privately owned public spaces.

At the end of the presentations, several questions were raised for both Burden and Donovan. We are still thousands of units short for affordable, and inclusionary housing is not mandatory as some affordable housing advocates would like it to be. Will the voluntary program yield the numbers that are being projected? And will it be extended to other areas of the city? Questions were also raised about HPD's plans for incorporating design excellence requirements in their projects.

Altogether, the evening was an impressive presentation, and a demonstration of the new dialogue occurring between DCP and HPD, as well as the departments' ambitious plans for the future of the city. But if you want see what all the applause was about that night, visit www.nyc.gov.

Craig Dykers: Are we designing buildings or building designs?
by Kristen Richards

"This is not a lecture about our World Trade Center project, so if you're here looking for some dirt, you won't get any," was Craig Dykers' opening remark at his lecture at the Center for Architecture on September 14. "It's about how we work." The "we" he referred to was the staff of 60 at Oslo-based Snøhetta—all of whom were in the city last week. Dykers pointed out that 40% of the staff are non-Norwegian (and 30% are landscape architects)—and that Snøhetta is a mountain in Norway, "not a Mr. or a Ms."

The lecture, sponsored by the Congress of International Modern Architects (CIMA), went well beyond the title, "Public Works and Cultural Institutions," illustrated with a poetic and visually intriguing PowerPoint display. Beginning with a quote from Andre Gide, "Our actions have a retroaction on ourselves" (1893), Dykers said, "We make things for other people—but who is the 'Other?' Simply us in a different skin." And who are we? "A society of things—homo thingius," he mused. "Everything we do responds to the history of our species and is reflected in our landscapes and cities." Dykers dissected the word "metropolis": the root of "metro" is "mother," and "polis" is "citizen" (that evolved into "police"). Hence a metropolis is a place that provides sustenance and security.

Dykers also talked about the current fixation with ecology, and found irony in the naming LEED ratings for elements that are stripped out of the earth: platinum, gold, silver. He offered a scary statistic: "It takes 18 tons of raw materials to make a one-ton car." As for architecture, he said the difference between modern and classical, function and aesthetics is not that clear: "Are we designing a building, or building a design?" He also opined that many architects have lost the verbal ability to express themselves, and get too caught up in the graphics.

There was a brief "tour" through a number of Snøhetta projects, including the Norwegian Embassy in Berlin, Oslo's National Opera House, the Bibliotheca Alexandrina in Egypt, and the Turner Museum in Margate, U.K. (my favorite: a water fountain for a cat). Dykers finally touched on the WTC Cultural Center, and its faceted prism-like facades, changing in different light. The design mediates between the descent to the memorial at bedrock and the taller office buildings to be built. Dykers and the Snøhetta team said "no" to three invitations to enter the design competition, then 36 hours before the deadline, decided to throw its hat in the ring—and turned in the submission on time. The rest is now history-in-the-making.

On a beautiful Saturday afternoon, the grand theater at the Asia Society was packed to the brim. Inquisitive students, experienced designers, and the generally curious gathered for the first annual "Viewpoints"—a program launched this year by the Asia Society, as a way of bringing to the fore the relationship between Asia and the creative arts. The Center for Architecture co-sponsored the series kick-off: The architect Shigeru Ban was invited to discuss his projects, beginning with earlier works, including the Issey Miyake Studio Gallery in Tokyo (1994) through to his current projects such as the Nomadic Museum in New York City (2005). Following his presentation, AIA New York Chapter President Susan Chin, FAIA, conducted a one-on-one dialogue with the architect, and moderated an open question and answer session with the audience.

Ban began his talk by commenting on the history of architectural commissions as being for the privileged people, "for kings and heads of government. I am interested in making work for the general public." After graduating from the Cooper Union Irwin S. Chanin School of Architecture, Ban established his own practice in 1985 in Tokyo. A common theme which threads through his work is a testing of material—he literally challenges the materiality of his structures by pushing them to their farthest limits. This concept is seen most clearly in his use of paper tubing as a structural element, in projects such as the Paper Church in Kobe, Japan (1995), and the Centre D'Interpretation du Canal de Bourgogne in Pouilly-en-Auxois, France (2005).

When Chin asked about the "shelf life" of these seemingly fleeting constructs, Ban replied simply, "I see no difference between temporary and permanent structures. The life span of a building has nothing to do with the structural integrity of the materials."

This concept is applied to Ban's work as a consultant of the United Nation's High Commissioner for Refugees. In locations such as Rwanda, India, Turkey, Japan, and most recently Sri Lanka, Ban has applied his low cost and pre-fab construction methods to temporary relief housing for victims of natural disasters. Ban employs his experience and knowledge of the basic principles of housing design, and translates these using inexpensive, recycled, and local materials. Ban noted, "Refugee shelter has to be beautiful."

In addition to his temporary housing projects, Ban showed examples of other houses he designed primarily in Japan. Each home uniquely responds to its surroundings and the particular personalities of its occupants. Shutter House for a Photographer, Tokyo (2003) connects the inside and the outside, the public and the private, through the seamless insertion of industrial shutters throughout the space. This house, similar to Ban's other works, plays with the notions of transparency. Through his designs, the architect relates a Miesian, modernist understanding of orientation and lucidity, coupled with innate Japanese influences. It is this duality apparent in Ban's work that produces opportunities for new meaning and interpretation.

Enrique Norten, Hon. FAIA, takes the subway. I didn't realize the man in the lime-green shirt I raced past was the architect on his way to speak at the Museum of the City of New York.

Norten joined in a conversation with Rick Bell, FAIA, Executive Director, AIA New York Chapter ; Robin Pogrebin, architecture reporter for the New York Times; and Donald Albrecht and Thomas Mellins, curators of the Museum's current exhibition, "New York Fast Forward: Buildings by Enrique Norten/TEN Arquitectos" (through October 30).

Norten posed the question: "What are a group of Mexicans doing in New York?" Mexico City-based TEN Arquitectos opened in 1985, and established a second base in Manhattan in 2001. The Museum organized this exhibition because of the dynamic nature and formal qualities of Norten's projects. Their intense urbanism prompts the question of how Mexico City affects his architectural intent. Norten finds that the value of multinational city exchange—ideas, images, and knowledge—transcends what nations exchange politically. He is comfortable in the urban envelope, whether it is Sao Paolo, Cairo, or New York.

Pogrebin asked Norten to consider why he is invited to work in transitioning neighborhoods. New York boundaries have shifted in the last 10 years. The rivers no longer define the city's edge. Many of New York's most interesting people no longer live in Manhattan. It reminds me of a poet's comment I heard recently: "Manhattan has moved to Brooklyn."

Norten's flexibility influences his studio's collaborative process. "The team pushes the project," he said. "I then act, at times, as the movie director and, at times, the technical director." His proudest career achievement is his team. "We find our ideas in the intersections." He spoke of how desires, places, and people combine to reveal what is unique or global, what is specific or ecumenical. Bell asked how he maintains continuity while shifting gears. Norten explained programmatic changes, leadership changes, and energy codes call for adjustments. He replied, "You don't decide what happens in your life. It just happens." Architecture is, after all, problem solving.

Problems were the main subject of audience questions: from how to gain trust of North American clients as a Mexican architect, and to how to deal with restrictive institutions, to the architect's environmental responsibility.

Norten's responses, gracious and genuine, were refreshing. Proud of his heritage, he does not seem to be defined by it. "I have been lucky. I've not encountered difficulty because of where I am from." He said his institutional clients are led by progressive individuals looking for good architecture. He underlined the larger responsibility, "to the community where you build." Trust is earned through dialogue with client and community.

As for sustainability, Norten observed that wealthier nations have more strict code regulations than poorer nations. When you build close to nature, you are aware of your environment, and this informs your aesthetic. "We don't speak about how our buildings are sustainable because we have always worked that way, out of necessity."

So it isn't surprising that Norten rides the subway. He is awake to his environment, culture, and community. It is easy to surmise that he will continue to bring this ethos to his practice. Next stop: Guadalajara.

The AIA NY Chapter's Emerging New York Architects Committee (ENYA) recently launched the second biennial international ideas competition for emerging architects and designers: Southpoint: From Ruin to Rejuvenation. The goal: to explore issues of universal design and historic rejuvenation in developing a multi-use arts center on the Southpoint of Roosevelt Island. With the entire Roosevelt Island constituency in mind, the competition is tailored to fit the needs of the Roosevelt Island Visual Arts Association (RIVAA) and Coler-Goldwater Hospital's Therapeutic Recreation Services. The competition results are intended to generate ideas for the site and will not result in actual development.

On September 10, about 25 architects, Roosevelt Island residents, and other interested citizens participated in an afternoon workshop in conjunction with the competition, hosted by the Center for Architecture Foundation and ENYA. Jerry Maltz, AIA, former architect for the Roosevelt Island Development Corporation, gave tours of the site and led discussions of the historical and contextual importance of Southpoint. In addition, there hands-on design charrettes to investigate ideas and concepts participants would like designers to consider.

Topics included: what the land south of the ruin be used for; concern about having enough space for all of the buildings in the program; limited transportation around the site; preservation of the ruin; maintaining the feeling of being somewhere else; accessibility for people who are in long term care; the use of low structures to preserve the views; and maintaining the "wild" or natural use of the land. Participants felt the best uses for Southpoint would include:

The results of this workshop are on display at the Southpoint: from Ruin to Rejuvenation exhibit at Gallery RIVAA (212.308.6630) through October 9, as well as on the competition web site. Registration deadline for the competition is November 18. Click on link for exhibition and competition details.

Last year, for the first Design Times Square, the jury nominated 1 Times Square, a building that has been standing for over 100 years. The public seconded the nomination by selecting it as their #1 favorite example of architecture and design in the neighborhood. For the 2nd Design Times Square, the jury, including Fred Schwartz, FAIA; Ken Smith, landscape architect; graphic/industrial designer Roger Whitehouse; curator Diedre Scott; and interior designer Kitty Hawks, jury chair, nominated the Target Pop-Up Store, which had a mere one-month run last October on the Great White Way at 7 Times Square.

On September 15, the Times Square Alliance announced this year's nominees. Out of a field of 56 possibilities, the jury nominated 26 sites: four in architecture (Hudson Theatre, Reuters Building, Ernst & Young, Hotel 41); nine in interiors (Dodger Stages, Ruby Foo's, The Whisky, Al Hirschfeld Theatre, Bank of America, Bond 45, Hotel QT, St. James Theatre, and the aforementioned Target Pop-Up Store); nine in signage; and four in public space and art. Design Times Square, which is based upon a program developed by the City of Montreal, recognizes design excellence in and around Times Square, as well as the architects, designers, and developers who create and invest in its distinctiveness. Click the link for more information and to vote for your favorites.

IN THE NEWS + NEW DEADLINES

Deadline September 28: State of Play III—Virtual Public Space Design Competition
Virtual architects, landscape architects, and designers are invited to submit examples of the best of civic architecture in a virtual world for the State of Play III: Social Revolutions Virtual Public Design Competition, co-sponsored by New York Law School Institute for Information Law & Policy, Harvard Law School Berkman Center for Internet and Society and Yale Law School's Information Society Project. A panel of architects, architectural theorists, and game designers will critique entries, which will form the centerpiece of a panel on public architecture as part of State of Play III, a conference to be held on October 7-8 at New York Law School. Click on link for competition and conference details.

Deadline October 3: Travel + Leisure Magazine Second Annual Design Awards
Travel + Leisure (PDF) magazine will recognize outstanding architecture and design in 11 categories including hotels, restaurants, cultural spaces, spas, museums, and retail spaces. To be considered, projects must be completed between October 1, 2004, and December 31, 2005. The winners will be featured in the magazine's March 2006 issue. Click on link for details.

Registration Deadline October 7: Urban Voids: Grounds for Change
With over 40,000 vacant properties representing nearly 1,000 acres, Philadelphia has become one of the nation's foremost examples of urban abandonment. Urban Voids: Grounds for Change competition entrants are asked to imagine new possibilities for designing a comprehensive view of the city's urban fabric that creates a new relationship between ecology and the built environment. A multi-disciplinary jury (in formation) includes landscape architect Diana Balmori; Field Operations' James Corner; sculptor, photographer, and environmental artist Mary Miss; Harvard Design School Department of Urban Planning and Design professor Jerold Kayden; and Anne Spirn, professor of landscape architecture at MIT Department of Urban Studies and Planning. Five finalists will receive monetary prizes and proceed to the final phase of the competition process. Van Alen Institute is the competition advisor. Deadline for late registration and questions is November 14; submissions are due January 6, 2006. Click on link for details.

Registration Deadline October 14: Oklahoma City Bus Stop Design Competition
Wanted: highly creative solutions to improve the public image of Oklahoma City's only mass transit system. The AIA Central Oklahoma Chapter, in partnership with Oklahoma City Metro Transit, invites interns and students to submit a design proposal for the 2005 Bus Stop Design Competition. The competition is open to all students enrolled in NAAB-accredited schools of architecture, intern architects, and AIA Associate Members. Grand Prize: $1071 (the cost of taking all nine Architectural Registration Exams); First Runner-up: $300; Second Runner-up: $100. Submission deadline: November 7. Click on link for details.

Deadline October 31: 2006 International Garden Festival, Jardins de Métis/Reford Gardens, Québec
Architects, landscape architects, artists, and designers are invited to create temporary gardens for the 2006 International Garden Festival. The annual Festival brings together the visual arts, architecture, design, landscapes, and nature. The competition encourages designers to form interdisciplinary teams to submit proposals. Click on link for details.

Names in the News
TH Bishop Architect has merged with Butler Rogers Baskett; Thomas Bishop, AIA, is now a BRB partner... Perkins Eastman news: Elisabeth Post-Marner, AIA, IIDA, design principal in the firm's Stamford, CT office, was recently inducted as president of the New York chapter of the International Interior Design Association (IIDA); Susan DiMotta, IIDA, ASID, AAHID, was inducted as Director of Healthcare of IIDA New York; Mark Markiewicz, AIA, has joined the Stamford office as principal; and principal John Chadwick, AIA, RIBA, will head the firm's new office in McLean, VA...The Canada Council for the Arts has awarded the Professional Prix de Rome in Architecture to Canadian-born, New York-based Eric Bunge, AIA, of nARCHITECTS, who plans to use the $50,000 award to study, along with partner Mimi Hoang, the way different cultures have invented architectural devices to control heat and light in buildings.

The 2005 AR 50 Award Lauds Ulrich Franzen and John Johansen In celebration of the 50th edition of its annual Record Houses issue, Architectural Record presented its first AR 50 Award to the living architects whose work was featured in the May 1956 inaugural publication. Honored at a reception on September 7 at Pratt Manhattan Gallery were Ulrich Franzen for Franzen House, Rye, NY, and John Johansen, FAIA, for the Stillman House, Newburgh, NY. The award coincided with the Pratt exhibition, "Forever Modern: 50 Years of Record Houses." An online exhibition of selected Record Houses, including abodes by Richard Meier, FAIA; Bernardo Fort-Brescia's, FAIA; and Paul Rudolf, can be viewed by clicking the link.

Aileen Iverson

Taking it to the Streets in SoHo
Among the t-shirt and leather goods vendors on weekends in SoHo, you'll find architect Aileen Iverson, a project manager at Ellen Honigstock Architecture, manning her table from 10:30am until 6:30pm from now through the end of October. What is she selling on the southwest corner of Prince and Greene? Not a thing. She's there to create a buzz about her work and about architecture in New York—and it's getting a lot of attention among passersby in this arty nabe. She hopes to grow from table to "Booth" [http://www.ehapc.com/booth/] and that other architects will join her. For more information on this work-in-progress—and to participate—call Iverson at 917.698.4836—or stop by some weekend.

AROUND THE AIA

Deadline September 22: Call for Nominations for the AIA International Committee Advisory Group
There will be one vacancy in 2006 on the five-member AIA International Committee Advisory Group. The IC Advisory Group is soliciting self-nominations to serve as a committee member effective January 1. Members advise on and oversee the annual programmatic planning, development, and conduct of all International Committee activities. Click on link to review member responsibilities and qualifications. Contact Karen Plunkett-Muenster, AIA, Chair, International Committee Advisory Group, with any questions: karenpm@execpc.com.

Registration Deadline November 2: AIANJ Design Awards for Built and Un-Built Projects
The AIA New Jersey Chapter has issued a call for entries to its annual Design Awards program. Projects completed since January 1, 2003, may be submitted. The competition is open to AIA members only: AIANJ members may submit projects located anywhere; out-of-state AIA members may only submit projects located in New Jersey. Design winners will be announced and submissions will be exhibited at the AIANJ Design Conference 2005, Rethinking Practice, on November 9. Conference registration closes October 26. Design Awards registration is due November 2, and submissions are due November 7. For competition and conference details and registration forms, contact Joanne Lombardi: 609.393.5690 or jlombardi@publicstrategiesimpact.com.

New Practices Roundtable Offers New Businesses A Running Start
In response to the trials and tribulations associated with starting an architectural practice in New York, the AIA NY Chapter, in association with The Architect's Newspaper, is co-hosting the second of four New Practices Roundtables on Thursday, September 29, 6:30-8:30pm, at the Center for Architecture.

"Architectural Business: A Running Start" will focus on issues related to architectural business management; specifically finance, insurance, law, and accounting practices. Moderated by Gregg Pasquarelli, co-founder of SHoP Architects, the program will also feature Thomas Coghlan, President, Design Insurance Agency; Elyse Engelhardt, Business Management Consultant, AP3D Consulting; Robert F. Herrmann, Partner, Menaker & Herrmann Attorneys LLP; and Patricia Stumpp, V.P., Commercial Markets Group, Citibank.

The roundtable is open to both AIA members and non-members, and should appeal to architects who have recently started their own firm, as well as architects who are thinking about opening a practice. Additionally, professionals who have had experience starting firms, and who can share advice and expertise are encouraged to attend. Future sessions will be held on December 7, 2005, and March 16, 2006, and will focus on technology and marketing issues, respectively. CES Lus: 1.5 CEU. Tkts: $10; RSVP: rsvp@aiany.org.

The New Practices Roundtable has been selected as a featured presentation at the AIA 2006 National Convention and Design Exposition in Los Angeles next June. The convention program will be led by Mark Strauss, FAIA, AICP, and will include William Menking, Editor-in-Chief, The Architect's Newspaper, and Martin Finio, AIA, of Christoff:Fino, all of whom helped organize the Roundtable series. Co-sponsors with AIA NY Chapter and The Architect's Newspaper include Citibank, MG & Company, and Fountainhead Construction.

ENYA's "Mentoring: Beyond IDP" Wrap-up Wraps Up
The AIA New York Chapter Emerging New York Architects (ENYA) hosted a wrap-up of "Mentoring: Beyond IDP" on August 31 at the Center for Architecture. The event celebrated the successful conclusion of the year-long program, where the Mentors and the "Mentees" met to discuss current topics, issues, and personal interests in a casual and informal setting. The Wrap-Up Event allowed everyone an opportunity to reflect on the program, including sharing information and topics brought up during the meetings. Participating mentors included: Kevin Kennon; Gordon Kipping, AIA; Ronnette Riley, FAIA; Paul Segal, FAIA; Calvin Tsao, AIA; Billie Tsien; Roberta Washington, AIA; and Oliver Wilhelm, AIA. Mark Strauss, FAIA, graciously moderated the evening's proceedings. Among some of the talking points was the need for these types of programs for young architects, the advantages of having access to mentors, and input from the mentees on program benefits form the young architect perspective. Stay tuned for the next offering of Mentoring: Beyond IDP 2005-2006 program later on this year.

Get Wired/Get Press: AIA Offers Free Postings to ArchiWire
ArchiWire, the AIA's electronic news service that showcases projects and firm news, is offering free postings of press releases now through the end of the year. Don't have a formal release? There's an easy-to-use interface that will build one for you. Press releases on ArchiWire can be easily accessed by the press and the public. and if you already maintain a list of local press contacts, please forward it as an Excel file including name, affiliation, street and email addresses to Terry Poltrack at tpoltrack@aia.org and he will pre-register your press contacts for you. Press contacts have full control over the service and other than being notified that they have access to the site, they will only receive notification of the kind of news they request. Now is a perfect time to try the service. Click the link and register for free!

Report from Syracuse
by Rick Bell, FAIA, Executive Director

The AIA New York State Convention took place in Syracuse this past week. The theme, "Eco-Design: Design for the Living Environment," drew some 400 participants to the State component's business meeting, trade show, building tours, and awards presentations. Two extraordinary plenary speeches, by Dean Marvin Malacha of the architecture school of North Carolina State University, and by the Honorable Jeremy Harris, Hon. AIA, former mayor of Honolulu, and AIA National Board Member, packed the Oncenter Grand Ballroom.

In his early morning remarks on Friday, Dean Malacha spoke of the idea of the "Practice Academy" and the need for "an enhanced relationship between the academy and the profession, sharing the responsibility for the emerging professional." His elaboration on how that could be achieved was by turns witty and challenging. Early in his 7:30am (7:30am!) time slot he quoted Yogi Berra: "In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice—in practice there is." More emphatically, Malacha chided the caffeine-dependent architects in the crowded room: "The learning experience must become as vital to the life of the office as the cash flow that sustains it." He described the "choreographic movement which takes into account personal learning styles, the transplantation of ideas from disparate sources, the transformation of individuals as they learn by doing."

Lunchtime was animated by Jeremy Harris, who led Honolulu to its recent distinction as the most livable city in the world. Consistent with the broad environmental themes of the convention, Mayor Harris spoke of changes achieved over the last decade on the island of Oahu. Major improvements in energy use, land use and urban design, open space planning, transportation systems, and streetscapes make Honolulu the environmental paradise previously, if torturously, touted by tourist postcards and myth. He started by issuing "a challenge to expand the role that architects play in creating sustainable cities," saying, "We are at a critical juncture in human civilization, living on a planet in peril because of our reliance on fossil fuels." Harris gave specific examples of innovations in Honolulu, including streetlights running on photovoltaics and windpower, garbage trucks fueled by bio-diesel, and district cooling based on deep wells of ocean water. In transforming streetscapes and neighborhoods, Honolulu residents had to rethink basic assumptions, particularly about automobile and energy use. Harris concluded his remarks by saying, "We have to change the way we're doing things and we have to do it quick."

A particular highlight of the convention was the presentation of honors and awards. For complete details of the AIA New York State Honor Awards and Design Awards, go to the AIA/NYS website, www.aianys.org. Suffice it to say that the AIA New York Chapter was very well represented among the honorees. Arthur Rosenblatt, FAIA, was posthumously awarded the James William Kideney Gold Medal Award, the highest award that AIANYS can bestow on one if its members, recognizing the lifetime of contributions to the profession, the AIA, and the City of New York. Susan Chin, FAIA, President of the AIA New York Chapter, accepted on behalf of Arthur and his family, speaking eloquently of his ongoing importance to the cultural community. The Matthew W. Del Gaudio Service Award for advancing the profession of architecture went to former AIA New York Chapter President Leevi Kiil, FAIA. Honorary Membership in AIANYS was conferred upon Ron Shiffman, FAICP, for significant accomplishments including his leadership at Pratt Institute and on the City Planning Commission. Community Development Awards were given to Dean Biancavilla, AIA, and Robert Haley, AIA, of the Urban Design Center of Syracuse, and also to our own Times Square Alliance, with Alliance President Tim Tompkins present to accept the award.

Twenty-seven Design Awards were won by 18 Manhattan-based firms: Ohlhausen Dubois Architects; Polshek Partnership Architects; Weiss/Manfredi Architects; Leroy Street Studio Architecture; Helfand Architecture; Ehrenkrantz Eckstut & Kuhn Architects; Rietveld Architects; Croxton Collaborative Architects; Bernard Tschumi Architects; Hellmuth Obata + Kassabaum; Audrey Matlock Architect; Skidmore Owings & Merrill; Peter Marino + Associates; Voorsanger Architects; Bone/Levine Architects; Wendy Evans Joseph Architecture; Rogers Marvel Architects; and SpaN-Stonely Pelsinki Architects Neukomm. Some firms, including the Polshek Partnership, Helfand Architecture, Leroy Street Studio Architecture, and Rogers-Marvel, were recognized more than once. This year's awards jury consisted of Marvin J. Malecha, FAIA, Richard Green, FAIA, and Patricia Oliver, AIA.

Among the orders of business was the election of next years AIANYS Board of Directors, to be led by 2006 President Terrence E. O'Neal. Joining Terry will be 2006 President-elect, Russell A. Davidson, AIA, of AIA Westchester/Mid-Hudson; Secretary Burton L. Roslyn, AIA, of the AIA New York Chapter; Treasurer Charles Woodcock, AIA, of AIA Southern New York; VP Communications/Public Relations Stuart B. Chait, AIA, of AIA Rochester; VP Government Affairs Michael Spinelli, AIA, of AIA Long Island; Associate Director, Ryan C. Clarke, Assoc. AIA, of the AIA New York Chapter; and AIANYS Student Director Jason Zoss, the Graudate Office for the Cornell Chapter of the AIAS. Leevi Kiil, FAIA, was elected as Regional Director, joining Peter J. Arsenault, AIA, and George Miller, FAIA, on the National Board.

Among the numerous seminars, talks, and tours led by AIA New York Chapter members, was a preview of the about-to-open Whitman School of Management of Syracuse University designed by Fox & Fowle. Bruce Fowle, FAIA, and Sylvia Smith, AIA, led an on-site discussion and walk-through, joined by Fox & Fowle principal Alex Leung, and Dan Nall, FAIA/PE, of Flack + Kurtz Engineers.

The Convention offered 41 seminars, three keynote presentations, and seven additional tours, which would take way too many words to describe adequately. You had to be there! Collegial conversations continued at innumerable local establishments, many around Armory Square, after the host chapter party and festive awards dinner.

Next year will offer a chance to meet and learn even closer to home, when the AIA Long Island Chapter hosts the 2006 Convention, "Next Generation Housing," celebrating the 75th Anniversary of AIANYS at the Garden City Hotel. Save the dates: October 19-21, 2006.

ON VIEW

At the Center for Architecture, 536 LaGuardia Place:

ON VIEW AT THE CENTER FOR ARCHITECTURE
536 LaGuardia Place, New York
Admission to the Center for Architecture's galleries is free and open to the public.

Elsewhere:

September 21–October 25
Variable Geometry Acoustical Domes: Work by David Serero, Architect

An experimental structure suspended in a 42-foot-high classical salon uses geometry to change the acoustical behavior of the hall; Serero is co-founder of New York/Paris-based Serero+Fernandez | ITERAE Architecture.

Académie de France à Rome, Villa Medici, Rome, Italy

eCALENDAR
eCalendar now includes the information that used to be found in eOculus' Around the Center, Around the AIA, and Around Town sections. Click the above link to go to to eCalendar on the Web.

DEADLINES

CLASSIFIEDS

Would you like to get your message above the fold? Spotlight your firm, product, or event as a marquee sponsor of eOCULUS, the electronic newsletter of the AIA New York Chapter. Sponsors receive a banner ad prominently placed above the table of contents. Your message will reach over 5,000 architects and decision-makers in the building industry via e-mail every two weeks (and countless others who access the newsletter directly from the AIA New York web site). For more information about sponsorship, contact Bascom Guffin: bguffin@aiany.org or 212.358.6114.

AIA New York Chapter Communications Technology Coordinator
Click here (PDF) for more details

Design Faculty Position
The Landscape Architecture Program at the City College of New York seeks a design professional to fill a tenure-track faculty position in the new Masters Program in Landscape Architecture. The successful candidate will be expected to teach graduate design studios that integrate existing and emerging digital technology and to teach a course in at least one additional area of the Program. In addition to teaching, there is a responsibility for conducting a distinguished program of scholarship and service. Full-time appointment at the Assistant Professor level.

Requirements: The candidate must be a Registered Architect and/or possess a Ph.D., and have an MLA degree. Salary is commensurate with education and experience.

To Apply: Please submit CV, letter or application, and the names, addresses, and telephone numbers for three (3) professional references to: Professor Hanque Macari, Chair, Design Faculty Search (PVN #FY 10630), School of Architecture, Urban Design and Landscape Architecture, The City College, 160 Convent Avenue, NY, NY 10031. Letters of reference may be requested subsequent to application. Position is open until filled.

For more information, please visit the College's website at: www.ccny.cuny.edu/positions
An AA/EEO/ADA/IRCA Employer

Senior Project Managers
Callison Architecture, Inc. is an international design firm with over 500 team members and growing! Callison is currently seeking Senior Project Managers for our New York office. Responsibilities include: preparation of design concepts and translation into construction systems; maintaining technical and design control; maintaining records to document phases of client/architect/consultant/contractor relationships. CADD proficiency and 10–12 years of experience with retail and/or commercial projects required. Requires Bachelor's or Master's Degree in Architecture, Interior Design or a related field. Licensure preferred.
Resumes to: employment@callison.com. Please see our website at www.callison.com. We are an Affirmative Action/EEO employer and value Workplace Diversity.

Intermediate Architect
Respected design-oriented Manhattan architecture firm, with broad portfolio of new buildings and major renovations, seeks architect with 3–5 years experience in diverse project types, strong technical skills and AutoCad. Benefits. No calls. E-mail resume and portfolio samples: info@brsny.com

Intermediate Architect needed for growing design studio. Variety of projects. Must have 6-10 years experience in design, planning, construction documents, detailing, interiors and base building. Strong designer skills. Pleasant, friendly office. Competitive salary with full benefits. Fax to 212.620.5584 or email to Maureenc@hsd-nyc.com.

ARCHITECTS
Growth opportunity; want to relocate! DLR Group, award winning national design firm, 15 offices, seeks Architects producing design/related documents for $10+ million projects. Interface with clients, project management, field administration. AutoCAD proficient, Architectural Bachelor's degree. www.dlrgroup.com. Submit resume: sschutt@dlrgroup.com.

ARCHITECTS
Well-known New York firm seeks intermediate and senior architects for various international and US projects. Strong design skills are essential. Comprehensive office experience including presentation graphics and working drawings a major advantage. Deliver or mail cover letter, resume, and portfolio to Pei Partnership Architects, attn. Human Resources, 257 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10010. Sorry, phone calls cannot be accepted.

Campus Facilities Officer
New York City College of Technology, the City University of New York
New York City College of Technology is seeking applications for the position of Campus Facilities Officer. The position reports to the Vice President of Administration and Finance. Successful candidate will oversee the long range planning for academic department needs. Participate in the planning of new academic department facilities. Oversee and coordinate major projects to include developing project objectives with senior administration.

A relevant baccalaureate degree plus eight years applicable experience is required. Must possess a Professional Engineer (PE) or Registered Architect (RA) license. For complete details go to: www.citytech.cuny.edu

Cover letter and resume to: Michelle Harris; Human Resources; NYC College of Technology; 300 Jay Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201. ADA/IRCA/EOE Employer.

Project Architect Needed: 5–7 years experience, 5–year BA, recently licensed architect or taking the licensing exam; Autocad proficient; designer's eye/hand, strong technical knowledge, construction detailing expertise; oversee junior/intermediate architect, manage medium-large project skilled in technical writing, assist in developing project proposals, analysis and review of zoning laws and building codes; must be organized, dedicated, motivated self-starter. Send resume to mds@goshow.com

AIA Contract Documents
The American Institute of Architects has Released Twelve New Contract Documents
New Documents Include a Design-Build Family, Six New Standard Forms of Architects' Services Documents, and a Request for Information (RFI) Form
For more information click here.

Paper Documents
The AIA New York Chapter is a full-service distributor of AIA Contract Documents, which are the most widely used standard form contracts in the building industry. These comprehensive contracts have been prepared by the AIA with the input of contractors, attorneys, architects, and engineers. Typically, industry professionals and home/property owners use these documents to support agreements relating to design and construction services. Anyone may purchase and use the AIA Contract Documents. AIA Members receive a 10% discount. For a full list and order form, please click here (PDF) or call 212.358.6113 with your fax number.

Electronic Format Documents
The new AIA Contract Documents software. Completely redesigned and based on Microsoft Word, the new software is easier to use than Word itself. Enter project and document information once and reuse it automatically. E-mail documents as Word or PDF attachments. Print "clean copy" final documents with all changes captured in a special report. Go to http://www.aia.org/docssoftwaretraining for Contract Documents Software Training and
http://www.aia.org/docs_purchase to download the AIA Contract Documents software.

AIA New York Chapter's HOME page
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