In this issue:
· Inaugural Speech: 2010 AIANY President Anthony Schirripa, FAIA, IIDA
· Inaugural Speech: 2011 AIANY President Margaret O’Donoghue Castillo, AIA, LEED AP
· Film Looks Between the Cracks at Dharavi
· Firms Bend the Tools for Design
· New Sights On Site
· Tools of the Trade: New Technologies for the Job Site

2010 AIANY President Anthony Schirripa, FAIA, IIDA, and 2010 AIA National President George Miller, FAIA, before the program.

Sam Lahoz

2010 Architect as Leader
Looking back over the past year, I am proud and humbled by all that our board members and member volunteers have done to enhance our advocacy profile, increase our membership, and expand the professional services offered at the Center for Architecture.

The 2010 theme — “Architect as Leader” — examined how we as architects can lead: on projects, at our firms, and in our communities. We have always been considered thought leaders, but this year I wanted to focus on how we could be pro-active community leaders, bringing people together especially during these difficult economic times.

Along with a series of “Architect as Leader” programs throughout the year, in September we launched a professional development series, the “Architects Fast Track Leadership” program. While we targeted our young professionals for the series, I am pleased to report it has also attracted a more mature audience. This year we reached an even younger audience — students at my alma mater, Brooklyn Tech — through “Innovate:Integrate” programming. If you haven’t had a chance to enjoy “Innovate:Integrate,” my presidential theme show, it is on view until January 15, and we have one more related program, a conversation on January 5 with Chris Ward, the executive director of the Port Authority of NY and NJ.

We’ve had so many great programs this year, it’s hard to pick out a few to highlight. Lieutenant Governor Richard Ravitch was here just a few weeks ago, delivering the annual Ratensky Lecture. Also, our Global Dialogues Committee held a comprehensive, two-day architectural summit on the architecture of Brazil’s 2014 World Cup. Earlier this fall, Danish urbanist Jan Gehl spoke to a standing room only crowd. And perhaps our most successful program this year was our architectural cruises, as featured in Vogue, the New York Times, and Time Out New York. We’re now circumnavigating Manhattan twice a week! While the 2010 season is almost over, I look forward to more tours in 2011. My thanks to AIANY Board Member Abby Suckle, FAIA, for her dedicated work on this project.

Continues…

2011 AIANY President Margaret O. Castillo, AIA, LEED AP, receiving the gavel from 2010 AIANY President Anthony Schirripa, FAIA, IIDA.

Sam Lahoz

President’s Theme: Design for a Change
In 2008, for the first time in history, more than half the world’s population lived in cities. That percentage will continue to grow, and by 2030 it is estimated that 60% of us will inhabit urban environments. Never has it been more important for architects, engineers, landscape architects, and urban planners to collaborate and address the issues of urban infrastructure and the built environment. Whether cities are in the industrialized world or in developing nations, it is critical that we look at our natural resources and the built environment in terms of economic, environmental, and social health. For these reasons, I have established the 2011 theme “Design for a Change.”

We’ll be exploring many facets of sustainable urbanization next year. We will continue our collaboration with UN Habitat and the UN Consortium for Sustainable Urbanization, and bring global representatives to New York to share best practices and innovative ideas.

In the spring, we are mounting an exhibition entitled “Jugaad Urbanism,” which will highlight resourceful strategies for Indian cities. Set in the radically uneven urban landscapes of Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore, India, “Jugaad Urbanism” will explore how the energy of citizens “making-do” is translated by architects, urban planners, and governmental entities into efficient and inventive strategies for sustainable urban growth.

Continues…

Event: Dharavi Slum for Sale Premiere / “Jugaad Urbanism” Exhibition Preview
Location: SVA Silas Theatre, 11.19.10
Speaker: Lutz Konermann — Flimmaker, “Dharavi, Slum for Sale”
Moderator/Welcome: Sabine Ulmann Shaban — Deputy Consul General of Switzerland
Introductions: Kanu Agrawal — Curator, “Jugaad Urbanism”; Margaret Castillo, AIA, LEED AP — 2011 AIANY President; Aroon Shivdasani — Executive Director, Indo-American Arts Council
Organizer: Center for Architecture; Consulate General of Switzerland; Indo-American Arts Council; The New School; Society of Indo-American Engineers and Architects
Sponsors: Consulate General of Switzerland in New York.
Special Thanks: Umberto Dindo, AIA, AIANY Secretary

A street in Dharavi, Mumbai.

Kounusu

Dharavi, in Mumbai, is one of the three largest slums in the world. Approximately 100 million people live within one square mile, and up to 15 people live within 200-300 square feet of space, stated Aroon Shivdasani, the executive director of the Indo-American Arts Council. While vividly depicted in “Slumdog Millionaire,” the film “Dharavi, Slum for Sale” documents the struggle between the inhabitants and those who want to change the quality of life for those who live there. Directed by Lutz Konermann, a preview of the film was screened at the SVA Silas Theatre to raise funds for the upcoming “Jugaad Urbanism” exhibition coming to the Center for Architecture in February.

The film begins by tracing Mukesh Mehta, an architect who moved to India from NY. He is the mastermind behind a plan that would turn 35 acres of the slum into a mixed-use development with high-rise buildings and free housing for the current slum dwellers. As the camera follows him from his office to community meetings, Mehta says that he is trying to create a better life for the residents. If he is able to rid Mumbai of the slum, then he will have created not just a better way of life for the local community, but also a positive impact on the world.

However, Mehta is constantly faced with opposition, both by organized groups, including the Society for the Promotion of Area Research Centres (SPARC), and individuals on the streets. Naysayers are concerned that when the government decides who will receive free housing, many slum dwellers will be kicked out of the community. Also, despite the appearance of chaos, there is a complex network of businesses that are not only self-sustainable, but also assist the local government, as well. For example, many of the designer clothing knock-offs that are traded internationally are made within Dharavi by slum dwellers.

“People live between the cracks of city streets,” the film begins, and Konermann focuses on the pros and cons of both sides of the development war. Despite objective filmmaking, he did not mince words during the Q&A after the screening when discussing the necessity for the local inhabitants to maintain ownership of their way of life. Rather than razing the slum altogether, Konermann believes that enhanced infrastructure is what is needed to improve lifestyles. Instead of telling slum dwellers how they should live, he suggested that the government evaluate the reasons why the inhabitants — many of whom came to the city from small farming towns on the outskirts — moved there in the first place. New developments should begin in rural towns, not in the center of a bustling city, he said. It is trendy to discuss ways to “integrate” the city, but, in Konermann’s opinion, the city already is integrated.

Event: Bending the Tools/Re-Scripting the Rules: Innovation, Craft and Methodology in Digital Practice
Location: Center for Architecture, 11.22.10
Panelists: Tom Clancy — Owner, Valiant Technology; David Ruy — Ruy Klein; Marc Kushner, AIA — Founder, Architizer & Principal, HWKN Architects; Joe MacDonald, Assoc. AIA — Principal, Urban A&O; Augustus Wendell, Assoc. AIA — Principal, Kim Wendell Design; Michael Szivos — Principal, softLAB
Moderator: Andrew Blum — Writer
Introduction: Matthew Bremer, AIA and Marc Clemenceau Bailly, AIA, New Practices Committee Co-chairs
Organizer: AIANY New Practice Committee
Sponsors: Lead Sponsors: Dornbracht, MG & Company and Valiant Technology; Sponsors: Espasso, Hafele and Skidmore, Owings & Merrill; Media Sponsor: The Architect’s Newspaper

Struts for the Cairo Tower designed with CATIA by Urban A&O.

Urban A&O

Is digital technology an efficient means to an end versus drawing by hand? Has it become an integral part of the design process? Andrew Blum, a writer with expertise in technology and urbanism, posed this question to a panel of designers, an IT consultant, and the founder of Architizer.

Tom Clancy, owner of Valiant Technology, sees technology as a useful tool to streamline the work process, and he encouraged architects to become untethered by “ditching the server.” Online file share sites and portable gadgets like laptops, iPads, and smart-phones allow architects to be more present on the job.

Technology also serves as a tool to gain recognition for firms. The social networking website Architizer bring focus on projects, explained co-founder Marc Kushner, AIA. It provides a platform for architects to reach a wider audience. Featured work is often picked up by blogs read by non-architects, i.e., potential clients, he claimed.

Technology has no doubt changed the way firms operate, but it has also shaped the design processes of several emerging firms. For example, softLAB writes its own customized Maya Embedded Language (MEL) scripts for projects, which allows them to create and modify repetitive geometries, according to Principal Michael Szivos. With this software, they designed more than 2,400 custom, laser-cut triangular chipboard panels for their pAlice installation at 21 Monitor Street in Brooklyn. Joe MacDonald, Assoc. AIA, principal of Urban A&O, believes that aerospace software like the Computer Aided Three-dimensional Interactive Application (CATIA) offers a level of precision through parametric modeling that could not be achieved by hand. He revels in this process; though screenshots of models may look “ugly,” he believes they communicate volumes.

David Ruy of Ruy Klein does not see technology as a way to “scientifically legitimize” his firm’s work, but rather as a way to “condition our imaginations.” He advocates that firms achieve a balance at the intersection of architecture, nature, and technology. Whether one believes technology is simply a means to an end or an essential part of the process, Szivos summed it up: “I hope design is fetishized and not the technology.”

Murrye Bernard, LEED AP, is freelance architecture writer and contributing editor to e-Oculus.

Event: Plywood, Concrete, Paint! Re-imagining the Contemporary Construction Site as Canvas for Public Art
Location: Center for Architecture, 11.18.10
Speakers: Joe Covello — Vice President and Co-owner, United Hoisting and Scaffolding; Rodney Durso — Founder, ArtBridge; Olympia Kazi — Executive Director, Van Alen Institute; Maya Barkai — Public Artist
Moderator: Katie Denny — Executive Director, North Brooklyn Public Art Coalition
Introduction: Jordana Zeldin — Director, ArtBridge
Organizers: ArtBridge; Center for Architecture

“Walking Men 99″ by Maya Barkai. The installation is part of Re:Construction, curated by Ayelet Danielle Aldouby and Elinor Milchan of ARTEA Projects.

Maya Barkai

Maybe there should be new reality TV show called “Extreme Scaffolding Makeover.” While the urbanSHED competition helped focus attention on the problem of NYC’s drab and uninspired sidewalk-shed design, it’s hardly the only effort to make construction sites more visually appealing to passersby. Ever-more public art is popping up along construction sites, thanks to the Downtown Alliance’s Re:Construction program; the NYC Department of Buildings’ urbancanvas; and ArtBridge, an organization devoted to displaying emerging artists’ work on scaffolding, noted its director, Jordana Zeldin.

Artist Rodney Durso decided to found ArtBridge while living in a building covered in long-term scaffolding, London Terrace Gardens in Chelsea. He didn’t see the sidewalk shed as an eyesore — he saw its potential as a giant “blank canvas,” he said. He found an ally in Joe Covello of United Hoisting and Scaffolding, who lent his technical advice and support.

Durso has found that building owners and property management companies don’t always welcome the idea of allowing art on scaffolding, but he thinks that will change once they start to understand its potential as a public-relations boon. Exhibiting public art on a construction site is a way that “a building owner can bring attention in a positive way,” he said.

For local artist Maya Barkai, adorning a construction fence at 99 Church Street was a chance to explore a new type of work, different from what she might make for a gallery show. As part of Re:Construction, she created a 500-foot-long installation called Walking Men 99, which covers the fence with 99 icons of “walk” lights from around the world, displayed at a human scale. The fence proved a perfect venue for the piece, offering the right scale and location on a city street, the icons’ natural habitat. “I could not put it on a gallery wall,” she remarked. “It needed that construction site.”

Lisa Delgado is a freelance journalist who has written for OCULUS, The Architect’s Newspaper, Architectural Record, Blueprint, and Wired, among other publications.

Event: New Tools for Builders
Location: Center for Architecture, 11.29.10
Speakers: Onalee Finio — Director of Technical Services, The Hilti Group; Larry DeGennaro — Strategic Business Director, The Hilti Group; Rick Pulling — Director, Worldwide New Equipment, Otis Elevator Company; Saulius Toleikis — Director of Sales, Festool
Introduction: Anthony Schirripa, FAIA, IIDA — AIANY 2010 President
Organizer: Center for Architecture as part of the “Innovate:Integrate” exhibition
Sponsors: Lead Sponsors: ABC Imaging; Competition Architectural Metals; Coreslab Structures; Ductal by Lafarge; F. J. Sciame Construction Co.; Gensler; Georgia Institute of Technology, Digital Fabrication Laboratory; kammetal; Lutron; Mancini·Duffy; MechoShade Systems; Oldcastle Building Envelope; Peter Arbour / RFR Consulting Engineers; Permasteelisa North America; Plaza Construction; Structure Tone; Syska Hennessy Group; Turner; Zetlin & De Chiara; Sponsors: Aerotech Manufacturing; Francis Cauffman; Polytek; HeliOptix; STUDIOS Architecture; and Trespa North America
Supporters: AKF Group; db3; Forest City Ratner Companies; Hugo S. Subotovsky Architects; Levien & Company; National Institute of Building Sciences; Pennoni Engineering and Surveying of New York; Peter Pennoyer Architects; SMART; Steelcase; Stephan Jaklitsch Architects; Thornton Tomasetti; WB Wood; Friends: Benjamin Moore; Brenda Levin; Matthews Coatings; New York Building Congress; Presentation Products; Theo. David Architects TDA/KAL; Weidlinger Associates

Speed Sleeve by The Hilti Group.

Hilti.com

The Hilti Group, Festool, and Otis are known for innovation in the areas of job-site safety and productivity, as well as for the energy efficiency of their tools. As part of the exhibition “Innovate:Integrate” (on view through 01.15.11), representatives from these manufacturers gathered at the Center for Architecture to exhibit and demonstrate their latest products.

Hilti is a manufacturer of low-velocity, powder-actuated tools. They produce a high-speed fastening system that allows workers to lay steel deck in one-third of the time compared to traditional methods, according to Onalee Finio, director of technical services. The company now also manufactures the Speed Sleeve, a cable management fire-stop device that “takes all of the guesswork out of the contractor’s hands,” explained Finio. It does this with “spin on” flanges that allow for quick installation and the flexibility for cables to be inserted at any height. In addition, Hilti has developed software programs that perform calculations and aid in specifications for decking, fire protection, and anchor systems.

Festool produces woodworking and cabinet-making tools, including cordless drills, jigsaws, and routers, as well as dust extractors, which improve air quality on the job site. With a focus on efficiency, Festool’s motto is “Faster. Easier. Smarter.” For example, they claim their dual-mode sander achieves results up to three times faster than traditional sanders.

Otis Elevator Company’s two new models have proven popular with architects because of their reduced footprints and energy efficiency. The Gen2 System operates with polyurethane coated-steel belts instead of the traditional metal cable. No gears or lubrication are required. According to Rick Pulling, director of worldwide new equipment, the model uses half the energy of a typical elevator. The ReGen system takes energy conservation a step further by working with gravity and capturing energy that otherwise would be lost in braking. This energy can then be fed back into the building’s grid.

Murrye Bernard, LEED AP, is a freelance architectural writer and a contributing editor to e-Oculus.

(Continued from above)
Healthy Cities
Our ongoing collaboration with the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene is growing. Together with the Department of Health and six other agencies including the NYC Department of Design and Construction, we created and helped publish the Active Design Guidelines, which grew out of Fit City 3 and 4. Fit City 5 was a huge success, and mark your calendars now for Fit City 6 on May 17.We also launched both the NYC Department of Transportation’s Street Design Manual, and the Inclusive Design Guidelines created by the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities.

Not Business As Usual
In 2009, we initiated the “Not Business As Usual” initiative in an effort to rally the architecture and design community during the economic downturn. Participants engage in bi-weekly free lunch programs focused on the series’ core topics: : job skills development, presentation skills development, and government advocacy. This year, we continued the program, with everything from NYSERDA energy code training to public speaking workshops. If you haven’t yet attended an “NBAU” lunch, please join us on December 15 for the next session: how to use the EPA’s Portfolio Manager and Target Finder program.

Exhibitions
Visitors to the Center for Architecture this year viewed some of our most immersive and interactive exhibitions yet. I already mentioned “Innovate:Integrate — Building Better Together.” The highlight of the show is a full-size prototype of an energy-efficient curtain wall. Building a prototype like this is a first for the Center — thank you again to Sciame and our generous sponsors for making this possible. We hope to do more projects that demonstrate experimental design and construction technologies through cross-industry collaboration.

The Center installed another 19 exhibitions this year, most notably “Our Cities Ourselves,” an exhibition we developed in partnership with the Institute for Transportation and Development and Policy.

“MADE IN NEW YORK,” showcasing the work of AIANY members, was on public view at the West 4th Street subway station this October. The creative use of subway advertising space compelled tourists and straphangers alike to look over projects in the “galleries” on their way to the train. And, of course, we were all proud to see “Context\Contrast: New Architecture in Historic Districts” installed at the AIA National Headquarters last spring.

Helfand Gallery Showcases
This year, the Margaret Helfand Gallery featured everything from a showcase of the 2,200-unit New Domino development by Rafael Viñoly Architects with Beyer Blinder Belle Architects & Planners, and Quennell Rothschild and Partners on the East River waterfront, to a handmade cedar sukkah by tinder.tinker. The storefront gallery rotates monthly with timely, relevant projects that have far-reaching impacts on NYC’s built environment. We will continue to generate public interest in important projects, as well as present in-depth information to the Center’s design community in this exciting — though compact — space. Tonight, we’re celebrating the soft opening of the most recent Helfand Spotlight, selections from AIA National’s Design for Decades initiative, the brainchild of AIA National President George Miller, FAIA.

New Members in 2010
At this time, I would like to welcome all 615 new members who joined the AIA New York Chapter in 2010. I hope that you’ve had the opportunity to participate in programs at the Center for Architecture. While this has been a difficult year for other AIA components, the influx of new members has offset a slightly lower retention rate so our overall membership has remained stable.

Licensure
I would also like to recognize the 96 members who became newly registered architects this year. We expect many more associates to attain licensure as the fourth edition of our Architectural Registration Exam Boot Camp begins in January 2011. These popular programs, the Study Materials library and the spin-off self-guided study groups have been instrumental in aiding our young professionals.

ENYA Merit Award
Among those recently licensed, I’d like to congratulate Serena Chen, AIA, LEED AP, the recipient of the first annual ENYA Merit Award, a $1,500 prize that defrays the exam expenses.

The purpose of the ENYA Merit Award is to recognize the significant contributions of Emerging Architects to the AIA New York Chapter at an early stage of their career. As an Intern Architect, Serena was an active Associate AIA member involved in several AIANY Emerging New York Architects Committee (ENYA) programs in addition to her involvement with The Nature Conservancy. Since achieving her license, Serena continues to contribute to the Chapter by creating and leading the Structural Systems ARE Boot Camp course.

Training Center
We opened the Ibex Training Center last fall, and continue to present very successful courses in REVIT Architecture and host study groups and lab hours in the space. I’m happy to say that our younger participants are using the training center, too. This summer and fall, the Center for Architecture Foundation hosted vacation and after school programs on digital design.

Geothermal Gallery
Speaking of spaces in the Center, have you been to the geothermal gallery lately? We installed a glass fire door so visitors can see the geothermal well in action, and plans are underway for a permanent geothermal gallery. Stay tuned for more news on the “geo-vater.”

Digital Initiatives
Most of our communication with you is now done online, and I would like to recognize some of the significant technology initiatives we have implemented this year. The re-launched aiany.org is running smoothly with more functionality than ever. We have started recording on-demand Webinars, and are making our online directory more robust. We have joined with Naylor to publish OCULUS and roll out a new integrated media campaign. In 2011, you’ll be able to read the digital edition of our magazine. We’re building the Chapter’s online presence with Vimeo and Flickr accounts, and we’re on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and foursquare.

Advocacy
I’d also ask that you join us on the front lines. Under the guidance of Director for Legislative Affairs Margery Perlmutter, AIA, and our new Policy Director Jay Bond, we’ve taken our advocacy agenda to the next level.

Our agenda seeks to:
- Enhance and strengthen the leadership role of the Chapter with public policy issues concerning architecture, preservation, and urban planning.
- Foster broader involvement of the AIANY Board and membership.
- Advocate the interests of the architectural profession on issues of the built environment, professional regulation, education, and legislation.

With Jay’s 14 years of experience in city and state government, we have new energy and perspectives driving our work with agencies and representatives. We have lobbied in Washington and Albany, and met with local, state, and national leaders. We examined how all of the City agencies that affect the design and construction of buildings interface with one another. In that process, we reached out to the Charter Review Commission and Deputy Mayor for Operations to begin a discussion about how we could improve the effectiveness of these agencies’ efforts. Stay tuned for more updates on this important project. Ultimately, we want to make it better to practice in New York City.

2010-2015 Long Range Plan / “The Weave”
This enhanced advocacy agenda is part of the 2010-2015 Long Range Plan. I’m happy to say that we’ve made progress not only in advocacy, but also in outreach, professional development, and design excellence. Completing “The Weave,” an initiative of AIA National further honed our priorities and goals as a Chapter.

I am also happy to report that despite the rugged economy, the Chapter ended the year in a strong financial position thanks in large part to the fundraising efforts of the Board members and committees. We hosted two successful fundraising events, the Design Awards Luncheon and the Heritage Ball.

AIANY Staff
I want to recognize the entire staff of the Center for their dedication and great work over the past year. Day in and day out, I see your commitment, and I know that many long nights and weekends have been spent ensuring the success of the Chapter and the Institution.

2010 AIANY Board
I would also like to thank our Chapter leaders — the 2010 AIA Board and the chairs of our 25 Committees. Our committees have had exceptional programming this year. I applaud the New Practices Committee for another successful iteration of New Practices New York, and ENYA, for their first annual City of Dreams Pavilion on Governors Island and for the great High Bridge competition and exhibition. I thank the Professional Practice Committee for organizing the programs in support of Architect as Leader, and would like to congratulate the Committee on the Environment for their five-part Integration series with ASHRAE. Finally, I would like to acknowledge the Global Dialogues Committee for their enthusiasm throughout the year. With programs like the Brazil World Cup architectural summit, you broaden our audience.

2011 Nominating Committee
The 2011 Nominating Committee has been elected. I am looking forward to working with Michael Arad, AIA, Lance Jay Brown, FAIA, Sara Elizabeth Caples, AIA, and Yvonne Yan Szeto, FAIA, on this committee, with staff support from Suzanne Mecs, now Honorary AIA New York State.

Thanks to all for your commitment to the Chapter.

(Continued from above)
Waterfront Initiative
As architects, our goal is to create a better place to live. Over the summer, the design communities of two “water cities,” New York and Amsterdam, will take on the challenge by addressing how we live on the water and how waterfront cities can think more comprehensively about quality of life issues. Together the Center for Architecture and ARCAM (the Amsterdam Achitectuur Centrum) will create an exhibition and cultural exchange, providing a glimpse into the future of what a sustainable, livable waterfront city might look like. We see major opportunities for Chapter committees and individual members to bring their expertise to this developing initiative.

Buildings = Energy
In October 2011, the year’s theme will culminate with a major exhibition, “Buildings = Energy.” Using full-scale installations, models, and interactive diagrams, “Buildings = Energy” will educate the public and design professionals about measures undertaken by architects, engineers, elected officials, and civic activists that aim to improve building performance and the environment. These include: energy code compliance, embodied energy analysis in resource selection, the benchmarking of buildings, use of renewable energy systems, methods of energy harvesting, and lifecycle cost and operations management. Through the presentation of these topics the exhibition will inform the public about critical choices made during the building process and provide a means and motivation for architects to design for a change.

2011 Inaugural Fund
All of these initiatives are possible because of contributions to the Inaugural Fund. In prior years the Inaugural Fund has supported major exhibitions such as “Going Public” in 2006 and “Architecture Inside/Out” in 2007; additional theme-related programs like last year’s Design Literacy for All conference; and unique projects like the Liquid Wall curtain wall prototype. We could never achieve the work we do at the Center without the generous support of the Inaugural Fund sponsors.

To date for 2011 we would like to acknowledge: Lead Sponsors: Arup and Buro Happold; Sponsor: Mechoshade; Supporters: Acheson Doyle Partners Architects, P.C.; the DeLaCour Family Foundation; KPF; and Syska Hennessy Group, Inc.; Friends: Brenda Levin; Capsys Corp.; Community Environmental Center, Inc.; Helpern Architects; Hugo S. Subotovsky A.I.A. Architects LLC; P.W. Grosser Consulting, Inc.; Swanke Hayden Connell Architects; and Viridian Energy & Environmental, LLC.

We thank everyone who has contributed in the past and we continue to seek funding for these great projects. Contact Jen Apple for more information.

2011 Outlook: Energy
As many of you know, AIA has launched a national campaign for carbon neutrality in buildings by 2030. In NYC, we have begun and will continue to advocate for higher standards of energy efficiency. We won a NYSERDA grant to develop a curriculum on the 2010 Energy Conservation Code of New York State with the Urban Green Council, and conduct 80 course sessions over a 30-month period. These training sessions will take place at the Center and other locations around the city and state, and we look forward to partnering with other local AIA chapters to offer this important curriculum.

2011 AIANY Board
I would like to recognize the 2011 AIANY Chapter Board. I am excited to work with all you. I would especially like to acknowledge 2011 President-elect, Joe Aliotta, AIA, LEED AP.

Committees
I’m also looking forward to working with our committees. Our highly engaged program committees are poised to hold more programs than ever before in 2011, continuing an upward trajectory in the number, breadth, and depth of the Chapter’s programming.

The Architect’s Fast Track Leadership series will continue in the New Year with sessions on human resources, understanding clients, business development, and architectural law. New Practices will send an exhibition of its 2010 winners to São Paulo, and the Committee on the Environment is planning to adapt the AIA+2030 Professional Series, offering a 10-session course on designing for super-efficiency. We are excited to welcome the Design for Aging Committee to our ranks, and look forward to more programs joining the excellent roster already being presented by Architectural Dialogues, Architecture for Education, Architecture for Justice, Architecture for Hospitality, Banking and Finance, Building Codes, Building Enclosure Council, Cultural Facilities, Health Facilities, Historic Buildings, Housing, Interiors, Marketing and PR, Public Architecture, Technology, Transportation and Infrastructure, Women in Architecture, and the committees we’ve already mentioned. Also, I look forward to Oculus Committee-organized book talks in the New Year. Committee members, I’m looking forward to working with all of you.

2011 Overview
In the upcoming year, I’m looking forward to a resurgent economy, a stronger and greener Chapter recognized for its intellectual, practical, and imaginative leaders. Together we will set an example for cities across the state, country, and world. I look forward to working with all of you toward these goals.