by: admin
Locally, we have advocated for increased representation of architects on community boards across the city. Today, we count 28 members city-wide. We continue to work diligently on reform of the buildings approval process, and we are at the table, participating on the NYC City Planning Business Process Reform Working Group known as BluePrint, the Green Buildings Task Force, Vision 2020 Waterfront Advisory Group, New York City Age-Friendly Commission, and the Department of Building’s Technical Code and Managing Committees, which will make recommendations on improving the NYC Construction Code.
The Chapter is undertaking a major project with the goal of actively engaging government leaders as well as the general public in finding needed solutions to the most pressing design issues facing our city. The city-wide 2013 New York City elections offer an opportunity for AIANY to help shape the political debate and advance our policy agenda. Therefore, we are drafting a policy platform to emphasize the role of design in the future of our city.
In this platform statement, we will identify issues and offer solutions from the architects’ perspective. As we move forward on this project, we ask for your support and involvement.
We went to Washington, DC, and to Albany to meet with our elected officials on important issues such as the reauthorization of the federal transportation bill to restore mass-transit funding, the opening of credit markets, increased incentives for energy-efficient building design, and the Small Business Protection Act 2012 that seeks to create jobs and provide economic opportunity. In Albany, we advocated for The Good Samaritan Act and the adoption of a 10-year statute of repose, both of which, focus on the liability architects assume as part of our licensure and commitment to public safety.
We were selected by NYSERDA to organize and deliver energy code training based on the Energy Conservation Construction Code of New York throughout New York State. Working with Urban Green, I am pleased to report that we are on target to deliver 40 training sessions by the month’s end.
If you’re interested in participating in any of the Chapter’s advocacy initiatives, please be in touch with our Policy Director Jay Bond: jbond@aiany.org.
Finally, we are busy planning the annual Heritage Ball, which will be held at Chelsea Piers on Thursday, October 25. Please join us to celebrate our 2012 honorees:
• Cesar Pelli, FAIA, Senior Principal, Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects
• Robert E. Selsam, Senior Vice President, Boston Properties
• Iris Weinshall, Vice Chancellor, City University of New York
• Joshua David & Robert Hammond, Co-Founders, Friends of the Highline
The 2012 Heritage Ball and Party@theCenter afterwards will be a wonderful evening. Reserve your places early!
Joseph Aliotta, AIA, LEED AP, is AIANY 2012 President and Principal-US Chief Operating Officer of Swanke Hayden Connell Architects.