by: Matthew Bremer, AIA, and Jennifer Sage, FAIA
Dear AIANY Members and Friends of the Center for Architecture,
It is with a mixture of gratitude and sadness that the AIA New York Board of Directors and the Center for Architecture Board of Trustees announce that Executive Director Ben Prosky, Assoc. AIA, will be leaving his role effective February 3, 2023. Ben has accepted a new position as President of the Classical American Homes Preservation Trust.
It goes without saying, that during his more than seven years leading our two organizations, Ben has had tremendous impact. In his first year, he led the creation of a joint strategic framework to clarify the visions of both the Chapter and the Center. He also managed the creation of a new website and digital strategy. Soon after, he partnered with AIA National to host the 2018 Conference on Architecture in New York for the first time in 20 years, which brought a record 25,000 architects to New York. His tenure has seen the establishment of vital new programs and funds, including the Civic Leadership Program, the AIANY Future of Practice Committee, the AIANY Political Action Committee, the CFA Patrons Circle, the AIANY 2030 Fund, the CFA Anniversary Fund, and, in collaboration with NYCOBA NOMA, the J. Max Bond, Jr. Fund. K-12 Education programs have grown during his time, and both organizations have disbursed more scholarship funding than ever before. Archtober has greatly widened its reach and partnership network, and under Ben’s leadership, major foundations such as the Rockefeller Foundation, the Ford Foundation, and Bloomberg Philanthropies have supported the Center for Architecture with large grants for the first time.
Ben also ably led both organizations through the challenges of the pandemic and re-opened the Center for Architecture in October 2021 after 18 months of remote programming and events, which were essential in keeping our community connected and hopeful.
While we are sorry to see him go, we know Ben will remain part of our community in the future. In the meantime, while we initiate a new search, AIANY and CFA Deputy Director Jesse Lazar will take over as Interim Executive Director, and the dedicated staff team will be striving to continue with the wonderful work Ben has done since early 2016.
The future remains full of possibilities for both AIA New York and the Center for Architecture, and we look forward to keeping in touch with this community as further plans take shape over the coming months. Ben leaves both organizations in excellent shape and we wish him all the best in his new endeavors.
Warmly,
Matthew Bremer, AIA Jennifer Sage, FAIA
President, AIA New York Board Chair, Center for Architecture