by: Margaret Castillo AIA LEED AP
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.