April 17, 2007
by: Carolyn Sponza AIA LEED AP

Event: NY 150+: A Timeline – Ideas – Civic Institutions – Futures
Location: Center for Architecture, 04.12.07
Organizers: AIA New York Chapter; The Center for Architecture Foundation
Exhibition Underwriters:
IBEX logoIBEX Construction; Patrons: NRI; TRESPA
Supported in part by an Arnold W. Brunner grant
Additional Support: Peter Schubert, AIA; FXFOWLE ARCHITECTS
Beverages: SKYY90 & Barefoot Cellars

Event: 2007 AIA New York Chapter Design Awards
Location: Center for Architecture, 04.12.07
Organizers: AIA NY; AIA NY Design Awards Committee
Benefactor: DIRTT; Oldcastle Glass
Patron: HOK, F. J. Sciame Construction Co.; Laticrete International; Microsol Resources; TRESPA
Lead Sponsor: Arup; Columbia University; Cooper Robertson & Partners; KI; Langan Engineering and Environmental Services; Mancini Duffy; Richter + Ratner; Syska & Hennessy, Inc.; Turner Construction
Sponsors: Atkinson Koven Feinberg; Bauerschmidt & Sons, Inc.; Bentley Prince Street; Beyer Blinder Belle: Architects and Planners; Certified of New York, Inc.; Cosentini Associates; Costas Kondylis & Partners; Forest City Ratner Companies; FXFOWLE ARCHITECTS; Gensler; Gilsanz Murray Steficek; Haworth; Hopkins Foodservice Specialists, Inc.; The I. Grace Company, Inc.; Ingram, Yuzek, Gainen, Caroll & Bertolotti; Lutron; Mechoshade Systems; NYU SCPS: The Real Estate Institute; Perkins + Will; Peter Marino Architect; Severud Associates Consulting Engineers; Skidmore, Owings & Merrill; Steelcase, Inc.; Structure Tone, Inc.; Studio Daniel Libeskind; Swanke Hayden Connell Architects; Thornton-Tomasetti Group
Reception Underwriter:
IBEX logoIBEX Construction
Beverages by: SKYY90 & Barefoot Cellars

Design Awards & NY 150+

Courtesy AIANY

Two exhibitions that recognize how New York architects (and their projects) have influenced the profession opened with a joint celebration at the Center for Architecture. NY 150+: A Timeline – Ideas – Civic Institutions – Futures coincides with the sesquicentennial anniversary of the AIA, lending a historical birds-eye view to the evolution of the profession. Timeline curator Diane Lewis, AIA, FAAR, calls the exhibition, “a series of giant pages to a forthcoming book celebrating the founding of the New York AIA.” Instead of using a linear, chronological format, Lewis tracked the evolution of specific projects alongside larger social and cultural developments occurring in the city. Projects are represented from germ to synthesis into the city. “When one looks at the postcard of Mies van der Rohe’s 1921 glass skyscraper, it is apparent that New York is the lexicon by which concrete can become imaginary and the imaginary can become concrete,” said Lewis.

The lower level galleries display the winning projects from this year’s AIA New York Chapter Design Awards. In many ways these contemporary projects provide a perfect counterpoint for the historical examples in the timeline. “It is not a coincidence that we have both of these openings happening today,” said Illya Azaroff, Assoc. AIA, AIANY Vice President for Design Excellence at the opening. Azaroff pointed out that while the Timeline exhibition charts the highs of the past 150 years, it provides prologue for today’s architects. The award-winning projects (located internationally, not only in New York) work toward establishing a professional legacy. While each winning project is detailed on its own oversize display, adjacent binders lend a glimpse into the process behind each finished product.

NY 150+: A Timeline is on view through 06.23.07, and 2007 AIA New York Chapter Design Awards is on view through 07.07.07. See On View: At the Center for Architecture for more information.

Carolyn Sponza, AIA, is an architect with Beyer Blinder Belle Architects and Planners and is the AIANY Chapter Vice President of Professional Development.

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