by: Lance Jay Brown
On the Ides of December I welcomed visitors to the Center for Architecture and introduced the ”Inclusionary/Integrated Housing: Building Development” event, a program organized collaboratively by the AIANY Planning and Urban Design Committee, the AIANY Housing Committee, the AIANY Codes Committee, and the APA Metro Chapter. I hope to open yet another program before year’s end concerned with sustainability – the two, in combination, speak volumes about the challenges and opportunities we face as we enter 2015. The new mayoral administration has begun to tally its affordable housing achievements to date, 16,000 units by 12.31.14, and we have been having conversations with Chapter members and city officials about implementing sustainability and resilience measures.
This past weekend I, along with many Chapter past presidents, AIA national board members, and our executive director Rick Bell, FAIA, attended the Inaugural ceremony for 2015 President Elizabeth Chu Richter, FAIA. The ceremony took place in Foster + Partners’ glazed cortile in the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, DC. It was an impressive ceremony in so many ways. My lasting impression is of Elizabeth’s words, words that I feel continue the broad theme of my presidential theme, “Civic Spirit: Civic Vision.” I hope will resonate with the Chapter, and serve as a legacy of what I hoped to add to our notable array of actionable initiatives offered to promote a healthier and happier urban vision for all. I quote: “The 21st-century AIA member will be a global architect…’global‘ in terms of what we will focus on – sustainability, health, resilience, food, water, transportation, social equity, and urbanization.”
I wish you all the very best for the holiday season and hope that our paths continue to cross as the AIA New York Chapter and Center for Architecture, in an improved configuration, pursue their destiny as the preeminent architectural venue in the City of New York.