by: Compilation Rick Bell FAIA Stephen Kliment FAIA and Jessica
Event: AIA 2007 National Convention and Design Expo
Location: San Antonio, TX, 05.02-05.07
Architects convene in San Antonio for the AIA 2007 National Convention.
Carolyn Sponza; Jeremy Edmunds
“Our theme of ‘Growing Beyond Green’ was chosen before the general public came to its new understanding of the threat climate change poses to our future,” AIA President RK Stewart, FAIA, said at this year’s AIA National Convention. Attracting 21,640 registrants, and 844 exhibitors, architects gathered in San Antonio for four days of panels, exhibitions, programs, and parties. With such a broad line-up (see the last issue’s list of events of interest to New Yorkers “Big Apple Tour of San Antonio“), here are just some of the highlights from the weekend.
Many AIANY Chapter members conducted or orchestrated seminars and symposia. One of the best attended was, “New York New Visions: Success or Failure?” led by Mark Strauss, FAIA, AICP, and Mark Ginsberg, FAIA, on Lower Manhattan and New York New Visions. The panel also included Alexander Garvin, Hon. AIA, APA, and Rosalie Genevro of The Architectural League of New York.
“Advocacy Tactics for a Sustainable Endgame: The Politics of Sustainability” was a seminar which stressed that many sustainability problems can only be solved with significant help from the political arena. Progress demands political savvy. Understanding and respect for the roles of federal, state, and local governments in regulating land use and other uses such as energy and transportation systems is vital. So said the speakers, who should know. John Norquist, Hon. AIA, was the mayor of Milwaukee from 1988 to 2004 before becoming president and CEO of the Congress for the New Urbanism. The Hon. Richard Swett, FAIA, is a former Congressman and former U.S. Ambassador to Denmark. Moderating was New York’s Jeremy Edmunds, Associate AIA, PE, LEED-AP, a sustainability advisor to brownfields redeveloper Cherokee Northeast.
AIANY members were also recipients of major awards at the Convention. One high point was the room filled with thousands of well-wishers applauding Lance Jay Brown, FAIA, who received the Topaz Medallion. Mary Barnes and John Barnes were also present to accept the Gold Medal award posthumously for Edward Larrabee Barnes, FAIA.
New Fellows were elevated at a most memorable location — the plaza in front of the Alamo. This year nine AIANY members received Fellowship: Mustafa Kemal Abadan, FAIA; Roger Duffy, FAIA; Frank J. Greene, FAIA; Paul Katz, FAIA; Blake Middleton, FAIA; Margaret Rietveld, FAIA; Henry Stolzman, FAIA; Calvin Tsao, FAIA; and Adam Yarinsky, FAIA. Nationwide, 76 new Fellows were individually recognized, along with honorary international Fellows.
The proposal entitled “On the Water, a Model for the Future: a Study of New York and New Jersey Upper Bay” was presented with the $100,000 Latrobe Prize. Awarded every other year by the AIA’s College of Fellows, the focus this year is on NYC’s harbor, but the findings can serve as a model for any waterfront area. The objective of On the Water is to rethink the relationship between ecology and infrastructure. Heading the team is Guy Nordenson, structural engineering professor at Princeton University School of Architecture, founder of NY-based Guy Nordenson and Associates, and former partner at ARUP. Team members are Princeton University’s Stan Allen, AIA, Catherine Seavitt, AIA, and James Smith; Michael Tantala of Tantala Associates; and Adam Yarinsky, FAIA, and Stephen Cassell, AIA, of the Architecture Research Office.
Speaking of politics, for most convention-goers the high point was the plenary session at which Al Gore spoke of environmental possibilities and the role of architects and buildings in preventing further environmental degradation. The line was long, as was the speech — accomplished with only the most minimal notes and prompts.
Off-site from the Convention Center, the “New Practices New York” showcase exhibition opened at the Blue Star Contemporary Arts gallery in the trendy King William district. With a re-installation (thanks to Häfele hardware) of last July’s exhibition at NYC’s Center for Architecture, many architectural personages, including Gaéton Siew, President of the International Union of Architects, attended the exhibition’s opening. Students and gallery-hoppers alike voiced enthusiasm for the program.
At a national level, delegates elected Marvin J. Malecha, FAIA, as the Institute’s 2009 president. Peter J. Arsenault, AIA, and Clark Manus, FAIA will each serve a two-year term as vice president, and Hal P. Munger, FAIA, will act as treasurer beginning this year.
The AIA 2008 National Convention and Design Expo themed “We the People” will be held May 15-17, 2008, in Boston. For more information about next year’s exhibition contact AIA Infocentral at 1-800-242-3837. To see photographs from the weekend, check out Sighted.