2011: Designing for a change in our society

By Margaret Castillo, AIAFirst, I'd like to congratulate my predecessor, Tony Schirripa, FAIA, IIDA, for a great year at the helm of the American Institute of Architects New York Chapter. His 2010 theme, "Architect as Leader" challenged us all to think about our roles in our firms, on our projects, and in our community. Working with him was a great education in how to be chapter president of the largest local AIA chapter in the country (we're almost 4,000 architects strong). He also taught me how to be a better leader in the design community. Last month, Tony gave a brief preview of my 2011 theme "Design for a Change." I firmly believe that it is our responsibility as architects to lead the way into a more sustainable and responsible urban future. That responsibility takes many forms -social, environmental, and economic. With drive and dedication, we can achieve design that addresses these issues of sustainability, while still upholding the aesthetic standards that have made New York the design capital of the world. As New Yorkers, we led the way in making the ultimate cosmopolitan city in the 20th century. Now, in our young century, I want us to lead the world in energy reduction in the built environment - a new, more responsible kind of cosmopolitanism. If you ask me, energy is a design issue, not a technology issue, and I look forward to making energy a critical topic for every designer. My ultimate goal is a net zero New York. There's a number of ways I hope to get the community thinking about our sustainable future. Of course, the first and best way is for us to all implement energy-efficient strategies. No matter what your role--as developer, designer, client, or contributor - we all have to demand the highest bar of sustainability in our work. Beyond that, upcoming programming and exhibitions at the Center for Architecture will reinforce that design has the ability to make positive change in our communities. I'm particularly excited about Jugaad Urbanism: Resourceful Strategies for Indian Cities, an exhibition opening on February 10. "Jugaad," by the way, is a Hindi term that refers to a certain resourcefulness and innovation found in Indian culture. 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. The show focuses on forward-thinking urbanism through design, and addresses issues of many resources - including water, energy, land, and transportation - and how they can be better used in cities like Bangalore, Mumbai, and Delhi. From slum resettlement projects such as the reconfigured plot by Cybermohalla in Delhi to infrastructure projects like the newly implemented "skywalks" of Mumbai, we can all learn something from the contemporary Indian city. We'll have a great opening celebration on the evening of February 10, a screening of the film The Great Indian Jugaad on February 11, and an all-day symposium on low income housing and informal settlements on Saturday, February 12. This last program is organized in conjunction with the United Nations Human Settlements Program. In these programs, and other initiatives, like AIA National's Design for Decades -which gathers hundreds of examples of recent projects by AIA members, including many socially responsible projects like schools, libraries, and public spaces—we are able to talk about current practice, and learn from one another. Design for a Change means sharing best practices. I urge you to contribute to the conversation, and help us make a change for the better. Margaret Castillo, AIA, LEED AP, is the 2011 president of the N.Y. chapter of the AIA, New York, N.Y.