AIA New York President’s message: Roundtables and upcoming events

Tomas Rossant, AIA

AIANY continues to convene roundtable conversations on advances in the practice of architecture. “Dialogues from the Edge of Practice” focuses on ways in which architects are broadening the scope of practice and bringing their unique problem solving skills to issues previously considered outside their purview. Architects need to engage authorities outside the profession on issues that matter to the design community and the general public alike.

The July think tank discussion, “Edge Collaborations: Creative Partnerships with Social Science,” explored how architects coordinate and synthesize the work of others. Over generations of design education and practice, architects have learned to use different types of information to produce buildings. We are now entering a new era of information availability and application. Roundtable participants mapped out new ground for collaborations, particularly those with practitioners and researchers in the social sciences. The August 6^th public program on this topic addressed how different fields contribute to architectural practice, and why it is important that they do so.

The “Dialogues from the Edge of Practice” series resumes in September with “Edge Digital: The Interactive Building,” which will explore the technological potential of interactivity between humans and architecture. The related public program will take place at the Center for Architecture on October 5^th.

This summer, AIA members across the country are urging their senators to oppose the proposal to repeal the Federal 2030 targets in the upcoming energy efficiency package that the senate committee on energy and natural resources is assembling. Repealing energy-saving targets for federal buildings would set back ongoing efforts to save energy and reduce carbon emissions while also saving taxpayer money. As part of this effort, AIANY met with senator Chuck Schumer’s office on  July 15^th. After receiving confirmation that senator Schumer will not support this bill in the Senate, we discussed the importance of energy efficiency in the built environment, a conversation we will continue to have with our representatives in the house as well.

In the city, AIANY supports the New York City Department of City Planning’s Zoning for Quality and Affordability proposal. Representing architects from all five boroughs, we are at work educating the design community and general public on how the changes will lead to better buildings and more affordable housing.

AIANY examines solutions to New  York City’s contemporary urban design challenges in hopes of informing the de Blasio administration and influencing change citywide. The chapter is currently undergoing its search for a new executive director. Nominations and applications may be submitted to [email protected].

Tomas Rossant, AIA, is the president of AIA New York and a founding partner and design principal at Ennead Architects LLP, New York, N.Y.