AIA New York welcomes 2024 board of directors

Manhattan, NY AIA New York welcomed its 2024 board of directors at the annual board inaugural. Executive director Jesse Lazar, and 2023 president Matthew Bremer, AIA, NCARB, began the evening by celebrating this year’s achievements. Following the passing of the gavel, incoming 2024 president Greg Switzer, AIA, NOMA, NCARB, discussed his presidential theme, Belonging and Beyond.

2024 Presidential Theme – Belonging And Beyond

Switzer’s 2024 AIANY presidential theme, “Belonging and Beyond,” centers on a crucial aspect of human well-being that improves physical and social-emotional health and resilience for individuals and communities. “Belonging” refers to a deep connection with social groups, physical places, and individual and collective experiences. This year’s theme calls for us to be intentional about inclusion by listening and workshopping ideas worth advocating for and amplifying. “Belonging” asks for us to focus especially on the areas of affordability, exclusion, displacement, homelessness, climate change, and other patterns preventing people’s sustained connection to physical places and each other.

We are creative professionals well-equipped to uphold standards of excellence and integrity while prioritizing widespread well-being. As the first Black leader to guide this historic chapter in its 167 remarkable years of influence, Switzer is filled with enthusiasm that belonging will be our focus this year. 2024 will be a year of reflection and exploration as we educate ourselves and initiate opportunities for visionary dialogue, solution-seeking, and sharing with clients and the wider public. Workshop forums will deepen members’ internal connections while also enhancing the visibility and impact potential of the Center for Architecture as a vibrant cultural institution in the heart of New York City.

Chapter Recognition

The inaugural also served as an opportunity to recognize members and projects of the architecture and design community for their contributions. AIANY’s vice presidents recognized the chapter’s program committees with vice presidential citations for contributions in each of the organization’s mission areas: design excellence, public outreach, and professional development.

AIANY Vice Presidential Citations

AIANY Citation for Design Excellence: AIA New York recognizes Peter Bafitis, AIA, for leading the AIA New York Housing Committee for nine years and committing to over a decade of activism on housing advocacy efforts in New York City through the chapter.

AIANY Citation for Professional Development: AIA New York recognizes the Building Science Committee (BSC) for reinvigorating regular programming and discourse at AIA New York around building performance and climate impact of the built environment, as seen through the lens of materials and systems.

AIANY Citation for Public Outreach: AIA New York recognizes the Architecture for Justice Committee for the resounding success of the program Reimagining Justice: A Conversation with Formerly Incarcerated Artists.

Aia New York 2024 Board Of Directors:

*signifies new members and roles

President;

*Gregory Switzer, AIA, NOMA, NCARB

SWITZER Architecture, P.C.

First vice president/president-elect;

*Benjamin Gilmartin, AIA

Diller Scofidio + Renfro

Vice president for design excellence;

Hana Kassem, AIA, LEED AP

Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates

Vice president for professional development;

*Peter Miller, AIA

Palette architecture;

Vice president for public outreach;

Rocco Giannetti, FAIA, LEED AP ID+C, NCARB

Gensler

Secretary;

Mark L. Garder, AIA, NOMA

Jaklitsch/Gardner Architects

Treasurer; 

Alex P. Lamis, FAIA

Lamis Architect

Director;

*Victoria Benatar, AIA 

EXD Architecture

Director; 

*Michael Caton, AIA

Juno

Director;

Bruce D. Eisenberg, FAIA

New York City Housing Authority

Director;

Ilana Judah, AIA, OAQ, LEED AP, CPHC

Arup

Director;

Vivian W. Lee, FAIA, LEED AP

Gensler

Director;

Michaela Metcalfe, AIA

New York City Department of Design and Construction

Director;

AJ Pires, AIA, RA

Alloy Development

Director;

Amanda Ramos, Assoc. AIA, NOMA, WIN

Gensler

Director;

Gustavo Rodriguez, AIA

FXCollaborative

Public director;

Jha Amazi

MASS Design Group

Public director;

*Jennifer Graham, FIIDA, LEED AP

Perkins&Will

Public director;

*Vincent Lee, PE

Arup

Public director;

*Maria Perbellini

New York Institute of Technology

Public director, Oculus Advisor;

*Tami Hausman

HAUSMAN

Student director; 

*Martina Duque Gonzalez 

Cooper Union

Immediate past president;

*Matthew Bremer, AIA, NCARB

Architecture in Formation