AIANY incoming president focuses on next generation of architects

By Margaret Castillo, AIAEvery year in December, the American Institute of Architects New York Chapter inaugurates a new chapter president along with its new board of directors. As the privilege was passed on to me last year, it is now my honor to pass the torch of leadership to Joseph Aliotta, AIA, LEED AP, 2012 AIANY president. With advance planning this year, Joe has chosen the theme for his presidential year as FutureNOW! This builds upon the previous themes of advocating for sustainability and the future of the built environment. It also recognizes that the future of the profession speaks to multi-generational partnerships, preparing for a new generation of industry leaders. While my presidential theme exhibition, Buildings=Energy, has focused on the buildings of the future, Joe's will center on the building professionals who will be our profession's future. The exhibition will feature the New Practices New York 2012 biennial competition, the preeminent platform in New York City to recognize and promote new and innovative architecture and design firms, and the Emerging New York Architects (ENYA) Harlem Edge | Cultivating Connections competition, which explores the redevelopment of the decommissioned Department of Sanitation marine transfer station located on the Hudson River at 135th St. The New Practices competition calls for and encourages submissions of projects that showcase innovative building systems, net-zero strategies or high performance sustainable design. The ENYA competition is focused on reclaiming the waterfront for non-industrial use, as described by the Department of City Planning in its Vision2020, the Comprehensive Waterfront Action Plan for New York City, promoting adaptive reuse and employing sustainable design practices, and engaging the Harlem community with the waterfront. One of the central elements of the Buildings=Energy exhibition is demonstrating how people - not just those of us who work in the building professions - can help save our environment, and some money, by learning some new habits. Individual efforts at changing the way energy is used in buildings can have a positive impact by reducing harmful emissions and consumer energy costs. On Thursday, January 12th, 2012, the Center for Architecture will host Homes=Energy: What You Can Do as a Renter. Co-organized by NYSERDA, Homes=Energy will explore the ways that even as a renter, choices can have drastic effects on our monthly energy bill and help reduce the carbon footprints of the buildings we inhabit. The session will illustrate how a recent competition, organized by NYSERDA, Con Edison, and Councilmember Brad Lander, engaged residents of District 39 to compare their energy usage to that of their neighbors and demonstrate how much they could save through behavioral changes. Savings tips, from the extreme to the mundane, will be presented along with the realistic savings one can expect as a renter. Details such as how much energy the average renter uses and what funding is currently available to renters will motivate us all to use less. I invite you to join us for this very pragmatic program, and to come see the Buildings=Energy exhibition, which will be on view at the Center for Architecture through January 21, 2012. As my year as AIANY president ends, I would like to express my appreciation for the contributions of colleagues from across the spectrum of the building professions. The spirit of collaboration has helped make this past year especially fruitful for the AIA New York chapter and Center for Architecture. I am confident that Joe Aliotta is a strong and effective leader for 2012, and I look forward to continuing to work together with Joe, the AIANY board, and the staff to fulfill our ongoing missions of promoting design excellence, public outreach, and professional development. Wishing you all the best for a happy and healthy holiday season, and successful 2012. Margaret Castillo, AIA, LEED AP, is the 2011 president of the N.Y. chapter of the AIA, New York, N.Y.