Architects are helping drive the recovery from Sandy

By Jill Lerner, FAIA A few weeks ago mayor Bloomberg announced policies aimed at creating a more resilient city, better prepared to face future storms as well as rising tides. In line with this announcement, AIANY's members and policy team have done exemplary work: testifying in support of the city's plan and receiving praise for our own "Post-Sandy Initiative" report; uniting with AIA New York State in Albany pushing for Good Samaritan legislation; working with regional partners to prepare for the next hurricane; and providing leadership in the FAR ROC competition for resilient and sustainable development in Far Rockaway, Queens. The mayor's plan, "A Stronger, More Resilient New York," was produced by the Special Initiative for Rebuilding and Resiliency (SIRR) and outlines comprehensive solutions for NYC's 520 miles of waterfront. In line with our own "Post-Sandy Initiative," it advocates creating hard and soft edges, major infrastructure solutions where appropriate, and zoning changes to allow and/or require building back smarter. AIANY executive director Rick Bell, FAIA, who participated on the SIRR panel, was quoted in support in the mayor's press release. We also advocated for the passage of Resolution 1771 which calls upon the New York State legislature to move on the Good Samaritan Act. While legislators failed to take action on creating a Good Samaritan law during this session, we are now positioned to hit the ground running on this issue come the next legislative session. And, NY1 helped us make our case by interviewing Lance Jay Brown, FAIA, co-chair of AIANY's Design for Risk and Reconstruction Committee (DfRR), about this critical piece of legislation. On July 9th, we convened a Regional Recovery Working Group at NJIT in Newark, N.J. Nature doesn't recognize political boundaries, and crossing these lines will require collaboration with our neighbors. Organized by AIANY, our AIA colleagues from Connecticut, New Jersey, and Rhode Island joined with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, FEMA, and Homeland Security representatives to highlight the regional nature of climate change. Finally, the FAR ROC competition has attracted a wide range of planning and design solutions among the 117 entries, generated by architects from around the world. Jointly sponsored by the NYC Department of Housing Preservation & Development, L+M Development Partners, The Bluestone Organization, Triangle Equities, Enterprise Community Partners, and AIA New York, the Phase I competition results will be announced on July 18th. In summary, AIANY is keeping the focus on rebuilding a more resilient region and preparing for the future. We have worked closely with our government officials to give architects and other design professionals a voice in the response to Superstorm Sandy, our DfRR Committee spoke about resilience at the 2013 AIA Convention in Denver, and we are bringing out the best design talent to develop solutions for waterfront development at our city's edges. We look forward to seeing you at the Center to engage with these important issues. Our professional communities are integral to this region's future and I look forward to working together. Jill Lerner, FAIA, is the 2013 president of AIANY and a principal at KPF, New York, N.Y.