“Authenticity and Innovation” continues to steer AIANY

By Carol Loewenson

This year’s presidential theme, Authenticity and Innovation, continues to steer AIANY’s advocacy and programming efforts. Authenticity – the historical, cultural, and social essence of the built environment – is what gives people a sense of continuity and a connection to the past. Innovation speaks to the future and to creativity, not only in terms of buildings themselves, but the activities fostered in and around them.

On March 9^th, NYC Department of Design and Construction (DDC) commissioner Feniosky Peña-Mora and chief architect Margaret Castillo, FAIA, unveiled the agency’s new Design and Construction Excellence 2.0 Guiding Principles at the Center for Architecture. The speakers discussed how Design and Construction Excellence 2.0 builds on DDC’s ongoing commitment to build public buildings of the highest quality. By partnering with the most talented design and construction professionals in NYC, DDC continues helps to make neighborhoods sustainable, resilient, and healthy. AIANY continues to partner with and provide input to several New York City agencies. Members provide suggestion on ways in which their processes can be improved.

AIANY is also working to engage with the city’s future architects by advocating for more architecture education in New York City public schools. The Center for Architecture’s Learning By Design:NY program already introduces K-12 students to architecture and design through a series of hands-on workshops, developed and taught by the Center for Architecture’s design educators in collaboration with classroom teachers.

Programs are customized to enrich and extend existing classroom studies and meet Common Core standards. There is significant citywide interest in expanding the STEM curriculum, and architecture should be included.

AIANY also recognized innovation in architecture with the AIANY 2016 Design Awards winners. The 31 selected projects represent the exceptional work by AIA New York members and architects practicing in New York City. Each winning project was chosen for its design quality, response to its context and community, program resolution, creativity, thoughtfulness, and technique. The winning submissions, 19 of which were NYC-based, range from a multigenerational house in Queens to large-scale urban interventions. They will be celebrated at the 2016 Honors and Awards Luncheon on April 15^th.

Carol Loewenson, FAIA, LEED AP is the 2016 president of AIA New York and is a partner at Mitchell | Giurgola, New York, N.Y.