By Jill Lerner, FAIA I would like begin this year's column by recognizing outgoing AIANY president Joseph Aliotta, AIA, LEED AP, for his tremendous work in 2012 on behalf of emerging architects and in leading the chapter's response to Superstorm Sandy, along with president-elect Lance Jay Brown, FAIA, co-founder of the Design for Risk and Reconstruction committee. These activities will continue to be central to the chapter's activities over the coming year, and I expect the Center for Architecture to be the focal point for important discussions on policy, architecture, real estate, and the resiliency of the natural and built environment. As 2013 AIANY president, I am pleased to announce "Global City/Global Practice" as the theme for this year's many programs. In today's globalized economy, it is a remarkable moment in time to engage the design community in an international dialogue. We will bring together municipal officials, industry leaders, and design professionals to discuss relevant international issues as we prepare for the future, including issues of environmental disaster preparedness and lessons learned from around the world. The New York architectural community, long admired for creating tall buildings and vibrant neighborhoods, has played a pivotal role in transforming numerous international urban centers. Next year we will showcase the work of New York architects, designers, and engineers abroad, attracting the best talent and exporting design services through global practice. From working abroad we can bring home many lessons in smart cities, transit-oriented development and waterfront resilience. We will show that architects add real value to real estate, ensuring that the buildings we design perform well from an environmental and financial perspective. Last month we opened "Hong Kong at 15: Redefining the Public Realm," which was followed by an engaging panel discussion between architects here and, via a live feed, architects working in Hong Kong arranged by AIA Hong Kong. This fall, we will open the exhibition "Practical Utopias: Asia's Global Urbanism," which will explore the design contributions of American architects in five growing Asian cities: Hong Kong, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore, and Tokyo, all centers of finance, culture, and education. In between, programs on Africa, India, Scandinavia, and South America will give a broader perspective on a range of design issues. To be most effective, AIA New York must work at the intersection of design and urban policy. Therefore, we have crafted a platform of key issues that will frame our discussions with elected officials - especially mayoral candidates in this election year - to keep these important issues at the forefront of our local, state, and federal governments' agendas. Now more than ever is the time for New York professionals - from architects to developers to attorneys to real estate brokers - to show their commitment to global leadership and cultural exchange. I hope to see you all here at the Center throughout 2013 to learn more about how the New York design community is both transforming the world and bringing back lessons learned to our practices and, by extension, to our clients and New York City, ensuring that it remains both globally competitive and the world's best example of a vibrant and livable city. Jill Lerner, FAIA, is the 2013 president of AIANY and a principal at KPF, New York, N.Y.