By Joseph Aliotta, AIA, LEED AP
Here at AIA New York, we manage to fit into October what some organizations fit into an entire year. We opened two exhibitions on K-12 school architecture on the 1st; another one on the 10th in the West 4th Street subway station that features members' work all over the world; our architectural boat tours are circling Manhattan almost everyday; our black-tie gala, the Heritage Ball, is on the 25th; and don't forget Archtober, which features programming, tours, and architects talking architecture, everyday of the month. Below in greater depth are the ways AIA New York is promoting the value of architects and quality design this October.
As architects, we practice architecture every day, and enjoy it always. But once a year we truly celebrate the industry in its entirety at the Heritage Ball. The event, which will undoubtedly fill Chelsea Piers’ Pier 60 with 1,200 professionals from the architecture, engineering, construction, and real estate industries, will be a night to remember. While we all love the black-tie networking, we’re really gathering to celebrate design excellence and leadership, with four exemplars of it: Cesar Pelli, FAIA, Senior Principal, Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects; Robert E. Selsam, Senior Vice President, Boston Properties; Iris Weinshall, Vice Chancellor of Facilities Planning, Construction and Management, City University of New York; and Joshua David & Robert Hammond, Co-Founders, Friends of the High Line.
In our brief dinner program, we’ll hardly have time to discuss the details of each honoree’s accomplishments. That’s why, in addition to Heritage Ball, we’ll be hosting programs with each of the honorees throughout October. All promise to offer insights for both professionals and the public.
October is also Archtober. Now in its second year, the city-wide festival of architecture activities, programs, and exhibitions will take place October 1-31, 2012. Archtober’s curated calendar features more than 180 architecture and design lectures, conferences, programs, and exhibitions – a new section this year – happening at the Center for Architecture and collaborating institutions across the city. New York City is home to nearly 40,000 architects and design professionals, which is the largest pool of design talent in the country. As in its inaugural year, Archtober (pronounced ARK-tober) continues to demonstrate this sector’s powerful economic impact and draws global attention to one New York’s leading exports.
Another way we're encouraging all New Yorkers to celebrate our built environment is through our boat tours. Gain a new appreciation for our city from the water: we’ve partnered with Classic Harbor Line on an architectural boat tour developed by AIANY’s Architectural Tourism Committee. Recently featured in the New York Times, these incredible tours circle the entire island of Manhattan – from the Battery to Spuyten Duyvil – and pair unparalleled views with expert guides.
Finally, although school's been in session around the country for just about a month, the discussion on K-12 architecture is just beginning at the Center for Architecture. Two exhibits, “The Edgeless School: Design for Learning” and “The Best School in the World: Seven Finnish Examples from the 21st Century,” are jump-starting the dialogue between contemporary educational needs and school architecture. School design is one of the most important building types in many architectural firm portfolios, and this exhibition makes a valuable contribution to the profession by elucidating excellent examples for architects, policy makers, clients, and the public. “Edgeless” is on view through January 19th, and “The Best School,” through October 31st.
As you can see, October is our banner month. From black ties to boat shoes, architecture is everywhere, and AIA New York is in the thick of it all. Come to the Center for Architecture in Greenwich Village, or make it a double-header on the 25th: catch a boat tour from Chelsea Piers and then stay on for the Heritage Ball. Consider this your formal invitation to “push the boat out” with us this Archtober!
Joseph Aliotta, AIA, LEED AP, is the 2012 president of the AIA New York Chapter, New York, N.Y. Tags: