PRESIDENT’S LETTER

Spring is all about new beginnings and transformations; it’s a season that symbolizes starting fresh. We’ve come out of the pandemic with new approaches and perspectives on work, life and the communities we serve. As President, I am excited to be a part of initiatives whose outcomes will postively impact and transform our state component thanks to our leadership and our volunteer members.

AIA New York State is especially excited about an initiative that will review how we govern our organization. While AIANYS has been diligent in consistently reviewing strategies, it has been decades since governance was reviewed. This endeavor is not due to any known deficits or problems, this endeavor is to ensure that AIANYS continues to deliver the best services to our membership. To date, the Governance Study Group held six focus group meetings, sent out a comprehensive survey, and provided updates to the board to make certain that we are thorough and inclusive. Stay tuned, we are hoping to have recommendations this summer.

I am also excited to share this impactful issue with you. As problem solvers, architects and design professionals design utilizing both their heads and their hearts. As leaders, we are genuine and empathetic, walking compassionately in the shoes of our many communities. Our colleagues have shared their transformation of spaces as a result of their own personal or professional experiences. They’ve advocated, influenced and developed solutions that contribute towards equal access for all, and a better quality of life for a wide range of individuals.

The landmark Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was created by the federal government with support from the AIA to ensure that public and private facilities were accessible to those with physical impairments. Today, the concepts of accessibility have become second nature to architects, and the buildings we create allow for easier navigation— more importantly independence and dignity—to our disabled citizens. Although our efforts are laudable, the next step is to embrace Universal Design where our buildings are designed to accommodate a variety of abilities; be easy and intuitive to use; communicate necessary information, regardless of sensory abilities; minimize opportunity for error; and be able to accommodate different body sizes, postures and mobility. Along the journey of life, we must not just guarantee independence for the individual reliant upon a wheelchair who needs assistance in mobility, but the young athlete on crutches after surgery; a parent navigating a space with a stroller, bags of groceries and two children, or a neurodivergent child supporting their emotional and educational needs. These types of design features are beneficial to everyone in our society.

Buildings are infrastructure, and if we want to “build back better,” we need to build back with everyone in mind, and universal design is the pathway to that solution. I look forward to continuing to serve the AIA New York State community and I am excited to be a part of the many initiatives we have in place for this year.

Sincerely,

Paul McDonnell, AIA 2023 President | AIA New York State