ARCHITECTURE New York State | Q4 | January '19

NEW YORK STATE

ARCHITECTURE

Q4

A P U B L I C AT I O N O F

Highlighting Our

2019 Officers, Directors & Region Representatives

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CONTENTS

OFFICERS PRESIDENT | Mark Vincent Kruse, AIA................................................................6-7 PRESIDENT-ELECT | Joseph Aliotta, FAIA........................................................... 8-9 VICE PRESIDENT GOVERNMENT ADVOCACY | Michael Spinelli, Esq., AIA........................................................................... 10-11 VICE PRESIDENT KNOWLEDGE | John D. Fry, AIA......................................................................................... 12-13 VICE PRESIDENT PUBLIC ADVOCACY | Pasquale Marchese, AIA...............................................................................14-15 TREASURER | Stephanie Wright, AIA................................................................................. 16-17 SECRETARY | Peter Wehner, AIA......................................................................................18-19 VICE PRESIDENT EMERGING PROFESSIONALS | Jeffrey Pawlowski, AIA............................................................................... 20-21

DIRECTORS AT LARGE YOUNG ARCHITECTS FORUM | NEW YORK REGION DIRECTOR Casey Crossley, AIA....................................................................................24-25 NEW YORK REGION REPRESENTATIVE TO THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATES COMMITTEE | Josette Matthew, Assoc. AIA.................................... 26-27 ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR | Yadira D. DeSantis, Assoc. AIA.....................................................................28-29 STUDENT DIRECTOR | Noor Ul Ain, AIAS...................................................................................... 30-31

NEW YORK REGION REPRESENTATIVES TO THE AIA STRATEGIC COUNCIL NEW YORK REGION REPRESENTATIVE TO THE AIA STRATEGIC COUNCIL | Brynnemarie Lanciotti, AIA.........................................................................34-35 NEW YORK REGION REPRESENTATIVE TO THE AIA STRATEGIC COUNCIL | Willy Zambrano, AIA...................................................................................36-37 NEW YORK REGION REPRESENTATIVE TO THE AIA STRATEGIC COUNCIL | Kelly Hayes McAlonie, FAIA ............................................................ Kelly’s article will appear in the next issue on Women in Architecture Q4 | JANUARY 2019 | PAGE 3

2019 Board of Directors Front Row (l to r): Martin Hero, AIA, Director; Michael Spinelli, JD, AIA, VP Government Advocacy; Jane Smith, FAIA, Director; Mark Vincent Kruse, AIA, President; Joseph Aliotta, FAIA, President-Elect; Stephanie Wright, AIA, Treasurer; Pasquale Marchese, AIA, VP Public Advocacy; Noor Ul Ain, AIAS, Student Director.

Back Row (l to r): John Fry, AIA, VP Knowledge; Gregory Thorpe, AIA, Director; Andrew Harding, AIA, Director; Nathan Rozzi, AIA, Director; Manuel Andrade, AIA, Director; Ofé Clarke, AIA, Director; Michael Anderson, AIA, Director; Jeffrey Pawlowski, AIA, VP Emerging Professionals; Sarah Drake, AIA, Director; Nicole Schuster, AIA, Director; Adedoshu Joshua, AIA, Director; Peter Wehner, AIA, Secretary; Mark Anderson, AIA, Director; Yadira DeSantis, AIA, Associate Director; Casey Crossley, AIA, New York Region Director, Young Architects Forum; Baani Singh, AIA, Director.

Not Pictured Above: Kirk Narburgh, AIA, Past President; Josette Matthew, Assoc. AIA, New York Region Representative to the National Associates Committee; Tonja Adair, AIA, Director; Jeffrey Raven, FAIA, Director NEW YORK REGION REPRESENTATIVES TO THE AIA STRATEGIC COUNCIL (Not Pictured) Kelly Hayes McAlonie, FAIA; Brynnemarie Lanciotti, AIA; and Willy Zambrano, AIA

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2019 Officers

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Mark is the Principal and founder of MVK Architecture & Planning, PC, a full-service firm that provides diverse services specializing in but not limited to Residential & Commercial New Construction and Planning, Additions, Alterations, Renovation, Remodeling, Site Development & Code Compliance Reviews.

Mark has been an active AIA member since 1999, the 2011 President of the Long Island Chapter and is presently the 2019 President of AIA New York State. In addition to his leadership and advocacy roles within the AIA, he is a certified Cal-OES Post Disaster Safety Assessment Program Building Evaluator and Trainer where he along with other New York State and AIA National trainers under the AIA Disaster Assistance Program are training and certifying Architects and other building industry professionals in Post Disaster Building Safety Assessment. To date, he and the other NYS Trainers have trained and certified over 150 additional New York professionals now capable of providing post disaster building safety assessment. His formal disaster response experience began along the south shore of Long Island, NY following Superstorm Sandy.

Throughout his thirty-five-year career Mark has committed himself to advocating for the profession, lecturing, mentoring and providing community services. He is OSHA 10 certified, a New York State Notary Public, along with being an active Member of the Building Inspectors Association of Nassau County, the New York State Building Officials Conference, Building Officials Association of Suffolk County, and a Professional Member of the International Code Council.

Mark Vincent Kruse, AIA | President

Advocating for the Profession

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t is a great honor to be the 2019 President of the American Institute of Architects New York State. I have been an active member since 1999 and have served in numerous positions and on several committees representing the AIA in a local capacity as well as on a State and National level.

My involvement and committee participation on a local, state and national level includes the 2016-2017 AIA New York State Treasurer, 2014-2015 AIA New York State Director, AIA New York State Budget and Finance Committee Member, AIA New York State Government Advocacy Committee Member, AIA New York State Public Advocacy Committee Member, 2013 AIA New York State Alternate Director, 2011 President of the American Institute of Architects Long Island Chapter, AIA Long Island Chapter Member Firm, AIA Long Island Chapter Reference Directory Chairman, AIA Long Island Chapter Archi Awards Committee Member, AIA Long Island Chapter Product Fair Committee Member, AIA Long Island

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Chapter Government Relations Committee Member, AIA Long Island Chapter Old Field Competition Committee Member & Juror, AIA 2006 New York State Convention Committee Member, and AIA 2005 – 2012 National Convention Delegate.

Over the course of nearly two decades I have had the pleasure of serving the Institute and our Members with a focused mindset on advancing the ideals and principles of our organization while increasing and promoting our industry exposure with allied professionals, governmental agencies and the private and public sector. Having been in a leadership position for what has been essentially the entirety of my professional career, as well as a large majority of my membership in the AIA I have continuously sought to maintain a balanced perspective of inward and outward thinking with an eye on global, regional and local implications. This has provided me with a skillset to further develop and collectively work to enhance our efforts of sound and sustainable association

Mark presenting during a Safety Assessment Program in Syracuse, NY.

management, new member procurement concepts, membership retention and perceived member valued services expansion campaigns, new leadership identification and teamwork development strategies.

Having served now for nearly two years as Treasurer and four years as a Board Member and active committee member on the above AIANYS committees it is my belief that I am properly prepared to serve on the Executive Board. Having a multitiered experience based comprehensive knowledge of the organizations individual portfolios, strategic goals, advocacy priorities, governance directions and fiscal practices I wholeheartedly recognize the importance of qualified committed leadership and the strength of teamwork necessary to achieve our desired goals.

As part of the overall experience and expertise that I can bring to this position is that I have been engaged in the practice of Architecture for approximately 30 years at the forefront of sound business management based upon the foundation of maintaining a conservative expansion approach while identifying and developing new pathways of market relevance in an ever-changing marketplace and

“Having been in a leadership position for what has been essentially the entirety of my professional career, as well as a large majority of my membership in the AIA I have continuously sought to maintain a balanced perspective of inward and outward thinking with an eye on global, regional and local implications. .“ profession. While serving on the Executive Board of New York State I can assure you that I recognize the importance of maintaining the positive forward moving direction of the Institute while upholding our conduct to the highest ethical standards of our organization. I sincerely appreciate this opportunity and look forward to working together towards the common goals of the American Institute of Architects.

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Joseph Aliotta, FAIA Principal and Studio Leader at Perkins Eastman Joseph is an accomplished architect with a proven track record of leadership, managing people, process and projects for numerous developers, owners, public sector and corporate clients.

He has extensive project management experience on a variety of significant, complex mixed-use, public, hospitality/residential, and education projects built within the New York City area. He brings the expertise, knowledge and ability to successfully coordinate complicated projects and has experience working with public agencies. He has led the design, renovation and construction of over 20M sf of space. Prior to joining Perkins Eastman, Joseph was a Managing Principal with Swanke Hayden Connell Architects, New York.

Joseph is dedicated to the profession and to the next generation, working for many years with the ACE Mentor Program, a program supporting high school students interested in architecture and engineering professions through mentorships and scholarships. He also served as the 2012 AIA New York President, the 2017 and 2018 AIA New York State Vice President of Government Advocacy and the 2019 President Elect, serving as President in 2020.

Joseph Aliotta, FAIA | President-Elect

Paying It Forward

I

’m a New Yorker, born and bred. I’ve lived and worked in New York all of my life.

I’m a first generation American, grew up in a blue collar neighborhood in a blue collar family, and only the second member of my family to go to college.

I belong to a family who did DIY (do it yourself) before it was cool to do DIY. That’s how I learned about construction and where my interest in architecture began. My uncle loved to paint and sculpt, and did so every moment he could—we lived in the same house.

My love and appreciation for art comes from him. I’m a product of a great public education—Brooklyn Technical High School, where I first learned about engineering and architecture, and the City College of New York (CUNY), where I received my foundation to build a career in architecture. City College not only provided me with a strong foundation, but provided me with a core of friends who remain close for over forty years!

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I have had the opportunity to be a part of some successful large firms in New York City and work along side several incredible mentors. More often than not, the mentorship was by osmosis; keeping my eyes and ears open and learning, always learning. I am still learning.

I have also had some great clients and great projects; clients who have become friends.

After fifteen years or so of building a career and family, I became involved with the ACE Mentor Program, a high school mentorship program that gives students

Joe, circa 1989.

the opportunity to learn about architecture, construction and engineering. What attracted me to this program was that these kids may not look like me, but they are me—many of them first generation coming from blue collar families. I have served as a mentor, a team leader and continue to serve on its Board of Directors for almost twenty years. There is nothing more gratifying for than meeting ACE Mentor students who have completed the program, continued on to college and are now working with me in the profession.

It was the catalyst for me to start paying it forward. So, after 20 years of having AIA behind my name and paying dues, I finally got involved with my Chapter. I carried my interest in mentorship to my work at the chapter, working closely with the Emerging Professionals. My involvement continues to this day with the recent launch of “TORCH,” a mentor program that engages the Fellows to mentor Emerging Professionals. Along with a core of newly minted 2018 Fellows led by past AIANYS President, Eric Goshow, the emerging professionals created this new program.

As president of the AIA New York Chapter, we illuminated young professionals’ work and elevated their capabilities as future leaders through AIANY 2012 Presidential theme, “FutureNOW!” We

addressed the real-life challenges facing young professionals, celebrated their impact, and inspired them to advocate for the profession. It drew international attention to AIANY and emerging professionals through design competition/exhibition. We convened the 2012 FutureNOW! Summit to engage young professionals in the future of the profession and forged connections between them, establishing voices including AIA National Board Directors and AIA Fellows. The summit reconvened in 2014 and will reconvene in 2019. As a result, I have enjoyed mentoring future leaders who now sit on the AIA Strategic Council, AIANYS, and AIANY Board of Directors.

“There is nothing more gratifying to me than meeting ACE Mentor students who have completed the program, continued on to college and I am now working with them in the profession. It was the catalyst for me to start paying it forward. .“ Parallel to my passion in mentorship is my interest of government advocacy.

My interest in politics has several influences—from my local state assemblyman coming to my house and having espresso, stuffing mailboxes and getting rewarded with pizza, to my great uncle who campaigned for countless political candidates. So, it was natural for me to focus on government advocacy with the AIA New York Chapter and evolve to hold the Board position of Vice President, Government Advocacy for AIANYS. I have to admit that I truly love doing it, even while being very frustrated about how challenging it is to move the needle in advocacy for our profession.

It has been my honor to serve as 2017-2018 AIA New York State Vice President, Government Advocacy.

Throughout my tenure serving the AIA, I have focused on government advocacy, both at the chapter level and the state level. Nevertheless, serving as Vice President allowed me to gain a broader perspective via the Government Advocacy Committee about statewide issues and the wider concerns of each of our member chapters. Serving on the AIANYS Executive Committee has also given me the opportunity to develop an understanding of the ways in which AIANYS serves its member chapters and constituents. I believe that this broader experience has prepared me serve as AIANYS President in 2020.

Just as I finally got the hang of serving as VP, Government Advocacy, I now prepare to learn from 2019 President Mark Kruse and 2018 President Kirk Narburgh about my new role as we move into 2019 and ready myself for 2020.

So, as I ready myself for 2020, I will look to how to answer these two questions: •

How best AIANYS can serve the individual needs of our chapters in order for AIA NYS to serve all our NYS members within the constraints of budget and staff?

• How can AIANYS best balance

the diverse needs and sometimes

contradictory opinions on state-wide

issues in order to come to a consensus?

I look forward to the challenge and working with all of our leadership and you to advance our profession.

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Michael Spinelli, JD, AIA Principal, Cashin Spinelli & Ferretti, LLC President, Nassau Suffolk Engineering & Architecture, PLLC Michael has vast experience in the management of construction projects, retained by virtually all of the nation’s largest insurance companies to evaluate and/or manage troubled construction projects through completion.

Michael has dutifully served AIA Long Island as President, an active member, and an innate leader within the community. His understanding of the local and state political landscape has helped to promote the profession and the interests of AIA members throughout Long Island. Michael has also served as the Vice President of Government Advocacy and is an attorney as well as an architect. Michael is also an Adjunct Professor at SUNY Farmingdale where he educates the next generation of architects on the importance of law and government. Michael has a long history of public service and activism, and has continually worked to better our communities in a wide variety of roles.

Michael Spinelli, JD, AIA | Vice President, Government Advocacy

Life-Long Learning

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et me begin by thanking you for the opportunity to serve on the AIA New York State Executive Committee as Vice President of Government Advocacy. I look forward to working with my fellow architects on the Ex-Com and the Board of Directors, along with our talented and dedicated staff and colleagues at the Association. I was also privileged to serve on the Board and Ex-Com from 2004–2006 in a similar position, Vice President of Government Affairs. Prior to my service with AIA New York State, I was a member of AIA Long Island’s Board of Directors, and served as President of the chapter.

I always knew I wanted to be an architect. Growing up, everything was explained to me with a felt tip pen on the back of a napkin! My grandfather was an architect who worked for many firms throughout his career, including Harrison & Abramovitz, and Bauhaus architect Marcel Breuer. My dad traveled a similar but different road.

A civil engineer, he managed facilities, design and construction throughout the

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“In our role as licensed design professionals—and more importantly, based on our responsibility as citizens who care for the planet—architects must continue to be leaders in our communities.“ United States for Trans World Airlines, including Eero Saarinen’s iconic Flight Center and I.M. Pei’s modernist “Sundrome” terminal. Tragically, Pei’s masterpiece was lost during expansion operations at JFK. After taking architectural drafting classes in high school, I followed in their footsteps and enrolled in the School of Architecture and Design at the New York Institute of Technology.

Today, I am licensed to practice in New York, Connecticut and Texas.

The apple didn’t fall far from the tree.

In August of 2013, my son Michael enrolled in the School of Architecture and

Father and son celebrating their graduations that occurred within the same week.

Planning at the Catholic University of America. He earned his B.S. Arch degree in 2017 and is currently enrolled in the School’s graduate program in pursuit of his M. Arch, working day and night in the studio on his thesis. I am so very proud of him.

I believe in life-long learning. The very week my son began his architectural studies at CUA, I began studying the law in pursuit of my Juris Doctor at the Touro Law Center. Having served as an expert witness in numerous construction-related disputes throughout my career, I found that my practice often crossed paths with counsel, the courts and clients who retained me to provide expert construction-consulting services.

Those assignments peaked my interests— particularly how architects, owners and contractors were treated under the law.

Michael and I graduated the very same week. While he moved on to graduate studies, I took a few weeks vacation to study for the Bar Examination. I am now admitted to practice law before the courts of the State of New York. Owing to my degrees in architecture and the law, and my licenses to practice both professions in the state, I was approached by a faculty member (and fellow architect) about teaching at the State University of New York, Farmingdale State College, in its newly formed graduate program.

Today, I am a part-time professor at SUNY Farmingdale teaching Legal Aspects of Construction Management and Construction Contracts.

Architecture touches our lives every day and in virtually every way. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, we spend approximately 90 percent of our lives in the built environment. The structures we inhabit affect how we grow, learn, love, relate, communicate, heal, and recreate. Based on our education, experience, and licensure, architects should play the central and leading role in the building process. Regrettably, with the rise of professional construction management and contractor-led design build, the architect now shares the once vaunted title of “master builder” with others. I often wonder that if in the laudable goal of managing professional risk, along with the expensive and wasteful litigation that follows, have we given up a piece of the practice to others less qualified? Taken to an extreme, will we find that the profession has given away to others the role of master builder, while relegating ourselves to “designer,” and designer alone?

are uniquely suited to imagine, program, design and detail our homes, workplaces, schools and neighborhoods. In our role as licensed design professionals—and more importantly, based on our responsibility as citizens who care for the planet—architects must continue to be leaders in our communities. In order to do so, AIA New York State must support legislation and policy initiatives that provide for sustainable enterprises and adequate housing that foster social and economic justice, diversity and inclusion.

We must also promote a legislative agenda that recognizes the essential role that the architecture plays in the community, stimulates a pro-growth business climate, and welcomes the next generation of architects to the profession.

The mid-term election changed, dramatically, the make up of the New York State Legislature. A bi-cameral body, control of the legislature was traditionally shared by two political parties—the Democratic Party has controlled the Assembly since 1975, while the Republican Party has largely controlled the Senate since 1939.

After the recent election, the Democrats are firmly in control of both houses of the legislature. And while this political observation has nothing—and I repeat nothing—to do with ideology, it has a profound effect on our legislative agenda and our ability to see sponsored legislation voted out of committee and onto the floor for a vote. With the recent change in Senate leadership, we may need to seek out new Senate sponsors for the legislation we support. In light of these recent changes, we need to examine our legislative agenda to develop a strategy for success.

I look forward to working with each and every member of AIA New York State in promoting architecture and architects throughout the state.

Architects, as master builders, should act as a valuable and trusted resource to state government, helping to shape policy. By virtue of our education, experience, and training, architects Q4 | JANUARY 2019 | PAGE 11

John D. Fry Architect, AIA, LEED AP BD+C John began his career in New Orleans upon graduating from Mississippi State University.

Following New Orleans, John worked on the Gulf Coast of Florida before moving to Manhattan, where he lived and worked prior to settling in Westchester for the past 30 years.

Currently, John is collaborating with Tyler Architecture and Planning, Jerome Kerner AIA Architect and Nick Arpaia AIA Architect, providing architectural and planning services for a variety of projects. Prior to current collaborations, John was Vice President of Sullivan Architecture PC in White Plains, NY joining the firm in 1990.

John has participated on numerous design awards juries within the AIA, with allied planning professions and in national design award programs. John co-chaired AIA Westchester + Hudson Valley’s annual Design Awards Program, served as a director for the chapter culminating as 2014 Chapter President, and served as the chapter’s state director for AIANYS in 2015/2016.

John’s community service includes a 25-year seat on the Village of Ossining’s Architecture Review/Planning Board. John was also on a joint task force sponsored by the American Planning Association under the ‘Plan4 Health’ banner, an extension of AIA Westchester + Hudson Valley’s programming relating to ‘Active Design Initiatives’ and the notion that next generation design theory must incorporate comprehensive design practices relating to healthy environments. John is also currently serving on the Board of Director’s of the Westchester Municipal Planning Federation.

John D. Fry, AIA | Vice President, Knowledge

Caught in a Moment in Time church related accessory structures) the notion of creating ‘things’ via sketches and drawings followed by implementing the ‘design’ in real world scale was very engaging. I would often help in building things he designed. Thus, baseline influence element one.

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eflecting on my trajectory towards the architectural profession, I’ve often opined on circumstances which set the compass point. I’m certain there were many influences and while it’s easy to romanticize the path at this point of my career, the more I reflect, the easier it feels to connect the dots.

My father was a Tool & Die Engineer.

Exposure to drawing and drafting where elements from my earliest memories, including the realization dad designed and built things. Whether they were small mechanical ‘things’ or structures (sheds, play houses, his first house, utility structures at the manufacturing plant,

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I grew up in Columbus, MS which hosted a population of about 20,000 during my early youth. My home town fabric was unique compared to similar southern communities. Like my father and mother, there were many mid-westerners and east coasters who moved to Columbus. This migration related to a strategy for recruiting diverse manufacturing to the area—American Bosch, Weyerhaeuser, General Tire, a Union Carbide subsidiary—along with robust regional manufacturing and raw materials entities— all landed in Columbus during the late 1950’s/early 60’s. This dynamic included an Air Force Base and Women’s Teaching College. Farming remained a staple outside the burgeoning town footprint. The nuance of blending traditional southern charm with new forward-think-

ing elements indeed influenced me. The blended fabric bridged culture and the built environment. Antebellum and Modern—I grew to understand and appreciate both. Baseline influence element two.

Visiting Architecture Schools was the final element. Tulane, Auburn, LSU and reluctantly Mississippi State where I met Dean William McMinn. Bill McMinn was a New Englander who had a vision for starting a new architectural program in the deep south—he was all in, enthusiastic with a clear mission. I was riveted.

While my inclination was to move out of the state, there was an inescapable energy and commitment by the MSU/SARC

notions integrating a broad range of initiatives and layers. Core notions I carry today. Another fortunate moment in time for me.

administration. Perhaps ‘lightning in a bottle.’ I was fortunate to be caught in a moment in time. A majority of faculty would move on in later years to become Dean’s at major schools of architecture and in one instance, President of Clemson University.

My professional career began at Perez Associates in New Orleans. A multidisciplined large firm which was in the midst of a major transition and unprecedented growth. New Orleans was in a boom period awash in oil industry and shipping money. The 1984 Louisiana World Expedition projects were essentially all being facilitated by the firm. A ‘studio system’ with 12-person teams in each of the five studios was implemented. During this period, each studio often worked with nationally recognized architects as guest designers. The office was a second studio home to Charles Moore during this period. Frank Gehry designed a river front amphitheater for the Exposition and was in the office quite often. I was again fortunate to be caught in a moment in time.

While on temporary assignment on a Florida panhandle project, I happened to stop at what appeared to be a large project site being surveyed and staked.

It was a very rural and sparse area across from one of my favorite secluded Gulf Coast beaches. I met a man who was walking the site. It turned out to be Robert Davis who was the developer for Seaside. He graciously shared his vision during the impromptu site walk including his decision to essentially partner with Andres Duany and Elizabeth PlaterZyberk towards creating a ‘new community’. Not a development. A new town. It was stunning to me. During that fall, I watched the first Seaside houses and post office constructed. A personal water shed moment regarding built environment

Implementing architecture through partnering in the ‘macro’ sense is the one thread I strive to advance in my own practice and as a mentoring thread whenever possible. I feel our profession is evolving towards better peripheral vision but in many ways, we are late to the party. Macro influences are primarily driving the change—climate change, globalization, migration towards denser communities, health crisis’s, socio-economic circumstances surrounding affordable housing and other inequities in our core community fabrics are all driving our profession to think in broader terms.

Project design and delivery patterns must evolve, or our profession will be left behind. The ‘Architect’ as hero character is both germane and flawed as we know it. I sense there is a quiet reset to this reality. A positive reset indeed. For those entering the architectural educational path or initial professional career, I urge expanded peripheral vision towards how we advance the built environment. Assessing the broad issues driving design, decision making, and project delivery will best prepare emerging professionals for the future.

“The threads of expanded peripheral vision, hard work and balance all lend to my core thoughts of why the American Institute of Architects is important and relevant..“ The notion of ‘working hard’ has always been linked to the aura of our profession.

Often, it is confused with ‘working long hours.’ Working long hours is indeed hard, but my life experience suggests it is not hard work. My youth included farm work; long hours and hard physical labor.

My college summers included working in the North Sea on an offshore pipeline

survey crew. Twenty-four hours, seven days a week for two-month periods on a 160’ work boat traversing the North Sea from Stavanger Norway to Great Yarmuth England and back. Often 16-18 hour days.

Occasionally getting a respite from boat life when visiting an oil drilling platform to fuel, restock food and rest in hotel like settings. The actual work was ‘sort of hard,’ the context was brutally hard.

The boat was loud. Food was tailored for the Norwegian’s crew tastes, not the four Americans on the boat. When the North Sea rolled into 40-foot swells life and work on the boat became challenged if not a nightmare, typically for consecutive days. There were moments of spectacular beauty, including stretches of the sun never completely setting. The sun parked on the horizon during the night lent to the surreal nature of the experience. The sum total was a hard experience.

It is those life experiences from which I measure hard work. I like to work hard, and when actual tasks relating to professional work do not necessarily yield hard physical effort, I balance it by cycling, hiking, kayaking etc. to achieve some type of blend of ‘hard.’ I suggest our profession will be best served by improving our notion of balance. If current generations of professionals are not revisiting balance, the next generations of professionals are—and good for them.

The threads of expanded peripheral vision, hard work and balance all lend to my core thoughts of why the American Institute of Architects is important and relevant. AIA is identifying, addressing and leading the way towards an evolving profession. As our collective professional voice, the institute listens as well as speaks. It speaks to the public, to elected officials and it speaks both for and to the profession. It is our resource as well as navigation marker. The institute is ‘ours.’

In that vein, we all have a responsibility to engage and participate. I advocate often that engagement in the AIA is more rewarding than time consuming.

I am a better professional through this engagement.

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Pasquale Marchese, AIA, LEED AP BD+C Project Manager/Project Architect at BBS Architects, Landscape Architects and Engineers, PC Relocating to the United States from Italy in 2000 to start his first job, Pasquale is currently a Project Manager and Project Architect for BBS Architects. With over 20 years in the Architectural Industry, Pasquale (Pas) is responsible for managing personnel and assessing clients’ needs.

A member of the AIA for 17 years and actively involved for over 10 of those years, Pas has held various positions including the VP of Programs and President for AIA Eastern New York and was recently a part of the Board of Directors for AIANYS, additionally serving on several committees at the State level.

Pasquale Marchese, AIA | Vice President, Public Advocacy

Much More than Design

I

n the late 70’s I was spending the summer with my grandparents in Rossano, a town in the province of Cosenza, Calabria, southern Italy, helping my grandfather in his wood shop. I was sitting on the balcony of their apartment, and when looking at the panorama of the town, I took a piece of paper and started to draw the skyline. It was then that my grandfather, looking at my piece of paper, said, “You may want to be an architect.” In his job, he worked with many local architects. With that recommendation from my grandfather in the back of my mind, I went through middle and high school, subconsciously nurturing and developing my design skills.

Consequently, I was introduced to a few local architects, meeting my first mentor and the person who has continuously influenced my architectural career, Architect Antonio Piero Carli, a graduate of the Polytechnic Institute of Turin.

During the first three years under his mentorship, I was introduced not only to the design and creativity aspect of architecture, but also to the business aspects

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of a practice. Being a small firm, we shared all the responsibilities necessary to run a small business including finance, marketing, and business development. By listening to the client’s needs, providing our professional knowledge and expertise and providing quality work, the office became well-known locally, regionally and nationally. And it was those strong values—work ethic and commitment— that made my transition from Italy to the United States easier. Thanks also goes out to the great people and mentors I have met in the US; I could not have grown professionally and personally— becoming an architect who is respected by my peers, by clients and other parties involved in our market and profession— without them.

As architects, we don’t always realize the impact we have on the built environment, the life of our clients and the end users. And in some circumstances, we don’t always receive the appropriate acknowledgment for it. As an architect, it is extremely rewarding to see the client’s expression of approval once your design

and work takes form, is brought to life.

Whether it is a new residence or addition, a new or renovated school library and classrooms, or a new or renovated office building, I recognize that those spaces will have a huge impact on the lives of their users. It’s for this reason that listening should be one of our most important skills.

One thing I would change about architecture is the perception of the profession by the public and communities we serve.

To make this change, we need to look to the past and how previous masters in architecture practiced the profession.

“Part of an architect’s role is to introduce young adults to our profession, explaining that even though Architecture is a challenging career that requires continuous learning, it’s also extremely rewarding.“ It seems as though a high percentage of the public perceive architects as designers/artists only, believing that we just draw nice pictures. As architects, we know that is simply not true. We impact the lives of people and the environment in which they live, and we use our understanding of the technology and assembly of materials to best benefit the community at large. Since its origin, architecture and architects (Palladio, Michelangelo, Brunelleschi, and more recently Frank Lloyd Wright, Alvaro Siza, Alvaro Alto) not only designed their buildings, but their knowledge of other disciplines made it easier for them to detail every aspect of their buildings, including the impact

State where I would be directly involved in the preparation and cooking, and have direct connection with the clients.

One of the things that most people would be surprised to know about me is that even though I’m Italian, inside and out, I was actually born in Germany. Yet when they looked at me and didn’t see blonde hair or blue eyes, they kicked me back to Italy! of their building on the existing surroundings. Given that, if we educate our clients and make them understand what it takes to resolve their problems and needs, we can also change the way they perceive us.

Part of an architect’s role is to introduce young adults to our profession, explaining that even though Architecture is a challenging career that requires continuous learning, it’s also extremely rewarding. We can work in a variety of markets, meet different people and positively impact many lives. We collaborate with our peers or professionals from other disciplines. We can see how our designs take form and become reality. Not a lot of professions can do that.

Sometimes I stop and reflect upon where I came from, where I am at that very moment and how I arrived there. Sometimes my thoughts go deeper and I try to imagine what my life would be without architecture and what alternative career path I may have chosen. Since I started working early on in life and have done a variety of jobs, the other profession I feel most connected to is that of Hospitality Business—like owning a bar or restaurant. I imagine myself owning a typical Italian bar-restaurant here in New York

A well-balanced life between work and private life is important in the long run, so when I’m not working or volunteering for our Association, or other non-profit Associations, I spend most of my time with my family, watching and playing sports (mostly Soccer/Calcio), riding my motorcycle and reading books (mostly about... you guessed it...architecture).

I have been a member of The American Institute of Architects (AIA) since 2001.

The first person that introduced me to the AIA was Chris Resig, AIA, the president of the Southern Tier Chapter at that time, and my direct supervisor at The Sear-Brown Group, Inc., an architecture, engineering, planning, and construction services firm. I became actively involved and decided to serve as Vice President of Programs for our local Eastern New York Chapter, when my employer Randy Collins, AIA, convinced me to apply for the position. Over the span of my career, I have experienced many accomplishments. It is for this reason and the need to contribute to a stronger voice for our profession and community, I decided to step up and serve as an officer for AIA New York State.

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Stephanie Wright, AIA, LEED AP BD+C Director of Tenant Coordination for Pyramid Management Group As the Director of Tenant Coordination for the largest privately held developer of shopping centers in the Northeast, Stephanie oversees landlord and tenant work throughout Pyramid’s 15-center, 17.8M sf portfolio. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Architecture from Cornell University, and studied abroad in Rome, Italy for a semester. Prior to her transition to development, Stephanie worked in traditional-practice architecture design firms for over 10 years focusing primarily on commercial, retail, and theater projects.

Stephanie became engaged in the AIA in 2009 and served on the Board of Directors for the AIA Central New York Chapter for nine years, serving in several capacities including Secretary, Chapter President in 2014, and CNY representative to the NY State board. She currently serves as Treasurer and is in her second year in this role. Stephanie participated in Leadership Greater Syracuse, was selected to participate in a premier Leadership Development Program in CNY, and was selected as a 40 Under Forty award recipient in 2017.

Stephanie and her husband Alphonzo have been together for 24 years, since high school. Married for 15 years and living in the Syracuse area, the couple has two children, Daunte (13) and Mia (11) who are involved with numerous activities including soccer, gymnastics, piano, saxophone, and clarinet. Stephanie and her family are active members of Calvary Baptist Church in Ithaca, NY, where the couple grew up. She enjoys running with her husband and colleagues, shooting pool, and playing in the occasional golf tournament.

Stephanie Wright, AIA | Treasurer

In Pursuit of a Higher Standard

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n fourth grade, I decided that I wanted to become an architect. I sketched my “dream house” on graph paper and cut out pictures of details and elements that I liked from magazines.

My exposure to architecture at that point was limited, but I was fascinated with the idea of becoming an architect and never second-guessed my decision to follow this path. This initial interest in design grew to an overall love of so much more.

I grew up in Ithaca, New York, which solidified me as a Central New Yorker.

While at Ithaca High School, I participated in a summer Cornell Architecture program for high school students and got my first glance at the program. A couple years later, I entered Cornell University as a freshman in the School of Architecture, and thus began my professional journey.

To Whom Much Is Given, Much Is Required Over my career (and life), I have been blessed with great opportunities and amazingly supportive people, including

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my parents, my husband, and my employers. Having been given so much support throughout my career, I know that it is now my responsibility to support and to be a good example for others around me.

I believe that it is incumbent upon all of us to share what we have learned to help inspire, encourage, and mentor others.

This aspiration (and endless effort) to set a good example is also tied to my faith, which is very important to me, and I strive on a daily basis to be a good steward over everything that God has entrusted to me in my personal, professional, and social experiences.

Be Great At The Small Things And Greater Things Will Follow While in college, I worked at a local architecture firm during summer and winter breaks. During my first summer with them, I was tasked with cleaning out the interior designer’s closet and dead-filing all of the office’s old drawings and documents, which was expected to take the entire two months of my internship. I attacked those tasks with as much attention and positivity as I could, and completed everything that was asked

other experiences, creative development of learning opportunities, and steadfast effort charging through the internship requirements, I completed my IDP, now known as AXP, extremely efficiently, taking all of my registration exams, and becoming licensed within three years of graduation.

of me in a fraction of the time. Since I still had a good part of the summer left, they started to teach me AutoCAD and I was able to start helping with projects and drawings. Each time I went back on school breaks, they gave me more and differing experiences and greater involvement. Today, when I have the opportunity to speak with the interns in our office, I stress to them the importance of excelling at small tasks (with a positive attitude), which will then lead to larger projects and increased responsibility.

Go For What You Want

From the very first months of my career, I understood that you have to be your own advocate and create your own path.

Nothing will be handed to you. The first several years of my career were spent forging forward very quickly and helping others do the same through educational programs and resources that, many times, I had to create on my own. I learned very quickly that taking initiative and asking for opportunities and experiences is the only way you are really going to get what you want and need. It also sets you apart from others who do not ask or share their interest in personal growth and advancement. You need to go get what you want, show that you can handle more and that you want to learn new things. That self-drive and motivation will be rewarded. Through constant determination, pressing to be included in site visits and

Get Involved I personally felt the need to contribute to my firm and to be involved beyond just project work to truly feel satisfied.

I wanted to be integral to the organization, its growth, and to the professional development of those that I worked with.

In my first office out of college, I was pursuing my own IDP, and since there were limited resources there to help me in my journey, I started an internship program with the support of the Partners to help others going through the process as well. When we moved back to central New York in the spring of 2008, I continued this at my new firm as well. There, I started an IDP Program, as well as an ARE and LEED program. I tried to be as engaged in the office culture as possible to give even more purpose to my daily “job.” This helped pave the way for future opportunities and relationships as well.

“Remember that your attitude and the ability to work with others will ultimately contribute to 80% of your success...“ It was also upon our move back to Central New York that I got involved with the AIA. Due, in part, to my initiatives in my office, I was recruited by a co-worker who was involved in the AIA and I began serving as Secretary on the Central New York Board of Directors. In that role, I was also on the Executive Committee and had a front row seat to the organization and all of the decisions made to benefit our membership. I quickly got engaged in the Education Committee as well and started our local YAF (Young Architects Forum) and associated programs for EPs (Emerging Professionals), expanding what I had done on a small scale in my offices.

The Pursuit of Leadership Over the last several years, I have changed my focus slightly to try to develop and exhibit better qualities of leadership, which will be a never-ending learning process. Initially in my career, my focus was on my technical abilities and contributions, but the truly important factor was the manner in which I applied those skills though positivity, responsiveness, and an overall collaborative mentality. If you are fortunate, as I have been, those lessons (the soft skills and good leadership skills that you don’t learn in school) come through an amazing mentor or other role model. Then, it comes through investment via leadership trainings and programs. Remember that your attitude and the ability to work with others will ultimately contribute to 80% of your success, while only 20% of success will be attributed to your technical abilities alone.

I take to heart the notion that leaders should hold themselves to, and live by a higher standard. That is not to say that anyone is “better than” or “above” anyone else, but rather that the goal of a higher standard should be a daily pursuit for those in positions that others may look up to or aspire to reach (it’s also just a good idea as a human being). Conducting yourself with honesty, integrity, respectfulness, and making considerate, well-thought-through decisions is key to this objective. My goal is to have a positive impact on others’ lives and to foster both personal and professional growth in those around me. Leaders can have a lasting impression that inspires continued positive, meaningful, and collaborative actions of those they inspire.

At the end of the day, I want to be proud of what I have done, the way in which it was accomplished, and the way it affected others (and their desire to want to work/interact with me again).

This is applicable on many levels including with co-workers, clients, and any number of other relationships, both professionally and personally. This is a daily effort and keeping this goal in mind constantly guides my actions, pursuits, and interactions.

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Peter Richard Wehner, AIA, LEED AP Associate and Architectural Department Manager at Passero Associates

Peter has over 30 years of Architectural design and business experience for various types of companies including Real Estate Development, General Construction, Design-Build, and Architecture and Engineering services.

He is a founding member of the Design-Build Institute of America, Upstate NY Chapter, was a member of the Irondequoit Planning Board for over nine years, and is currently an Irondequoit Town Councilman. Peter was also awarded the Eagle Scout designation from the Boy Scouts of America.

As an active member of AIA Rochester for 32 years, Peter has served in numerous positions on the AIA Rochester Board including President, President Elect, Treasurer, Practice and Design Director.

In addition, Peter served on the AIA New York State Board as the Rochester Director in 2018, and is currently serving as the Secretary in 2019.

He also serves as a Town Councilman for the Town of Irondequoit, serves on the Town of Irondequoit’s Planning Board and Architectural Review Committee, and is an Adjunct Professor at Rochester Institute of Technology’s School of Architecture at the Golisano Institute of Sustainability.

Peter Wehner, AIA | Secretary

The Broader Aspects

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hen I first graduated from college, I was fortunate that my first firm encouraged their employees to join the American Institute of Architects (AIA). The members I initially met and built my career along side, are still some of my closest professional allies (as well as friendly competitors) to this day. The AIA community helped me to grow both personally and professionally.

As my career evolved, my interest in giving back to my local community and profession grew, leading me to become more involved in the broader aspects of Architecture.

My initial role was at the local level where I donated time in the community, expanding into my local AIA chapter as a Board member and then subsequently at the State level by representing my chapter on the Board of Directors.

When I began high school, I took every drafting class the school had to offer. At the time, I was bound and determined

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to become a Doctor. A year or so later, during my Advanced Biology class, we were assigned the task of memorizing all the bones and muscles in the human body. I immediately realized I had no desire to be a doctor!

I was heavily involved in The Boy Scouts of America, working towards and eventually earning my Eagle Scout badge when I found out that the program had an Architecture Explorers Program. Since my early drafting classes resonated with me, and my Boy Scouts mentor encouraged me to pursue Architecture as a Major in College, I decided that choice was a better fit. I was fortunate to discover Clemson University, where the program included a perfect blend of Building Science and Fine Art courses, suiting my interests perfectly.

About 20 years ago, I was able to serve on my Town’s Architecture Review Board and a few years later, on the Planning Board. At the time, I didn’t realize how difficult it was to get appointed to these

Peter in Europe, circa 1985.

politically associated Boards. I spent 10 years on the Planning Board and four years as chair under multiple administrations—I really loved the job.

“As my career evolved, my interest in giving back to my local community and profession grew, leading me to become more involved in the broader aspects of Architecture.“ An elected position opened up unexpectedly on the Town Board and I was asked if I would be interested. With some trepidation, I said yes. My one reservation was that once appointed, I needed to be elected. Luckily, I have faced two elections and have been successful in both. Starting out, I would have never realized how my skills and expertise as an architect would benefit this position.

In reality, there is so much a Town Board does that relates to our field. From issues

with the environment, zoning and development projects, to budgets and future development, these are all aspects of our profession we tackle each and every day. I am truly honored to represent the people of my Town and to represent our profession on a Town Board.

Additionally, I teach a course in the Graduate School of Architecture at Rochester Institute of Technology.

For the last three years I have taught Professional Practice there, and really enjoy meeting and mentoring young future architects. Some of those students work for me at my firm. It is highly rewarding to speak to people who are really listening and care about what you have to say.

itive process. Since then, we’ve won several more commissions, and to date, I have been involved with six more public Library projects, developing a niche of expertise in this project type. I have become involved in the Public Library Association, delving into the state of library design, and assisted in formulating the design for several local and regional libraries. These projects have such a profound effect on localities, and often energize a community once complete. These public community spaces provide much-needed space and services for the locality they serve. It is rewarding to see how active the Library Organization can become once they have the space to service their constituents.

For me, the most rewarding projects are those that have the greatest community impact. I have been fortunate in my career to have been involved in a great deal of public projects including community centers, recreation centers, and public libraries. Many years ago, my firm was awarded a public library project.

We developed a strong team and were awarded the project through a compet-

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Jeffrey Pawlowski, AIA Project Manager at King + King Architects Jeff brings almost 10 years of professional experience in the Architectural field. At King + King, he has worked on several projects with highly technical spaces including Intensive Care Units, Psychiatric Emergency Departments, and Central Kitchen Facilities. In addition to designing Healthcare Facilities, Jeff is a Past-President of American Institute of Architects Central New York Chapter, is an alumnus of the Class of 2015 for Leadership Greater Syracuse, and participates in several other community organizations.

When Jeff is not managing projects, he is the President and CEO of his Event Planning company, Clink it Design. Jeff is a certified event planner with six years professional experience working on weddings, community organization galas and themed holiday decorating. He has served on the planning committee for the Onondaga Historical Association’s, “Our Glorious Workplaces” gala for three years and the American Institute’s annual Celebration of Architecture for five. Jeff is dedicated to his clients’ needs and works with the to achieve success at every level.

During his spare time, he likes to spend the weekends at his family’s house on Lake Ontario. Jeff enjoys reading, running and relaxing. He is excited to see where the next adventure will take him.

Jeffrey Pawlowski, AIA | Vice President, Emerging Professionals

Taking a Seat at the Table

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rowing up, there was always a creative nature to how I approached situations. I can remember playing with Legos trying to design and build entire cities. Or drawing house floor plans on graph paper, creating the best house with every type of room imaginable. Making sure it contained every room imaginable and its location was crucial for me. As, I moved through middle and high school, I explored many fine arts and drafting courses, refining my ability to perceive and document space both technically and visually. Developing these skills is critical as part of the foundation to architectural planning and design. Working and producing a portfolio as part of the college application process was entertaining and rewarding.

Architecture is something that I have appreciated and been interested in since that first Lego house I modeled. I was proud to say, “I want to be an Architect when I grow up.” The day I graduated from College at Syracuse University, my

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“Relevance is critical and making sure that AIA is relevant for generations to come is important and exciting and keeping the next generations engaged is even more important.“ father validated my choice of profession when he told me my grandfather (his father) had been accepted to Syracuse University School of Architecture but could never attend because he had to provide for his family. It was in that moment I knew I was living out the family legacy. The impact that design and the built environment has on people is remarkably special and for me exploring and shaping is the most rewarding experience I can ask for.

When deciding what my thesis would focus on in college, I knew it had to be

were being designed and implemented as temporary spatial and aesthetic experiences at a faster pace. Architecture is embedded in the world we live in, and being a part of the community of individuals who get to shape and influence it on the daily basis is a privilege.

Work/Life balance is also something very important to me. I believe that taking time for recharge makes us better professionals and leaders. It grounds our decisions and keeps us motivated to push forward. For my downtime, I enjoy spending the warmer months on Lake Ontario, boating, reading, and working on my parent’s house (yes it’s impossible to exclude architecture from personal time).

The hands-on nature of the design and construction industry and the knack for “having to figure it out” is in our nature —its embroidered into our DNA and defines our approach. a solution for the healing environment.

It was at this moment, as I was sitting researching Evidence Based Design and healthcare design, that I knew this is where I would dedicate a majority of my time. The technical nature of acute care, bundled with the challenge of making it a unique, inviting space is very motivating. Shaping the environment for people at their most vulnerable or happiest moments of their life in a spatial and aesthetic manner, is critical to their outcome and experience.

Ultimately, I believe that by continuing to design spaces that promote harmony of mind, body and spirit, we will shift our culture from one that is dependent on invasive medicine to that of a community which focuses on the healing experience of the patient. I have seen this trend starting to snowball, at least in the infancy stages, nationally and am grateful to be a part of it. This is the future of medicine in our society, not only spatially and functionally, financially as well.

Architecture is also about collaboration and bringing people together for a common cause, something not unlike the American Institute of Architects as an

organization. Even in college, the camaraderie of being an AIAS (American Institute of Architecture Students) member was something that I looked forward to. The social commitment, understanding, and influence of the greater purpose is always exciting.

After graduating, I immediately immersed myself in the Central New York Chapter of the American Institute of Architects by joining the Celebration of Architecture task force. That was exciting for me and helped me develop my secondary passion, besides architecture, that I practice on a regular basis. It was this connection and experience that influenced my decision to become an event planner, as well as an architect. Within two years of planning my first Celebration of Architect, I was designing my company’s logo for event planning services and rentals, called Clink it Design. I often consider this to be my form of temporal architecture as many of the practices and concepts can be shared between disciplines. While my professional career grew in architecture, experiencing the process for project development and the length projects took, my events

Seeing the profession advance and morph over the past 10 years has also been exciting and terrifying at the same time. Being a Xennial, or the first of the millennials, I appreciate the past and understand the future. We are described as “individuals who practice the GenX model of work hard and survive independently while starting the tech-based generation of the millennials.” The profession continues to push the boundaries and influence the needs and deliverables of architecture and building. As an Emerging Professional myself, the opportunity to represent those who share our seat at the architecture table is something not to be taken lightly. Relevance is critical and making sure that AIA is relevant for generations to come is important and exciting and keeping the next generations engaged is even more important.

The needs of the emerging professionals is an ever changing pendulum and presents an opportunity for AIA. Our seat at the table is profound and respected.

We are the voice of the future and will take Architecture along with it. So take a seat at the table with me and lets lead the conversation.

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2019 Directors at Large

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Casey J. Crossley, AIA, LEED AP Associate with architecture+ Casey is an alumni of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and joined architecture+ in Troy, New York in 2006 while completing his degree. He has designed numerous projects for higher education, healthcare, and community clients, and enjoys collaborating with other local firms, industry organizations, and colleges.

Throughout his career, Casey has been involved with the American Institute of Architects, serving as the Eastern New York (ENY) Chapter’s President-Elect in 2018, and as President in 2019.

He is dedicated to helping young architects successfully navigate the licensure process which led him to join and eventually lead the ENY Chapter’s Emerging Professionals committee. Casey believes his career has benefited from his involvement with the AIA and the Eastern New York Chapter and encourages all who are eligible to explore opportunities to get involved.

Casey Crossley, AIA | Young Architects Forum | New York Region Director

Continuing the Dialogue

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rowing up, I was always interested in building and how things were put together. My uncle is a carpenter, and from a very early age I wanted to help him as often as I could. Even if it was just grabbing some more wood or holding the end of a tape measure, being around the process got me hooked. As I got older, I spent many of my summers working in residential construction and this is really where my interest in architecture began. From a pile of wood, I was able to help build a home that people would spend their lives in and create memories. That experience gave me a real sense of what creates space within a building and how much impact a single space can have on an entire building. To this day, when the walls start going up on a job site, I’m always reminded of that feeling.

The first couple of years in architecture school were pretty intimidating for me.

My interest in architecture grew beyond the more practical aspects of the profession. Opening myself up to the more abstract, creative process didn’t come

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“There was so much energy and optimism from the attendees and leadership [at the Grassroots Conference] that it motivated me to look beyond my local component and consider how I can have a larger impact on the profession.“

naturally. I was really struggling to find a creative language and felt like I was falling behind my peers. I was seriously considering transferring out of the program.

It finally clicked for me in my second year, spring semester studio with my professor, Francis Bronet; and to this day, I remember it vividly. It was midway through the semester and I was still struggling. We had a project that was sited along the recently announced High Line project and we had to come up with

I received my license in 2015 after what felt like a very long three year process. I was fortunate enough to work at a firm that was very supportive while I prepared, and provided me the opportunity to navigate the licensure process on my own path. Becoming licensed was a very important milestone in my career, and I wanted to be able to share my experiences with other emerging professionals, assisting them with their own path to licensure. As a way to initiate my connection with young architects, I reached out to my regional component and became involved in the newly formed Emerging Professionals Committee. As a member of the committee, I’ve been able to connect and network with other emerging professionals in my area. massing models. I had made a simple rectangular mass out of white mat board that had a slice through it where the High Line intersected the site. I was really nervous to present it because it didn’t take long to put together, but it was my honest interpretation of the context.

Francis came to my desk and was really excited about the model. She reinforced the fact that design is about how you interpret all of the influences on a particular project, and is not necessarily about a specific style. The idea that architecture works best when it’s influenced by its surroundings gave me the perspective and confidence I needed to continue to pursue my career.

That studio has had a measurable impact on my career, and has helped inform my work. I’ve always considered architects to be uniquely qualified to respond to the always increasing influences on a specific design problem; like context, sustainability, client requests, building codes, and community engagement. The idea that architects have to be adaptable has really driven me so far, and it’s what makes me passionate about the profession. Over the last few years, I’ve noticed a conscious effort to really consider these aspects in our projects and it’s a very exciting time to be an architect.

My involvement on the Emerging Professionals Committee led me to become more involved in the Eastern New York component and I was elected to be our 2018 President-Elect. As a part of this role, I attended the AIA Grassroots Conference in San Diego last year, and it was an invigorating experience. There was so much energy and optimism from the attendees and leadership that it motivated me to look beyond my local component and consider how I can have a larger impact on the profession. Last spring, AIA NYS held the inaugural Emerging Professionals Forum in Albany, where I was able to connect with my colleagues from Emerging Professionals Committees across the state. Together, we discussed many of the same experiences, and seemed to have the same challenges when it came to engaging and advocating for emerging professionals. A lot of great ideas came out of that meeting and have grown through continued collaboration.

The focus of my new role as the New York Representative to the AIA Young Architect Forum will be to build upon these ideas and put them into action. I’m looking forward to the challenges that the next two years will bring, and will continuously work towards helping young architects reach their potential through outreach and advocacy.

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Josette Matthew, Associate AIA Project Coordinator with Tall Builders LLC Josette Matthew is an emerging design professional based in New York, graduating from New York City College of Technology with a bachelor’s in architectural technology in 2013.

Since then, Josette went on to developing projects for local competitions in arts and design.

She is currently serving her second year as State Associate Director on the AIA New York State board, spending her first year focusing on programming for emerging professionals, revamping the state’s student scholarship competition and reinforcing the newly implemented Emerging Professional Manifesto. Through the AIANY ENYA committee, Josette serves as the project manager for the City of Dreams Pavilion Competition and collaborated with the AIA Brooklyn’s Emerging Professionals committee (BKEP) to develop projects that were entered into FIGMENT’s 2017 and 2018 Dream Bigger competition. Her collaboration with the BKEP committee resulted in a 2017 Honor award from AIA Brooklyn.

Josette Matthew, Associate AIA | New York Region Representative to the National Associates Committee

Creating Connections

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y interest in architecture started very early on during high school. I attended the High School for Math, Science and Engineering at the City College in Harlem. In this specialized high school, civil engineering and architecture classes were a requirement that everyone had to take. Initially, I thought of them as just another class in my schedule until I was in my sophomore year. During that year, I was introduced to designing and model making. Designing and problem solving were aspects that always came natural to me. Model making was always a tedious task, but because of my love for creating, it was always something where I rose to the occasion. When my design teacher saw my interest, he encouraged me to pursue it, along with my art enrichment classes.

As I progressed along in high school, and later in college, I realized it was the perfect combination of my favorite subjects in school, math and art. Once I started college, like many architecture students, my love for architecture quickly devel-

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oped into disdain and I often questioned whether I should continue. It didn’t take long for me to realize the dedication it takes to study architecture, and eventually have a career in it. Somehow through the sleepless nights, countless computer crashes, impaled fingers, and scathing critiques from my professors, my love for architecture remained intact as I joined the workforce.

Like many others, I initially joined the AIA as a way to network with my peers and establish connections within the industry. As the opportunity to meet people and create connections evolved, it became much more. Joining the AIA became an opportunity to give back, to learn from my peers and provide chances to explore avenues outside of my comfort zone. I initially started as a volunteer building the City of Dreams Pavilion on Governors Island. Missing the opportunity to work with my hands as we did in studio, I jumped at the chance to take part in a design build project. By simply

“Joining the AIA became an opportunity to give back, to learn from my peers and provide chances to explore avenues outside of my comfort zone.“ applying myself and getting to know other volunteers and the designers of the project, it awarded me my first post-grad job as a design intern with StudioKCA, the designers of the pavilion during that year, and a community with the Emerging New York Architects Committee of AIANY. From that moment, I was immersed with gratitude and felt a need to volunteer my time and pay it forward. Eventually, I became an official member of the AIA, and regularly attended ENYA meetings. It didn’t take long for me to have an active role in the committee as one of the project managers for the Pavilion, which was encouraged by some of my fellow peers in the committee. Afterwards, I found receiving encouragement by colleagues to apply to join the AIANYS board. Initially I felt intimidated and approached the opportunity with trepidation. I had never served in such a position and I wasn’t sure what it would entail. Joining the board was a challenge I chose to take that pushed me out of my comfort zone, ultimately helping me to gain confidence in my abilities. Without the support of past board members James Yankopoulos and David Flecha, I would not have had the courage to apply and serve as an associate director on the board. They have served as amazing mentors and role models to me, never hesitating to offer sound advice during my two-year tenure.

With them and most of my colleagues in the AIA just a text away, I can confidently venture into this next chapter of serving on the AIANYS board.

to licensure because, as I have learned, there is no set path. Architecture puts you on a very long journey so be patient.

Be open minded and always be prepared to learn a little about everything.

Architecture is a practice; therefore, methods are always being improved. Talk to everyone, not just your peers, and ask questions. Above all, choose architecture not for the monetary rewards but because you love it.

For those who are seeking out careers in architecture, the only piece of advice I can impart is to go about it courageously.

Do not be afraid to forge your own path

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Yadira D. DeSantis, Associate AIA Project Manager with Kideney Architects Yadira has been a Project Manager at Kideney Architects since 2013, focusing on both the education and healthcare markets. She has a Bachelor of Professional Studies in Architecture from the State University of New York at Buffalo. Yadira currently serves as the Board Director for the AIA Buffalo/Western New York Chapter and chairs the Scholarship and Architecture Awards sub-committees. She also serves as a committee member of the Buffalo Architecture Foundation’s award-winning Architecture + Education program, an innovative collaboration between local architects and educators, utilizing architecture to teach students math, science, history, art and technology within the New York State curriculum.

Yadira D. DeSantis, Associate AIA | Associate Director

Continuing the Dialogue

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first became interested in architecture around the age of eight or nine.

My grandfather was a carpenter and was always tinkering and building around the house. My parents moved our family from Puerto Rico to Buffalo, NY when I was 10 years old. I guess I lost track of my interest in building around that time, distracted by the immediate changes in our daily life.

When it was time to think about moving on to high school, there was an option in my local school district to select your top three high schools and take an entrance exam. I chose to pursue Building Technology at Hutchinson Central Technical High School (Hutch Tech), a very wellknown and regarded school with a rich history of excellence in technical education. In my time at Hutch Tech, I took several courses ranging from mechanical engineering, material testing, and electrical lab to architecture modeling and building design/drawing for the Building Technology major. It was these last two courses that further developed

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“I believe it is important to continue the dialogue on how local components can more effectively attract and retain emerging professionals at the associate level, as well as develop and promote leadership opportunities for associate AIA members throughout New York State.“ my interest in the built environment and encouraged me to pursue architecture as a career.

If someone asked me today my thoughts on choosing architecture as a career, I would tell them that architecture is not what they think it is, but it can be rewarding indeed. Architecture today encompasses more than just the built environment. Today’s architectural proj-

sionals in the state. I first volunteered as an assistant to help with the convention events and stayed moderately involved to participate in chapter events.

In 2015, I was nominated for a board director position at my local chapter.

I was surprised at first, but eager and willing to take on this new challenge.

Now beginning my fifth year on the board of directors at AIA Buffalo/WNY, I am serving as committee chair to the Scholarship and Architecture Awards committees. Both committees are special to me because I feel they directly contribute to the architectural student population by supporting them financially in their pursuit of architecture as a career and the architecture awards recognize firms and individuals furthering the quality and service of our built environment, respectively. ects must consider which project delivery method will suit the project, building information modeling, and expansive design teams. Technology and collaboration allow us to offer design services for architectural designs that may have been unimaginable in the days of the architect and master builder. An individual pursuing architecture in the present must be made aware of all the different responsibilities and tasks that an architect must coordinate for a successful result. I would also recommend courses in business and communication skills to complement an architectural education.

date back to drafting boards and blueprint machines. We need to market ourselves as problem solvers and leaders that manage teams of professional designers and engineers that collectively create designs for the built environment.

If I wasn’t practicing architecture, I am honestly not sure what I would be doing.

I don’t imagine myself doing anything else. My strong suits are efficiency, thorough research, and problem-solving.

I suppose I would be doing something else where those skills would serve me well, such as professional organization, research assistant or business manager.

As a professional in the field of architecture I feel I have made the biggest impact on the profession and the built environment as an educational designer in the K-12 market sector. As an educational planner and designer, I have been able to work directly with school districts and their facilities and planning staff, as well as school administrators and teachers to develop learning environments to best serve our children in the future. Learning pedagogies and technology have both changed dramatically over the last 20 years; focused architectural design allows for the built environment to maximize the function of educational spaces in order to enhance the delivery of education moving forward.

If I could change one thing about architecture, it would be perception. As a profession, we need to do a better job marketing our services, and their value. Most of the population truly has no awareness of what an architect does daily, or their thoughts on the profession

As a student, I was involved with AIAS and served as the chapter secretary at the University at Buffalo. I joined the AIA in 2010, because the New York State Convention was going to be held in Buffalo and I wanted to be a part of showcasing my city and architecture to other profes-

I chose to serve on the AIANYS board as Associate Director because I am interested in collaborating with AIANYS and local components in the development and implementation of initiatives, policies or other efforts taking place at the state level that will assist local components in better serving their membership base.

I believe it is important to continue the dialogue on how local components can more effectively attract and retain emerging professionals at the associate level, as well as develop and promote leadership opportunities for associate AIA members throughout New York State.

People might be surprised to know that I am really an introvert. An INTJ (Introverted iNtuitive Thinking Judging) to be specific if you’ve ever done a Myers Briggs personality test. Over the years, because of architectural practice I have become an “extroverted” or “social” introvert. This means I am more in the middle of these opposing traits, and surprisingly often confused for an extrovert.

When I am not working or volunteering, I can be found spending time with my husband Paul and our 3-year-old daughter Iliana, reorganizing my house or studying for the ARE’s.

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Noor Ul Ain, AIAS Bachelor of Architecture Program, City College of New York Noor Ul Ain is a fourth-year student in the Bachelor of Architecture program at the City College of New York. She is the 2019 Student Director of AIA New York State and Co-Chair of the National AIAS Resiliency Task Force. Noor is also the 2019-2020 Northeast Quad Director Elect on the AIAS Board of Directors. Adjacent to her studies, she works at an engineering consulting firm, and serves as student licensing advisor for both B.Arch and M.Arch candidates at her school. Being born and raised in Punjab, Pakistan, where many different borders intersect, Noor has always been interested in the architecture of displacement. She strongly believes in the role of architecture as a fundamental change agent in designing a sustainable and equitable future for everyone.

Noor believes this change begins with equity within architectural education and empowering students to be active leaders in building tomorrow.

Noor Ul Ain, AIAS | Student Director

Building Tomorrow, Together

I

went into architecture because I want to build the world I wish I could have grown up in. I was born in what is considered a “third-world.”

My family had been one of thousands to have escaped the Kashmir valley during the Jammu genocides. They settled just west of the border, thinking that they would be safe. However, what they did not know was that greed, terror, and a worsening climate would never let the region be free to prosper. Approximately 40 years after my family’s emigration to Pakistan, they embarked on a new journey; to the United States.

Growing up in New York City, while filled with immense gratitude for being where I am, I have not let that stop me from critiquing the society I am a part of and the systems that govern it. As a teenager, I was extremely aware of my immediate surroundings and fascinated with the world. In school I thrived by drawing connections between subjects. I was in a pre-college architectural engineering program and my best ideas often came to me during physics class.

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In Albany, NY with student leaders from CCNY in support of the Dream Act.

All the while the wheels were turning in 7th period physics, I knew I could be pulled out of school at any moment. I was battling two court cases I had no control over. When I felt powerless and isolated from my peers, I found solace through painting murals on the streets of New York City. I was an apprentice at Groundswell, an arts organization dedicated to utilizing art as a tool for tangible social change. I found my voice in a community that took on issues that were larger than any one of us. We came from many different backgrounds, but

“The best way to predict the future we are heading into, is to take a role in creating it. As current and future builders, we cannot be stagnant. It is our duty to not only advocate for, but to actively build towards the change we want to see.“

A mural completed in 2015, in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn on street harassment.

together, we took on issues of race, sex, gentrification, economic inequalities and a myriad of other issues. As we painted, our murals became catalysts for social change across the five boroughs. I saw the impact we created through space on the street level and decided I wanted to pursue this on a larger scale. I decided I wanted to become an architect.

As soon as I began to pursue architecture, I found the AIAS, or rather it found me.

The American Institute of Architecture Students is an organization that is undeniably powerful. It facilitates the growth of some of the most passionate and empathetic future builders of tomorrow. It includes a global membership, and while no student is the same, we are all part of one community. Architecture students are natural leaders, and well-informed on a range of subjects. We are also passionate about serving our communities. Over the past few years, I have been fortunate to have had the opportunity to serve in different capacities, allowing me to hear the stories and passions of my peers. I have also had the chance to learn about some of the obstacles that stand in the way of their success, or concerns they have

about the profession they are entering into. There exists a disconnect between architectural education and the profession at the moment. I hope to be able to help bridge that gap. Bridging the education and the profession is crucial now more than ever.

It is no secret that the architectural profession has not been one to champion the voices of women and minorities, actually it has historically only represented one narrative. When our profession fails to be inclusive, it is not just us who suffer, but our communities, our cities, the fabric of the structures we live in. That is not to undermine the progress we have made in recent years, there have been several initiatives as well as a commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion by the AIA. However, we need to go further and expand our advocacy beyond just our profession. In nature, everything is connected, and in order to restore its balance we have to understand these connections. To repair a broken system we must come together and understand not just one part but all the overlapping imbalances of power. We need to work together to create collective change.

We are living in a time of rapid development, in which buildings and movements can arise over night. The best way to predict the future we are heading into, is to take a role in creating it. As current and future builders, we cannot be stagnant. It is our duty to not only advocate for, but to actively build towards the change we want to see. The first step towards building a sustainable and equitable future is breaking our silences. When we break out of our silos and engage with the larger extant community, the possibilities are endless. We need to collaborate across disciplines, we need to build communities across the globe, we need to run for office. We need to critically look to the past, to leaders who have paved the path for us, as well as to the future, to build for the next generation - for they are the future of the profession.

Q4 | JANUARY 2019 | PAGE 31

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New York Region Representatives to the AIA Strategic Council

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Brynnemarie Lanciotti, AIA Project Architect, Stantec After graduating from the Architecture program at Roger Williams University, Brynnemarie spent the early stages of her career at small firms in Rhode Island working on a variety of projects in various markets. In 2008, she moved to New York City to work for a small firm that focused primarily on residential work, eventually leading to opportunities at larger firms including Stantec, where she currently serves as a Project Architect leading school accessibility and residential mixed-use projects.

After her move to New York City, Brynnemarie also began her involvement with AIA and the Emerging New York Architects Committee (ENYA), where she served as Chair from 2011-2012 and coordinated the “Future Now” summit in 2012. Brynnemarie also participated in a steering committee that led to the development of the Civic Leadership Program for AIANY, and is currently a New York Representative to the AIA Strategic Council.

Brynnemarie Lanciotti, AIA | New York Region Representative to the AIA Strategic Council

Enhancing the Human Experience

M

y intention in Architecture is to excel in my profession and enhance the human experience.

Art and math have been passions of mine from an early age. I always felt a special connection to buildings with a shrewd discernment in their varying functions.

In middle school, after completing an exploratory course in construction technology, and designing a one-level home, I decided I would study Architecture. I began my academic pursuit in 2000 at Roger Williams University in Bristol, RI. The education I received was pivotal in establishing new ways of thinking with regard to space and light. My professors were instrumental in pushing me outside of my comfort zone in the disciplines of drawing, reading and writing. With my thesis project, a Women’s Transitional Shelter, I understood that Architecture was my calling.

I received a Bachelor of Architecture in 2005 from Roger Williams University in Bristol, RI and began my career at the Urban Design Group, a small firm in Bris-

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tol. Here I worked on a variety of projects while absorbing everything I could with my first mentor, Hector Rios. Within the year, I ventured to Brewster Thornton Group Architects (BTGA), in Providence, expanding my portfolio into residential and public work. BTGA was a 12-person office, a size appropriate for learning all aspects of the job, including design, construction documentation, specifications, and construction administration.

In 2008, my dream of moving to New York City became a reality. I accepted a position at Franke, Gottsegen, Cox Architects (FGCA) a small firm, working primarily on residential projects. The most significant opportunity was client exposure that enhanced the skills needed to navigate the architect - client relationship. While working at FGCA, I began my involvement with the AIA and the Emerging New York Architects Committee (ENYA), serving as Chair from 2011-2012.

During my term with (ENYA), I encouraged licensure, membership, participation, and leadership among emerging professionals (EP). As Chair, I coordi-

They required a Project Architect to lead a school accessibility project in design development through construction. In my current role, as Project Architect on a residential mixed-use development in North Philadelphia, I draw together my various experiences to face this more complex challenge. Additionally, Stantec provides an opportunity to further develop my managerial skills in the professional environment.

Additionally in 2017, I was nominated to the AIA Strategic Council as New York Regional Representative. As regional representative, my charge is to actively engage members and colleagues in identifying and responding to the gaps in training, resources or initiatives that the AIA needs to address for the profession to remain relevant. Along with this initiative, comes an incredible networking opportunity to discuss relevant and important issues with components from around the country. The more connections we make and the topics we share help to inform and progress the institute and its members.

nated the “FutureNow” Summit in 2012, which brought together EP’s and established practitioners to explore trends in the profession and to share insights for professional development that would serve firms and society. Taking some of the lessons from that Conference and experiences, I participated in the BSA 2023: Sustaining Our Leadership conference, a panel of emerging professionals expressing their interests and expectations from the institute to the Board of the Boston Society of Architects. Following my term, I completed my licensure in 2013. A byproduct of my involvement with the AIA and ENYA was the mentor relationships I was developing with senior practitioners. These relationships bolstered my professional development.

After leading several projects from inception through construction at FGCA, I was determined to expand my experience in project size, firm size, and technical experience. This led me to SLCE

Architecture, a 140 person firm located in Manhattan, in 2015. As a Project Architect, I participated in high-rise, multi-family residential construction with deep multi-discipline coordination. My role included working closely with developers, construction managers and a broad range of consultants stitching together a complex series of data points.

In 2017, I was asked to participate on a small steering committee at the AIANY Chapter. The result was a leadership training program focusing on advocacy and tools for citizen architects for EPs, entitled Civic Leadership Program. The goal of this program is to strengthen the AIANY’s culture in public advocacy, share the lessons learned with an even larger group of members, and develop the next generation of AIA Leaders.

In 2017, I was recruited by Stantec, a large global corporate firm interested in expanding their New York City footprint.

As Mentorship is an important element to an individual’s professional growth and development, it should be a paid forward.

It has been instrumental in my professional growth and I encourage senior professionals to take on the challenge and I offer EPs to avail themselves to the opportunity. Currently, I am spearheading a mentorship program entitled TORCH, a program intended to foster connections between respected leaders, the AIA Fellows, and the future generations of architects. Passing on knowledge, culture and leadership strategies will help emerging architects develop skills that encourages them to succeed in the profession.

The AIA is an invaluable resource to me and provides a network of colleagues to collaborate and learn from. Fostering these relationships is important and a key element to my success. It has been and always will be a vehicle that provides amazing opportunities of growth outside of the workplace.

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Willy L. Zambrano, AIA, LEED AP Principal in Charge and Founder of Zambrano Architectural Design LLC Willy established Zambrano Architectural Design LLC in 2005, which concentrates on health care facilities, multi-family, institutional and commercial design. As a graduate of The City College of New York (CCNY), he is the latest recipient of the Simon Bolivar Career Achievement Award from the CCNY Latino Alumni Group.

Willy was 2015-16 AIA Queens Chapter President, 2015-16 AIANYS Board Director, 2017-18 AIANYS Vice President of Knowledge, and will serve as NY Region Representative to the Strategic Council of the AIA, Class of 2021.

He is the Co-founder and current President of the Queens Foundation for Architecture, co-founder of the AIA Brooklyn + Queens Design Awards program, an AIA Queens Urban Design Committee chair, and is on the advisory board for the High School for Construction Trades, Engineering and Architecture. Most recently, Willy was the 2018 AIA BQDA Leadership Honor Award recipient.

As a civic minded architect, Willy is helping his own community’s revitalization efforts by establishing the Baldwin Civic Association Planning and Land Use Committee, which aims to spearhead positive guidelines for the downtown planned overlay zoning district.

Willy Zambrano, AIA | New York Region Representative to the AIA Strategic Council

Pursuit of Inclusivity….and Creating Positive Change

I

t is my greatest honor to be part of The Strategic Council of the American Institute of Architects, an elite group of people who represent the ‘think tank’ of the AIA. It truly is a blessing to have a seat representing the New York State Region with over 9,000 members.

However, looking back at how this journey began, I can honestly say that the pursuit of self-awareness and inclusivity have manifested themselves into who I’ve come to be.

At the age of 11, my family and I journeyed from Manta, Ecuador to this country to find a better life. As the youngest of nine children and the first of my family to graduate from college, I have always been viewed as a role model for my nieces and nephews who followed.

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My career path began while I was a senior at Newtown High School in Elmhurst, NY; a modest neighborhood in the Borough of Queens. I was enrolled in an engineering program, which required me to design a house, including floor plans, elevations, a section and model — I was hooked.

Having a passion for the arts, math, science and physics, I was motivated to follow a career that involved those same disciplines I came to enjoy.

Once I made it to City College School of Architecture, I was able to explore the field through artistic expression, design solutions to programmatic needs and also acquired the ability to transform spaces into places for people to experience and enjoy. This passion, combined with a sense of civic duty and inclusion led to my pursuit of engaging with the public realm.

During my time at CCNY, I was fortunate enough to have had the opportunity to participate in two motivational projects, which defined architecture for me. For my first project, the inter-school collaborative design program of the Center for the Study of Peace, sponsored by the Architects Designers Planners for Social Responsibility (ADPSR), inspired an alternate approach to a naval base in Stapleton, Staten Island, which aimed to explore that civic drive in all of us. Archi-

tecture Schools from Pratt, Parsons, NYU and NJIT all participated. In their 1987 spring newsletter, ADPSR showcased my work, which featured a peace park with a sunken plaza set in a circular pattern surrounded by programmatic spaces. In addition, a cantilevered road and park hovering over water while supported by two towers and steel cables, emulating the Statue of Liberty and the Verrazano bridge.

As a second project, The Creation of Shelter by Nora Richter Greer, which was spearheaded by the AIA’s Housing Committee, sought out solutions to the housing crisis at the time through a series of workshops held throughout the country. Under the direction of the thirdyear design studio professor and urban planner, Ghislaine Hermanuz, we participated with the Cooper Square Community Organization. It involved exploring social and economic burdens with the emergence of new housing types and how these aspects could co-exist with low income residents and relocated homeless families in a sustainable community. My design was selected to be in the book.

My design thesis, a Film Institute facility, was a culmination of my academic years in a final presentation, to which professor Rosaria M. Piomelli invited a great crit panel of professors from Cooper Union, Pratt, Columbia as well as the Dean of CCNY at the time, the late J Max Bond Jr. Their comments and constructive criticism regarding my design inspired me to reach new heights.

While working on my thesis, I started a job with a small firm in Forest Hills.

This firm concentrated on health-related care facilities, such as nursing homes and medical offices. As a four-person staff, this experience provided me with

a glimpse of the architectural practice, including its volatile pressure points as well as the business aspect. To my surprise, while taking my AREs, my boss at the time was retiring and I had the opportunity to succeed him with two other colleagues. In the year 2000, we took over the firm as AHF Architects, LLC after his initials. Once I became a registered architect in 1999, I joined the AIA and other local constituent organizations to inject myself deeper into the profession.

EL-Space Design Initiative, which began as a case to study to help revitalize Downtown Jamaica. Additionally, I was able to establish the Queens foundation for Architecture as the scholarship arm of the AIA Queens Chapter, provide K-12 programming within the field of architecture, and most recently spearheaded the Baldwin Civic Association Planning and Land Use Committee to help guide the revitalization efforts of Downtown Baldwin, the community I now live in.

In 2005, I left AHF Architects in pursuit of my own destiny as an architect and established Zambrano Architectural Design LLC, as a multi-disciplinary design firm. Being in practice as a partner and establishing clientele gave me the opportunity to maintain a swift transition.

However, it was not an easy daily routine balancing work while raising a family of three beautiful daughters, including a newborn. However, the hunger for more never lessened and only grew.

As AIA NYS Vice President of Knowledge, my experience was an incredible one that provided me with a different perspective of leadership to service AIA members, as well as a deeper appreciation for what the State Chapter does on a yearly basis.

In 2008, as I became more involved with the AIA Queens Chapter, I was nominated to be the 2009-2012 Treasurer. This new position gave me a platform on which to learn more, engage in conversation about the profession, become a leader and have the opportunity to make change for better. Being the treasurer taught me how to observe and strategize the ways in which the chapter could change its culture, strive to do better and be a resource for its members and community within the Borough of Queens. I learned to appreciate why we love what we do.

These were also my goals for the chapter as I moved up to the presidency position for 2015-2016.

This new position allowed me to explore other ways in which I could service society, such as the creation of the Jamaica

I feel that architecture is an ever-evolving profession that remains flexible along with the ways in which new technology and trends emerge daily. In my opinion, the AIA is now at the forefront of these changes and has repositioned itself nationally and internationally to be that voice of the profession and the resource for its members in service to society.

Collectively, we are making positive change and are empowered to do so not only through AIA National, but all local and state chapters through the power of design. The Strategic Council has been charged to be the visionary group for all things to come and how we will need to address, adapt or divert them and I could not be more thrilled and honored to be part of that charge.

The AIA has given me the opportunity to be more than the sum of its parts for its inclusivity and the inspirational ability to make positive change now and in the future.

Q4 | JANUARY 2019 | PAGE 37

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Q4 | JANUARY ’19 A rchitecture new york state is a quarterly publication developed by AIA New York State, 50 State Street, Albany, NY 12207. For questions, comments and editorial content ideas, contact Robin Styles-Lopez, Director of Communications at rstyles-lopez@aianys.org or 518.449.3334.

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