President’s Letter

Dear friends, colleagues and leaders; Our past informs our future. As we progress through National Preparedness Month, we are reminded that we need to prepare our communities for potential shocks and stressors. Recent storms, historic flooding and the 20th anniversary of 9/11, drive home the critical nature and value of what we do as architects. Protecting the health, safety and welfare of the public is our ethical charge. When we do our job well, communities don’t see or feel the disruptions. Inherent in our charge is to prepare every day through our work. We seek to create sustainable, cost effective, solutions that meet current and future needs. The word “tomorrow” is key to how we must approach Sustainability, Resilience and Disaster Preparedness. Comprehensive, all hazard approach. Since starting the state-wide partnership and training for CEDAR with the DEPARTMENT OF STATE and Cal OES SAP training, hundreds of our members have responded to volunteer when called. We are better prepared to respond. Partnerships with NYSERDA have placed an emphasis on our role in creating better, sustainable buildings and educating the industry on how to advance those goals. We lead the country in sustainable energy codes and award Buildings of Excellence that demonstrate and apply solutions as a way forward. But I ask you, is sustainability and resilience enough? As we gain a better understanding of the forces and science that illustrate the future needs of our communities, I believe we, as the architects of New York State, must go further. Innovation and building the best buildings can land us beyond building code minimums—an attitude that bodes well for our future and provides us with the power to change the world. As an industry, we are contributors to today’s issues—we can reverse those negative outcomes and regenerate our communities in partnership with ecosystems. If we have learned anything since 9/11, Katrina and Sandy, it’s that resilience is action. The immediate action needed is you as the architect taking a leadership role in advancing the regenerative building practice. Regenerative buildings and communities go beyond sustainable and resilient practice, they are a holistic approach to dynamic forces in an ever changing world. Every project repairs the earth, generates energy and opportunity beyond its own use. Architects are bringing this forward, who better to assemble teams and understand the complexities of regenerative design? Us! As we approach “tomorrow,” lessons learned and the wisdom of the past informs our role as leaders and the positive impact we can make on our future. I charge all of you to be a leader and agents of change for a better future. Sincerely,

Illya Azaroff, FAIA 2021 President | AIA New York State