AIA New York: outpost and advocate for architects

Real Estate Weekly,  July 11, 2007  

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2007 marks the 150th anniversary of The American Institute of Architects.

The New York Chapter (AIANY) was founded ten years later and is dedicated to three main goals: public outreach by engaging and interacting with the public about architecture and the built environment, professional development to help architects be the best at what they do, and design excellence to continue improving the quality of design and advocating environmental conservation and sustainability.

In addition to it's outreach efforts, the Chapter publishes a quarterly magazine, Oculus, and a bi-weekly electronic newsletter, e-Oculus.

The AIA New York Chapter is one of the oldest and largest chapters of the American Institute of Architects, whose headquarters are based in Washington DC. The New York chapter serves as an outpost and advocate for over 4,000 practicing architects, allied professionals, students and public members.

In October 2003, the AIA New York Chapter and its charitable affiliate the Center for Architecture Foundation opened the Center for Architecture in New York's Greenwich Village. The Center is a public space committed to advancing an understanding of architecture, design, and the built environment.

The Center for Architecture serves as the home, program space and offices of both the AIA New York Chapter and Center for Architecture Foundation, and is also the headquarters of the American Society of Landscape Architects New York Chapter, Architecture for Humanity New York Chapter, the Structural Engineers Association of New York, and the Illuminating Engineering Society of New York.

With multiple exhibition galleries, conference rooms, an auditorium, library, and children's workshop, the Center for Architecture provides critical space and resources needed by the public and professionals.

Since opening, the Center for Architecture has proven to be a popular success.

We have presented over 70 exhibitions and 3,000 events, while greeting 2,000 visitors each week.

Many visitors come with questions relating to specific building projects, while others are passersby drawn in by our storefront exhibitions or programs.

With galleries spanning three floors, the Center provides a unique opportunity to experience architecture and design through its exhibitions, discussions and professional exchange. The Center is also a place to promote public awareness and a broader appreciation of the impact of architecture, design and planning in the built environment, principally through educational programs, activities and scholarship.

The exhibitions currently on view include:

The Park at the Center of the World: Five Visions for Governors Island (May 312-August 25, 2007). The exhibition, sponsored by Governors Island Preservation and Education Corporation (GIPEC), features five landscape architecture and architecture teams selected to present their design visions for the future open spaces on Governors Island, the 172 acre Island off the tip of Manhattan.

Building Connections: 11th Annual Exhibition of K-12 Design Work Galleries (June 28-August 11, 2007). The Center for Architecture Foundation's annual exhibit of K-12 explorations into the built environment showcasing models and drawings from Learning By Design: NY, a school based residency program, as well as work from its youth programs at the Center for Architecture.

Upcoming exhibitions at the center include:

arch schools: r(each)ing out (July 18-October 20, 2007). The AIA New York Chapter's annual architecture schools exhibition demonstrates exemplary student work representing the 9 New York area architecture schools, whose deans sit on the Board of the AIA New York Chapter, and 8 invited schools, including the four interiors design programs in New York City

The schools are asked to submit work related to the 2007 New York Chapter's presidential theme "Architecture Inside/Out".

Architecture Inside/Out (September 19-December, 2007) Architecture Inside/Out demonstrates the unfolding of space by exposing architectural interiors through a range of typologies with an inward focus, including libraries, hotels, retail, entertainment venues, work spaces and healthcare facilities.

The Center for Architecture (located at 536 LaGuardia Place between Bleecker and West Third streets) is open 9 am to 8 pm, Monday-Friday, and 11 am to 5 pm on Saturdays. We are closed Sunday s. Admission is free.

For information or questions, please call 212-683-0023, email info@aiany.org, or access the web site (www.aiany.org).

COPYRIGHT 2007 Hagedorn Publication
COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning