Three of the sessions I attended dealt with the issue of resiliency in some shape or form. The first focused on defining a resilient agenda for your community. With resources such as resilientdesign.org, FEMA, Federal Alliance of Safe Homes, and the IBHS Built Strong Program, the ability of architects to speak with expertise to their clients is easier than ever. I would encourage us as architects along a coastal environment to be aware and read up on these recommendations. The next session focused on architects taking a leadership role in not only disaster recovery but preparedness as well. The case studies presented looked at architects or emerging professionals in the Long Island area who stepped up after Sandy and with limited resources have been able to create positive guidelines to help people rebuild. One guide for example highlighted the 5 key components to raising houses in a neighborhood: New Foundations, Vertical Access, Raised Entry, Usable Underside, and Elevated sidewalks/circulation. Creating a simple graphic brochure was beneficial in helping neighbors agreeing to not only raise their homes but do it in a way that maintained the fabric of the community. The third class studied resiliency on a more regional level. The presenters looked at the Rockefeller Foundation's 100 Resilient Cities program, the Thames Flood Barrier, and the Venice Storm Surge Barrier as examples of regional resiliency.
In addition to those seminars I also attended classes on bioclimatic design, expansion joints, career advancement, and properties of natural stone. Johanna and I also spent half the day Friday walking through the Expo Hall with several hundred exhibitors. Every year I am blown away by the sheer magnitude of the event and the effort the exhibitors go to with their booths.
The headline keynote was President Bill Clinton. He delivered a much more technical speech than I was expecting, but it was nonetheless very inspiring. He outlined several major projects the Clinton Global Initiative was working on and stressed that architects hold the unique training to be leaders in the solving some of the most pressing challenges around the world. My personal favorite keynote was Moshe Safdie's Gold Medal acceptance speech (found here). If you blow pass the rest of what I wrote I would strongly encourage you to at least watch that clip. Finally Peter Eisenman's acceptance speech for the Topaz Medal, in typical Eisenman fashion, proclaimed we need more hero architects and less starchitects.
While the seminars were certainly informative and educational, the real joy in convention for me is the fellowship with other architects. The NC State Alumni Reception, the Clemson/AIASC Reception, and SAR Fellows Reception provided excellent opportunities to reconnect with old classmates and professionals I know across the Carolinas. The Clemson/AIASC Reception was held at the offices of Stanley, Beaman and Sears. The front half of their office is actually a public art gallery where they have rotating exhibitions from local artist and monthly open houses. What an amazing way to engage the public and create a dialogue about architecture in new way.
The emerging professionals event was the main event for Thursday night. Held on a rooftop meeting space overlooking Centennial Park, this event was definitely not limited to just emerging professionals. We were able to talk with Thomas Vonier, who was running for and won the 2017 AIA Presidency. He was the right choice for the job and will bring his experience as AIA Europe's President to the Institute as a whole. Also Jane Fredrick from South Carolina was elected to one of three national director positions, and we are incredibly proud of her accomplishment and the esteem it brings our chapter.
The highlight event of the Convention was The Party. Held in the recently completed NCAA Football Hall of Fame, this event drew thousands of architects out for an evening of live music, food, and open exploration of the museum. Johanna and I met up with Michael Walker and his family and had a wonderful time. We even got to meet the architects behind the architect rap song. (found here)
In addition to Convention we also took some time to see Atlanta. We drove around Buckhead, checked out Isamu Noguchi's Playscapes in Piedmont Park, marveled at the Georgia Aquarium, visited the High Museum, and if you know me well we also went to a pen store in Buckhead. Another huge highlight was getting together for drinks with one of my best friends from college. We meet at the Sun Dial revolving restaurant atop the Westin after not seeing each other in over ten years. As we effortlessly picked up where we left off, it occurred to me Safdie was right architecture cannot be independent of place but it also cannot be independent of humans. We create spaces that become host to human interaction and for me that's true power of architecture.
Again it such an honor to continue to serve and represent our section. Please let me know if you'd like any additional details or resources from the Convention or AIA in general.
