A Good Year
Since this is my farewell letter, I want to make some sense of what you have been subtly and not so subtly exposed to this past year. My consistent message has been that we can mature as an organization by getting attitudinally and physically younger. The reverse evolution of my photograph, throughout the year, was simply a whimsical metaphor of our chapter leadership's attitudinal evolution and physical composition.
The success of our organization and profession, for that matter, is to stay fresh and innovative, ahead of the game. That means creating a sustainable culture in the AIA where participation and new ideas from our younger membership can thrive. It is often difficult for young architects to get recognition for their work or to have a forum for promoting their ideas. That, however, is changing in the AIA nationwide, and the Houston Chapter is leading the way.
We started the year with a younger board and a mission to perpetuate a culture that is open to the younger generation of evolving leaders. We have witnessed the Intern Advocate Group grow into a distinctive program, our youthful Associate membership achieved national distinction, and new bright stars such as Lonnie Hoogeboom, AIA, Ronda Wang, Associate AIA, David Robinson, AIA, and Brian Malarkey, AIA, have emerged. As I move to my new position as Past-President next year, I hope to focus on an Emerging Creative Spirit Program that will be dedicated to creating opportunities to give exposure and credit to young talent on a regular basis.
The effort of our members' hard work has yielded much this year. We reinvented the Celebrate Architecture Gala with great success. We also reinvented high school in an urban context when the AIA provided urban design assistance to transform Reagan High School into a model dense urban school, in one third of the normal school site area. The positive relationship fostered between HISD and the design profession is one of the reasons the AIA Houston Board of Directors heartily endorsed HISD's bond program.
The year-long preparation for next spring's Regional Design Assistance Team, which will focus on recommendations for a comprehensive housing policy for Houston, is in its last stages, and the planning for next year's inaugural Architecture Month--April is well underway. Architecture Month will saturate the City with architecture-related events and exhibits which will showcase the work of Houston's architects.
One of our more significant accomplishments this year was the successful negotiations with HISD administration to revise the A/E Agreement and eliminate the major points of concern expressed by the architectural community. The new agreement, which will be used for projects in the $808.6 million upcoming bond program, will rectify the uninsurable language that carries the connotation of a "guarantee" or "warranty," and the implied duty for the architect to defend HISD for any "allegations" (no proof required) of negligence, both of which are explicitly excluded from professional liability insurance policies. The other changes address fairness of compensation based on degree of complexity of a project, and limiting consultants' responsibility only to the work under their control.
Our strategy to develop partnerships to influence policy in matters of interest to our profession has created the AIA/AGC Mayoral Advisory Council. This very important alliance with the City officials is in full motion with initiatives to fix the ills of the building permitting process; to identify and find solutions to the obstacles that make working for the City of Houston less than desirable; and to elevate the position of "City Architect" to equal stature as the "City Engineer," thus allowing architectural projects to be reviewed and managed by professionals who understand the nuances of urban design and architecture.
Thanks to all who supported me this year, especially Martha Murphree, Hon AIA, the architects' patron saint.
Rey de la Reza, FAIA
Leaders Needed
Stephen Jovicich, AIA, Director of Civic Affairs
Serving the chapter as Director of Civic Affairs this year, I have undertaken a task to enhance our local community and assist the Mayor's office in finding qualified candidates for the various Boards and Commissions which serve us all. The information I found was quite surprising and presents a very real opportunity for our profession to provide new insights to the process. For example, of the 114 currently active Boards and Commissions:
78 relate directly to the built environment
13 relate, at least in part, to issues where design is a factor
14 do not relate to design or the built environment.
§ Very few of the Boards and Commissions which relate to the built environment require a design professional in their composition.
§ None of the 20 Development or Redevelopment Authorities require a design professional in their composition.
§ None of the 20 Reinvestment Zones require a design professional in their composition.
§ Many of the positions do have a specific gender and/or racial requirement in order to maintain a diverse representation.
§ Many of the positions have a residency requirement to live within the board or commissions sphere of authority.
§ Some positions are filled by city or county officials.
§ Some positions are appointed by city council and some are appointed by the Mayor for citizen representation.
The wisdom of appointing citizens to the various boards is apparent. Representation from the populace absolutely adds insight to the overall process and strengthens the basis of our system of government. Certainly the task of identifying qualified candidates to fill these positions is monumental at best and developing a broad list of candidates to select from is an even greater task. Although many of the boards and commission positions do not require licensed design professionals, the fact remains that design professionals are citizens too. I am, therefore, seeking to develop a list of citizens from our own design community to forward to the Mayor for consideration as vacancies occur.
The task of establishing a data base for each board or commission is nearly complete. The task of collecting and qualifying names for consideration is just beginning. A list of the relevant boards and commissions including a brief outline of the duties, responsibilities, and meeting times will be posted on the chapter's website for your review.
Those who are interested in being considered and are willing to dedicate their time and effort to serving on a board or commission should complete the Board/Commission Application document (also posted on the website) and forward the application and resume to Martha Murphree as follows:
Mail: AIA Houston,
3000 Richmond, Suite 500,
Houston, Texas 77098-3111
E-mail: martha
Fax: 713/520-5134
Of course, there are no guarantees that the recommendations we present will be accepted and there may be some time before a vacancy occurs. It is understood that this is a long term project. I look forward to a time when each and every board is empowered with the insight and critical thinking that we know our profession can provide. Thanks!
