Effective Efforts on Behalf of the Public Realm
While summer doesn't seem to be lazy anymore, the coming of fall, the beginning of a new school year, suggests a quickening of energy, new opportunities, change in the air. That's what it feels like around the AIA office, anyway. At the last Board meeting we heard about three major efforts underway that will change things, will provide opportunities for architects, and that need architects' support to be successful.
Laurie Bricker, president of the HISD Board of Education, Karla Cisneros, elected member of that board, and Dick Lindsey, director of the Bond Program, presented the case for an $808.6 million bond issue that will be voted on this fall. Bricker complimented Ken Ross, FAIA, for his role as AIA's representative on the Bond Oversight Committee. Cisneros praised AIA Houston for its work on the Transformation Reagan project and noted that renovation and expansion of Reagan is at the top of the list of schools to be funded by this bond issue. They asked for AIA endorsement of the Bond election.
Guy Hagstette, AIA, described Main Street Square, a project of Central Houston Civic Improvement, Inc., designed by EEK Architects and recently approved by City Council. A major intervention in the heart of downtown, the Square capitalizes on the light rail and the new 1000 Main building developed by Richard Everett, FAIA, and designed by Gensler, to create a pedestrian attraction that will support the new street level retail planned for that area while maintaining automobile access to all the buildings along the street. An AIA endorsement of the project gives added strength to the concept.
Anne Olsen, of the Buffalo Bayou Partnership, described the work that produced a far reaching Buffalo Bayou Master Plan, to be unveiled in mid-September. Development of the Plan was funded by the Buffalo Bayou Partnership, the City, the County, and the Flood Control District. As the Plan is implemented, the Bayou dreams of countless architects and others in this city will begin to be realized. AIA's endorsement gives this effort a boost.
You may have noted that an architect, Roksan Okan-Vick, AIA, was recently appointed by Mayor Brown to be the next Director of Parks and Recreation. And then there's the R/UDAT and collaboration with the Urban Land Institute of the housing aspects of the Main Street Economic Development Study. And the AIA/AGC Mayor's Advisory Committee, working to insure that the City is a preferred client for the design and construction industry. And the work of Stephen Jovicich, AIA, Director for Civic Affairs, to identify City boards and commissions that would benefit from having one or more architects as members and to identify architects who are willing to serve.
Do you detect a pattern here? Architects' efforts on behalf of the public realm are effective. Architects' opinions on matters of public policy are sought after. Architects' talents are in demand -- both in the traditional sense (there are buildings to be designed and built) and the broader sense (there are problems that need to be identified, analyzed, and solved.)
Do you see yourself in this mix of public and private activity? Would you like to be more involved? There's a place for you in the AIA. Committees are always seeking new members. The R/UDAT planners can keep you as busy as you want to be exploring the facets of a housing policy for Houston. Or if there is a new initiative that you might like to launch, we can help with that, too. Call Rey or me with your ideas.
Your opinions count.
Martha Murphree, Hon. AIA
