Architects solve complicated problems. How do we tell the world that that’s what we do?
We all went to architecture school. But crafting buildings is only part of architecture. We all know that we can design everything from a teaspoon to a city. We need to introduce design thinking into every conversation about the places in which we live.
How do we get a seat at the table?
When we think of citizen advocacy, we might define it too narrowly. We volunteer to serve on Landmarks Commissions, Community Boards and other quasi governmental organizations. Since it takes a lot of time and we run firms which also takes a lot of time, we don’t do it enough. But we rarely run for public office. And we only meet our elected officials on Lobby Day if we’re lucky. Maybe we need to change that. We need to be the first one they call when they have any questions about the built environment. We have rushed into action and volunteered to help whenever we could.
What has Abby done?
What happened on September 12th?
Led by the AIA, we reached out to our colleagues at New York’s 21 design organizations and created New York New Visions. Committees were formed to address every aspect of redesigning Lower Manhattan. Over the course of the next two years the AIA led the replanning through multiple focus groups, town halls and competitions.
Impact: The original Beyer Blinder Belle scheme for the redesign was scrapped. Studio Daniel Libeskind won the competition for the new master plan; and competitions were held for the memorial garnered 5,201 entries from 63 nations and 49 U.S. states making it the largest design competition in history.
Attendees. Upwards of 30,000 people collaborated
Result: This was 20 years ago. cultureNOW was formed in 2002 from the Cultural and Historical Committee which printed 650,000 maps of Lower Manhattan in 5 editions. The organization went on to win the AIA 2012 Collaborative Achievement Award. Abby Suckle designed the temporary Information booth at Ground Zero.
Where are they Now?
In 2016 the New York City Department of Transportation commissioned a historical map of Lower Manhattan to be introduced at New York’s first experimental Shared Streets. Also known as a “pedestrian-priority” street, a shared street is a roadway designed for slow travel speeds where pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists all share the right of way. The map was launched on August 1st at Fraunces Tavern.
Gale Brewer (Manhattan Borough President) Polly Trottenberg (2016 NYC Commissioner of Transportation - 2021 Deputy Secretary of Transportation), Letitia James (2016 Public Advocate - 2021 NY State Attorney General) , Abby Suckle at Fraunces Tavern, NYC