Not Business As Usual
The economy has changed radically throughout the world in the last few months. The impact has been strongly felt in the New York City design community. Projects have been put on hold or altogether stopped, new commissions are not readily forthcoming. Firms have begun, in turn, to downsize. Many of our colleagues are losing their jobs. Many young professionals are not being hired. And our bills are not being paid.
AIA New York kicked off its Not Business as Usual lunchtime initiative on December 17, 2008, in an effort to unite the architecture and design community around these issues. As the location for these lunches, the Center for Architecture serves as a space for problem-solving, discussion, and action planning, as well as for coping with the realities of an economic downturn. The initiative continues in 2009 with two Wednesday sessions every month, each with a different focus.
Center for Architecture 2010 Exhibition Design and Graphic Design Shortlists
Last year, the Center for Architecture, as part of its "Not Business As Usual" (NBAU) initiative, created an Exhibition Design Shortlist in support of innovative AIANY-member firms with exhibition design experience. This year, a second Open Call for exhibition designers was held and, from dozens of firms, six were selected. Congratulations to the six firms which have been added to the list!
EXHIBITION DESIGN
Harry Elson Architect - www.harryelson.com
KOKO Architecture + Design - www.kokoarch.com
Pentagram Architects - www.pentagram.com
Popular Architecture - populararchitecture.com
Poulin + Morris - www.poulinmorris.com
Urban A&O - www.urbanao.com
GRAPHIC DESIGN
This year we also created our first-ever Graphic Design Shortlist. Congratulations to the eleven firms selected!
50 50 – www.fiftyfiftyny.com
MTWTF - www.mtwtf.org
Object - objectcollective.org
Omnivore - www.omnivorous.org
PS New York - www.insideps.com
Q Collective - www.upwithq.com
Jeff Ramsey - jefframsey.net
Remake - www.remakedesign.com
Rumors - www.rumors-studio.com
Thumb - www.thumbprojects.com
Topos Graphics - www.toposgraphics.com
Selected firms will be included in an upcoming library exhibition.
Advocacy
AIA NY is contributing a voice to national, state, and local policymakers working to alleviate the economic crisis. We’re lobbying for stimulus legislation to fund projects that create jobs and income for architects, as well as policies that help small businesses stay afloat, such as affordable health care and the elimination of federal fee retainage. To learn about the AIA's lobbying efforts on Capitol Hill, please visit www.aia.org/rebuildandrenew.
New information released regarding the Economic Stimulus Package:
The Economic Recovery and Reinvestment Cabinet recently posted a copy of the New York American Recovery and Reinvestment Handbook on their website. The Handbook provides information on funding programs applicable to New York State under ARRA. The handbook lists funding amounts, federal and state agency contacts, and application deadlines for each program when they are available. It is a work in a progress because some guidelines have not yet been set by federal agencies, but it will be updated on a regular basis on the state's recovery website here. The federal government's website is also a great resource for additional information. (3/2009)
The 2/11 Not Business as Usual meeting focused on advocacy. For a review, visit the Architect Newspaper's blog for the post by Mariana Rodriguez Orte.
Training / Professional Development
Because skills upgrades are important activities to undertake in a slower economy, a new Training Lab has been set up at the Center for Architecture with donations by Skidmore, Owings and Merrill and software providers AutoDesk and Graphisoft. The Center will hold training sessions on BIM software: ArchiCAD and REVIT; check our calendar for program dates.
AIA parnter, Autodesk has an Assistance Program for displaced workers. Participants now have access to 17 products and enhanced eLearning; employers get discount for hiring program participants; new term license for AutoCAD software is also available. Visit the portal at: www.autodesk.com/pr-assistanceprogram.
The Chapter is also developing resources for those who are seeking to become registered architects for the first time. We host ARE preparation classes; have study materials available for members and provide guidance on the ARE and IDP processes through evening seminars. Check out our licensing page for more details.
Presentation
The Presentation work group is focusing on initiatives to help individuals and firms show their skills and services to best advantage in a competitive environment. We are planning programs for job searches, resume building, interviewing skills and professional networking for individuals. For firms, we seek to support their presentations skills as well as assessments of appropriate areas of practice and strategic planning for their future business.
Please check the following links for further information and support:
AIA National Career Center
AIA National Navigating the Economy
Exchange Point is a listings resource site: Reach out to others through this web-portal, whether it's seeking temporary design staffing, available desk space, sharing back-office equipment sales, remote office space, collaboration opportunities or looking for hard-to-locate resources and services. Click HERE to visit.
Not Business as Usual on the Web
Follow up "Where are They Now", this March 2010 Architectural Record web story follows up on individuals the author met at the NBAU lunches in 2009. (posted 3/6/2010)
At a recent Alternative Careers Panel, one speaker provided a list of online resources for keeping up to date with the design profession. See her suggestions here. (7/8/2009)
Stories recently posted on the Architectural Record web site in the Recession & Recovery section include: Recession Stories (Profiles); Strategies for Unemployed Architects; Volunteer Opportunities; Top 10 Resume Tips (3/4/2009)
MetropolisMag.Com POV post "Feeding off Engineers’ Energy," by Daniela Morell, 03.23.09, covering the last Not Business as Usual meeting on Energy Audits.
Architect Newspaper's blog post by Mariana Rodriguez Orte, 02.16.09
The Center's 100% BIM program on Green Buildings NYC dot Com
MetropolisMag.Com blog post by Daniela Morell, 01.08.09
"AIANY, Center for Architecture Foundation Address Economic Woes," by Jessica Sheridan, Assoc. AIA, LEED AP. e-Oculus, 01.13.09.
Many thanks to our Not Business as Usual sponsors:
AMX, Chief Manufacturing, Lutron Electronics and Skidmore, Owings and Merrill
Upcoming Meetings
March 10, 2010: Mounting Solutions for Flat Screens and AV Equipment - Improving the User Experience in Various Settings
March 24, 2010: Architect's Toolbox Series: Project Cost Estimating for Commercial Interiors
Postponed: Architects' Toolbox Series: Hone your Presentation Skills
