NEW YORK BUILDING CONGRESS
ARCHITECTS LEADERSHIP COUNCIL
at
PEI COBB FREED & PARTNERS ARCHITECTS LLP
88 Pine Street
Wednesday, April 28, 2004
12:00 noon

Summary of Discussion

Attendance:
Joseph Aliotta ,Mary-Jean Eastman, Co-Chairs; Richard T. Anderson, Rick Bell, Robert Chapman, David Dunlap, Hazel Ephron, Bruce S. Fowle, Carl Galioto, Mark Ginsberg, Michael Greene, Marc Ross, Jordan L. Gruzen, Walter A. Hunt Jr., Denis Glenn Kuhn, Jill N. Lerner, George H. Miller, Stephanie Miller, Peter S. Samton, Anthony P. Schrippa, Richard Southwick, Gerard Vasisko.

Council Co-Chairman Joseph Aliotta welcomed members and thanked George Miller and Pei Cobb Freed & Partners for hosting the luncheon. Following a round of introductions, Mr. Aliotta asked for and received approval of the minutes for the Council meeting held on March 24, 2004.

George A. Fox Award
Mr. Anderson announced that New York New Visions will receive the 2004 George A. Fox Public Service Award. All 22 organizations comprising the New York New Visions coalition will be recognized at the Building Congress 83rd Anniversary Leadership Awards Luncheon on May 20. He said the extraordinary voluntary effort of all New York New Visions participants enormously impressed the Fox Award Selection Committee.

Guest Speaker
Mr. Aliotta introduced New York Times reporter and columnist David Dunlap, who has covered redevelopment of the World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan full-time since last October. Mr. Dunlap is a photographer and author of several books, including From Abyssinian to Zion: A Guide to Manhattan’s Houses of Worship, which was circulated at the meeting.

Mr. Dunlap expressed appreciation for the opportunity to meet with principals of New York City’s largest architectural firms. He previewed his “Blocks” column for the next day, which dealt with the actual size of the World Trade Center site and related issues. Mr. Dunlap asked Council members about their reactions to so much design in New York City being done by non-New Yorkers. In a spirited discussion, the many pros and cons of the issue were raised. Among the key points:

• Foreign architects “raise the bar” with owners in terms of innovations, cost and fees;
• How critical is “authorship” when work in New York City is frequently shared with local firms;
• Many large New York City firms “export” a great deal of work around the world;
• The global marketplace is widening opportunities for New York architects as well as those from around the world.

Mr. Dunlap asked whether New York Times coverage has been accurate and fair to New York designers. There was general support for Times coverage, although Council members mentioned the need for greater breadth in some cases and more encouragement of good design in general. Another comment suggested greater coverage of the “green building” movement.

Following further discussion, Mr. Aliotta thanked David Dunlap for his stimulating discussion with the Architects Leadership Council.

Adjournment
There being no other business, the meeting was adjourned at 1:45p.m..

Prepared by,

Richard T. Anderson
President
RTA/rc