Oculus New York Chapter American Institute of Architects
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OCULUS NEW YORK CHAPTER AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS THE BIG STEEL BALL PUBLIC AFFAIRS COUNSEL ANNOUNCED The appointment of Jack Bern· stein Associates Inc. as Public Af fairs Counsel to the New York Chapter of The American Institute of Architects has been announced by Frederick J. Woodbridge, Chap ter President. Mr. Woodbridge said that the new counsel was chosen by the executive committee from a num ber of firms screened and recom mended by the Chapter's Public Affairs Committee, headed by Max 0. Urhahn and Edwin B. Morris, Jr. Jack Bernstein Associates served as Public Relations Counsel to the Committee for Modern Zoning, led by Robert W. Dowling and Dr. Luther Gulick, and on which sev eral Chapter members served. The Committee spearheaded the suc "UNISPHERE" cessful fight for an up-to-date zon by E. 0. Tanner ing resolution for New York City. New Yorkers, at least those who have shown interest in their forth "Mr. Bernstein's organization coming 1964 World's Fair, had reactions ranging from mild derision will work in close concert with to angry disappointment last month when Fair President Robert Moses our Public Affairs Committee and unveiled its proposed "theme" structure. Christened "Unisphere" by the Chapter's executive secretary U. S. Steel's Roger Bloug·h, who had offered to build and give it to the to develop and carry out a pro Fair as a centerpiece (and as a permanent fixture afterwards in Flush gram designed to enhance public ing Meadow Park), the big steel ball, standing some 13 stories high, awareness of the architect's role had an almost ludicrous familiar look. Had it been lifted from the shoul in our society," Mr. Woodbridge ders of Rockefeller Center's Atlas-or from the KLM ticket office down said. "It is our purpose to re-estab the street? Or could it be the Perisphere of the 1939 Fair, brought back lish the architectural profession as to the same old site with the lath and plaster taken off? No, said Fair the technical and administrative officials, it was Unisphere, "symbolizing man's achievements in a shrink leader of the construction indus ing globe in an expanding universe." Added Mr. Moses· "There is noth try thereby furthering the inter ing complicated about it. Frankly, I never understood the Trylon and ests of the profession and the ob Perisphere." . jectives of the Association." Well frankly, Mr. Moses, we design as well as .ideol?~ies, has a don't understand Unisphere either. duty to welcom~ its _YlSl~ors more "We expect to help the Chapter With all the exciting things to be iha_n achieve its objectives with a ek~quently a~d imagmativ;l~· planned, yet flexible, program utiliz said about man's advances and as- thi~. Surely it could be a. s. .,1 uctu.r e pirations in this explosive world, which peopl~ co.uld .part~cipat~ m, ing the wide scope of Chapter ac and with all the exciting language perhaps b:y viewmg m~erior .obJects tivities and through the effective of modern architecture and engi- or ascend~ng for v.arious vie~s of exploitation of day-to-day oppor · · h'ch to say them the exterior. Or it could simply tunities as they arise," Mr. Bern neermg m w i h rt' be a stunning piece of architect- stein said. must we. go back to a. eavy i. - tural sculpture that speaks of the eral version of the ancient armil- . · d d Among the clients served by I h 'th decoration by essential umty an grace an op- Jack Bernstein Associates Inc. are ary sp ere, wi . timism of all mankind. Remington Rand, Dow Chemical, Rand McNally and world capitals America has the ideas and the Hamilton Watch Company, Carl and satellites in winking lights? talent in abundance. Why cannot Zeiss Inc., and Dictograph Prod Surely, America, a world leader in some of these be tapped? ucts. Inc. 2 as "What Lies Ahead for the ocu·Lus IMPROVING NEW YORK Metropolitan Area," with Mayor Vol. 32 - Number b Wagner, and Governor Meyner Chapter member Victor Gruen participating, "The Educational AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS set forth his views on traffic prob Challenge for New York," "Char NEW YOIK CHAPTER lems in New York, at the 3rd ter Reform," "Majorities in the Annual Conference "New York in Metropolis," and "Do Cities Breed MARGOT A. HENKEL, Eacutive Secretary Transi·tion," sponsored by the Lex Corruption?" Some 600 persons 115 East 40th Street ington Democratic Club, Saturday, attended the meetings. New York 16, N. T. March 4, 1961, at the Hotel Del p.j.g. MUrray Hiii 9-7969 monico. As a member of the panel, "Automobiles, Mass Transit and Philadelphia Plans Special Urban Immobility," Mr. Gruen Women's Program proposed that the key to urban re FREDERICK J. WOODBRIDGE ---··--- ,,.,;denf A week-long schedule of events DAVID L. EGGERS ···---··- Vic• Preadenf habilitation is the return to the pedestrian. Panel Member John A. is being planned especially for ar PETER S. VAN BLOEM ··-·-··---··--·- Secretary Bailey, Director, Urban Traffic chitects' wives attending AIA's MICHAEL M. HARRIS -··--·--·--- Trea1urer Philadelphia, proposed New York 1961 national convention in Phila follow the example of the Quaker delphia April 24-28. On the pro City in promoting a more efficient gram are a visit to the Henry PAUL JOHN GRAYSON, Editor Francis DuPont Winterthur Mu rapid transit thereby reducing the seum and 1,000-acre Longwood need for use of private vehicles in Gardens, a private performance at central business areas. the Playhouse-In-The-Park, tea Public transit systems will, it is with famous artists at the Museum GOOD EXAMPLE No. 1 believed, improve in service and of Art, and tours of many fine old comfort. As this develops, addi The need is ever present to re homes in Philadelphia and Fair tional . parking space for feeder mount Park. late architecture to allied profes automobiles will increasingly be sions, such as engineering, urban come a part of the public transit design, sculpture and the arts. The service. · LETTERS TO TH.E EDITOR I development of such relationships through the exchange of special Other panel members were O. To ·the Editor: ized knowledge in the form of col Roy Chalk, Charles J. Murphy, I read in the current issue of laborative lectures or seminars, Charles L. Patterson and Profes Oculus that the Building Practices can be helpful in strengthening the sor Charles Stonier. Committee has currently under understanding and values of all Douglas Haskell, Editor of the study a search for a clearer and concerned. Architectural FORUM, and Wal more exact way of specifying col Such an example of how this ter Fried, Vice Chairman, Housing ors in painting reportedly "In re process can work effectively was and Redevelopment Board, ex sponse to complaints by the New demonstrated at the Technical changed, in the panel ""Rebuilding York Building Congress." Committee's Lecture on March the Oity of People,'' some words I would like to correct this record 7th. Chapter member Albe~t Ken on the matter of the controversial since to my knowledge the Con nerly, presented in collaboration Greenwich Village Redevelopment gress has not made any such com with consulting engineer, Charles Survey, being proposed by the plaints. In fact, in response to a C. Zollman, an informative and in Board. Haskell suggested that the painting industry request referred teresting illustrated talk on "pre program would involve complete to ~t ?Y the C~apter the Congress' stressed concrete.'' bulldozing of the area. Victor Bmldmg Pratices Committee com Along with Mr. Kennerly's bal Gruen, whose firm has been men pleted such a study about two anced coverage of the subject, tioned for the survey work, speak years ago and issued a Building which included such items as the ing from the audience, defended Industry Practices Report on the development of prestressing, ad the Board's move, and stated that ~ubject. ~ copy of this report is vantages and limitations, code and the survey was intended to deter mcluded m the complete file of 1ike insurance considerations, Mr. Zoll mine what methods could be used Congress reports enclosed for your man described engineering tech to maintain the character of the Committee's reference. niques and structural details. Al community without bulldozer oper It appears to me that with the together, this method of presenta tions. many subjects needing attention of tion made a great deal of sense Panel member Charles Abrams our respective groups that every and helped provide a clear under proposed that a master plan be de effort should be made to avoid du standing of both the architectural termined for the city, stating in plication of effort and to further and engineering aspects of pre general terms what overall shape the acceptance of industry recom stressing concrete. and appearance is desired for New mendations by official adoption of The present' series of Sympo York, as was done for Paris and reports of other recognized organi siums under the joint sponsorship Washington, D. C. Only in this zations when appropriate. of the Architectural League and way, can we begin to rebuild with To this end may I suggest that FORUM is another good example meaning and purpose. · our communications could be im of collaboration. The fact that both Other members of the panel proved by exchanges between your the Technical Series and the Sym were : Lawrence Orton, Commis Committee and our Building Prac posiums have been getting goo<l sioner of the Planning Commission tices Committee which is chaired turnouts is an indication of the and James H. Scheuer, President, by Charles Selby, President of appropriateness of subject and tim Citizens Housing and Planning Vermilya-Brown.