Oculus May/72

Thomas F. Galvin WAA Japan House Gala May 14 Nominated NYC/AIA Receives NYC/AIA and President Architectural League Support

The Committee on Nominations has unanimously recommended the following nominations for officers and directorships:

Thomas F. Galvin, President T. M. Prentice, Jr., 1st Vice-President and President-Elect Robert F. Gatje, Vice-President Samuel M. Brody, Vice-President Kurt Karmin, Secretary James B. Baker, Treasurer Louis P. Giacalone, Director Richard G. Stein, Director eorge D. Brown, Jr., Director Alexander Kouzmanoff, Director LeRoy E. Tuckett, Director The serene main staircase and reflecting pool with bamboo growing are features of the entrance to Japan House, scene of the May 24 WAA gala. James Stewart Polshek, presently 1st Vice-President and President-Elect, has declined to assume the office of A gala reception and tour at calligrapher, and koto players-will President due to his new responsi­ beautiful Japan House, 333 East perform in its elegant auditorium. bilities as Dean of Columbia's School 47th St., the glamorous finale of the Wines and hot and cold of Architecture. Women's Architectural Auxiliary's running hors d'oeuvres will be served ambitious Spring fund-raising efforts, off the 2nd floor gardens. Judith Edelman, completing the will take place Wed., May 24, from 5 Directorship of six, will carry-over to to 8 P.M. Co-chairmen for the event are Mrs. 1973. Morris Ketchum, Jr., and Mrs. Mrs. Saul Edelbaum, WAA Scholar­ Rolland D. Thompson. The four The new officers and directors will ship Chairman, describes the evening honorary chairmen are Peter J. be installed at the Annual Meeting as "an all-out effort for scholar­ Blake, FAIA; Frederick G. Frost, Jr., being held Thursday, June 1, 1972, ships", since the gala has been FAIA; George G. Shimamoto; and at 11: 30 A.M. at the 7th Regiment arranged with the fu 11 cooperation of Max 0. Urbahn, FAIA. Armory, 643 Park Avenue at 66th both the NYC/AIA and the St., New York, New York. Architectural League. Tickets are $15 each, full tax­ exempt. All funds will go directly The "only authentic Japanese and in equal amounts to City structure in New York", Japan College, Columbia University, Cooper House was designed by Japanese Union and Pratt Institute for Architect Junzo Yoshimura in deserving young men and women conjunction with Gruzen and architectural students, as has been Partners. the WAA's custom for the past 14 years. Japanese artists-a dancer, singer, Chapter Review of Planning & National Policy Task !uilding PropQsals Force: Robertson Speaks to Ch~pter

The April Oculus reported on the "It is evident that no matter how _The Report, was at first received Executive Committee's decision to constructive our intentions, there will coolly by the Executive Committee. formally invite requests that the be disagreement at times between The March Oculus also raised Chapter review significant planning our opinions and those of the project questions. However, after further and building proposals. The text of participants. We believe, however, study of its background and the this important letter to community that properly handled, such reasons why it may at first appear boards, public & private agencies and disagreement can lead to better rather bland, most doubts have been others, to be signed by President understanding and, thus, to a more reversed, and a Chapter resolution Frost, is as follows: positive result. We wish to assure urging strong support will be you, however, that where differences presented at Houston. "The New York Chapter, AIA, has of opinion exist our intention would been increasingly active in reviewing be to participate with the project Jaquelin Robertson, a Task Force significant planning and building team, and particularly the architect, member, explained the background proposals in response to requests in every appropriate manner to of the Report at the Chapter's from community boards, public and resolve the differences. Pre-Convention meeting April 20. He private agencies, and individuals. Our said it grew out of recent Institute purpose is to influence the planning "We would welcome the opportunity work with Congress which has been of an improved urban environment. to join with you in reviewing far more effective than most AIA significant planning and building members realize. He called the "We frequently express opinions at proposals. The Chapter's Executive Report an almost impossible public hearings, but we propose to Director, George Lewis, is ready to document to write because any of you that there are situations which establish liaison with you. A letter several approaches would have been develop when we can offer advice similar to this is being sent to the inadequate: polemical magazine concerning projects prior to public agencies and organizations on the article; paper for laymen (profe­ hearings. We intend that our effort attached list." ssionals would be bored); an attempt be focused on projects which have to specify legislation (wou Id have influence on the larger environment, been incomplete); a national plan including such matters as neighbor­ blueprint (immediately out-of-date). hood activity patterns, trans­ Steel Institute Makes Annual portation, visual unity and general Awards It is none of these, Robertson said, urban texture, and which require but we can be optimistic: The zoning amendments, variances or Report can take the AIA into serious At the Pre-Convention Meeting held approvals by public agencies. Thus, negotiations on ·every major piece of at Chapter Headquarters on April 20, our concern is more with design legislation on the man-made the American Institute of Steel concept than with the detailed design environment for the next 10 years. A Construction presented its yearly of any particular building. It suggests reason for this may not readily be Architectural Awards of Excellence that the review with architects of apparent: much of the wording is, in to the following New York firms: proposed projects take place as early effort, coded; it corresponds to in the design process as practicable. legislative language which people in Harrison, Abramovitz & Abbe, for Congress recognize from past the U.S. Steel Building, Pittsburgh. "We realize the magnitude of such a negotiations with the AIA. With this task and recognize that it cannot be document the AIA can push for James Stewart Polshek & Associates, accomplished in a constructive comprehensive legislation. While its for the SUNY Service Group, Old manner without the interest and goals have been talked about for Westbury, N.Y. cooperation of organizations of years, the AIA has now put forward citizens, developers, owners, users, a basis for action, and the climate Conklin & Ros5f1nt, for Superbay planners and designers that are for congressional and executive Maintenance Facilities, San Francisco concerned with projects primarily in action is now favorable. International Airport. Manhattan, and we invite you to call on us when you feel that our The Report will be debated and orgaization and yours have mutual voted on at Houston. Robertson said interests. the Task Force wants to add an appendix on methods of implemer tion, and an open forum on the constraints built into the present system will be held this summer. GL "Methods of Compensation" Available from Chapter ------

"Methods of Compensation," a Methods of Committee, "the chart indicates that booklet prepared by the Fees and Compensation this past year the total number of Contracts Committee and intended technical personnel engaged has to complement the I nstitute's decreased by 12%%," as added to Statement of the Architect's Services, and compared with a decrease of 6% may be purchased at the Chapter in the year 1970. Further, "it is office. As reported in the January apparent that the business in most Oculus, "Methods of Compensation" offices is still depressed. It is obvious is coordinated with the standard that this situation will have an documents of the A I A for Owner unfortunate effect on the availability Architect Agreements and describes of positions for graduates this spring, the more common and acceptable young people still in school seeking methods of compensation for summer work and opportunities for architect's services, their application, individuals in the various job training advantages and disadvantages, and programs .... lt also has its impact on guidelines for use. The six methods the architects and draftsmen with selected are: Percentage of Construc­ many years experience who are also tion Cost, Multiple of Direct unable to find work." Personnel Expense, Professional Fee plus Expenses, Fixed Sum Method, In the firms projection of the trend Per Diem or Hourly Method and Cover, in uniform graphics format, of of business for 1972, it is en­ Composite Method. A Compensation new Chapter publication. couraging that at least 50% of those Selector Table indicates recom­ offices responding to the survey mended methods for a variety of predicted an improvement over the services. Employment Survey Results year and an additional approximately ------! 20% expect business to remain about To date, the percentage method in the same. graph form has been issued by the The Office Practice Committee's Chapter and adopted with slight Employment Survey Results as of As reported in an earlier issue of variations by other chapters and the December 31, 1971 was distributed Oculus, the NYC/AIA has under­ NYSAA/AIA. For a number of years, without comment with last month's taken a program of close liaison with many members have felt that the Oculus. Peter Hopf, Chairman of the the Professional Placement Center of percentage of construction method committee offered the following the New York State Department of has often been inappropriate under impression, much of which, he feels, Labor. Mrs. Lynn Wallach of the an extended and changing practice. is not immediately apparent from the Professional Placement Center In issuing the booklet, it is expected graph: "With a normal amount of indicated that there has been an that the time honored preponderance growth in any business (you can use upswing in available positions over of the percentage wi 11 be de­ any figure at all-but let's say a the last month and a half. This emphasized to the benefit of other growth rate of 8% per year), three would tend to confirm the projec­ methods available. years shou Id have shown a growth of tions of the firms surveyed. However, JDK about 24%. In fact, employment has the positions available have been gone down about 10% these three mostly for draftsmen in production years. Adding the two, business areas. There have been no positions shou Id be about 34% from where it available for designers, nor have there actually is today. This, I think, is the been any positions available for major significance of the results of experie·nced candidates as job this survey." captains or project managers. Mrs. Wallach noted that in this generally The survey itself had responses from depressed market, employers have 123 firms. Replies from the larger been trying to offer lower salaries. firms are less than in previous However, this has met with resistance surveys; those from firms of 0 to 8 and salaries have remained generally technical personnel have substantially stable. increased. According to an inter­ JDK pretation of the survey's results by Eason Leonard of the Office Practice Action on Proposed Architectural League's Zoning Changes Renderings Displayed at Chapter Headquarters

Proposed changes to the 1961 areas now limited to 2-family houses; Looking for a talented renderer? This Zoning Resolution are receiving close permitting In-Fill Housing on existing month, at NYC/AIA headquarters, Chapter scrutiny. One is the City vacant sites at an increase in there will be an exhibit of renderings Planning Commission's amendment allowable density per site; entered in the 1972 Birch Burdette relating to large-scale community encouraging planned unit develop­ Long Memorial Prize competition. developments. The rest relate to a ment for large-scale residential Sponsored by the Architectural series of residential situations. projects by providing bonuses for League since 1926, this prize for such items as enclosed parking and distinguished renderings is given Although in principle the Chapter mandating community facility space annually. Delineators may use any favors flexible zoning, the Executive (such as schools) beyond a certain medium and technique they wish, Committee has adopted a statement number of units. The final amend­ depicting either a proposed building, prepared by Walter Bogner of John ment would authorize the mapping and existing building, or a building Belle's Urban Planning Committee of special mixed-use districts to from their own imagination. stating opposition to the amendment include manufacturing facilities and on Community Facility Develop­ residences. As Oculus goes to press, the winner ments. of this year's prize has not been This last group of amendments are determined, but since this is the only The NYC/AIA is sympathetic to the being thoroughly studied by Lewis such competition of its kind in the goal of permitting expansion of Davis' Housing Committee and country, it should be interesting to land-locked institutions, but not at Richard Roth, Jr.'s Zoning Com­ see the submissions. the expense of 11altering local mittee. Based on their studies, the community housing supply or Chapter will issue a statement on the The works will be on display on the removing essential community amendments in the near future. third floor until May 26 from 9:30 amenities and unique characteristics". DPH A.M. to 5 P.M. daily. The amendment, it feels, returns to LY ''spot" zoning, with no guidelines, no incentives for good planning, and, in particular, no master plan developed Courses in Architectural Bard Awards to be with the active participation of the Technolo ------Free Presented Ma 18 local Community Planning Boards and interest groups. All junior, and not-so junior, Thomas Hoving will speak at a draftsman take note: Dr. Reno King In a related action, the Chapter has reception for the presentation of the of Queensborough Community opposed the proposed 41-story Beth 1972 Bard Awards for Excellence in College will explain the courses and Israel Medical Housing Tower. Architecture and Urban Design on programs available for training in Representatives have met with the Thursday, May 18 at 5: 15 P.M. at architectural technology in the city architect and found no justification the St. Regis Roof. Two privately May 10th at 5:00 P.M. at the for exceeding by 28 stories any other sponsored projects completed within Chapter. building fronting on Stuyvesant Park. the City during the last two years will be honored. The discussion, arranged by Frank The series of amendments relating to Munzer and Maurice Wasserman of residential zoning includes proposals Chapter member Leon Brand, Vice the Technical Education Committee, for allowing 3-family housing units in President of the City Club, is will be a unique opportunity to Chairman of the Program, which he obtain first-hand information from was instrumental in initiating 10 one expert source. In addition to years ago. Publicly and privately explaining the available courses in sponsored projects are considered in architectural technology, Dr. King alternate years. James Polshek, will discuss the programs of the City Chairman of the 1972 Jury, will University and other schools. Free present its ~ritique. Phone LT 1-2485 tuition and the open-enrollment for reservations. policy at CUNY make this a rare educational opportunity.

Offices: please make sure all interested personnel are made aware of this opportunity. Elliott Presents Citation to What Not to Build Architectural Firms for Work Where Not to Build it in West Side_Renewal Area ~·- - ·----· -- - _... -- - - "To save our lives and our posterity ...... we must go beyond our traditional preoccupation with stone, mortar, steel and glass ...... " So summarizes Mildred F. Schmertz, as Editor of "Open Space for People", an illustrated anthology of papers presented at the 1970 conference of the Union Internationale Des Arch itectes.

Tragically, the important concept of "preserving open space" is decep­ tively obvious. For this and other reasons involving limited imagination, it is conveniently ignored by one of the groups most able to affect its implementation, namely ... architects.

Mildred Schmertz's large format All smiles on April 15-and for good reason-are Miss Winifred Allwork, Women's Architectural Auxiliary President; Donald H. Elliott, Chairman, NYC Planning Commis­ book is fi I led with photographs sion, and Mrs. Saul Edelbaum, WAA Scholarship Chairman. At the close of citation which depict alternatives to a future ceremonies honoring the Architects, agencies and artists responsible for the nearly made grim by the rapid elimination completed 20-year West Side Urban Renewal project, it was tallied that 500 people had of open space. The complete title is joined the Auxiliary's Spring West Side Tour and that the WAA Scholarship Fund had "Acquisition, Conservation, Creation gained beyond expectations. and Design of Open Space for , People". It was published by the American Institute of Architects with What New York City is doing about Receiving citations were: a grant from the Department of Albert Anaya center city rejuvenation was the Housing and Urban Development; the focus of the April 15th tour of the Ballard, Todd & Snibbe Brown Guenther Battaglia Galvin papers having been presented at the neany completed West Side Urban AIA sponsored meeting in Renewal Area (bounded by Central de Young and Moscowitz Edelbaum & Webster Washington. Park West, 87th Street, Amsterdam Edelman and Salzman Avenue, and 97th Street) arranged M. Paul Friedberg The book is FREE! Simply write to by the WAA of the NYC/AIA. Frost Associates the AIA at 1785 Massachusetts Ave., Horace Ginsbern & Associates Washington, D.C. 20036. Donald H. Elliott, chairman of the Gruzen and Partners LY New York City Planning Com­ Holden Yang Raemsch & Corser mission, presented special citations to H. L. Horowitz & W. F. Chun the 28 architects and artists (or Ifill Johnson Hanchard firms) and the Housing and Seymour R. Joseph Development Administration that Aleksandra Kasuba have participated in the 15-year Knappe & Johnson effort, at a ceremony held in the William Lescaze (deceased) Liebman Liebman & Associates Trinity School Auditorium, 91 st Newman & Newman Street and Columbus Avenue. Constantino Nivola James Stewart Polshek & Associates The tour featured visits to interiors Lee Harris Pomeroy of remodeled brownstones, duplex Prentice and Chan , Ohlhausen model apartments in a new middle­ Harry M. Prince income cooperative, and a school, as Domenick Salvati and Son II as exterior views of the WSUR's Peter Samton l new high-rise buildings, private Richard Snibbe gardens, and two new public Richard G. Stein David Todd & Associates playgrounds in the area. The Housing & Development Administration Executive Committee Actions Candidates for Membership

April 12, 1972 Information received by the Associate • Approved text of letter to be sent Secretary of NYC/AIA regarding the to community boards, public & qualifications of candidates for George Buermeyer private agencies, inviting them to ask membership will be considered Lenore M. Lucey the Chapter to take part in reviewing confidential. J. W. Rhodes significant planning and building A. Zdzienicki proposals prior to public hearings Corporate (see text in this issue). • Heard officers of The Architects' Richard Robert Ferrara Technical Assistance Center Everett D. Finney Energy Conservation (TATAC) describe the Center's work· Robert Alan Friedman Exhibit Post oned resolved to join with TAT AC in an ' Kenneth Arthur Jacobsen effort to establish a rotating pool of Saul Kaplan The Natural Environment Committee professional volunteers drawn from Vladimir Karee has decided to reschedule the architectural firms. Eduardo Leoncavallo proposed exhibit on methods of • Resolved that the Chapter be a Moises Mandelkern energy conservation to the end of distributor of the I nstitute's Joseph M. Marrow this or early next year. The move computerized specification system James Beattie Mcleod was prompted by the desire to (Masterspec). Richard Metzner mount the best show possible. • Allocated travel expenses for a Barry Milowitz student to go to the Houston Martin G. Santini The Committee chaired by Marvin Convention. Michael Walker Mills plans to seek contributions • Noted the I nstitute's support of totaling 10 to 15 thousand dollars legislation to create a National Professional Associate from foundations and industry to Institute of Building Sciences; support the project. It is hoped that resolved that the Chapter should Margaret B. Gruger a salaried director can be engaged to press for passage. assemble and organize the material. • Approved a statement opposing A/A Associate So far $1000 has been received from proposed amendments to the Zoning an anonymous donor. Resolution concerning large scale Felicia Reed Clark community facility developments and Henry S. Feldman Members of the ASH RAE engineer­ the specific proposal of Beth Israel Franklin Hart Hospital to build a tower on ing society have expressed interest in contributing material to the exhibit. Stuyvesant Square (see article this Associate The exhibit is expected to be issue). designed to travel and to take three Zdenek Godfrey Homolac months to prepare. Wing Kee Kwok JD Raquel Ramati

New York Chapter The American Institute of Architects 20 West 40th Street · Welcome to New Members New York, New York 10018 212 565-1866 George S. Lewis, Executive Director

Executive Committee The NYC/AIA welcomes the Frederick G. Frost, Jr., FAIA, President James S. Polshek, 1st Vice-Pres. following members: Robert F. Gatje, Vice President Samuel M. Brody , Vice President Der Scutt, Secretary Corporate James B. Baker, Treasurer Lawrence Litchfield, Director Howard H. Juster, Director Robert Cabrera (readmission) James A. Rossant, Director T. Merrill Prentice, Jr., Director Stephen L. Cohan Richard Stein, Director Lawrence S. Gordon :udith Edelman, Director Oculus Committee Norman F. Jacklin J. Arvid Klein, Editor and Chairman Jane H. Leoncavallo John Doran David P. Halpern Kurt Karmin Joel D. Kaufman Linda Yang