NEW YORK CHAPTER I THE AM ER ICAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS OCTOBER, 1971 VOLUME 45, NUMBER 2 SECOND SURVEY OF OFflCE ACTIVITIES MEMBERS TO RECEIVE PLAN CRITIQUE The Office Practice Committee has completed its Advance copies of the New York Chapter's critique second quarterly survey of chapter office activity of the Plan for New York City have been given to levels. Appearing with this issue of OCU LUS are the Donald Elliott, Chairman of the Planning Com­ results of questionnaires mailed to the entire member­ mission, and members of his staff, as a gesture of ship. Response to this questionnaire was excellent, courtesy. Approximately twelve copies are being sent with 101 architectural firms responding, including to members of the press. A more finished copy will most of the better known firms in the city. Activity be mailed to all chapter members. levels have been measured by numbers of technical employees (including principals) in each firm. The critique was prepared by the Commission on Urban Design with principal organization done by the The first graph shows all respondents, and the other Urban Design Committee, of which Walter Rutes was charts show responses by size of offices. Although chairman. The Urban Design Committee members minor variations occur depending on size, the general and all those who participated in its development trend of work shows a total drop of 17% since deserve credit for accomplishing a difficult task. January 1, 1971, and indicates a drop of 4.9% between March 31st and June 30, 1971. The background material has been ready since June. During the summer months, the Executive Com­ Concerning the question of anticipated work for the mittee, James Rossant, and George Lewis have next six months, the following responses were refined the introductory statement. The New York submitted: Chapter of the American Institute of Planners re­ leased their statement early in September. KK STATUS NO. OF Fl RMS Expect Increase 23 THE ARCHITECT AND NEW YORK STATE Expect Decrease 22 NYSAA/AIA 1971 CONVENTION THEME Remains about same 53 The Architect and his work with those New York Undecided 2 State Agencies which control extensive construction programs will be the theme of the 1971 Annual The Office Practice Committee would welcome Conferences and Convention of the New York State suggestions from the membership concerning this Association of Architects/AIA at Kutsher's in subject. Monticello, October 18-21. COMMISSION ON PROFESSIONAL AFFAIRS The Conference will have an entirely new format Lawrence Litchfield, Chairman of the Commission on featuring closed-circuit TV, Video playback and a Professional Affairs, reports that there are many areas continuous film program. Informal workshops will be which his commission, through its committees, will moderated by key members of State Agencies on be investigatin'g. Some will be a continuation of last such subjects as Architect Selection and Compensa­ year's work while additional projects will be initiated tion, Advance Planning, Contracts, Site Selection, this year. The following is an indication of the Programming, Design Procedure, Contractor Selection commission's scope of activity. and Qualification, Cost Accounting, etc. Wednesday, a day in which activities of participating State The Building Industry Coordinating Committee will Agencies will be given important treatment, will have seek to establish relationships with contractor's George A. Dudley, Chairman of the New York State groups in the city and will do likewise in the state Council on Architecture, as the keynoter. through the NYSAA's BICC committee. Michael Maas, the committee's chairman, is also a member of Among the Agency Directors expected to attend are: the state committee. Edward J. Logue, President of the Urban Develop­ (Continued on page 4, col. 1) (Continued o n page 4, col. 1) NEW YORK CHAPTER, THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS HOSPITAL AND HEAL TH COMMITTEE 20 West 40th Street, New York, New York 10018 212 565-1866 14 YEARS & IMPRESSIVE SERVICE George S. Lewis .. .... .... .......... .. Executive Director The Hospitals and Health Committee's Annual Con­ EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ference, open to all NYCAIA members and dedicated Frederick G. Frost Jr., FAIA, President Lawrence Litchfield to "Life Safety in Health Facilities", will be held all James S. Polshek, 1st Vice-Pres. Howard H . Juster day, Thursday and Friday, October 21 and 22, at the Robert F. Gatje, Vice President James A . Rossant United Nations Association, 345 East 46th Street. James Max Bond, Vice President T . Merrill Prentice, Jr. The conference will offer a "broad, multidisciplinary Der Scutt, Secretary Richard Stein airing of many viewpoints": designers will exchange James B. Baker, Treasurer ·Judith Edelman views witti fire-fighters, code specialists, insurance OCULUS COMMITTEE J. Arvid Klein, Editor and Chairman representatives, agency directors, and physician~, Kurt Karmin John Doran brought together from al I over the country. Addi­ Linda Yang Joel D . Kaufman tional copies of the flier describing this event are David P. Helpern available from the Chapter. The conference, however, is only the first of many EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ACTIONS: SEPT. 15 activities to be undertaken by the popular, 14- year-old Hospitals and Health Committee, chaired by • Approved three subjects for study to be recom­ David L. Ginsberg. With an active membership that mended to applicants for the Brunner Scholarship: has grown to 55 people this year, the committee is a Computers, an investigation of their status in the microcosm of the Chapter in its composition and professional offices and an evaluation of their worth; organization. Members, drawn from. large ~n~ sm~ll Minority Groups in the Profession, a report on their firms, and from governmental agencies, pa.rt1c1pate in access to the professional schools, the schools struc­ three sections: Activities, Projects, and Pol icy. turing of curricula for them, and their access to the profession; Design, a report on the effects of ecology Clifford Wolfe's Activities Section will once again and climatic influence on the design of buildings and offer after a year's hiatus, a basic hospital design communities noting the magnitude of their effects on cour;e. The 10-week program, coordinated with Pratt the ecological system of the area; with the provision Institute by the Education Sub-Committee under that other subjects should not be precluded. Isaiah Ehrlich, will be run by a faculty which includes • Approved a preliminary draft of the 1971-72 physicians, hospital administrators and practicing budget. architects. The course, open to Chapter members and • Considered a broadening of the purpose of the their professional employees, begins Monday, Public Service Fund Committee's fund raising plans, October 11, and will be held at the High School of which heretofore have been directed wholly toward Art and Design, 57th Street and Second Avenue. the minority scholarship programs. Registration is $80. Further information is available • Reiterated the Chapter's recognition of the impor­ from the Pratt Manhattan Center, 683-8877. tance of the Women's Auxiliary and its contributions to the profession and encouraged growth of its Other Activities Section programs that wi 11 be con­ membership. tinued are the monthly technical and project review • Reviewed proposed resolutions which are to be meetings, special field trips, and special dinners. submitted to the State Association of Architects These will be under the direction of Thomas J. Convention in preparation for the Chapter's Pre­ Kupper, Murray Sput, and Allen Parrette. Under Convention Meeting on September 22d. study are an office preceptorsh ip. prog~am,. whe~e • Reviewed the Public Agencies Committee's efforts architectural students from Columbia Un1vers1ty will towards an equitable City-wide contract. be placed on health facilities projects in participating offices, and ways to coordinate with the Chapter's CHAPTER FOUNDATION ACTIONS: Sept. 15, 1971 minority training programs. • Allocated Funds for the 1971-72 Chapter-ARCH students' scholarships and for the Equal Opportuni­ Joseph Shein's Projects Section will publish .two ties Awards Program (these will be reported in a important guides, being developed under the ~1rec­ future OCULUS). tion of Saul Ellenbogen. First off the presses will be 1972 MAYOR'S PANEL OF ARCHITECTS the Health Facilities Guide to 70 installations in the North East indicating the important features of each. Applications for 1972 Mayor's Panel of Architects The second the Health Facilities Cost Guide, will list will be sent to all members of the 1971 Panel. Others numerous projects, broken down in detail, listing may obtain application blanks at Room 1800, Dept. costs for each facet of the design. This will be a of Public Works, Municipal Bldg., Centre and tremendous asset in budgeting hospital construction Chambers Streets, NYC 10007. Applications will be costs. mailed when the request is accompanied by a stamped self-addressed 9% inch envelope. All applica­ The results of last year's research and field trips, tions with accompanying photographs, where re­ which concentrated on the design of interstitial quired, must be mailed or delivered to the above DPW spaces in health facilities, is also being organized for office not later than Oct. 21. publication. (Continued on page 4, col. 2) 2 NEW YORK CHAPTER, AIA ARCHITECTURAL PERSONNEL IN CHAPTER OFFICES Survey No. 2, April through June, 1971 Numberof YEARS Reporting Technical 1968 1969 1970 1971 Size of Number of Personnel rirm~ Firms ~ 3/71 6/71 I ·; I 2350 I A ... 1 2300 I \ I - I - I 2250 I \ I - - I ,... \I 2200 ... I I _.... )I ,.. 2150 \ I ... ,.. \I 2100 - 2050 I ... ' 2000 \ t;... I / ... ..... \ Totals 100 1300 / ~ / I 1250 \ ..... .... ,. I .... 1200 \ '\ ~I 1150 . ~I !JOO . ' I 50 t over II ,.,,.,,,,/ I I ' 350 I - - 300 _,,,,- I ~ 9 - 20 .... ~i" 22 ~ I I 250 ~ ~ -- .... ........... ..... -- \ 21 -30 9 200 .~ ~ 0 - 8 54 . ' . :I 31 - 50 4 I iI"~ I " ~! These are some of their comments.