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The American Institute of Architects New York Chapter Opposes Intro 755
The American Institute of Architects New York Chapter Opposes Intro 755
NEW YORK, May 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Institute of
Architects New York Chapter (AIA NY) publicly opposes removing the requirement
inNew York City that the Commissioner of the city's Department of Buildings
be a duly licensed architect or engineer. Following are excerpts of testimony
by AIA NY executive director, Rick Bell, on May 7 to the N.Y. City Council's
Committee on Government Operations:
[AIA NY] and its 4,200 members inNew York are strongly opposed to Intro
755. The Commissioner of the Department of Buildings must be a registered
architect or professional engineer. The current law is logical and necessary.
By letters, e-mails and petitions, the City Council and Mayor's Office has
heard many of the reasons why the head of the agency that guarantees safety on
construction sites must be trained and tested in how buildings come together,
how they rise, and how they stand. The process by which an architect or
engineer becomes licensed by theState of New York is arduous...It tests
comprehensive knowledge of codes, zoning, building practices and environmental
standards...
In addition to our technical training, architects, by law, are personally
responsible for our work and have a fiduciary responsibility to maintain the
health, safety, and welfare of the public...
The City Council has taken the lead in bringing a modern building code to
the City of New York...in stopping over-development in our communities...in
pushing for progressive reform of Building Department operations,
enforcement...We need an architect or engineer at the head of the department
that enforces these laws...
There are some who insist that good management skills are more important
than knowledge and credentials. They are wrong. This is not about tradition or
elitism. It is all about professionalism, and the knowledge needed to make the
tough decisions when there is nobody else to call, nobody else to consult.
New York City needs a Buildings Commissioner who not only knows how the
government operates, but how buildings stand up.
Contact: Laura Manville
lmanville@aiany.org
(T) 212-358-6116
SOURCE The American Institute of Architects New York Chapter
Copyright © 2008, PRNewswire
Copyright © 2008, NewsBlaze,
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