The American Institute of Architects, Washington, D.C., elected George H. Miller, FAIA, to serve as the 2009 first vice president/president-elect and 2010 institute president. Miller, a partner at Pei Cobb Freed in New York, currently serves as vice president. He also has served in a variety of leadership positions, such astreasurer, vice president and president of the American Institute of Architects-New York, regional director for New York state from 2004 to 2006, national chair of the AIA150 advisory committee, and member of the gold medal and fi rm advisory committee in 2004-05. Born in Berlin and raised in Pennsylvania, Miller received his BA from Pennsylvania State University, University Park, in 1973 and has been with Pei Cobb Freed since 1975. He has worked on many significant projects, including the Hyatt Center in Chicago; National Constitution Center in Philadelphia; Johnson & Johnson Headquarters in New Brunswick, N.J.; and Center for Government and International Studies at Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.
“The AIA must set the pace, as leaders and stewards for our neighborhoods and theenvironment,” Miller said. “As AIA president, my priorities will be focused on promoting the importance of the highest quality design for our communities. We must also advocate for better infrastructure, affordable housing and better schools, all designed to sustainable principles. I will also work on strengthening and diversifying the AIA community and facilitating the fl uid exchange of information across the profession, as well as between academic and professional communities. And finally, we must continue to support and mentor our emerging professionals. The future of our profession depends on it.”
Other elected officials, with terms beginning in December, include:
• Walter J. Hainsfurther, AIA, president of Kurtz Associate Architects, Des Plaines, Ill.,has been elected to a two-year vice presidential term.
• Pamela J. Loeffelman, FAIA, LEED AP, a principal at Perkins Eastman in Stamford, Conn., has been elected to a two-year vice presidential term. • Stephen K. Loos, AIA, a senior design architect for the Mulhern Group Ltd., Denver, has been elected to a two-year term as secretary.
In other news the institute held its annual convention in Boston where it emphasized themes of sustainability, affordable housing, urban security and diversity. The convention attracted 23,950 registrants and 852 exhibitors. The institute said it made a concerted effort to keep the show size manageable and not overwhelming.
The keynote presentation was given by Ambassador Andrew Young on the importance of Whitney M. Young Jr.’s speech in 1968 regarding the need for greater diversity in the profession. Other keynote presentations included Americus, Ga.-based Habitat for Humanity Founder Millard Fuller, challenging architects to address affordable housing issues, and Thomas Vonier, FAIA, founding member of the International Center for Urban Security, Barcelona, Spain, moderating a panel that examined issues of urban security and the built environment from geopolitical, tactical and humanitarian points of view.
“The theme of ‘We the People’ was chosen to showcase the power of architecture on behalf of all people. I was encouraged to see that it was warmly received and embraced by all speakers and attendees,” said AIA President Marshall Purnell, FAIA. “The tone was set with Millard Fuller’s excellent speech outlining the responsibility that architects have to address one of the most basic needs—shelter. His point was that architects have the opportunity to bring the dignity and worth of the profession to the people who need it most, and it was an ideal representation of our theme.”
