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Dear Members of the Regional and Urban Design Knowledge Community
(RUDC):
As the 2008 chair, I would like to thank you for your continued
membership in RUDC. I would also like to take this opportunity to
bring you up to speed on RUDC’s accomplishments in 2007 and
inform you of our plans for the coming year.
It is with a heavy heart that I must first share the news that just
a few weeks ago RUDC, the AIA and the profession lost a tremendous
individual. Randy Jones, FAIA, AICP, of The Jones Payne Group in
Boston, passed away February 21 after a protracted struggle with
cancer. All of us who worked with Randy knew him to be the
consummate professional and gentleman, and were captivated by his
warm spirit. Randy’s efforts over the past 4 years on the RUDC
Advisory Group have made a big difference to the direction of the
group. As late as last fall, Randy was still engaged and providing
leadership to our activities as Chair of the Advisory Group. Many
of us celebrated with him at the AIA Convention in San Antonio as
he received his Fellowship. I am personally gratified by that
timely acknowledgment. I will miss him dearly.
2007 started off on the right foot with the RUDC Spring
Roundtable in Providence, Rhode Island, thanks to the
leadership of Constance Bodurow, Assoc. AIA, AICP. Expanding
Scale: Architects as Design Agents in the City + Region, held
in partnership with the AIA Regional and Urban Design Knowledge
Community, AIA Rhode Island, AIA Young Architects Forum, and the
Rhode Island School of Design, Department of Architecture, welcomed
over 55 members from around the country. The event engaged
participants from around the world in a dialogue about the role of
the architectural profession in society; the architects’
willingness to intervene in design at larger scales; the current
state of urban design theory and practice; when to engage allied
professions; cultural and national distinctions in educating and
training urbanists; and the nature and challenges of
cross-disciplinary practice. Active involvement by members of the
National Associates Committee was a welcome addition to this event.
Conference materials and report can be found online
here.
The RUDC was once again visible at the AIA Convention, bolstered by
the Regional and Urban Design Knowledge Community Seminar.
The seminar addressed the creation and revitalization of San
Antonio's urban neighborhoods, as well as the future role of the
central business district. Subject areas included preservation,
urban design, and the sustainability of San Antonio's urban
core.
2007 was a year full of successful events and activities, and we
hope the value you received as a member of the RUDC was
rewarding.
As we begin 2008, I would like to welcome our newest members to the
RUDC Advisory Group. Antonio DiMambo, FAIA, of Antonio DiMambro +
Associates, and Subrata Basu, AIA, AICP, of Miami-Dade County
Planning and Zoning Department, will join Constance Bodurow,
Associate AIA, AICP, Samuel Assefa and myself to form the
leadership group for our Knowledge Community. I also wish to
acknowledge David Dixon, FAIA, our outgoing Advisory Group Past
Chair, for his tireless contributions amidst his demanding and
laudable professional work.
I can assure you that 2008 will continue to provide RUDC members
with opportunities to connect, engage, expand our knowledge, and
increase our value to society.
The RUDC will continue to work with active and interested local
components’ urban design and/or public policy committees. If
you are interested in starting a group in your local component,
please contact us at rudc@aia.org.
In addition to our successful events, we plan to build a stronger
outreach effort through improved communications via the RUDC email
newsletter and periodic email updates. The RUDC newsletters will
help us to better keep our membership informed of our upcoming
activities. We will be soliciting articles, case studies and other
content from you, our RUDC membership, to provide access to
practical ideas and information that will help promote the value of
design at the city and regional level.
In lieu of a 2008 Fall Conference, RUDC has signed on as a major
supporter of the 2008 AIA Livable Communities conference, which is
planned for Kansas City. This conference is sponsored by the AIA
Center for Communities by Design, and will be a major focus of our
event planning this year. Look for future details on the RUDC website.
I hope you can tell from this email how excited I am to build upon
the past success of the RUDC. The Advisory Group cannot do this
alone, however, and we encourage everyone to become engaged in some
fashion.
If you have any questions or comments, or wish to become more
involved in RUDC, please email us at rudc@aia.org.
Sincerely,
Soren D. Simonsen, AIA, AICP, LEED AP - 2008 Chair
Cooper Roberts Simonsen Associates
The American Institute of Architects
1735 New York Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20006
E-mail: rudc@aia.org
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