AIA New Jersey recently co chaired the 2019 AIA Tri-States Conference, Breaking Ground!, with AIA Pennsylvania and AIA New York. The four day event featured tours of Albany, specialty certification training, continuing education seminars, keynote presentations, leadership events, social opportunities, a professional Expo, Design Awards celebration and chapter board meetings. My sense from the architects I spoke with, they all enjoyed the programs.

 

AIA NJ Tri-States Chair, Seth Leeb, AIA, relayed that the attendees were providing great feedback on everything they attended. 

 

Event sites and tours featured the New York State Museum, RPI Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, the New York State Capitol, the Five Rivers Environmental Center, the New York State Education Department Building, the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall and The Egg.

 

 

Pause here to see our Tri-States Photo Gallery.

 

Over the course of the event, ten AIA New Jersey members offered their expertise by presenting seminars to the attendees. 

 

 

AIA NJ Immediate Past President Verity Frizzell, FAIA, provided a Safety Assessment Program

 

   

 

Christopher Ling, AIA, presented Forensic Architecture and the Architect’s Standard of Care

 

 

AIA NJ Associate Regional Director Megan Pritts, AIA, and Mark Sullivan, AIA, provided experience in Integrated Mentorship: A Pillar of Successful, Sustainable Practice

 

 

Annabelle Radcliffe-Trenner, AIA and Ronnie Cameron presented New Technologies in Preservation Architecture

 

 

AIA NJ Past President Michael Hanrahan, AIA, and Barton Ross, AIA, presented Historic Preservation and Emerging Professionals

 

 

Paul Rugarber, AIA, presented Creating A Positive and Influential Office Environment

 

     

 

Sean Cuddahy, AIA, presented Effective Collaboration in Decentralized Teams

 

   

 

   

 

Bob Fisher, Sharon Johnston, FAIA, and Will Hunt provided the three engaging Keynotes. 

 

   

   

 

According to AIA NJ President, Judy Donnelly, AIA, “Many said that ‘This was the best Tri-States event so far’ and I have to agree.  It was Inspirational, Educational, and a Networking Event that can be carried into our practices, used towards our AIA missions, and so much more, for years to come!  It was an event that was ‘Not to be Missed!'”   

 

   

 

Co-Chair Leeb shared that, “We are talking about continuing this event every other year and that if we move forward, the next one will be in New Jersey. All the vendors and sponsors were very happy to participate this year and excited to hear about the future plans.”