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Quality of Life

  • 1.  Quality of Life

    Posted 01-16-2013 01:28 PM
    This message has been cross posted to the following Discussion Forums: Repositioning the Architect and Committee on Design .
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    The following is an email tha I just sent to Mickey Jacob, Robert Ivy, and Pau Mendelsohn
    I am posting this message here because the issue clearly effects design issues some of us face every day.

    "Dear Mickey, Robert, and Paul,

    It is 9:18 AM on the West Coast and the President has just announced a program that is designed to discourage tragic events like that one that happened in Newtown a month ago.  The program speaks to quality of life in the United States and is something that the AIA should consider vocally supporting.

    The lack of proper weapon safeguards for the public at large affects all of us in our day-to-day lives.  As architects, we are the stewards of the built environment.  As such, we are more familiar, than many, with how the need for increased security is making our cities, and the buildings in them, fortresses.  Just think of the number of different types of buildings we enter only to be confronted with a metal detector.  Beyond airports and government buildings, these include Museums, Hospitals, and Office Buildings to name a few.

    When I was young and living in Baltimore, I had several occasions to visit the Capitol in Washington.  These were memorable visits because I was able experience the building in the way that the design had intended.  It could be entered through almost any door, after which I had free rein to wander its' halls.  A far cry from what it is today.  In fact the new Capitol Visitors Center was built, in part, in order to secure the Capitol itself by limiting its' access to.

    I am reminded of a trip I made to the Philippines twenty years ago.  Armed guards holding assault rifles covered the entrances of all buildings used by the public.  This even included stores and shopping centers.  One office building I visited had the armed guard and had a sign in the lobby that read "To our friends and visitors, please leave your firearms at this desk".  Is this kind of thing going to happen in the US?

    As architects, do we really care about our country's quality of life and built environment?  If so, we should consider using our lobbying clout to support the President's program.  In his own words, the President said, "This will not happen unless the American People demand it."  Let's demand it.

    Sincerely,"

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    David Brotman FAIA
    Past AIA Regional Director
    Sunset Consultants
    Malibu CA
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  • 2.  RE:Quality of Life

    Posted 01-16-2013 03:01 PM
    David
    I agree with you and am pleased to have this opportunity to say so.

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    Mike Mense FAIA
    Owner
    mmenseArchitects
    Anchorage AK
    Former Chair AIA Committee on Design
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  • 3.  RE:Quality of Life

    Posted 01-17-2013 07:56 AM
    While I can understand the concerns of many over this issue, this is one that the AIA does not need to stray into, or potentially divide its members over. This is an issue that has now been diluted to be about so many other issues, and is not about the quality of life. I would like the AIA to stay focused on the profession, how to further the profession, provide tools for my small architectural firm, and keeps its dues reasonable. Straying into tangent social issues only serve to distract the AIA, and distance it from the core things that its members need. ------------------------------------------- Anthony Keller AIA Architect Link Architecture Austin TX -------------------------------------------
    Original Message


  • 4.  RE:Quality of Life

    Posted 01-18-2013 09:48 AM
    Mr. Keller is spot on!

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    Steven Cox AIA
    President
    Cox Architecture
    Mccomb MS
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    Original Message


  • 5.  RE:Quality of Life

    Posted 01-18-2013 09:54 AM
    I don't post on here often, but I am strongly with Anthony Keller on this one, the AIA does not need to be get involved with this issue, it is way off base.

    And beyond that, i think you may find an equal number of people on the two sides on this issue.

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    James Stergas AIA
    Architects Stergas & Associates
    Tequesta FL
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    Original Message


  • 6.  RE:Quality of Life

    Posted 01-18-2013 11:05 AM
    To All:

    The discussion illustrates a dilemma for the AIA and the larger profession--how engaged do we become as professionals in the issues of judicial governance.  I submit that the issue is not easy to disentangle from what we love to do, design/build, and what we have to do, make a living. In the humble opionion of one person, the interpretation of the Second Amendment to the Constitution fundamentally affects quality of life and is more than a tangent social issue.  The prevalence of guns directly affects the world we design and build. As do many local and state governments, most Federal Office Buildings and US Courthouses have varying lines and layers of security; some for vehicles, some for bomb, some for bullets.  The greatest threat to government employees, often times our end-user clients, is another government employee with a handgun.  I agree that the AIA, as our professional advocacy organization, should avoid entanglement in this issue.  I also agree that the issue would be terribly devisive for the membership, that the controversy would not be healthy, and that it should not occur.  I do, however, think that each member of our profession personally should think about this issue seriously--how it affects what we do as professionals, and proceed to engage in this issue as their conscience guides them.  Thank you for the consideration of listening to my voice.

    Kind regards.

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    William Singer AIA, LEED AP
    Principal
    Gruzen Samton-IBI Group
    New York NY
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    Original Message


  • 7.  RE:Quality of Life

    Posted 01-17-2013 09:15 AM
    The AIA has NO BUSINESS lobbying political issues that do not directly affect the profession of Architecture and I will happily pull my support permanently from the AIA and actively lobby for others to do so if the AIA puts any money or political capital towards supporting the President on this issue.


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    Jeremiah Russell Assoc. AIA
    Ruby Architects, Inc.
    Little Rock AR
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  • 8.  RE:Quality of Life

    Posted 01-17-2013 11:44 AM
    I would like to ask everyone to wholeheartedly support this  effort.  As Gabby Giffords has said, ENOUGH. 

    Personal liberty without limit is meaningless when it comes at the expense of life and  the pursuit of happiness.


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    Eugene Ely AIA, LEED AP
    Architect in Waiting

    San Jose, CA
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  • 9.  RE:Quality of Life

    Posted 01-17-2013 12:53 PM
    It's a mental health issue not a gun issue.

    I agree with Anthony and Jeremiah, the AIA has no business in the gun discussion.  It has nothing to do with buildings.  

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    Caroline Hedin Assoc. AIA
    MSGS Architects
    Olympia WA
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  • 10.  RE:Quality of Life

    Posted 01-17-2013 03:15 PM

    The gun argument seems to be sustained by two deceptively simple slogans: (1) "The right to bear arms", and (2) "Guns don't kill people. People kill people".

    The term "bear arms" seems to rule out heavy weapons, but includes anything that can be carried. This was limited to edged and single shot weapons at the time it was written, but has somehow grown to include assault rifles and automatic pistols with extended magazines. So what is the definition of "bear arms"? Should we be allowed to carry RPG's? Do we wish to emulate Afghanistan and other third world countries? Are we heading toward armed groups of competing special interest?

    I agree that people kill people, but should we improve the tools for those with no military purpose? The argument is that they may need to oppose a tyrannical government.

    The argument that guns don't kill people is a very clever manipulation of logic. It's like saying a nuclear bomb doesn't kill people. The issue is who we trust to use these weapons, since we are all aware of the percentage that will use any weapon to kill as many as possible. Should we make it easier for them? The real issue is limiting the carnage, since we cannot eliminate the human problem with the medical knowledge available. We can, however, limit the tools available.

    The right to bear arms in the United States to oppose a tyrannical government is a challenge to democracy. The entire concept of democracy is based on the peaceful resolution of conflicting ideas. If compromise becomes impossible, the structure of conflict resolution needs attention. Armed overthrow of the structure in the name of freedom is an excuse for tyranny without an answer.

    I agree that this is an extraneous issue, but I don't believe architects must stick to architecture. I, for one, am thankful that Thomas Jefferson did not limit himself.

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    Walter Hosack
    Author
    Walter M. Hosack
    Dublin OH
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  • 11.  RE:Quality of Life

    Posted 01-18-2013 09:05 AM
    The Department of State and other Federal agencies concerned with facilities in foreign countries already deal with gun issues when considering embassy or facilities design in less than friendly foreign countries. They are coming at it from the standpoint that everyone entering a facility has a gun! Then it becomes "architecture." But that is totally different from gun control in this country.

    Discuss this somewhere else. It so indirectly affects facility designs at this point in time that it needn't be discussed as "architecture." It's unfortunate that it might get to the point of thinking as we do about facilities elsewhere, but we aren't there yet. Keeping us from getting to that point is the responsibility of others, and we can keep an eye on their progress.

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    George Jennings AIA
    G Booker 3
    Tappahannock VA
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    Original Message


  • 12.  RE:Quality of Life

    Posted 01-18-2013 09:57 AM
    So, Walter, in your view the Revolutionary War was a challenge to Democracy and a failed peaceful resolution of conflicting ideas?....Seriously? I think you're reading the wrong history books. The right to bear arms was intended to include changes in technology. They knew and understood that a citizenry unable to defend themselves against any enemy, foreign or domestic, is the fastest way to a complete collapse of Democracy.

    I urge you to act in whatever way your convictions dictate. Please vote and advocate your point of view. But do not use the profession of architecture and the AIA as a lobbying platform. This is a professional organization that has no business weighing in on issues that have no impact or relevance to the profession and practice of architecture.

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    Jeremiah Russell Assoc. AIA
    Ruby Architects, Inc.
    Little Rock AR
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    Original Message


  • 13.  RE:Quality of Life

    Posted 01-18-2013 11:18 AM

    Jeremiah: The Continental Army was fighting to establish a democratic structure of conflict resolution, not challenge it. The English monarchy hardly qualified as a democratic institution.

    You have made your position clear. I think you understand mine. Your continuing comments appear to conflict with your desire to remove this discussion from the AIA forum.

    I'm sure you'll have a reply but don't expect another response. I don't plan to challenge your opinion. I simply wanted to express mine.

         -------------------------------------------
    Walter Hosack
    Author
    Walter M. Hosack
    Dublin OH
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    Original Message


  • 14.  RE:Quality of Life

    Posted 01-18-2013 02:10 PM
    So, Walter, to use your  analogy, it's my fork that makes me fat.

    I agree with the others on this issue, in that the AIA has no business venturing directly into the political arena. This issue is a mental health issue, an access issue, and personal protection issue, none of which the AIA is equipped to address in any form.

    The president's bans of this week speak loudly to the point that he does not know anything about those issues, either, especially when drunk driving kills about 1,000 times more people annually than do personally owned assault weapons. Where is his concern about those deaths?

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    Charles Graham AIA
    Architect
    O'Neal, Inc.
    Greenville SC
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    Original Message


  • 15.  RE:Quality of Life

    Posted 01-18-2013 03:04 PM

    Messrs. Keller, Cox, Stergas, Russell, Singer, Hedin,

    Political issue or not, isn't the design of the built environment an issue "that affects the profession of Architecture?" 

    • Shouldn't we care that we are being required to design public facilitates as fortresses. 
    • Aren't we responsible for finding a way to mitigate this overbearing security design requirement? 
    • What does Quality of life have to do with political issues?
    • Why does the AIA support the sustainability legislation?  Isn't this a political issue?

    It is interesting to note that the "AIA's Public Policies B" addresses this very issue:

    B. Public Policy: Architectural Design Matters

    Architecture expresses the values of society and has the power to enhance the quality of life for this and future generations.  Architects must advocate for responsible design that results in beautiful and healthy places that respect and accommodate society's diverse cultures and needs.  (Emphasis added).

    If this is our policy shouldn't we "advocate for responsible design that results in beautiful and healthy places" even if the means to achieve it are political?

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    David Brotman FAIA
    Past AIA Regional Director
    Sunset Consultants
    Malibu CA
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