The American Institute of Architects New York Chapter Opposes Intro 755
Rule would allow buildings commissioner who is not a licensed architect, engineer NEW YORK, May 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Institute of Architects New York Chapter (AIA NY) publicly opposes removing the requirement in New 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 in New 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 the State 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 Source: The American Institute of Architects New York Chapter
CONTACT: Laura Manville of AIA NY, +1-212-358-6116, lmanville@aiany.org
2008-05-09 16:58:22 0358024 PRNEWSWIRE
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