Dear AIA HK Members and Friends,
Wishing you all a Very Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year!
Please join me in thanking Christian Low, AIA, our immediate Past President, and the Executive Committee of 2014 for their hard work throughout the last year. Although I have been a part of AIA Hong Kong since 2000, this past year was a great learning experience as I worked more closely with the entire team including our dedicated staff, AIA Hong Kong members and friends. The effort that goes on within the Chapter that results in the various initiatives, events and activities throughout the year is very inspiring to see and be a part of. It is a testament to the strength of AIA Hong Kong, the collective effort of our members and the continued support of our corporate affiliates and sponsors.
I now have the honor to serve you as the AIA Hong Kong Chapter’s 2015 President. Through this year’s theme of Architecture and Cities, we will explore the impact of architecture on our urban environments, and the role architects play in shaping better communities and cities around the world, with an emphasis on the Asia Pacific Region. We are also starting a new initiative, a Young Architects Group (YAG) to better engage and nurture, young members of our Chapter and to nurture the next generation of architects. Through the various events and activities AIA Hong Kong will provide a platform to discuss and showcase best practices, innovative and sustainable strategies, and promote design excellence throughout the built environment. As architects should not only design high quality buildings that are green and sustainable but it is also our responsibility to shape better cities that are more walkable, healthy, and livable while addressing key building and urban design opportunities. Together, we will explore the challenges facing the profession, and our cities, with due consideration to the needs of our members and the Chapter.
As we do every year, we will have our four Quarterlies. We are now planning a wonderful line up of prominent speakers and events including a Cultural Precinct event at PMQ, our signature Honors & Awards exhibition and ceremony, and, possibly, a repeat of the Asian Cities Symposium. We will also have regular building tours, lunch & learn events, possibly a new mentoring activity for the new YAG and other events in collaboration with organizations locally and internationally. In addition there will be some fun activities such as the kickoff event in January, cocktail evenings during the year and the traditional Holiday party towards the end of the year.
The AIA Hong Kong 2015 Executive Committee
It is great to see that Kenneth Hau, AIA, stepped up to be the Vice-president (President-elect 2016), Rex Wong, AIA, kindly agreed to continue as Treasurer, Vikki Lew, AIA, joined as our new Chapter Secretary and Christian Low, AIA, our immediate past President, will continue to serve as well. We have a wonderful Executive Committee and various other Committees and I look forward to working with you all.
Other AIA Hong Kong 2015 Committees
One of the most rewarding parts of the AIA Hong Kong experience is to be involved in one of our Committees, which is a great opportunity to get to know your fellow members better, network, and share. Together we can make a difference to the Chapter, the City and the Region by offering more opportunities for our members to raise AIA Hong Kong’s profile both at home and in the region. Several members have already joined a committee and I strongly encourage more of you to consider participating in one of them as well. Please contact us if you are interested in one of the following Committees for 2015:
Programs Committee: will be chaired by Sujata S. Govada, Assoc. AIA and the Committee will be co-chaired by William Lim, FAIA, and Christine Lampert, AIA, joined by Sean Quinn, Assoc. AIA, Jason Carlow, Assoc. AIA, and others.
Membership Committee will be chaired by Kenneth Hau, AIA, and will be assisted by Andrew King, Assoc. AIA, and others.
Communications Committee will be chaired by Rex Wong, AIA, and co-chaired by Kevin Lim, Assoc. AIA, along with others who will focus on our website, newsletters and social media outreach, while J Lee Rofkind, AIA, past-President and others will focus on the Chapter office at PMQ as a venue for outreach.
Honors and Awards Committee will be chaired by Glenn Wing, AIA, past-President of the Chapter, co-chaired by Gregory Leong, AIA.
Nominating Committee will be chaired by Peter Basmajian, AIA, past–President, assisted by Kenneth Hau, AIA, Sujata Govada, Assoc. AIA, and Christine Bruckner, FAIA, past-President, among others.
International Committee will be chaired by Christian Low, AIA, and includes Peter Basmajian, AIA, Sujata Govada, Assoc. AIA, Christine Bruckner, FAIA, and others.
Young Architects Group will be chaired by Vikki Lew, AIA, and includes Rex Wong, AIA, Brian Bessenaire, Assoc. AIA, Caroline Chou, Assoc. AIA, and others.
Since 1857 the American Institute of Architects has promoted design excellence in Architecture and sharing best practices in design via its various programs and events to promote learning and showcased the work of American Architects worldwide. With over 80,000 members AIA is now repositioning itself globally to Connect, Engage, Lead, Innovate and Advance the profession of Architecture to inspire architects to work together and build a better world for all people – through architecture – and to be relevant and essential to the next generation of architects. As part of the American Institute of Architects, AIA Hong Kong will engage its wider membership to work on these goals locally, build a better future for all and also work closely with Christine Bruckner, FAIA, President of the new AIA International Region and Greg Yager, AIA, President of the newly formed AIA Shanghai – our sister chapter.
As President this year, I hope to continue the Chapter’s legacy since it was established in 1997 by our founding president Prof. Nelson Chen, FAIA, who was appointed last year as Director of the School of Architecture at CUHK. Working together with the Executive Committee and the various other Committees this year I hope to offer you more opportunities to share, participate and learn, while enabling the Chapter to grow and to raise our profile in Hong Kong and the region. I look forward to your active participation and continued support to realize this year’s focus on Architecture and Cities.
Thank you and have a wonderful year in 2015!
Sujata S. Govada, PhD, Assoc. AIA, AICP, HKIUD, HKIP, LEED AP
2015 President, AIA Hong Kong Chapter