AIANYS conference fosters dialogues with elected officials.

American Institute of Architects New York State (AIANYS) president Terrence E. O'Neal, hosted "One New York State: Urban Policy and Regional Design," the first AIANYS symposium to reach outside of the architectural community and initiate dialogues with the elected officials who play a major role in determining the planning of the built environment upstate and downstate.

In a departure from the usual format of AIANYS' annual spring conference, the event featured a series of interactive sessions between elected officials and AIANYS members designed to initiate dialogues that are scheduled to continue throughout the coming years. Moderated by O'Neal, the symposium revolved around the AIANYS' two primary themes for 2006, the organization's 75th anniversary year: One New York State and Livable Communities. Former Rochester mayor William A. Johnson, Jr., delivered the keynote address on urban strategy and land use policies. Session speakers and their key topics included Albany Mayor Gerald D. Jennings on neighborhood revitalization and home ownership; Fred W. Thiele, Jr., New York State Assembly member from Suffolk County on transportation initiatives and the Community Preservation Fund; Yonkers mayor Philip A. Amicone on downtown and waterfront development; Syracuse mayor Matthew Driscoll on downtown revitalization and a comprehensive urban plan; Paula Luria Caplan, deputy director of planning/development for the Office of the Bronx Borough President on major Bronx projects including the Bronx River Greenway and the River Plaza Mall; and Delmar's Peter Baynes, executive director, NYS Conference of Mayors spoke about the need for a unified, statewide policy on economic development for urban areas.

O'Neal is the principal of Terrence O'Neal Architect LLC (TONA), a Manhattan-based full service firm providing architecture, interior design, project management and planning services for diverse clients including nonprofits, public housing and school authorities/agencies, healthcare institutions and corporations.