TA24-J F-Pages - Flipbook - Page 9
President’s Letter
Public Connections
by Derwin Broughton, AIA, NOMA
PHOTO BY DERWIN BROUGHTON, AIA, NOMA
A
s I walked into Bar Dei Teatri, a cozy pub near Piazza Corvetto
in Genoa, Italy, I was greeted by a friendly bartender who
was chatting with a group of elderly regulars. His wife, sitting
behind the cash register, handed me the piadina, a 昀氀atbread
sandwich, that I had ordered from her husband. I do not speak
much Italian, but I could sense that this small space was a hub of social activity
and connection for the neighborhood.
This past year during my president-elect visits, I had the privilege of meeting many of you — our members — in similar kinds of social spaces across
Texas. In our conversations in places ranging from the rooftop of Grain
Theory in Abilene to the corporate boardroom of Texas Regional Bank in
Harlingen, I have been exposed to the diverse and unique voices of our state.
We have shared our professional and personal stories, our local challenges and
opportunities, and our vision for the future of architecture. These types of
spaces, often called “third places,” are essential for fostering community wellbeing, as they provide a platform for interaction, identity, information, and
inclusion. They can be churches, cafes, bars, clubs, community centers, libraries, gyms, parks, or even front porches and stoops. They are di昀昀erent for every
community and every person, and sadly, not everyone has access to them.
The threat of the loss of these third places is real. Our natural beaches are
being eroded; churches are going into foreclosure; public parks are su昀昀ering
from lack of funding; and public gyms are in competition with franchise health
clubs. Our public libraries are reinventing themselves as our society moves into
an increasingly digital realm. Local restaurants and pubs are still recovering
from the pandemic, while services like Uber Eats and Door Dash have made
it very convenient to avoid engagement with a human being. Our face-to-face
interactions have been replaced by virtual meetings and social media.
As architects, we have had to adjust to this new reality as we’ve learned to
collaborate with our clients and stakeholders through online platforms and
digital tools. We have had to remain agile and innovative in our practice and
our profession. Despite this required paradigm shift, we also have the power
and the responsibility to create and advocate for third places that promote
social cohesion, civic engagement, and cultural diversity. These are pillars of
resiliency, which is one of TxA’s strategic priorities. Resiliency is not only about
adapting to natural disasters, but also about creating a sense of belonging, trust,
and mutual support. By designing places that invite people to connect, share,
and learn from each other, we can help build a more resilient and vibrant Texas.
The importance of third places is a vital topic around which we as architects, designers, and emerging professionals can continue to elevate the conversation. I look forward to working with you as we continue to address the
unique challenges of our profession continue, build on the legacy of our
predecessors, and advance our strategic plan. Each of our strategic priorities
— equity, prosperity of the profession, public understanding, resiliency, and
professional development — are interconnected and interdependent, and they
all rely on our ability to create and sustain meaningful relationships with each
other and with our communities.
Tangential to this is our overarching mission of advocating for the profession. The steps, hallways, cafes, and meeting rooms of the State Capitol have
been key areas of pause to interface with our representatives, senators, and
a昀케liated sta昀昀ers. This year I am challenging each member to get out into
your community and to build upon the relationship with your local legislators
right in your very own backyards. 2024 shall be a year on — and not seen as a
year o昀昀 — as we utilize our time, resources, and third places to foster stronger
connections with elected o昀케cials.
Much like the patrons of Bar Dei Teatri are all connected, we are tied
together in a web of relationships woven together with places of interface and
interaction. I am extremely grateful for the visionary leadership of our past
presidents and boards. The foundation has been laid, and it is our challenge
to continue the work through thoughtful planning and execution.
Derwin Broughton, AIA, NOMA, is a vice president at KAI Enterprises in Dallas and
the 2024 TxA president.
Another favorite travel destination, Montreal is exemplary in its ability to cultivate a
public streetlife that is enhanced by many privately owned establishments.
1/2 2024
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