CLOSE AD ×

Daily digest: A Rising Tide marks Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, renovated Folger Shakespeare Library to open in November, and more news

AAPI Month

Daily digest: A Rising Tide marks Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, renovated Folger Shakespeare Library to open in November, and more news

West entry plaza and gardens, Folger Shakespeare Library, opening November 17, 2023. (KieranTimberlake/OLIN)

Happy Friday! May is Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, which recognizes the contributions and influence of Asian Americans and Pacific Islander Americans to history and culture; among todays news items is a preview of an event hosted by A Rising Tide that coincides with the commemorative month, as well as bad news for New York City renters living in rent-stabilized units and Albert Kahn Associates first woman president. Heres what you need to know before you start your weekend:

A Rising Tide will to continue to celebrate Asian and Pacific Islanders in design with two events this month

A Rising Tide, an organization dedicated to furthering Asian and Pacific Islander (API) leadership and visibility in architecture and design fields, will host events this month coinciding with Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. The organization has worked to compile a directory of API designers, with over 70 firms currently listed, and is working to host workshops and educational events in addition to their upcoming programming this month.

This evening, the organization will host a series of short presentations at China Live in San Francisco. Speakers include: Neri&Hu confounders Lyndon Neri and Rosanna Hu; Atelier Cho Thompson cofounder Christina Cho Yoo; Spiegel Aihara Workshop founding partner Megumi Aihara; Blue Truck Studio founder Peter Liang; Gensler studio director Bert deViterbo, Jr.; VeeV Design founder Raveevarn Choksombatchai; Min Design founder E.B. Min; Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill senior associate principal Michael Leung; and Obata Noblin cofounder Max Obata. On May 18, A Rising Tide will present a NYCxDESIGN event hosted by Pratt Institute School of Architecture.

Stuart and Mimi Rose Rare Book and Exhibition Hall, Folger Shakespeare Library (Studio Joseph)

Kieran Timberlake–renovated Folger Shakespeare Library will reopen on November 17

Washington, D.C.’s Folger Shakespeare Library will reopen November 17 following three years of renovations. The $80.5 million KieranTimberlake design includes new exhibition spaces, a learning center, a new cafe, a gift shop, and gardens designed by OLIN. Exhibition design is by Studio Joseph and will include multimedia and interactive elements.

The library’s director, Michael Witmore, said: “After much planning and dedicated work, the Folger is opening to a wider world and an even more expansive vision of what Shakespeare, the humanities, and the arts can contribute.” The new exhibition wing is located under the original 1932 building, and the new Adams Pavilion, will host additional exhibition halls, a lobby, and the amenity spaces. 

The additional exhibition space will make room for the institution’s first permanent Shakespeare collection, including “all 82 copies of the Folger’s Shakespeare First Folios” on view in one vault. The 2023-24 season will feature works around the theme “What’s Your Story?” Including performances, educational programs, gallery talks, and community events, the museum will draw on its community-involved design process to make the building accessible to a wide range of Washington residents. 

NYC’s Rent Guidelines Board approves preliminary rent increases in rent-stabilized units

New York City’s Rent Guidelines Board, voted in favor of a preliminary rent hike on Tuesday. Impacting rent stabilized units, this would include, tentatively, a two percent to five percent increase on new one-year leases, and a four to seven percent increase on two-year leases. While the final vote will be held next month, historically, the preliminary range has been adopted. This comes after a 2022 rent hike of 3.25 percent on one-year leases and five percent on two-year leases.

The board consists of nine members, mayorally appointed, including two designated to represent tenant interests. At the meeting on Tuesday, the two tenant interest members proposed a one percent rollback to one percent increase on one-year leases, and a maximum two percent increase on two-year leases, though these proposals were voted against by every other board member. City Council members Alexa Aviles, Tiffany Cabán, Shahana Hanif, Sandy Nurse, and Chi Ossé participated in a protest led by tenants rights supporters on-stage, pushing back against the proposed increases. At one point, landlords on the board floated up to 14 percent increases on two year leases. Mayor Eric Adams pushed back against the final proposal of seven percent on two year leases, arguing that it would be too steep for tenants. This comes after he publicly stated that last year’s increases would burden tenants at an unwarranted time.  

Increased rents would go into affect for leases beginning on or after October 1.

H/t to The New York Times

Kimberly Nelson Montague (Courtesy Albert Kahn Associates)

Albert Kahn Associates announces its first woman president

Detroit-based Albert Kahn Associates have announced Kimberly Nelson Montague as president. The firm’s 12th president will be the first woman to lead the firm in its 128-year history. Khan was known for his designs for Ford industrial facilities in the 1920s, and later worked to design industrial facilities in the Soviet Union. Kahn also designed Angell Hall at the University of Michigan, the Detroit News Building, and the Detroit Free Press Building

Montague received a 2022 Gold Medal from the American Institute of Architects Detroit, and is the president and founding member of Women in Healthcare Michigan. The firm’s CEO and Chairman of the Board, Alan Cobb, said: “This is very exciting to have Kimberly become the 12th President of Albert Kahn Associates. With her diverse portfolio and leadership experience, Kimberly was a logical choice to carry forward the Kahn legacy. Kimberly and I have worked together for many years. She has a passion for the best design solutions to advance our clients goals and exceed expectations.”

CLOSE AD ×