The Chapter’s Civic Engagement Team (CET) are shining a spotlight, and building a repository of profiles, that celebrate the dedicated AIA Central Valley members who positively influence the profession and their communities through advocacy and volunteerism. Kudos to these individuals for creating “inspiration through action.” We hope they will inspire YOU to serve!
Do you know of an AIA member worthy of recognition? Please contact the CET via the Chapter office: [email protected].
BARRY WASSERMAN, FAIA
Retired
How does your career trajectory include service to society and the profession, and what sustains your continued engagement?
Motivation for me for community involvement as an architect started with the strong ethical motivativatuion of my Professor Serge Chermayeff inat HGSD. While working at my first job in San Francisco I became active in a volunteer city tree planting program, followed by service as a board member of the Jewish Community Center. As principal for a neighborhood SF library project I helped develop and lead a seminal youth participation process. Work with Lawrence Halprin iutilized his Take Part community participation process which led to participation in many such efforts, some with our office, some with my Cal Poly Pomona students, some for CADA here in Sacramento. Service as Stare Architect allowed me to facilitate community involvement with the disabled community as we succeeded in providing long needed access regulations. Thanks to Mayor Fargo membership on the City Planning Commissiongave me an opportunity to assure residents that their concerns were being heard and fairly considered. I also have spent many years participating in theongoing work of ECOS as a Board member and committee chair. The greatest satisfactions for me during my 60 year career as an architect have come from the fruition of these and similar public process involvement and leadership.