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Pei Cobb Freed’s George Miller Named New President of AIA

Miller has previously served as the president of the AIA New York chapter and New York regional director and chaired the organization's Board Community Committee and AIA150 Oversight Task Force.

Nicholas Tamarin -- Interior Design, 12/15/2009 12:00:00 AM

George Miller has moved from fellow to president. The Pei Cobb Freed & Partners partner and longtime American Institute of Architects Fellow was inaugurated as the 86th president of the 150-year-old organization that represents more than 86,000 members.

Miller officially succeeds Marvin Malecha as president of the august association at ceremonies held December 4 and will serve the customary one-year term.

After joining I.M. Pei & Partners in 1975, now called Pei Cobb Freed & Partners, Miller spearheaded a series of major projects for the firm, including the Meyerson Symphony Center in Dallas and the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, and is currently working on the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, North Carolina. He simultaneously has held a slew of prominent positions within the AIA, serving as president of its New York chapter in 2003, New York regional director from 2003 through 2006 and chairing its 2007 Board Committee and the AIA150 Oversight Task Force.

In his inaugural speech, Miller focused on the AIA’s need to elevate the voice of its member architects in their communities and to increase the public’s understanding of the value of design. Miller said his term will be highlighted by the theme “Design Matters” as a way to attract attention to design’s core values of beauty, sustainability, health, safety and productivity and called on members to focus their efforts on creating better schools, affordable housing, mass transportation and sustainable communities to foster better public health.

“The challenges of the 21st century will not lend themselves to the old way of thinking,” said Miller. “Design should not merely be thought of as a tool, bust as a collaborative process that offers opportunities for all of us—client and the public, architect and engineer, elected officials and community organizers—to pull together to address the challenges of our time.”

“The current economic conditions have had widespread repercussion on the architecture profession, but it is important to remember that design offers solutions to many of the challenges facing our infrastructure and communities nationwide,” he added. “The AIA is committed to driving positive change through the power of design.”