MEDIA ADVISORY
For Immediate Release
NEWMAN REAL ESTATE INSTITUTE EXAMINES
COST IMPLICATIONS OF URBAN RESILIENCE
On March 14th, NYS ‘Energy Czar’ Richard Kauffman, NYC Deputy Mayor
Cas Holloway, New York Times Columnist Andrew Revkin and ‘Founding Father of
LEED’ Rob Watson, as well as numerous experts addressing urban resilience, will speak.
New York, NY, March 12, 2013 – For the last two decades, the dialogue around the built and natural
environments has focused primarily on ‘sustainability.’ Yet, ‘resilience,’ as a concept and term, has
received a great deal of attention since Superstorm Sandy pounded the New York metropolitan area last
fall. Indeed, months after the event, large tracts of land around the region still resemble disaster zones,
thousands of people continue to be displaced, and scores of businesses remain closed. In contrast to
sustainability, which focuses chiefly on mitigation, resilience also emphasizes adaptability and addresses
the minimization of economic and social suffering.
“Our disaster paradigms are changing at a greater pace than our ability to cope with them, “remarked Jack
S. Nyman, Executive Director of the Steven L. Newman Real Estate Institute (NREI). “In the aftermath of
more frequent mega storms such as Sandy, we must shift our thinking to develop a new multi-disciplinary
and comprehensive emergency asset management strategy that is fully transparent and fresh in its
approach, while also economically sound - one that engages all stakeholders in dealing effectively with
the reality that confronts us.”
“We appreciate the Steven L. Newman Real Estate Institute for hosting this important and timely event,”
said Richard Kauffman, Chairman, New York Energy and Finance. “In the last three years, New York has
experienced three ‘once-in-a-century’ weather disasters. In response, the Cuomo administration has
proposed several mechanisms for ‘futureproofing’ the state of New York to address this new normal. We
look forward to working with the private sector on ways to use markets to accelerate needed change.”
Issues related to futureproofing will be addressed at the March 14th conference, but not just from a design
standpoint, noted Nyman. Rather, panel discussions will address the economic planning that will be
required for proper protection of our most vulnerable areas.
In concurrence, CEO of ECON Group Rob Watson, known as the ‘Founding Father of LEED,’ noted,
“NREI’s ’Futureproofing Our Cities’ conference adds vital economic issues to the post-Sandy dialogue.
Developing ecologically-sustainable solutions that are economically viable, physically resilient and
socially equitable will be key to a robust future for New York and other metropolitan regions.”
This conference will feature many subject matter experts, including: Caswell Holloway, NYC Deputy
Mayor for Operations; Andrew Revkin, Environmental Columnist for The New York Times; Andrew
Castaldi, Senior VP & Head of Catastrophe Perils at Swiss Re; Frances Reid, Chief Sustainability
Officer for the Town of North Hempstead, NY; Ariella Maron, Associate Principal, Happold Consulting;
Rae Zimmerman, Professor of Planning and Public Administration, NYU Wagner Graduate School of
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Public Service; Patrick Crittenden, NREI International Visiting Scholar and Director of Sustainable
Business Pty Ltd; Robert Von Ancken, Chairman, Landauer Valuation & Advisory; Jill Eisenhard,
Founder and Executive Director, Red Hook Initiative; Michael De Chiara, Founding Partner, Zetlin &
De Chiara LLP; Elizabeth Brooke Stein, Senior Attorney, Environmental Defense Fund; Douglas Mass,
President, Cosentini Associates; Raymond Mellon, Senior Partner, Zetlin & De Chiara LLP; and
Elizabeth Zeldin, Program Director, NY Office, Enterprise Community Partners.
WHAT:
WHEN:
WHERE:
Futureproofing Our Cities: Urban Resilience, At What Cost?
Thursday, March 14, 2013 from 8:15 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
The William and Anita Newman Conference Center
Room 750, 151 East 25th Street, New York, NY 10010
Lead sponsors include Zetlin & DeChiara LLP, City & State, Jones Lang LaSalle and Honest Buildings.
The conference has been accepted for AIA continuing education units.
Go to http://www.baruch.cuny.edu/realestate/events/futureproofing.html to register for the conference or
for more information.
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Baruch College is a senior college in the City University of New York (CUNY) with a total enrollment of
more than 17,000 students, who represent 160 countries and speak more than 100 languages. Ranked
among the top 15% of U.S. colleges and the No. 3 public regional university, Baruch College is regularly
recognized as among the most ethnically diverse colleges in the country. As a public institution with a
tradition of academic excellence, Baruch College offers accessibility and opportunity for students and
community members from every corner of New York City and from around the world.
The Steven L. Newman Real Estate Institute offers education and research opportunities to address the
needs of the real estate industry. Through professional education courses and workshops, the Institute
trains current practitioners and the next generation of real estate professionals, helping them succeed in,
and contribute to, an evolving marketplace. As Executive Director of The Steven L. Newman Real Estate
Institute, Jack S. Nyman leads strategic planning and partnering; guides education programs, research,
publishing, and public events; and manages operations. Under his direction, the Institute hosts dynamic
public events for industry experts to share their knowledge and advance thinking in the field. Individuals,
companies, nonprofit organizations, and public agencies all benefit from the programs offered by the
Institute.
CONTACTS:
For the Futureproofing Conference: Sara Hilska Taylor: sara.hilskataylor@baruch.cuny.edu,
646.660.6950
For Baruch College: Manny Romero, Director of Public Relations: manuel.romero@baruch.cuny.edu,
646.660.6141
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