President’s Message

Greg Gdowski, PhD University of Rochester RES President June 1, 2020 - May 31, 2022

Dear Fellow Engineers, As we approach the end of the new year, please do not forget the professional awards and scholarships that are available through the RES (pages 7-9). We have already received a number of applications for both, but there is still time to recognize your colleague or apply for a scholarship. There will be one notable change this year. At the last RES meeting of the Board of Directors, we decided that it was best to postpone the Annual Gala for 2021. The Rochester Riverside Convention Center is still uncertain as to when they will reopen. Consequently, we decided to postpone our plans for this spring. We will formally announce the recipients of both the scholarships and professional awards in the March issue of the Rochester Engineer. We will hope to celebrate all of the recipients at a future time. We are hoping to plan another event in the upcoming summer. With any luck, we will be past the Covid-19 pandemic and everyone will be anxious to get together after such a long hiatus.

I would like to welcome the Rochester Makerspace as the newest Affiliate member of the RES. We featured the Rochester Makerspace in the last issue of the Rochester Engineer. David Duckles (President of the RMS) and I share very similar sentiments. Our hope is that the resources of the Rochester Makerspace combined with the RES mentoring programs will provide significant learning opportunities to the communities we serve and exist in. Like the RMS, we are both eager to work on developing innovative ideas for providing comprehensive learning opportunities to students in Rochester. I greatly look forward to our future collaborative opportunities!

We also hope that you enjoy this issue of the Rochester Engineer! The cover article describes the design of the Western New York Welcome Center (pages 1013). Over the last four years, nearly 300 Stantec team members have helped to design Frank Lloyd Wrightinspired prairie designs for NY State Welcome Centers. Having lived in Chicago for many years, I’ve had the pleasure of visiting the Robie House and the Wright Home and Studio in Oak Park. When my wife and I moved to Rochester, we visited and began to support the Martin House and Graystone. I’m so inspired by the article that I’m now looking forward to visiting the Welcome Center!

I was equally impressed with the news from Bergman. Congratulations on the Platinum Award from ACEC New York) for The Promenade at Erie Harbor (see page 24)! My wife and I have walked our two vizslas along the Promenade at the first ROC the Riverway that was completed and we were thrilled at some of the renovations happening downtown!

Finally, be sure to check out the news from our Affiliate members! They have been planning a lot of fantastic virtual meetings that will keep you busy throughout December!

All my best, Greg Gdowski RES President

res news - president’s message DECEMBER 2020 The ROCHESTER ENGINEER |

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