Redefining the Architect's Role: Architects as Agents for Social Change

Architects have contributed significantly to shaping the public realm, yet their impact will remain limited without a fundamental shift toward more socially engaged professional practice. “Redefining the Architect’s Role” will focus on how architects and urban designers can advocate for, and achieve, the effective public policy changes needed to create more sustainable and livable communities. The session—presented by the AIA in partnership with the University of Miami School of Architecture —follows up on the 2007 AIA Regional and Urban Design Committee roundtable, “Architects as Design Agents in the City and Region.” An Agenda for Change Speakers, panel presentations, and concurrent sessions will address the following questions as we establish a common understanding of the design professional as agent of social change and how to move forward to transform our cities and communities: • Why must we, as architects and urban designers, be advocates? • How has our social advocacy role evolved historically? • What is our current status as advocates, what kind of advocacy do we want in the future, and how will we achieve it? • Who are the socially engaged practitioners, and what motivates them? • How can schools prepare students for the challenges, and how will we motivate the younger generation to take the lead? For More Information Check this site for more information as it becomes available or send questions to [email protected]. Keynote speakers: Cameron Sinclair, Executive Director/Founder, Architects for Humanity John Peterson, AIA, Founder & President, Public Architecture Tentative Agenda: Thursday, March 5 6:30 - 8:30 pm Reception Friday, March 6 7:30 am Continental Breakfast 8:30 - 9:00 am Introduction/Purpose/Welcome 9:00 - 9:45 am Keynote session: The Need for Advocates 9:45 - 10:30 am Historical role, Current Status, Future 10:30 - 10:45 am Break 10:45 - 11:45 am Presentations by Practitioners 11:45 - 1:00 pm Young Architects Forum 1:00 - 2:00 pm Lunch speaker 2:00 - 3:15 pm Concurrent sessions: Affordable Housing and How to Impact Public Policy 3:15 - 3:30 pm Break 4:00 - 5:15 pm Concurrent sessions: How to Train Next Generation of Advocates and Prefabricating Architecture Dinner on your own Saturday, March 7 9:00 - 11:00 am Closing Breakfast and Future of Advocacy