2021 AIA/ACSA Intersections Research Conference: COMMUNITIES

As we find ourselves a year (+) into a world pandemic, what has changed? What issues and silver linings have emerged to change how we learn, work, live and play? What can we as architects, academics, researchers & design leaders do to improve our world, environment, our cities, our buildings & our communities? How can we take a cue from the call for social justice which has been elevated during a time of COVID to address our communities of need, our communities of color, and a legacy of redlining and environmental racism? How can we use and share this knowledge to impact the critical issue of Climate change?

Architects are called on to see the bigger picture beyond singular buildings, to ensure the buildings and developments they design have a long-lasting beneficial impact on our cities, regions, towns, and environment. The shifting economic, political, and climatic landscape has left many communities and neighborhoods challenged and changed. How do architects process these varied and interdependent impacts and revise their approaches to building and urban/rural design? Successful community projects can rally communities to improve, rebuild, and restore their cities and towns. How can design affect social change? What role can architects and designers play in addressing community needs; such as:

• affordable housing demand
• public space, open space, community investment
• institutional buildings (health, education, government, etc.)
• projects that spur local economic development and the associated impacts,
• buildings and urban interventions that mitigate exposure to adverse conditions (pollution, heat, noise, flooding, etc.)

Where can research fill gaps in applied design work and spur innovation? How can architects enrich academic and community endeavors? And how can academia and practice collaborate to build stronger, more resilient and equitable communities?

At this conference, we look to share the latest research and innovations, and examine the role research plays in advancing architectural practice and education within our communities. Speakers and presenters will share how their research is generated in practice, at universities and in partnerships with business, industry, and government.