Architects as Activists: Social Science and Architecture Primer

PLEASE REGISTER HERE: http://calendar.aiany.org/2018/08/03/architects-as-activists-primer/ RSVP ON THIS SITE DOES NOT SECURE ADMISSION.

The panel will focus on the intersection between Activism and Architecture by emphasizing architect as activist as an active agent for driving, in a global context, the development of places worth living and working.

Often the urban planner or architect are not envisioned as advocates for key issues of development and social context: the urban poor, environmental impacts, social policy, etc. Rather, the popular view of designers might emphasize increasing competition to produce ‘iconic’ buildings for a global markets through the work of so-called ‘stararchitects’. But, the tone of architecture culture has changed.

In this panel, we discuss how architects and planners together with social activists have begun to work with a diverse range of sources, from marginalized groups in cities, to algorithmic analysis of policies, to design alternatives for new urban renewal projects.

In a city like New York with a long history of social activism, architects and planners increasingly play an important role in shaping the community and bringing to the foreground underrepresented and sometimes opposing ideals and voices. Under what conditions have the act of activism challenged the culture of architectural education and practice? Which areas remain unchallenged? How has the design field risen to meet different social agendas? Join us for a lively evening and hear from luminaries and new voices. The panelists will connect the historic events to the evolution of the field and design practices of the time.

PANELISTS:

Andrea J. Merrett is a PhD candidate in architecture at Columbia University writing her dissertation on the history of feminism in American architecture. Her research has received support through a Buell Center Oral History Prize, a Schlesinger Library Oral History Grant, and the Milka Bliznakov Prize from the International Archive of Women in Architecture.

Daphne Lundi is an urban planner whose work focuses on climate resilience and neighborhood planning at the New York City Department of City Planning. She has a history of volunteer work that includes serving as a planning commissioner, on a historic foundation board, and in many leadership roles within APA.

Jae Shin is a designer and partner at Hector. She recently served as an Enterprise Rose Architectural Fellow at the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), where she facilitated efforts to define and implement design principles for preserving and rehabilitating New York City’s public housing.

Cindy McLaughlin is CEO of Envelope, a 3D software company that allows users to search for and visualize NYC real estate development potential under zoning constraints. Prior to Envelope, Cindy held CEO and President roles in a range of technology companies. Cindy has an MBA from MIT/Sloan, a BA from Mount Holyoke College.

MODERATOR:
Melissa Marsh, Founder & Executive Director, PLASTARC and Senior Managing Director, Savills Studley
Melissa Marsh is Founder and Executive Director of PLASTARC (http://plastarc.com/), a social research, workplace innovation, and real estate strategy firm dedicated to shifting the metrics associated with workplace from 'square feet and inches' to 'occupant satisfaction and performance.' Melissa also leads the Occupant Experience discipline at Savills Studley. With an undergraduate degree in social science and a Master of Architecture from MIT, Melissa is an active contributor to professional and research communities associated with the human factors and the built environment, including Worktech, AIA, CoreNet, IFMA, and EDRA.

Organized by: AIANY Social Science and Architecture Committee

Price: Free for AIA members and students with valid ID; $10 for general public