Events

January 10, 2023 | 12:00pm ET | 11:00am CT | 9:00am PT | Virtual on Zoom

In 2023, US AD will champion adaptive futures as an intersectional approach to carbon, justice, and biodiversity. Join us to discuss 2023’s Adaptive Futures focus, including an interactive session focused on Signatory interests.

February-April 2022, Bi-Weekly Event |  Virtual on Zoom

US Architects Declares believes that local investment and long-term partnerships are fundamental to justice-oriented design. To investigate this topic, the Social and Environmental Justice Working Group is hosting a small scale, limited-audience seminar series centered on the major concepts, best practices, and lessons learned from long-term and reciprocal community engagement at architecture practices. This series will work with design organizations from three (3) models that support deep community engagement: for-profit, non-profit, and academic. The engagement relationships and practices of each vary, based on context, but are the primary focus of all three models.

The seminar will take place virtually (on Zoom) in a series of six 2-hour sessions, 11am—1pm EST. Registered attendees will be given preparatory materials and will be expected to review the material in advance to prompt an engaged and open discussion. Practices will present on (i) engagement and (ii) their practice model during this time, followed by active discussion with attendees. It will be a critical practice of understanding (how does this work) but not an attempt to undermine or find fault with the models.

This series was organized by Jori Erdman, Virginia Melnyk, Nate Nelson, Xan Lillehei, Terri Bullard, and Carmen Johnson.

For Profit

• Feb 12: David Baker Architects
• Feb 26: Duvall Decker Architects

Non-Profit

• Mar 12: MASS Design Group
• Mar 26: Colloqate Design
  

ACADEMIC

• Apr 9: Rural Studio
• Apr 23: Yale Urban Design Workshop

October 28 & 29, 2021 | Virtual on Zoom

RIBA & Architects Declare presents a global event taking place on 28-29 October both virtually and in-person at the RIBA at 66 Portland Place, London.

The Built Environment Summit is a response to the publication of the Built for the Environment report ahead of COP26 in Glasgow, which starts on 1 November. It will also be available in its entirety for delegates to watch via catch-up links sent post-event.

38% of global energy-related greenhouse gas emissions are attributable to the built environment. The summit is a call to action, bringing together professionals from across the international built environment sector to address the urgent need to drive changes in behaviour to reduce carbon emissions.

April 22, 2021 | 3:00pm ET | 2:00pm CT | 12:00pm PT | Virtually on Zoom

How do we act, as individuals and collectively, to confront the three intersecting emergencies of climate change, social injustice, and biodiversity loss? How do we affect transformative change?

Please join with working group members, signatories, and steering committee members of US Architects Declare on Thursday, April 22 at 3 pm EDT (Earth Day) to mark one year since the launch of the American branch of this global network. We will report on the work of the past year and discuss our goals and actions moving forward. Michael Pawlyn, one of the initiators of Architects Declare and a member of the UK Steering Committee, will join us to discuss a theory of change for working towards a viable future, building on the “three horizons” framework created by Bill Sharpe. His talk will be followed by a Q & A with the audience.

Architect Michael Pawlyn is author, with Sarah Ichioka, of the forthcoming book Flourish: Design Paradigms for Our Planetary Emergency. Pawlyn is the founder of the design consultancy Exploration, which has become a thought leader in regenerative design and the circular economy. Earlier, Pawlyn worked with Grimshaw for ten years, where he was a central member of the team for the Eden Project, including responsibility for leading the design of the Warm Temperate and Humid Tropics Biomes. He initiated the Grimshaw environmental management system resulting in the company becoming the first firm of European architects to achieve certification to ISO14001.

October 15, 2020 | 12:00pm ET | 11:00am CT | 9:00am PT | Virtually on Zoom

Please join US Architects Declare on Thursday, October 15 for a Town Hall meeting of the US branch of this global movement to galvanize action and drive systemic change on climate change, social justice, and biodiversity. At the Town Hall, presentations and an open discussion will address the goals of the movement, opportunities for firms, individuals, and architecture schools to become involved, strategies for change, and what resources and structures for collective action architects around the country have identified as necessary to make an impact.