Building Better Environments: Resilience, Health & Design

The built environment provides places for people to live, work, learn and gather, yet it has direct and indirect impacts on communities, ecosystems, and the natural resources they depend upon. This panel discussion organized by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) will focus on how design practices are evolving to respond to shocks and stresses to foster thriving urban spaces. The speakers will demonstrate how careful consideration of the design of built environments can have a positive impact on health, security, environment, and resilience. Every community faces its own set of unique challenges--one faces rising sea levels and skyrocketing housing costs, while another addresses job loss and vacant properties. Architects and other design professionals are uniquely positioned to develop innovative approaches to improve upon these scenarios as they are: - System thinkers who blend environmental, building, and social sciences. - Facilitators who engage occupants, jurisdictions, and communities in participatory design processes. - Project leaders who are able to absorb the magnitude of the challenges and prioritize issues to guide decision-making. - Public servants concerned with the obligation to protect the health, safety and well-being of the public. - Visionaries who can communicate and innovate possibilities for a better future The panel of architecture experts will discuss the challenges they have faced in designing, development and policy implementation that improves the urban built-environment. Emphasis will be placed on resilience, as architects have a responsibility to design environments that can adapt to and recover from natural conditions and adverse events; and health, as design influences behaviors, social and economic issues. They will discuss how, despite these challenges, they have implemented successful designs and strategies. The panelists will also look to the future and forecast emerging urbanization issues and how we all can begin to seek out solutions to transform our communities.