Ecosistema Urbano will be moderating the SUSTAINABILITY sessions at the ACSA International Conference together with Andy Bäcker (@AndyBacker) from sustpro.

From the time of Heraclitus’ saying, “the only thing constant is change itself”, we have sought to make sense of our changing world.  It can be argued that architecture in both the academic and professional realms is experiencing pressures as never before, and is shifting due to multiple factors.  These forces include globalization, the expanding roles of technology, rapid urbanization, new energy policies, and regulatory agencies, among many others. What are the forces for change being exerted on our academic institutions and where do they come from? Are we still teaching in a way that is relevant to the contemporary practice of architecture, or perhaps we wish that practice would change?

The relationship between schools and the profession can be very permeable and often imprecise. Each informs the other, at times leading to greater relevance, at other times leaving disconcerting gaps. What role should schools and academics play in the face of our changing world? Will we be leaders or followers?

ACSA is The Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture, a nonprofit, membership association founded in 1912 to advance the quality of architectural education. The 2012 ACSA International Conference will focus on CHANGE, and will explore these issues in relation to seven themes: Civic Engagement, Academia, Practice, Technology, Cities, Globalization, Sustainability and one flexible open category. The Co-chairs of the conference are Xavier Costa from Northeastern University and Martha Thorne, from IE University.

We are really looking forward to it.

More information:

Schedule
Keynote Speakers
Registration
Tours
Abstracts
Location