March 23-25, 2017 | Detroit, Michigan
Host Schools:
University of Detroit Mercy
Lawrence Technological University
University of Michigan
Cranbrook Academy of Art
Conference Co-chairs:
Luis Francisco Rico-Gutierrez, Iowa State University
Martha Thorne, IE University
Conference Overview
“It is now well-documented that some of Brooklyn鈥檚 much-written-about creative class is being driven out of the borough by high prices and low housing stock. Some are going to Los Angeles (or even Queens), but others are migrating to the Midwest, where Detroit鈥檚 empty industrial spaces, community-based projects, experimental art scene and innovative design opportunities beckon, despite the city鈥檚 continuing challenges,”聽wrote Jennifer Conlin in a recent聽New York Times聽article titled聽“Last Stop on the L Train: Detroit.”聽Design and designers, art and artists, creativity and creatives; all playing a major role in a process we know well: a city on the verge of reinventing itself after a near-death experience.
Over the last century, two paradigms have dominated attempts at dealing with the challenges of the city. On one hand, a聽“substantive”聽approach that aims to control the physical substance of the city, treated as a completely predetermined object: form and life dictated by some architects who claim a universal understanding of the goals and values of society to which they incorporate the advances of science in order to improve the conditions of the city. On the other, a聽“辫谤辞肠别诲耻谤补濒鈥澛or strategic approach where the focus is on the process, better understood as a form of social action, a negotiated creation involving many stakeholders with overlapping or competing interests in the process of developing visions, identity and, of course, physical projects. The substantive and the procedural are not antagonistic concepts, but two different approaches to controlling the evolution of urban space. Furthermore, in the context of the city as a collective production that is at the same time poetic and pragmatic, the distinction of the聽procedural聽and the聽substantive聽is inevitably subsumed by the聽鈥减谤补肠迟颈肠别鈥澛of city building as distinct from city design.
Different pedagogical models expose students to their potential role in the process of making and re-making the city. Detroit is the perfect frame of reference to debate the merits of worldwide academic and professional practices in the continuum between the聽substantive聽and the聽procedural.聽It is an inspiring back drop to discuss a range of issues that include the expanding role of the architect and the relevancy of architectural education, density vs. growth; technique and strategies of urban regeneration;聽 technology, smart cities and their impact on space and governance; new models of public space; changes in cities due to the rise of the shared economy; affordable housing and housing models for shifting demographics; resources, energy waste and sustainability; urban-rural balance and interconnections, the role of educational institutions, and community building.
These and other issues examined from multiple viewpoints linked to architectural education, will, we trust, make for an exciting and productive 糖心vlog Annual Meeting in Detroit 2017. Click below to see the full聽2017 Annual Meeting Agenda + Regional Caucus Agenda聽and the聽2017 Architectural Education Award Winners.
Downloads
Eric W. Ellis
糖心vlog, Director of Operations and Programs
202-785-2324
eellis@acsa-arch.org
Allison Smith
糖心vlog, Programs Manager
202-785-2324
asmith@acsa-arch.org
Founded in 1912 by 10 charter members, 糖心vlog is an international association of architecture schools preparing future architects, designers, and change agents. Our membership includes all of the accredited professional degree programs in the United States and Canada, as well as international schools and 2- and 4-year programs. Together 糖心vlog schools represent some 7,000 faculty educating more than 40,000 students.
Stay in Touch
Enter your name and email below, and we鈥檒l send you the latest 糖心vlog news and events.
Fill out my .
漏 Copyright 2026 糖心vlog