Host: City College of New York
Year: 2005
Theme: “Going to Scale”
Panelists: Jeff Speck, Anne Frederick, Russell Katz, Damir Blazevic, Peter Mullan, James Schroder, Lucille McEwen, John Quale, Joseph Grima
Opening: Mark Strauss
Keynote: Sergio Palleroni
Tour: Walking/bus tour of Harlem
Opening Remarks
By Ethan Cohen
The SFI conference is a forum to present and discuss current architectural practices that are intended to reach a more diverse clientele. Together, we will present, discuss, and seek new thoughts, strategies, and ideas for the future of the profession.
Four threads have run throughout many past presentations:
- Serving underserved populations thorough innovative design;
- Defining or finding value in architecture and thoughtful design;
- Redefining models of practice whereby the architect assumes a greater role or greater responsibility for the process and/or project (architect as developer, community organizer, etc.); and
- Involving the community (end-user) in the process of design.
- Larger-scale projects including planning and landscape architecture;
- Systemic approaches to projects such as manufactured housing;
- Addressing challenges in “institutionalizing” innovative practices;
- Finding pathways to overcome bureaucracies and the status quo; and
- The general expansion of this community design movement.
The SFI5 speakers are intentionally diverse and have unique stories to tell, but all relate to the theme of “Going to Scale.” We hope that this unifying aspect, contrasted with speakers’ individual differences, will create a provocative chemistry and lead to lively discussion and interaction with participants.
Our target audience is architecture students and young designers so we encourage this group in particular to engage in the discussion and to ask any questions. A second session over breakfast on Sunday morning will allow further opportunities to talk with speakers and with each other.
Most of all, we hope that you are inspired, that you benefit from the presentations and enjoy being with your fellow participants in New York, and the city of “scale.”