Upcoming Events
2023 Adaptive Futures Series
Friday Chats
We are inviting our signatories to do short presentations for projects and case studies that promotes reuse of buildings, conservation, adaptation technologies and materials, and share any resources and lessons-learned.
Signatory Gatherings
On the 1st Wednesday of the month, signatories are invited to virtually join a host firm to discuss a topic of importance to the Declaration principles. Topics will range from Decarbonizing Tools to Contract Language to Client Relations and the Gatherings will be a space to come together to share successes and challenges and to build solidarity as we tackle these issues in practice.
If your firm is interested in hosting a future Signatory Gathering, please contact us at usarchitectsdeclare@archleague.org
Case Study Visits
Signatories firms are also welcome to organize small project’s visits with other members of the Architects Declare local community for an active learning and exchanging experience.
Past Events
February-April 2022
Bi-Weekly Event
Location: ZOOM
USAD Community Engagement Seminar
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.
Every other Saturday beginning February 2022
FOR PROFIT
Feb 12: David Baker Architects
Feb 26: Duvall Decker Architects
NONPROFIT
Mar 12: MASS Design Group
Mar 26: Colloqate Design
ACADEMIC
Apr 9: Rural Studio
Apr 23: Yale Urban Design Workshop
28-29 October 2021
2 Day Event
Location: ZOOM
Built Environment Summit 2021
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.
22 April 2021
3:00 PM ET
Location: ZOOM
US Architects Declare Earth Day Assembly 2021: Paths To Transformative Change
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.
15 October 2020
12:00 PM ET
Location: ZOOM
US Architects Declare 2020 Town Hall
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.
10 January 2023
12:00 PM ET
Location: ZOOM
US Architects Declare 2023 Town Hall
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.