To help support and advance good sustainable design practices, the American Architectural Foundation (AAF), in partnership with United Technologies Corporation (UTC), a global corporation with a long history of pioneering innovation in building technology and international leadership in sustainable design, created the Sustainable Cities Design Academy (SCDA). This new initiative will provide leadership development and technical assistance to local community leaders engaged in shaping policy and making design decisions in their communities. Through the Sustainable Cities Design Academy, the AAF seeks to educate, inspire and support local government, business and community leaders and developers and provide them with the resources and tools they need to develop long-term solutions for the built environment in our ever-changing world.
In January 2009, AAF will bring together four sustainable design project teams from four Northeast corridor cities and eight top sustainable design leaders to conduct a two and a half day interactive institute. Project teams and designers will present their work and engage in discussions and charrettes about the presented projects. The objective of these exercises is to help participants analyze their designs, identify issues, and discover best practices and emerging trends that are applicable to their projects.
Three-quarters of the built environment that will exist in the year 2037 does not exist today. This transformation over the next 30 years represents a historic opportunity for the architecture and building community to reverse the most significant crisis of modern time, climate change. As we continue to rebuild and expand our cities at a rapid pace, we have a unique opportunity to inform local leaders on the latest practice in sustainable design and produce more environmentally responsible communities. AAF is ready to face that challenge and believes the Sustainable Cities Design Academy is the first step towards that goal.
Through the Mayors’ Institute and Great Schools by Design, AAF works with hundreds of local leaders every year to provide useful and knowledge-based strategies and tools for pressing projects in their communities. By adding programming that focuses on sustainable development, the AAF will work with local leaders to not only talk about “greening,” but work towards systemic change in their communities and the demands they place on the building and design industries.
In creating the Sustainable Cities Design Academy AAF consulted the American Institute for Architects, the U.S. Conference of Mayors (the Mayors Climate Protection Center) and the U.S. Green Building Council (Green Design in America), as these organizations’ members are at the forefront of research and development of sustainable design. AAF is excited to present Sustainable as it provides a unique opportunity to provide leadership development coupled with technical assistance to both the public and private sectors.
The American Architectural Foundation (AAF) is a national nonprofit organization that seeks to education individuals and community leaders about the power of architecture to improve lives and transform the places where we live, learn, work and play. Through numerous outreach programs including exhibitions, grants, and education resources, AAF aims to inspire people to become thoughtful and engaged stewards of the world around them. AAF is located in the Octagon, a historic house located near the White House.
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