Registration available at the bottom of this page.
Seminar description
The AIA Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct explicitly encourages architects to serve society by making their professional skills available for the betterment of the community. The Public Interest Design (PID) movement exemplifies this commitment by focusing on projects that address social, economic, and environmental issues that benefit marginalized or underserved populations and the community at large. Session attendees will learn about PID as a movement and recognize how PID efforts relate directly to the AIA Code of Ethics and the Citizen Architect movement. We will learn from practicing Minnesota architects, designers, and thinkers on their commitment to PID in various forms from firm-sponsored programs, the Minnesota Design Team, and other nonprofit programs and how this work is changing the role and services of architecture.
Learning objectives
- Define and describe what Public Interest Design (PID) is and how it has emerged as a movement in architecture.
- Recognize the relationship of Public Interest Design to the AIA’s Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct.
- Examine the PID work of Minnesota architects and how it is changing the role and services of our profession.
- Explore how you can participate in PID and the Citizen Architect movement and make it a part of your practice, and the value it provides to staff.
Presenters
Namdi Alexander is a project designer at AWH Architects with over 10 years of architecture and design experience. He is a passionate advocate for sustainable design and construction practices within various market sectors. He finds the unique challenges of historic rehabilitation and adaptive reuse projects rewarding, as they breathe new life into existing structures. Namdi is also committed to improving access to design professionals by spearheading outreach and engagement efforts, and volunteering as a design mentor for high school students. In addition to his role as a mentor, Namdi serves as an adjunct instructor at the University of Minnesota.
(Moderator) Tom Fisher, Assoc. AIA, is a professor in the UMN Department of Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and Interior Design (ALI) and the director of the Minnesota Design Center (MDC). He is the former dean of the College of Design and editorial director of Progressive Architecture magazine. Having publishing over 630 articles and 12 books, he was recognized in 2005 as the fifth-most published architecture writer in the US. He has led over $5.7 million in research over the last eight years and has helped launch two nonprofits offering innovative approaches to accommodating people experiencing homelessness.
Anjali Ganapathy, Assoc. AIA, is a professor of practice and co-director of the UMN undergraduate program in architecture, teaching design studio as well as classes in history, theory, and public interest design. She is president-elect of MSP-NOMA and serves on the AIA Minnesota board of directors. She is interested in the intersection of urban history and the community’s role in the co-creation of the built environment.
Beth Evanson Makoul, AIA, is an associate and airport terminal designer at Hennebery Eddy Architects. She is co-chair of the Minnesota Design Team committee, an outward-facing committee of AIA Minnesota serving communities from across our great state of Minnesota. Beth is propelled by her passion for people-focused design and her skills in helping clients and communities articulate, visualize, and implement their vision. Her prior experience in humanitarian development attuned her perspective on the inequities in architecture and her awareness of the many groups that have historically been underserved by architects. Beth is driven by the profession’s calling to be citizen architects.
Kaitlin Schalow, AIA, LFA is a project manager and architect with HGA. She is the national co-director of HGA’s social impact initiative Community Action which provides pro bono services, authentic community engagement, days of service, mentorship, charitable giving, and advocacy across the firm. Within the firm, Kaitlin centers her work within the arts, community, and education practice group, grounding her community work in equity and authentic engagement. Kaitlin, ever the citizen architect, has worked in public interest design for both profit and nonprofit public interest design service models throughout her career.
Ellie Ziaie, AIA, LEED AP BD+C is a senior associate and project architect with BKV Group. She is a founder of BKV’s pro bono architecture committee, BKV Workshop. Under Ellie’s leadership, the Workshop team has fulfilled their mission to provide valuable professional services to people, groups, and projects that may not otherwise have access to design expertise. Within the firm, Ellie’s practice includes multifamily, urban infill, and historic renovation projects. Additionally, she works with the firm’s nonprofit and mission-driven clients to develop trauma-informed design solutions that offer sustainable, healing environments for individuals and communities.
Cost
AIA members $50
Non-members $65
Continuing education credit
This program has been approved for 2.0 AIA LU Hours and should qualify for Ethics credit for Minnesota licensing.
Instructions
- Complete registration and payment
- You will then receive a confirmation email with the link and password to access the webinar
- View the 2-hour webinar and then complete the ten-question quiz (must score 70% or above for credit)
- Within 3 to 7 days you will receive a certificate of completion and/or credits will be recorded to your AIA member transcript
