AIA-UPC “Detroit By Design” Series Concludes with Symposium on Urban Agriculture & Landscape

June 14, 2011 - PRLog -- The American Institute of Architects Detroit’s Urban Priorities Committee (AIA-UPC) concludes its “Detroit By Design” series at the Detroit Public Library, June 14-22.  Focusing on urban agriculture and landscape exhibits are currently open to the public with the symposia featuring industry experts slated for June 22.

From 1 p.m.-7:30 p.m. on June 22, the symposia will discuss such topics as:
•   The role urban agriculture can play in the design and planning of sustainable communities and regions
•   How to bring a larger view of urban landscape that includes urban agriculture to the discussion
•   How to broaden the discussion of urban agriculture to include productive landscapes of various types that may provide alternative ways to address Detroit’s vacant land

Called “Detroit By Design” and sponsored by the AIA National office in Washington, D.C., this three-month series seeks to assist the city with its efforts to reorganize by helping with the Detroit Works Project (DWP) while bringing together architects, community and business leaders, public officials, allied professionals and other key stakeholders in the region.

The subject of urban agriculture and landscape is the third of three topics covered by “Detroit By Design.”  Previous topics of discussion were transportation and urban centers.

In each symposium, participants discuss the specific theme as it relates to the Detroit’s current status, its historic efforts, and the Detroit Works Project.  Through this collaborative public event, the UPC, a group of volunteer architects, seeks to bring design awareness to the communities and promote sustainable communities in the city and region through collaboration.

All exhibits and symposiums are free and open to public (except architects’ seeking continuing education credits).  For more information, please contact the AIA UPC at UPC@aiadetroit.com or go to www.aiadetroit.com.  You also can catch up with the latest activities at http://aiadetroitbydesign.wordpress.com (UPC blog) or on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/AIA-Detroit-Urban-Prioritie...

URBAN AGRICULTURE & LANDSCAPE—June 14 (Exhibits) and June 22 (Discussions)
What role urban agriculture and landscape can play in the design and planning of sustainable communities? How can we promote a broader view of urban landscape that includes urban agriculture and productive landscapes of various types that may provide alternative ways to address Detroit’s vacant land?  What are some key lessons from other places that might be beneficial to the City and the Detroit Works Project (DWP)?  These are just some of the questions that will be asked when Detroit By Design focuses on urban agriculture and landscape in June.

Exhibit Opening Tues., June 14 from 6 p.m.-7:30 p.m., at the Detroit Public Library exhibit hall (Adam Strohm Hall), the public is invited to view the exhibits focusing on this theme.  Projects displayed were selected projects from almost 90 submissions by teams and individual designers from several countries and U.S. cities.  They will be on display through June.

The discussion sessions will take place in the conference room (Explorer’s Room) and auditorium on Wed., June 22 and feature a distinguished group of panelists, UPC members, local residents, community leaders, public officials, local architects, allied professionals, and area school faculty and students, who will conduct a community workshop.

1 p.m.-4 p.m.: Marja Winters, deputy director for the City of Detroit Planning and Development Department and co-project director for the Detroit Works Project, and UPC members will co-moderate the opening discussions on the exhibit projects and the role of urban agriculture and landscape in the design and planning of sustainable communities and region.  Other panelists include: Andre L. Brumfield, Principal, Director of Urban Design + Planning, AECOM, Chicago; Dr. MaryCarol Hunter, Assistant Professor, School of Natural Resources and Environment, University of Michigan; Jeff Klein, Classic Landscape, Ltd. and Detroit Farm and Garden; Edwin Marty, Executive Director of the Hampstead Institute, Birmingham, Ala.; Chris Reed, Principal, Stoss Landscape Urbanism, Adjunct Associate Professor of Landscape Architecture, Harvard University Graduate School of Design; Stephen Vogel, FAIA, Professor, School of Architecture, University of Detroit Mercy; John Wisniewski, Grand SonRise Farms, Detroit; and Gary Wozniak, Chief Development Officer, SHAR Foundation, Inc./RecoveryPark

5 p.m. to 5:50 p.m.: Edwin Marty, Executive Director of the Hampstead Institute, Birmingham, Ala., provides the keynote address during a discussion on lessons from various urban agriculture projects in Detroit and other cities across the country.

Marty also is the founder and executive director of Jones Valley Urban Farm, a non-profit, education and working production farm located in downtown Birmingham, AL.  Since he took over the farm in 2006, it has grown to include over 28 acres of urban farmland, employs 20 people and annually teaches thousands of youth about growing and eating good food. Marty also has consulted on numerous urban farm projects around the country, including work with the American Institute of Architects Sustainable Design Assessment Team project in Detroit.  He recently completed a book about urban farming in America called “Breaking Through Concrete,” which will be published in the winter of 2011.

6 p.m.-7:30 p.m.:  Moderated by Marja Winters, the last discussion of the evening focuses on the outcomes of the community workshop and the keynote presentation.  The discussion will explore how the city and the Detroit Works Project can benefit from the ideas and proposals generated from the afternoon sessions, make recommendations for urban agriculture and landscape in Detroit, and wrap up the urban agriculture and landscape symposium.  Brumfield, Hunter, Klein, Marty, Reed, Vogel, Wisniewski and Wozniak return to the panel for this discussion.

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The goal of the American Institute of Architects Detroit’s Urban Priorities Committee (AIA-UPC) is to bring awareness to the design community, and encourage involvement in the planning and design of the city and region toward a sustainable future. Through such activities as interaction with local community stakeholders and city officials, and creation of seminars and other educational events, the AIA-UPC is available to assist the city of Detroit in the historic process of planning and altering the city to achieve a sustainable community design. For more information or to join the UPC committee and volunteer for events, visit www.aiadetroit.com.