As global cities have embraced sustainable urban design and entrepreneurism, their strategies can serve as a source of inspiration and new knowledge to U.S. cities and beyond. By pairing best practices from international metros with their U.S. counterparts, the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts at the Washington University in St. Louis has developed a series of case studies that examine the urgent challenges of an increasingly urbanized planet, focusing on the development of sustainable products, services, technology, and land use patterns following the economic recession.
On February 21, the Metropolitan Policy Program at Brookings and the Sam Fox School’s Master of Urban Design Program hosted an all-day forum which explored the intersection between sustainable urban design and economic growth while discussing the implications for design and practice. The event also highlighted policies that have enabled individual cities to become successful models of sustainability and examined specific design and policy issues through the lenses of economy, government, climate and social systems.
Mark Wrighton, chancellor of the Washington University in St. Louis, welcomed the forum participants and audience members, followed by a presentation from Ricky Burdett, professor of urban studies at the London School of Economics and Political Science. Panel discussions covered transportation; environmental and building technologies; and adaptation and renewal. The program closed with a presentation from Mohsen Mostafavi, dean and the Alexander and Victoria Wiley professor of design at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design, followed by a reception and respondent discussion.
Download city-specific profiles
Keynote: “Living in the Endless City”
Panel 1: Transportation and Mobility in Portland, Copenhagen and Hong Kong
Panel 2: Environmental and Building Technologies in Chicago, São Paulo, Masdar and Helsinki
Panel 3: Adaptation and Renewal in Shanghai, Mexico City, and New York
Keynote: “Ecological Urbanism”
Reception and Respondents Discussion
Agenda
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February 21
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Overview
9:40 am
Peter MacKeith Associate Dean - Sam Fox School, Washington University in St. Louis -
Keynote: “Living in the Endless City”
9:45 am
Ricky Burdett Professor of Urban Studies, London School of Economics and Political Science - Director, LSE Cities and the Urban Age Program -
Panel 1: Transportation and Mobility in Portland, Copenhagen and Hong Kong
10:30 am
Portland: Chandra Brown President - United StreetcarCopenhagen: Oliver Schulze Principal - Schulze + GrassovHong Kong: Jonathan Solomon Associate Dean and Associate Professor - Syracuse University School of Architecture -
Panel 2: Environmental and Building Technologies in Chicago, São Paulo, Masdar and Helsinki
11:30 am
Christof Jantzen I-CARES Professor of Practice - Washington University in St. LouisChicago: Gordon Gill Principal - Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill ArchitectureSão Paulo: Fabio Mariz Gonclaves Professor of Landscape and Urban Design - University of São Paulo School of Architecture and UrbanismHelsinki: Johanna Kirkinen Energy and Climate Change Lead - SITRA - Finnish Innovation FundMasdar: Erik Olsen Partner - Transsolar -
Lunch
12:30 pm
Christof Jantzen I-CARES Professor of Practice - Washington University in St. LouisChicago: Gordon Gill Principal - Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill ArchitectureSão Paulo: Fabio Mariz Gonclaves Professor of Landscape and Urban Design - University of São Paulo School of Architecture and UrbanismHelsinki: Johanna Kirkinen Energy and Climate Change Lead - SITRA - Finnish Innovation FundMasdar: Erik Olsen Partner - Transsolar -
Panel 3: Adaptation and Renewal in Shanghai, Mexico City, and New York
1:30 pm
Michelle Knapik Director, Sustainable Environments Program - Surdna FoundationShanghai: Seng Kuan Assistant Professor - Sam Fox School, Washington University in St. LouisValente Souza Director - IQh, Mexico CityNew York: Alexandros Washburn Urban Design Chief - City of New York -
Keynote: “Ecological Urbanism”
2:30 pm
Introduction: Bruce Lindsey Dean, College of Architecture and Graduate School of Architecture & Urban Design - Sam Fox School, Washington University in St. LouisMohsen Mostafavi Dean and Victoria Wiley Professor of Design, Graduate School of Design - Harvard University -
Welcoming Remarks
9:30 am
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Reception and Respondents Discussion
3:15 pm
Ricky Burdett Professor of Urban Studies, London School of Economics and Political Science - Director, LSE Cities and the Urban Age ProgramJohn Hoal Chair, Master of Urban Design Program - Sam Fox School, Washington University in St. LouisMohsen Mostafavi Dean and Victoria Wiley Professor of Design, Graduate School of Design - Harvard University
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