AIA National Convention 2016, PhilAIAdelphia! 

Equity by Design Events

This year, at AIA Convention in Philadelphia, we are thrilled to offer not 1, but 3 EQxD programs and 4 affiliated equitable practice seminars.  Please be sure to register early (Early Bird Registration ends on March 23rd.) For the full list of events, click here.

WE315 EQxD Hackathon: Architecture And, the Era of Connection [3.75 CEUS]

Wednesday 5/18 1-5pm Philadelphia Convention Center, Room TBD  ($225)

Pennsylvania Convention Center
Room 121A

Description:

In the new edition of the EQxD Hackathon: Architecture And, the Era of Connection, we will start with an exploration at the intersection of design, architecture, tech and entrepreneurship featuring a diversely experienced panel. Join us for an "out of the box" experience looking at future of architectural practice beyond what we know today. We will be inspired by examples of innovation and the evolution of the business of architecture in the new digital economy.

During the second half of the workshop, participants will form small groups and develop a plan of action or business plan for a new product/service to positively impact the future of the architectural practice. At the end, Teams will present their concepts to judges in an "elevator pitch", and the winning team will present its "hack" to conference participants at the EQxD Happy Hour and social/networking event.

Presenters:

Phillip Bernstein, FAIA - VP Strategic Industry Relations at Autodesk

Phillip G. Bernstein is a Vice President at Autodesk, a leading provider of digital design and engineering software, where he leads Strategic Industry Relations and is responsible for setting the company’s future vision and strategy for technology as well as cultivating and sustaining the firm's relationships with strategic industry leaders. An experienced architect, Phil teaches Professional Practice at the Yale School of Architecture. He is co-editor of Building (In) The Future: Recasting Labor in Architecture.

Robert Yuen,  CEO & Co-Founder at Section Cut

Robert Yuen is the Co-founder and CEO of Section Cut. Trained as an architect, Robert’s design practice has developed over the past 6 years into a dual focus on Architectural services and recently in entrepreneurship. Robert is currently focused on Section Cut, a web-based platform committed to empowering designers and demystifying design culture to the public. Section Cut is a crowd-sourced, finely curated collection of design resources and beautifully designed objects with an educational agenda.

Yasmine Mustafa, CEO at Roar for Good

Yasmine Mustafa is passionate about leveraging technology for good. She’s the CEO and co-founder of ROAR for Good, a social impact company aimed at empowering women to live their lives boldly and without fearing using fashionable safety jewelry, mobile technology, and education. She’s the co-leader of Girl Develop It Philadelphia, an international organization aimed at lessening the gender gap in technology by providing low-cost web development classes for women.

Rosa Sheng, AIA LEED AP BD+C - Senior Associate at Bohlin Cywinski Jackson

Rosa is an architect and Senior Associate at Bohlin Cywinski Jackson with 20 years experience. Rosa has led a variety of award winning and acclaimed design projects. Rosa serves as an AIA San Francisco Board Treasurer, the Founding Chair for AIASF Equity by Design and creator of the Equity by Design Symposium 2014. Rosa has traveled nationally to present the findings of the 2014 Equity in Architecture Survey; featured in the Wall Street Journal, Architect Magazine and a TEDxPhiladelphia talk.

What is a Hackathon?

The second part of the afternoon will feature the most "un-conventional" workshop format - the "mini-Hackathon".  Very similar in feel to a design charrette, using this rapid prototyping exercise, we will form into small groups (aka "teams") and leverage design thinking skills to propose a business plan, actionable strategy or policy, or continuing education workshop that fits into the them

Finally, you and your group will present a 5 minute "pitch" of your proposed equity initiative to a panel of judges. Pitches will be rated with final equity initiatives being featured in blog posts and social media. Sign up for WE315 Equity by Design as pre-convention workshop on Wednesday, 5/18 from 1-5pm during Convention Registration. Ask your firm or local AIA or WIA Chapter to sponsor your attendance and bring back this valuable knowledge to affect change! OR STUDENTS, EP's and Newly Licensed Architects can apply for an EQxD Hackathon SCHOLARSHIP by March 11th.

Following the workshop, Hackathon participants will be invited to a complimentary Happy Hour 5:30pm-7:30pm (location TBD) for jury deliberations and awards. If you can't make the WE315 Workshop, we will have registration to attend the Happy Hour event so that you can catch up on the highlights of the Hackathon! and meeting the people who participated. Proceeds beyond costs of the event will go towards endowment funding the 2016 Equity in Architecture Survey.

EQxD Apre Hack - Happy Hour

Happy Hour (only) registration includes networking, a recap of the EQxD Hackathon, jury results and announcements accompanied by an assortment of wines and appetizers. If you register with AIA National for the WE315 5/18 workshop, then Happy Hour is included.

WE315 EQxD Hackathon Sponsors

We would like to thank the following EQxD sponsors who have dedicated their support to our EQxD Hackathon AIA National Convention Philadelphia workshop. If you are interested in sponsoring Equity by Design 2015-2016 Initiatives, please go to our sponsorship page for details.