Public Process Leadership in an Age of Distrust ( 1 LU/HSW )
Joel Mills, Erin Simmons

The community contexts in which we work today are defined overwhelmingly by pervading public mistrust, conflict and controversy, and community opposition. Our urban crises – climate, housing, equitable development - are forcing quick action to avoid catastrophe. Controversy, community opposition and legal challenges pose significant and costly burdens to achieving our collective goals. This session will provide an overview of the key challenges in the field of public participation today. It will identify core components of healthy processes that can lead to more successful community outcomes with broad community support. The session will address technique selection, as well as tools, resources and networks where participants can develop skills in public participation. 

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Learning Objectives

1. Describe key attributes of public participation what differentiates it from other tools, such as community engagement, community organizing, public relations and advocacy. 

2. Apply analysis to current practice barriers and their potential solutions. 

3. Apply strategies for increasing trust and collaboration with the public for more sustainable public process outcomes. 

4. Apply lessons learned from case studies. 

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8 Key Metrics for Designing Living Spaces that Enhance Well-Being (1 LU/HSW)

Deborah Buelow, AIA

This presentation aims to shed light on Cedar Architecture’s approach to design, which holistically integrates sustainability, health, and well-being. Through the lens of eight guiding principles, we aspire to craft spaces and structures that not only minimize energy consumption but also evoke a sense of wellness. By incorporating biophilic materials and design strategies, we create environments that alleviate stress and mitigate negative health impacts on both occupants and the surrounding ecosystem. Furthermore, our designs foster eco-climates that enrich biodiversity and champion the cause of regeneration.

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Learning Objectives

1. Attendees should have a comprehensive understanding of the need to integrate sustainability, health, and well-being into residential architecture, moving beyond traditional design paradigms.

2. Participants will learn about the eight key principles that serve as the foundation for creating residential spaces that are energy-efficient, promote well-being, and are ecologically responsible.

3. Attendees will gain insights into the types of materials and design strategies that can be used to create environments that alleviate stress, enhance wellness, and have a minimal impact on health and the surrounding ecosystem.

4. Participants will learn how well-designed residential spaces can foster eco-climates that support biodiversity and champion regeneration, thereby having a positive, transformative impact on both humanity and the planet.

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Sponsored by RDG Planning & Design

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Architects in Elected Service  ( 1 LU/HSW )

Pete Franks, AIA; Mike Simonson, AIA; Josh Moe, AIA; Bethany Jordan, AIA

This will be a moderated roundtable of several Iowa Architects who have held positions as elected or appointed officials. They will discuss how having architects in positions of leadership in our communities helps to strengthen our communities and protect the welfare of citizens.

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Learning Objectives

1. Participants will learn how an architectural background is well suited to public service with discussions on how ethic training and focus on health, safety, and welfare provide for the common good.

2. Participants will understand how elected officials operate within legal and ethical requirements both in the field of architecture, with emphasis on the safety and welfare of stakeholders and occupants, but also of the community at large.  

3. Participants will learn how public service can positively benefit communities & constituents by putting HSW experts in positions of power. Building occupants and those who use our public space will see the impact of Architects in leadership.

4. Participants will learn how to explore potential public service in their local communities.

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Healthcare Without Borders ( 1 LU/HSW )

Tim Lentz, Sam Stinson, Ryan McFadden, Dr. Dirk Maier

This workshop will unpack the unique collaboration between an MEP consulting firm based in Cedar Rapids and engineering students from Iowa State University and Ghana in the design of a large polyclinic in rural northwest Ghana. The session will highlight the importance of community engagement, locally based solutions, and sustainable innovation to provide critical heathcare requirements for the village of Ullo.

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Learning Objectives

1. Understand the importance of stakeholder engagement and empowerment in designs for developing communities. Speakers will provide an overview of how an international partnership of engineers and architects engaged village leaders to tailor the Clinic design to best address Ullo's healthcare needs.

2. Identify the relevance of sustainable and innovative design elements in rural communities with limited access to resources and reliable electricity.    

3. Demonstrate the integration of professional design expertise with Ghanaian materials and construction practices to develop a Clinic that is safe for use, constructible, and maintainable by the local community.

4. Undertand the benefits of student involvement and mentoring in the building design industry, promoting the common good while growing future leaders in the industry in Ghana and Iowa. 

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Building Community: Volunteer Perspectives from IAF ( 1 LU )
TBD

​This panel workshop will explore the transformative professional and personal benefits of volunteering, featuring firsthand insights from Iowa Architectural Foundation (IAF) volunteers. Panelists will share how their experiences in community engagement and educational outreach have enriched their skills, strengthened their networks, and elevated their impact as architects.

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