The conference will bring together key players in the international arena, such as professionals Bjärke Ingels (BIG, Denmark) Odile Decq (Odile Decq Benoit Cornette, France) Louisa Hutton (Sauerbruch Hutton, Germany), and Joan Busquets (Barcelona). They will be joined by academics like Mohsen Mostafavi, Dean of Harvard University Graduate School of Design; Yung Ho Chang from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Murray Fraser, from University College London. They will discuss in Barcelona how the academic and professional worlds are subjected to unprecedented pressures due to multiple factors that include globalization, the expansion of technology, rapid urbanization, new energy policies and the role of regulating agencies.
"Over the last few years the member schools of ACSA centered in North America have shown an increasing interest in the search for international connections", says Michael Monti, Executive Director of the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture, underscoring the fact that "the Association brings together experts from around the globe to achieve the synergies so necessary in the profession". Focused on "CHANGE/CAMBIO", the international conference will provide an opportunity to examine deep changes impacting the global field of architecture as profession and industry. This includes its relation with other economic sectors, which in turn affects the education model for future architects. "As the host city for the congress, the city of Barcelona is the ideal setting for these debates. The city is a privileged laboratory for urban and architectonic design. Moreover this urban development model, built over three decades, inspires admiration worldwide", says Xavier Costa, Dean of the College of Arts, Media and Design of Northeastern University and co-director of the Conference.