Saturday, March 24, 2007
Sheraton Raleigh Hotel, 421 S. Salisbury St.

Leadership:

Mark Johnson, FASLA, Principal, Civitas Inc.

Designers as Leaders of Urban Regeneration
There are many ways to define and achieve sustainability - resource management and conservation, green building practices, the integration of diverse activities, populations and economies into complementary structures and more. This discussion will emphasize the role of leadership, governance and design as drivers of change in the creation of sustainable cities. Designers can be catalytic leaders in setting the agenda, creating the vision, demonstrating the means and documenting the process to achieve more sustainable cities on projects of every scale. The presentation will include several case studies from different regions of the country including in-depth discussion of the leadership tools and techniques that have proved to be successful. Participants should expect to learn about a theory of leadership in design that has proven to be effective in many cities and at many scales, illustrated by case studies and lessons learned.

Transportation:

Dr. Catherine L. Ross, Director, Center for Quality Growth and Regional Development, Georgia Institute of Technology

Mobility and the MegaRegion
Between now and the year 2050, more than half of the nation’s population growth, and perhaps as much as two-thirds of its economic growth, will occur in growing urban areas contained in several emerging “megaregions.” These megaregions are extended networks of metropolitan centers and the surrounding areas. They often cross county and state lines and are linked by transportation, economic and communication networks. The planning, funding and control of these networks, however, occurs at a geographic and temporal scale that is incompatible with these emerging regional configurations. This session will examine the Piedmont Atlantic Megaregion or PAM. Participants will learn how to describe a megaregion and the trends that shape it as well as sustainable transportation within a megaregion. Participants will also learn specifically about PAM, its existing mobility conditions, its political and economic obstacles and opportunities for megaregion initiatives.

Design:

Bill Valentine, FAIA, Chairman, HOK

Why Less is Better
Why is it critical that we reduce our consumption? Can planners and architects help make the world a better place by the way they design? Valentine will present a positive message about the challenges and opportunities we’re all facing in this age of over-consumption. Participants will learn strategies for creating smaller, more efficient structures. The concept of building less is THE essential concept for sustainable design. It resonates with all the large sustainable design ideas: less space, materials, waste, toxicity, energy, water, and cost. You’ll learn the benefits of using less and what the world’s largest architectural firm is doing across the organization to “design less.” This will include a review of several HOK architectural examples and case studies of designing less. What strategies did HOK use and what were the benefits? What can you do now to help change our country’s habits? Designers can trigger a tipping point that pushes our entire culture in the direction of using resources more efficiently.

Partnership:

Daniel Iacofano, FAICP, Principal, MIG

Plans, People and Partnerships: The Human Side of Regional Development
To attract the level of human and intellectual capital needed for success for the 21st Century economy, cities and regions must display a strong sense of place and identity and a commitment to environmental quality and urban livability. Cities and towns in a particular region must work collaboratively to achieve these goals. This presentation will use a series of case studies to illustrate how regions across America have developed regional partnerships and coalitions in order to overcome barriers and obstacles to regional planning and successful inter- and intra-regional development.