Weitzman Fall 2020 Lecture Series

The University of Pennsylvania Stuart Weitzman School of Design Fall 2020 Lecture Series brings together over two dozen of the world’s leading architects, landscape architects, planners, artists, and preservationists. Presented online, the series begins on Wednesday, September 2, with a lecture by Beatriz Colomina, Howard Crosby Butler Professor of the History of Architecture, Princeton University, on the impact of pandemics on architecture.

The series includes a panel discussion on overcoming racial disparities in clean energy access, a masterclass on the use of data to assist with scenario planning for future events, and a lecture on the urgency of preserving African American rural freedom colonies. The Department of Landscape Architecture has organized a semester-long series of talks called ACTIV-ism, which focuses on design justice, activist practices, and community engagement.

Among the scheduled speakers:
Lizbeth Cohen, Howard Mumford Jones Professor of American Studies, Harvard University
Maria Hassabi, Artist
Jeff Hou, Professor of Landscape Architecture, College of Built Environments, University of Washington
Andrea Roberts, Assistant Professor of Urban Planning, College of Architecture, Texas A&M University
Michael Webb, Co-Founder, Archigram

All lectures will take place online, and admission is free and open to the public. Times listed are Eastern. Information is subject to change; please visit www.design.upenn.edu/calendar or subscribe to the School’s weekly e-newsletter to confirm details.

Select lectures are eligible for continuing education credit. Contact the presenting department or center for more information.

Wednesday, September 2, 6:30pm
The EwingCole Lecture
Beatriz Colomina, Howard Crosby Butler Professor of the History of Architecture, Princeton University
"Architecture and Pandemics: From Tuberculosis to COVID 19”
Presented by Architecture

Tuesday, September 8, 7:00pm
Jeff Hou, Professor of Landscape Architecture, College of Built Environments, University of Washington
Presented by Landscape Architecture

Wednesday, September 9, 6:30pm
Sean Canty, Founder of Studio SC
Presented by Architecture

Wednesday, September 23, 7:00pm
Melissa Guerrero, Design Director, KDI
Presented by Landscape Architecture

Wednesday, September 23, 8.30pm
Joe Morrison, Product Specialist, Azavea
“Emerging Remote Sensing Tech: Staring at Pixels for Fun and Profit”
Presented by the Master of Urban Spatial Analytics Program

Thursday, September 24, 12:00pm
Deborah Sunter, Assistant Professor, Tufts University
Jason Carney, CEO, Energy Electives
Emily Schapira, Executive Director, Philadelphia Energy Authority
Sara Bronin, Gallivan Chair, University of Connecticut
“Towards Clean Energy Equity: Overcoming Racial Disparities”
Presented by the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy

Monday, October 5, 6:30pm
Esra Akcan, Associate Professor and Director of Institute for European Studies, Cornell Architecture, Art, and Planning
“Right-to-Heal: Architecture and Transitional Justice”
Presented by Architecture

Tuesday, October 6, 7:00pm
Kate Orff, Founder and Principal, Scape Studio
Presented by Landscape Architecture

Wednesday, October 7, 6:30pm
The Warren W. Cunningham Lecture
Michael Webb, Co-Founder, Archigram
“Non-Traditional Green Architecture”
Presented by Architecture

Thursday, October 8, 9:00am–5:00pm
Monument Lab Town Hall
Presented by the Center for Public Art and Space and Monument Lab

Friday, October 9, 9:00am
MUSA Masterclass
Kyle Walker, Associate Professor of Geography and Director of the Center for Urban Studies, Texas Christian University
"New Rstats Transportation Network Analysis Tools”
Presented by the Master of Urban Spatial Analytics Program

Wednesday, October 21, 6:00pm
Andrea Roberts, Assistant Professor of Urban Planning, College of Architecture, Texas A&M University
“The Freedom Colony Repertoire: Promising Approaches to Bridging and Bonding Social Capital Between Urban and Rural Black Meccas”
Presented by Historic Preservation

Wednesday, October 21, 6:30pm
Ellie Abrons, Principal of T+E+A+M, Associate Professor of Architecture, University of Michigan Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning
Presented by Architecture

Wednesday, October 28, 12:00pm
Robert Goodspeed, Assistant Professor of Urban and Regional Planning, Taubman College, University of Michigan
“Managing and Envisioning Uncertain Urban Futures with Scenario Planning”
Presented by the Master of Urban Spatial Analytics Program

Wednesday, October 28, 5:00pm
Anne Whiston Spirn, Cecil and Ida Green Distinguished Professor of Landscape Architecture and Planning
Presented by Landscape Architecture

Monday, November 2, 6:30pm
Sophie Debiasi Hochhäusl, Assistant Professor of Architecture, University of Pennsylvania Stuart Weitzman School of Design
“Memories of the Resistance: The Defiant Life of a Female Architect, 1938-1945”
Presented by Architecture

Wednesday, November 4, 6:30pm
Michel Rojkind, Senior Vice President of Architecture, WeWork; Principal, Rojkind Arquitectos
“Shared Responsibility”
Presented by Architecture

Tuesday, November 10, 7:00pm
Kofi Boone, Professor of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning, NC State University
Presented by Landscape Architecture

Thursday, November 12, 6:00pm
Lizbeth Cohen, Howard Mumford Jones Professor of American Studies, Harvard University 
“Saving America's Cities: A New Look at Urban Renewal”
Presented by City and Regional Planning

Wednesday, November 18, 6:30pm
The KPF Lecture
Charles Renfro, Partner, Diller Scofidio + Renfro
Presented by Architecture

Tuesday, November 24, 7:00pm
Hanna Kim, Artist
Presented by Landscape Architecture

Thursday, December 3, 6:00pm
Maria Hassabi, Artist
Presented by Fine Arts

Tuesday, December 9, 7:00pm
Alma Du Solier, Studio Director, Hood Design Studio
Presented by Landscape Architecture

If you require any accessibility accommodation, such as live captioning, audio description, or a sign language interpreter, please email news@design.upenn.edu to let us know what you need. Please note, we require at least 48 hours’ notice. If you register within 48 hours of an event, we won’t be able to secure the appropriate accommodations.