Are Cities Just Places? Rebuilding and Unbuilding Preservation

Join us for a presentation and Q&A session with Dr. Jenni Minner of Cornell University and the Just Places Lab. Dr. Minner will be exploring the ways in which the care of places and the built environment can work toward social justice and how preservation is being challenged and re-envisioned today. Her presentation will discuss ways in which the rebuilding and unbuilding of places can aid in working toward more equitable community preservation practices. One example revolves around lessons from a network of organizations engaged in arts, place-making, and ‘equity preservation’ in Buffalo, New York. Another example is from the establishment of the Circularity, Reuse, and Zero Waste Development (CR0WD) network, which was by reuse networks in the U.S. and circularity initiatives around the world.

This program is part of the Changing the Face of the City speaker series, a collaboration between the Weitzman School of Design and The Carpenters' Company, and curated by Francesca Ammon. Throughout this year, we will present a series of programs and events that explore the intersection of historic preservation and urban planning/renewal through the lens of equity and social justice. “Changing the Face of the City” was the phrase renowned urban planner Edmund Bacon used to describe Philadelphia’s renaissance in his classic 1967 book Design of Cities, unintentionally alluding to the literal consequences of many preservation, planning, and renewal efforts.

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 this event, we won’t be able to secure the appropriate accommodations.