The 2016 ACSA/ASPPH Fall Conference: Building for Health and Well-Being: Structures.Cities.Systems, the first-ever joint conference between the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA) and Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health (ASPPH) took place September 22-24 in Honolulu, HI. Dr. Howard Frumkin, University of Washington School of Public Health, served as co-chair for the conference and represented ASPPH in Hawaii. Enthusiasm, energy, and openness for collaboration between disciplines was evident among conference attendees, made up mostly of faculty from schools and programs of architecture, with some public health representation. Sessions highlighted approaches to collaborative course development, environmental justice issues, and designing for health, among other interdisciplinary collaborative efforts. A full conference program and abstracts can be found on the conference website.
As a result of ASPPH’s longstanding commitment to health in all policies and interdisciplinary education, and efforts to explore research, educational, and other collaborative opportunities, ASPPH was asked to join the AIA Design & Health Research Consortium established by the AIA Foundation, the American Institute of Architects (AIA), and Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture. The 2016 ACSA/ASPPH Fall conference is a direct result of ASPPH involvement with the Design & Health Research Consortium and the Design & Health Leadership Group.
Four questions were identified at the closing of the conference to carry forward in all collaborative efforts:
Look back at the conference on Twitter #buildingforhealth