Center for Architecture Sarasota’s mission is to play a leadership role in creating an informed and engaged community by providing education and facilitating dialogue regarding our built environment. The Center, which takes no position on community issues, strives to encourage smart planning for our cities, developments and land use and acts as a catalyst for positive change. The organization is in a unique position to achieve this objective through its close partnership with the University of Florida’s School of Design, Construction and Planning. Among the many benefits of this partnership is UF’s ability to bring scholars and renowned design professionals to participate in community projects. In addition, the school brings its visiting lecturers to Sarasota to participate in The Center’s own Lecture Series program.  By showcasing the work of these internationally-known, award-winning individuals, The Center can provide a community forum to discuss how successful solutions put in place in other communities and countries can be used as examples for our own.

Since its inception just one year ago, The Center has presented five public lectures aimed at stimulating open dialogue on important and timely issues. These lectures are not attended by architects alone, but by a broad range of interested, engaged residents and students who are concerned about the health and viability of our area. These lecturers are experts on urban planning, affordable and workforce housing, density, development, architecture and landscape architecture. These five lecturers have made a significant impact with their public and private projects around the world including the US, the UK, Europe, Scandinavia, Colombia, Japan, Korea, China, Saudi Arabia and New Zealand. In addition, most of them are or have been professors/lecturers at prestigious universities, including Columbia University, Harvard University and Harvard’s Graduate School of Design, University of Pennsylvania, University of Washington and Seoul National University. Their contributions to Sarasota’s knowledge base can be powerfully meaningful to the future of our region.

This month we share ideas, insights and stories from the Center for Architecture Sarasota, an SRQ Story Project partner.

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