Academy of Architecture for Justice

2012 AAJ Fall Conference Call for Presentations

Community Dialogue: Architecture for Justice and Renewal
October 10 -12, 2012 ' Toronto Hilton - Toronto, ON Canada
Submission Deadline: Friday, May 4, 2012 at 12:00 p.m. ET
Download the Submission Form Now

"We shape our buildings; thereafter they shape us."
-- Winston Churchill

The Academy of Architecture for Justice (AAJ) is pleased to announce this call for presentations. We are seeking provocative presentations and discussion topics from a wide range of viewpoints. We encourage submissions of case studies that embrace the spirit of developing a dialogue with our communities. The conference will be organized into 4 separate tracks allowing for concurrent presentations: Courts, Law Enforcement, Detention/Corrections, and Other. The AAJ welcomes proposals from all of those active in justice facilities including planners, architects, owners, public safety officials, officers and administrators, contractors and vendors.

Buildings and landscapes compose the fabric of our environments. Throughout history, communities have evolved from the location of justice and civic buildings. It is our responsibility as design professionals to promote the stature of justice facility design. Justice facilities are typically public projects, and most are intended to be 50 plus year buildings. The facilities we design today will inform the communities that surround them for years to come. Justice facilities have unique and complex requirements in order to function securely and efficiently. We must challenge ourselves and our clients to meet the functional requirements of the users and to engage their community, striving to deliver buildings that will positively affect their surroundings.

"Public buildings often accurately reflect the beliefs, priorities, and aspirations of a people ... For much of our history, the courthouse has served not just as a local center of the law and government, but as a meeting ground, cultural hub, and social gathering place."
-- former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Lewis F. Powell, Jr. (in forward to Virginia's Historic Courthouses, by John O. and Margaret T. Peters)

We believe that all justice facilities reflect the values of their communities and embody significant social and cultural amenities as suggested in the above quote regarding courthouses.  We are interested in proposals that address this important aspect of justice facilities.

Questions?
E-mail questions and completed submissions to aaj@aia.org

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Suzi Smith Assoc. AIA
Marketing Manager
HMC + Beverly Prior Architects
San Francisco CA
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