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Looking Forward to AIA AAJ National Conference 2014: Architecture for Social Justice, Nov. 5 to 7 in St. Louis

By Yuen-Yung J. Li posted 10-18-2014 06:40 AM

  

As one of the AIA AAJ Travel Scholars, I look forward to attending the AAJ National Conference from Nov. 5 to 7 in St. Louis. I have been deeply involved in the design and construction of courthouses and other detention facilities. Justice architecture presents its unique challenges: it is highly technical and carries a tremendous amount of social responsibilities. It is fascinating to see how modern technology transforms a historical courthouse, or to see how we as the designers can address the sensitivity serving the family law in a courthouse facility, for instance. The tour to the Old Courthouse and the various discussions on courthouse design at the Architecture for Social Justice Conference can all be very inspiring. Together we can promote access to justice for all. I am also looking forward to the Sustainable Justice Workshop. My previous project, the CAISO headquarter, was a LEED platinum-certified building. Justice facilities by nature are not inclined to be as sustainable as some other building typologies. Daylighting requires windows that can compromise security; epoxy coatings, more often than not, have VOC contents exceeding the standards. I am excited to be part of the exchange of great ideas within the Workshop.

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