The PhD program in Architecture at IIT Chicago invites graduate researchers (Master's and PhD) from various disciplines such as Architecture, Design, Landscape, Urbanism, Engineering, Environmental Sciences, and Sociology, who are interested in issues related to Architecture and the Development of the Urban Landscape. We encourage the submission of compelling 500-word abstracts for the 7th International Graduate Student Symposium (IGSS) 2023, focused on the theme “In Between.” 

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Now more than ever, the North American urban landscape is in transformation. Cities are growing, expanding, building, and rebuilding. These transformations, unlike in other regions of the world, are being championed by the unpredictable forces of the global markets and private capitals. Furthermore, private development of urban landscapes in North America is conducted under a unidimensional framework; return on investment (ROI). However, the urban landscape is a complex collection of interdependent systems. Its performance is framed by economical, political, social, and ecological challenges. Private developers do not operate in isolation; they must engage and negotiate with various stakeholders to achieve their objectives.

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The symposium aims to explore the multifaceted relationship between architecture and these complex issues in the contemporary North American urban landscape. It seeks to examine why architects play a crucial role in shaping the present and future of the urban landscape, the key areas of focus for architecture in the development of increasingly complex cities, emerging architectural strategies as responses to new challenges, suitable architectural scopes for approaching urban landscape development in North America, the current status of the North American urban landscape development model, its achievements thus far, and it's potential for further progress.

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This symposium will delve into four core frameworks that frame the performance of the urban landscape: the economical, political, social, and ecological dimensions.

Part A (Economical); This section will address the role and impact of private capital in the development of the contemporary urban landscape. It will explore the required architectural strategies and urban landscapes fostered by current financial structures.
Part B (Political); This section will discuss the opportunities available to local city governments in the face of increasing pressures to develop new urban landscapes within existing built environments.
Part C (Social); Focusing on social and community-oriented challenges faced by new developments, this section will provide community-based perspectives on the various mechanisms shaping the present-day urban landscape.
Part D (Ecological); Centered around the urban landscape during the climate crisis, this section will highlight a range of architectural strategies employed for ecologically-oriented design and development.

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Researchers are invited to submit their abstracts under one of the mentioned frameworks. Following a double-blind peer review process, authors of selected abstracts will be invited to present their research papers at a two-day symposium to be hosted in November 2023 at the iconic Crown Hall, home of the College of Architecture at IIT Chicago. Full papers will be published in the spring 2024 issue of Prometheus, the esteemed journal of the PhD Program in Architecture at IIT Chicago.

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Click HERE for information on how to submit