2009 Conference

DRAFT DETAILED SCHEDULE NOW AVAILABLE

Conference Theme
In keeping with the BTES Mission, this year’s conference will assemble architectural educators, researchers and practitioners “who are passionate about teaching the technology of building design and construction” to engage in lively discussion and debate. Assembling Architecture hopes to bridge the gap between the theoretical and the practical, providing participants the opportunity explore advancements in technology at the intersection of design, theory, and practice.

Significant developments in material science, design and manufacture of building components, innovative building systems, and dynamic structures, require specific knowledge and expertise and are driving design practice. However, one of the emerging challenges in architectural education, research and practice is to promote integrative design through interdisciplinary models of teaching, research and practice. Despite this call to action, many architectural programs remained fractured and collaborative work between technologists, theorists, and designers is undervalued and underrepresented. At the same time, new models for teaching, research, and creative work are required to intersect these contrasting developments.

Call for Participation
The conference organizers have accepted papers that address the broad issues of the theme, special session topics, or the list of additional questions outlined more fully on the Theme page of this site.

Featured Speakers

Keynote Speakers
René Davids of Davids Killory Architecture and the University of California, Berkeley, and Martin Bechthold, Harvard University will deliver keynote addresses.

Plenary Panels
The conference also features two topical plenary panel sessions. The sessions, Concept + Construct, led by Annette LeCuyer, and Local Complexities: led by Jason Vollen will include presentations by session leaders along with papers selected from those submitted by conference participants.

Adobe Workshop
Francisos Uvino will lead a pre-conference adobe workshop in the nearby historic town of Bernalillo, New Mexico. Activities include a hands-on introduction to adobe construction methods and tours of historic structures in the Abencio Salazar Historic District.

Teaching Gift Exchange
All participants at the conference are asked to contribute to the teaching gift exchange. This is an opportunity to share one of your favorite student assignments, teaching tools, resources or references with your colleagues. You will be sure to come away with new ideas and inspiration for your courses.

Location
The conference will be held at the University of New Mexico, School of Architecture and Planning in its newly completed home designed by Antoine Predock. In addition to examples exemplary contemporary architecture, the campus and location offers a number of opportunities to explore indigenous and traditional building materials and forms. UNM is located near downtown Albuquerque along old Route 66. With a population of more than 700,000 people, Albuquerque offers a wonderful mixture of Hispanic and Pueblo Indian culture, cuisine, and artifacts. Albuquerque is centrally located within the state and is the home of an international airport with easy flight connections to most locations throughout the US and Canada. The city is within easy driving distance to Santa Fe, Acoma, and Petroglyph National Monument.

About BTES
The Building Technology Educators’ Society (BTES) is an organization of architectural educators, passionate about teaching the technology of building design and construction. The mission of the BTES is to promote and publish the best pedagogic practices that facilitate student learning and enhance the status of our disciplines in the profession at large.

Visit www.btesonline.org for more information.