The American Institute of Architects (AIA) announced the launch of its “Decade of Design,” a commitment to develop design and technology solutions that address challenges in public health, sustainability, and resiliency to natural disasters. AIA Chief Executive Officer Robert Ivy, FAIA, made the announcement at the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) Annual Meeting, where more than 1,000 global leaders are gathering to address the theme, “Designing for Impact.”

One of the commitments made by the AIA involves both monetary and “in-kind’ contributions to help University research on solutions-based outcomes. Earlier this year, ACSA partnered with AIA and CGI to solicit proposals from schools for research projects in the first of a series of topic areas: design and health. Three ACSA schools received the first of these research grants:

• Texas A&M University – Evaluating Health Benefits of Liveable Communities: Toolkit for measuring the health impacts of walkable communities, validated with an empirical study of a LEED for Neighborhood Development project in Austin.

• University of Arkansas – Fayetteville 2030: Creating Food City Scenario Plan: The study of planning possibilities and design solutions for creating a local food infrastructure while accommodating a quickly growing population.

• University of New Mexico – Establishing Interdisciplinary Health-Architecture Curriculum: Pilot program to develop a framework for implementing a three-year interdisciplinary program for addressing health issues in local neighborhoods.

Read more at AIA.org