School of Architecture + Cities 2023 Equity Forum Symposium: “Pursuing Urban Equity” | Thursday, June 22 at 14:00 (BST) | MG14, Marylebone Campus, University of Westminster

When: Thursday, 22nd of June at 2pm (BST)

Where: MG14, University of Westminster Marylebone Campus, 35 Marylebone Road, London, NW1 5LS

How does a school of architecture + cities pursue school-wide equity? How are questions of equity emerging in student projects, and how could these projects inform school strategies? What can practitioner perspectives offer the way in which a school shapes its approach?

This inaugural symposium will bring together academics, students, and practitioners to discuss projects and exchange ideas on the notion of equity for built environment disciplines. The symposium will open with an introductory talk on the tactics and challenges of introducing a ‘cultural infrastructure’ to support the pursuit of equity in the School. This will be followed by two panels in succession: a practitioner panel, and a student panel. Members of each panel will present a short talk on one project relating to equity, followed by a panel discussion and Q&A.

The projects and their themes will be wide-ranging, but all linked by a focus on the cultural approaches, forms of intelligence, and skills required to move towards greater equity. The symposium will conclude with the formal launch of ‘Urban Equity’, an Open Access online resource, followed by refreshments and networking.

Please book tickets here.

Programme

14.00 Welcome: Prof. Harry Charrington, Head, School of Architecture + Cities

14.10 Introduction – ‘Cultural Infrastructure’: Lucy Bambury (School EDI Student Champion) and Samir Pandya (School EDI Lead)

14.30 Panel 1 Short TalksPractitioner Perspectives (Chair: Alastair Blyth, Assistant Head of School)

14:30 Shaun Ihejetoh (Director, West Port Architects): V&A Africa Fashion – Equity in Design

14.45 Mei-Yee Man Oram (Associate Director, Arup): Designing inclusive spaces

15.00 Jas Bhalla (Principal, Jas Bhalla Architects): From the ground up – delivering transformative renewal across London’s high streets

15.15 Respondent – Prof. Pippa Catterall (School of Humanities)

15.20 Panel Discussion

15.45 Q&A

16.00 BREAK

16.15 Panel 2 Short Talks: Student Perspectives (Chair: Lucy Bambury)

16.15 Nishika Diyabalanage (MA Interior Architecture): The New Women of Oxford Street

16.30 Dawn Rahman (Active Travel Academy PhD student): Mad or Magnificent? Mothers who cycle with their children

16.45 Riane Oukili (MArch/RIBA Part 2):  The Archaeological Garden: Towards a decolonial archaeology

17.00 Respondent – (Wilfred Achille, RIBA Part 3 Co-Course Leader)

17.05 Panel Discussion

17.30 Q&A

18.00 Concluding comments, and formal launch of ‘Urban Equity’ (Open Access EDI online resource)

18.30 Refreshments and networking

“What difference does difference make?” – School of Architecture + Cities Equity Forum Launch | Monday, November 29, 18:00 (GMT)

When: Monday, 29th of November at 6pm (GMT)

Where: In-person in M416 (Robin Evans Room), University of Westminster, 35 Marylebone Road, London NW1 5LS + Online

Tickets can be booked via Eventbrite.

The launch of the School of Architecture + Cities Equity Forum will introduce its members, explain its values, and its place within the School’s wider EDI-related strategic planning.

Although the intention is to stream the session online as well as hold the face-to-face event, we would encourage participants to attend in person to engage more directly in discussion, as well as join us for refreshments and networking after. In addition to celebrating the launch of the Forum and providing updates, the event aims to provide Tutors, Course and Module Leaders with more context to help inform their own EDI-related thinking and planning at course and module level. Our response to the challenge of making our school more equitable will require ongoing discussion, reflection, and – crucially – action. External friends, stakeholders, and supporters will also be in attendance.

Tickets are broken down into in-person attendance (Student, Staff or External), or virtual (via Zoom as a webcast). Please ensure you register prior to attending, so we can ensure we have an accurate record of attendees.

Programme:

18.00 Introduction: EDI in Architecture and Cities (Harry Charrington, Head of School)

18.15 The Equity Forum: Context and Aspiration (Samir Pandya, School EDI Lead)

18.45 Introduction to newly appointed Student EDI Champion (Andy Pitchford, Director of CETI, introduces Lucy Banbury)

18.55 Panel Discussion – What difference does Difference make? (Chaired by Linda Tighlit, Westminster Architecture Society), followed by Q&A.

19.30 Drinks and networking

Panel Members:

• Alison Carrillo Culqui (BA Interior Architecture)

• Amjad Butt (BSc Architectural Technology)

• Derin Fadina (School Alumnus)

• Lucy Banbury (School Student EDI Champion)

• Marie Kaune (BA Designing Cities)

• Shaun Ihejetoh (School EDI Practice Advocate, West Port Architects)

• Sude Yilmaz (BA Architecture)