Arrested Development: Do Megaprojects Have a Future?

A public discussion with an array of experts, from architects to developers to policymakers, on the state of megaprojects in light of the stalled economy On November 7, 2009, the Institute for Urban Design will host a day-long event titled Arrested Development: Do Megaprojects Have a Future? The symposium will examine the effects of the global recession on large-scale developments and the ramifications of the re-emergence of megaprojects. Astoundingly, this era of economic contraction has brought progress in environmental policy at local, national, and international levels. As megaprojects like New York City’s Atlantic Yards and the UK’s “eco towns” slow down, stall, and even stop, local and national leaders are rethinking the nature of these projects with respect to social and environmental sustainability. Historically, megaprojects have been controversial. Although there have been outright failures, megaprojects can offer opportunities for great urban renewal. Our panels of experts will examine how market mechanisms enable megaprojects, what characterizes their success, and why, how, and if megaprojects have a future. The symposium is organized in three sessions: in the morning two panels will discuss Megaprojects in Suburbs and Megaprojects as New Towns; in the afternoon we will look at Megaprojects in the Dense Metropolis. ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT: DO MEGAPROJECTS HAVE A FUTURE? Symposium organized by the Institute for Urban Design with the support of The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art Saturday, November 7th, 2009 The Great Hall, The Cooper Union Free admission 9:30 am Welcome: Olympia Kazi, Executive Director, Institute for Urban Design Opening Remarks: Anthony Vidler, Dean, The Irwin S. Chanin School of Architecture, The Cooper Union 10:00 am – 11:30 am MEGAPROJECTS IN SUBURBS Lawrence Levy, Executive Director, National Center for Suburban Studies at Hofstra University David Manfredi, Principal, Elkus Manfredi Architects Myron Orfield, Professor of Law; Executive Director, Institute on Race & Poverty, University of Minnesota Tom Suozzi, Nassau County Executive (TBC) Moderator: June Williamson, Associate Professor, Spitzer School of Architecture, The City College of New York / CUNY 11:30 am – 1:00 pm MEGAPROJECTS AS NEW TOWNS Chris Corr, Regional Chair, Planning, Design and Development, AECOM, Florida Tom Jost, Director of Urban Planning, ARUP, New York Emily Talen, Professor, School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning, School of Sustainability, Arizona State University James von Klemperer, Principal, Kohn Pedersen Fox Architects Moderator: Robert Fishman, Professor, School of Architecture and Planning, University of Michigan 2:00 pm – 4:30 pm MEGAPROJECTS IN THE DENSE METROPOLIS Keynote: Scott Stringer, Manhattan Borough President Vishaan Chakrabarti, Marc Holliday Professor of Real Estate Development; Director, Real Estate Development Program, Graduate School of Architecture, Planning & Preservation, Columbia University Susan Fainstein, Professor, Department of Urban Planning and Design, Graduate School of Design, Harvard University Jeff Madrick, Senior Fellow, Schwartz Center for Economic Policy Analysis, The New School Thom Mayne, Founder, Morphosis Architects Moderator: Peter Grant, The Wall Street Journal http://www.ifud.org/arrested-development/