“Metro Pittsburgh is a living architecture history book,” proclaimed Michelle Fanzo, Executive Director of the Pittsburgh branch of the American Institute of Architects (AIA). AIA Pittsburgh’s 2024 Architecture Week kicks off on October 7 and runs through October 11.
“Architecture is one of the most public of the arts. If you live in any metro area, you simply can’t get away from buildings. They form the spaces of our lives, whether we realize it or not,” Fanzo told TABLE. She hopes people consider that “buildings are not neutral” and come away from Architecture Week with a deeper understanding of the connections between architecture, the character of a place, and social justice.
Pittsburgh Architecture Week Shows That “Buildings Are Not Neutral ”
Architecture Week starts on October 7 with AIA Pittsburgh’s “PechaKucha Night,” an evening of fast-paced conversation with local architectural talent. PechaKucha is a Japanese onomatopoeic word for “chit-chat” and quick talking. It’s a fitting name for a night where presenters each have only 400 seconds to speak. The format was developed by two Japanese architects and has become hugely popular, turning what could be an ordinary keynote into a fun, dynamic environment.
On Tuesday, October 8, AIA Pittsburgh offers an international panel discussion between architects and urban planners from Pittsburgh and Sweden about sustainable design. Wednesday, October 9, features the Imagined Futures workshop, where AIA Pittsburgh invites participants to use AI-assisted tools to make their own designs and learn more about how AI and architecture intersect.
The rest of the week includes a Net-Zero Energy Building Tour at Tree Pittsburgh, an Open Architecture Studio Crawl downtown, and an interactive panel on how to advocate for healthier buildings and communities. The exhibit will then conclude in an exhibit on Art Deco high-rises at a new art gallery off of the Benedum-Trees Building.
A Mix of Fun, Facts, and Insider Knowledge
“We strive to offer a mix of outright fun, surprising facts and insider knowledge, and a view to the future of our built environment,” Fanzo said. She also hopes to prompt people to consider certain questions about the city’s infrastructure, such as: “What could our city be? What’s possible but not yet realized?” (Her answer to that final question is river pools using features of the local landscape for new recreational purposes.)
“AIA Pittsburgh is 125 years old this year. Of course, we appreciate our past. But we are spending more time this year talking about what the next 125 years could look like,” Fanzo said. “How will external forces change our city, and how can we be ready for that? Can we design a building today so that it can be easily deconstructed and recycled in the future? And, how can we design spaces to foster inclusivity, connectivity, and resilience?
Advocating for Change Through Architecture
That theme of resilience and inclusivity will come up in Friday’s panel discussion. “How to Advocate for Change Through Architecture” will take place in East Liberty. This talk feels significant in a neighborhood that has rapidly gentrified in recent years, and was the object of significant (and unsuccessful) urban engineering in decades past. East Liberty has a number of new buildings going up, both commercial and residential.
“At this panel, we’ll share ways to advocate for well-designed buildings and places,” Fanzo explained. “If you know you have choices, then you can advocate for them. This might be in community meetings. It also could be writing a letter to the editor, discussing with a developer or contractor, or simply informing personal choices for your home.” The panel will be at The Detective Building, an award-winning renovation of a 1960s office building.
Regarding what makes architecture in Pittsburgh special, Fanzo said, “Our region’s unique people and industries have produced some truly amazing architecture. We have our steel industry heritage structures. We also are so proud of the way immigrants built homes on our slopes. It’s as if the South Side were Positano, Italy. That’s the skill and ingenuity of everyday people reflected in our built environment. That’s pretty special.”
All events for Pittsburgh Architecture Week are free but require registration via their website.
Story by Emma Riva / Photo courtesy of AIA Pittsburgh
Subscribe to TABLE Magazine‘s print edition.
