TOPIC AREAS

LOCAL SOLUTIONS FOR GLOBAL ISSUES

April 8-11, 2026 Atlanta, Georgia, USA I Hosted by Kennesaw State University
Conference Co-Chairs: Jeffrey Collins and Giovanni Loreto

Architecture Building at Kennesaw State University

LOCAL SOLUTIONS FOR GLOBAL ISSUES
In today’s era of constant connectivity and instant gratification, it’s easy to lose sight the vastness of our world. Spanning 197 million square miles of land and water, encompassing 193 recognized countries, and home to a population of 8 billion people speaking 7,000 languages, the magnitude of global issues like climate change, pollution, uneven access to resources, and insecurity can be overwhelming. Yet, throughout history, individuals have demonstrated the power to effect change through their actions, discoveries, and innovations. Our conference theme underscores the pivotal role played by architects, researchers, and educators in addressing global issues at the local level. Whether through pioneering sustainable materials and fabrication techniques, or engaging with communities needs and shaping meaningful narratives, our collective endeavors yield tangible results. To amplify these efforts and catalyze meaningful change on a global scale, it is essential that we share our local successes and insights with others. With this in mind, our conference will facilitate dialogue on the effectiveness of local solutions in tackling global challenges, while also exploring avenues for their adaptation and implementation elsewhere. By convening in Atlanta—a city renowned for its cultural vibrancy, historical significance, and burgeoning technological landscape—we aim to harness the spirit of collaboration and innovation.

> Technologies of Place
Localized Innovation for Global Impact | How emerging and traditional technologies are adapted across contexts to address pressing global challenges in construction, energy, infrastructure, and resilience.

> Design for Health and Wellbeing
Built Environments that Care | Exploring how architecture promotes physical, mental, and social wellness — from neighborhood interventions to systemic responses to global health inequities.

> Historical Perspectives and Grounded Practices
Past in Practice | Bridging historical insight with contemporary action, this track explores how theory, tradition, and regional knowledge inform built work and design processes. It invites research that engages the past — from vernacular methods to cultural narratives — and translates these understandings into context-responsive, real-world solutions.

> Policy as Design Catalyst
Local Frameworks for Global Impact |  This track investigates how zoning, planning, codes, and policy tools shape architectural and urban outcomes. It highlights how locally driven decisions and regulatory frameworks influence material use, density, land stewardship, housing, and environmental performance, offering scalable models that can lead to broad social and environmental transformation.

> Pedagogies of Engagements
Learning from People and Place | Rethinking architectural education through site-based learning, civic engagement, and interdisciplinary collaboration rooted in local experience with global relevance.

> Open Track
Emerging Voices and Ideas | A space for work that addresses the conference theme from unexpected, transdisciplinary, or unconventional perspectives.

> Open Track
This track will include topics not directly addressed in the categories above but offer interesting perspectives on the broad conference theme and emerging challenges.

Contact
Direct inquiries to:
Barbara Klinkhammer
barbara.klinkhammer@jefferson.edu