The practice of architecture has moved from a position of discrete knowledge, localized influence, and professional responsibilities to one of multiple knowledge bases, global implications, and multi-disciplinary interactions. Fueled by technological change and the imperative for environmental sustainability, this reality has both been formed by educational change and currently provides the challenges for architectural education.

Sustainability has become at best a paradigm shift in environmental design and social justice and at worst simply a new marketing strategy for cars, corporations, and institutions. Given the complexity and scope of the issues and the importance of the beneficiary it cannot be left to others to define. Architecture students and faculty must participate in the dialogue and offer up the tests and research of our disciplines' boundaries that help lead the way.

At the same time, it must respond to the environmental and social challenges facing the practice of architecture. Ultimately, these challenges will not be solved through technological solutions alone. Given the complexity of the issues, our response will require environmental ethics, interdisciplinary perspective, radical innovation, and beauty of the exceptional kind. It will require a change in values where architecture's capacity to connect us to our environment and to each other becomes imperative.

Bruce Lindsey
Dean
E. Desmond Lee Professor for Community Collaboration