AIA Conference Announces Michelle Obama Among Keynote Speakers

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) announced the line-up of keynote speakers for this year’s Conference on Architecture. A’17 will be held April 27 – 29 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando. The theme for the conference is “Anticipating a better tomorrow.” Over three days the keynoters will explore this theme and what it means to anticipate need, challenge, and change in architecture and design.

Former First Lady Michelle Obama will be speaking at the conference on Thursday at 12:50 p.m. during a conversation session. Mrs. Obama has dedicated her life to tackling pressing social issues and championing initiatives that meet community needs. Her groundbreaking work over the past eight years while she was First Lady has shifted public perceptions, altered national conversations, and established her as a global role model.

Additional keynote speakers on day one of the conference include: Alejandro Aravena, co-founder of Elemental; Elizabeth Diller of Diller Scofidio + Renfro; Francis Kèrè, Hon. FAIA, founder Kèrè Architecture; and Michael Murphy, co-founder and executive director of MASS Design Group.

On day two keynote speakers include: David Delgado of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab; Dr. Eve Edelstein, research director of Perkins+Will’s Human Experience lab; Dan Goods of NASA; and Michael Bierut, Designer, design critic and educator.

Day three’s keynote speakers include: Amy Cuddy, Harvard Business School professor; Nòra Demeter, Int’l. Assoc. AIA, Studio director, international architect;  Cheryl McAfee, FAIA, CEO & principal; Michael Ford, Assoc. AIA, Designer, director and instructor; and Frances Anderton,  Radio host, producer and author.

You may also be interested in this article about keynote speakers at MGBCE.