Formerly Design on the Delaware, AIA Philadelphia’s Rebranded Regional Conference Will Coincide With The Hallmark Design Festival For The First Time

(Philadelphia, PA) – August 6, 2018 – For the first time, AIA Philadelphia’s annual educational and expo event, the Forum on Architecture + Design (formerly Design on the Delaware), will be held in conjunction with DesignPhiladelphia, kicking off the 10-day festival at BOK in South Philadelphia from October 3-5, 2018. Focused on curating multidisciplinary educational content for designers, civic leaders, product manufacturers, technology providers and real estate developers, the Forum is joining DesignPhiladelphia events in order to create a platform where makers, fabricators and designers can come together, collaborate and exchange ideas with the Philadelphia architecture, engineering and construction community.

Bringing together recognized designers with some of the most established leaders in the industry space, AIA Philadelphia’s Forum on Architecture + Design sets the stage for professional and personal development across disciplines. Through engaging lectures and interactive sessions, the Forum helps effectively articulate how important quality design and architecture are to improving our communities and our future, and attendees gain new perspectives on the issues and opportunities of the built environment in the Delaware Valley region and beyond.

“Thanks to the city’s burgeoning architecture and design scene, our annual conference continues to grow in participation and inspiration every year, and holding it in conjunction with DesignPhiladelphia will only help to preserve its status as one of AIA Philadelphia’s most impressive legacy events,” said Rebecca Johnson, Executive Director of AIA Philadelphia and the Center for Architecture + Design. “BOK is the perfect location to host both the Forum and DesignPhiladelphia because of the collaborative and creative nature that fuels the space. It’s an embodiment of what the conference and festival stand for as organizations and as events, and it will provide the quintessential backdrop for the exhibits and events throughout the 10-day affair.”

This year’s Forum will include over 30 accredited continuing education programs and tours, a three-day expo of member-submitted work – which will remain on display throughout the duration of DesignPhiladelphia, a curated gallery space of installations and exhibits, five keynote sessions featuring nationally and internationally-recognized industry leaders, and several networking and social opportunities.

Open to the public and DesignPhiladelphia attendees, the keynote sessions will take place on Wednesday, October 3 and Thursday, October 4 and will feature some of the largest names in the design and architecture space, who have worked, consulted and designed materials for the likes of Coca Cola, The City of Newark, New York University, MoMA and others.

“We are delighted to bring this eclectic and supremely talented group of premier designers, planners, innovators and architects of national and international acclaim together to showcase and discuss their respective creations and ideas with the public,” said Johnson. “This all-star lineup is truly a celebration and reflection of what the Forum aims to do through creativity, collaboration and community.”

For those looking to access signature events and experience all that the annual conference has to offer, while maximizing exposure to their target audiences, there are a number of opportunities for getting involved through sponsorship and participation, which vary by group category. Specifically:

  • Allied Firm Members can design an installation, showcase a project (both of which will be on display at BOK from Oct. 3-14), attend the Forum, and exhibit at the Forum’s interactive expo
  • Architecture Firms can design an installation, showcase a project, and attend the Forum
  • DesignPhiladelphia Event Partners can host an event at BOK or anywhere in the city, exhibit an installation at DesignPhilly, and attend Forum keynotes

For more information and to register for the Forum on Architecture + Design, visit www.forum-arch-design.org, and to learn more about DesignPhiladelphia, which will take place October 4 – 13, visit www.designphiladelphia.org.