Expanding Architecture: Design as Activism Panel

Metropolis Magazine and Steelcase will hold the final of its four panel discussions, called "Expanding Architecture: Design as Activism," inspired by the book of the same name.

Edited by Bryan Bell and Katie Wakeford of Design Corps, the book is a collection of 30 essays written by practicing architects and designers, urban and community planners, historians, landscape architects, environmental designers and others that question how design can improve the lives of ordinary citizens - ranging from the eradication of social injustice to improvements of the environment beyond employing green and industry certification practices.

The panel series, which launched last November in New York, and traveled to Atlanta and Santa Monica in early 2009, will convene for the final time in Chicago on March 19.

The discussions act as an extension of the book's mission - to ask design leaders to look beyond their normal client scope, which often caters to the few able to afford their services, using their unique skill sets to re-incorporate group consciousness into projects and give back to the greater community.

Susan S. Szenasy, editor-in-chief of Metropolis will once again moderate the panel and discuss notable projects in the Chicago area, as well as additional efforts that will have a positive impact on the community.