International Archive of Women in Architecture Center to host symposium at Virginia Tech

In celebration of Women’s History Month in March, the International Archive of Women in Architecture Center, the College of Architecture and Urban Studies, and University Libraries will host a two-day symposium March 25-26 on Virginia Tech’s campus featuring two special exhibitions and three speakers.

The speakers and exhibitions are free and open to the public.

The Cube at the Moss Arts Center will house the exhibition “30 x 30” from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 25 and 26. The installation celebrates the first 30 years of the IAWA by showcasing the work of 30 women from the archives. Supporting the goals to increase awareness and record the formative history of women in architecture, the exhibition maps the full range of the archive, offers a preview of the treasures within, and is a reminder of the urgency of saving collections otherwise too easily lost to time.

Special Collections, located on the ground floor of Newman Library, will display selected original items and papers from women of the IAWA archives from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 25 and 26.

On March 25, three speakers will give presentations in Cowgill Hall room 300:

• • Architect Kristine K. Fallon is scheduled to speak at 10 a.m. on “Centrality of Information to Building.” This presentation draws on project experience to provide insight into software techniques, development and application of open data standards, and changes in traditional industry practices that improve the reliability of the project process as well as the long-term performance of buildings.
• • Architectural historian, educator, and curator Anna P. Sokolina will speak at 11 a.m. on “Architecture Profile of the Communist Utopia.” The construction of a shared identity of communist utopia in East Germany and the former Soviet Union is explored through the lens of a dramatic struggle between historical tradition and prefabrication.
• • At 1 p.m., keynote speaker Laura P. Spinadel will present “Playing from the Inside. Interactions and operational randomness. A new Chapter in Vienna’s Urban History: the Campus WU.” BUSarchitecktur has been working on issues affecting contemporary society since it was founded in 1986. BOA office for advanced randomness, has been developming cultural interactions since its establishment in 2003. Through their proposals, both companies develop realistic utopias that help value and redefine the inherited legacy in a conscientious and committed way. Spinadel's presentation is is sponsored by the Austrian Cultural Forum.
  

In addition to these exhibits and speakers, the IAWA will host a special pre-symposium workshop on March 23 in Cowgill Hall room 300 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.  The workshop, “Gameboard of Realization,” will explore novel tools for negotiating and evaluating spatial qualities. The workshop will be directed by Laura P. Spinadel. 

For the presentations in Cowgill Hall, free parking is available in Perry Street Lots and the Perry Street Parking Garage near Prices Fork Road with a visitor’s pass. A visitor’s pass may be obtained Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Visitor Information Center, located at 965 Prices Fork Road, near the intersection of Prices Fork and University City Boulevard next to the Inn at Virginia Tech and Skelton Conference Center. Parking for the Moss Arts Center is available in the North End Parking Garage on Turner Street. Virginia Tech faculty and staff possessing a valid Virginia Tech parking permit can enter and exit the garage free of charge. Limited street parking is also available. Parking on Alumni Mall is free on weekdays after 5 p.m. and on weekends.