MSU’s School of Planning, Design and Construction to host built environment conference

The Michigan State University (MSU) School of Planning, Design and Construction (SPDC) hosted a conference for architecture, planning, construction, landscape and design professionals.

CONTACT: Robin Rennie; MSU School of Planning, Design and Construction; Office: 517- 884-2502, rennier@msu.edu; or Heidi Charron, MSU Land Policy Institute, Office: 517-432-8800 x 109, charron@landpolicy.msu.edu

EAST LANSING, MICH.—The Michigan State University (MSU) School of Planning, Design and Construction (SPDC) will host an Oct. 25 conference for architecture, planning, construction, landscape and design professionals called the Built Environment Showcase – Today and Tomorrow (BESTT).

The free conference, set for the Huntington Club (formerly the Spartan Club) in MSU’s Spartan Stadium, will take place from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. It will bring together representatives from the industries and professions that create the built environment to:

  • Showcase the impact of this sector on the Michigan and U.S. economies;
  • Provide the opportunity for interaction between representatives of the industries that make up this sector; and
  • Explore new public/private partnerships.

This sector provides the setting for human activity, including buildings, parks, green space, neighborhoods, cities and supporting infrastructure. It is created via planning, design, construction and also involves real estate, redevelopment, maintenance, materials, transport and energy.

In Michigan, firms in the built environment economic sector provide more than 370,000 jobs in more than 60,000 firms and generate more than $103 billion in direct revenues.

“BESTT represents a tremendous opportunity for the built environment sector to come together with MSU and state and local government to spark the creation of new places, renovate old ones and make a major contribution to Michigan’s economic recovery,” said  MSU professor and SPDC director Scott Witter.

In addition to a day-long exhibitor showcase featuring Michigan-based built environment companies, firms and organizations, BESTT will feature a session titled, “Placemaking and its Effects on the Built Environment.” The presenters will be Gary Heidel, executive director for the Michigan State Housing Development Authority; and Mark Wyckoff, senior associate director of the MSU Land Policy Institute, and director of the Planning & Zoning Center.

MSU professor of economics Charles Ballard will moderate an interactive forum on the built environment to include representatives from the industry and state government. They will lead a discussion on the sector’s status and potential for the future. Confirmed panelists include:

  • William Rustem, director of strategy for Gov. Rick Snyder;
  • Andrea Brown, executive director of the Michigan Association of Planning;
  • Alan Cobb, senior vice president of Albert Kahn; and
  •  Len Pilon, workplace strategy leader – Ideation for Haworth, Inc.

The event will include materials, lunch, refreshments and parking validation. Though there is no admission fee, preregistration is required by Oct. 17. To register or learn more, visit http://bestt.spdc.msu.edu.

http://www.anrcom.msu.edu/anrcom/news/item/msus_school_of_planning_design_and_construction_to_host_built_environment_c

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