AIASF

Co-presented by AIASF and the Center for Architecture + Design in collaboration with the AIASF International Practice Committee, the 2021 International Waterfront Symposium synthesizes a series of waterfronts panel discussions that took place in 2020. The series explored specific international recommendations for future consideration within the context of current and developing regulatory and project delivery frameworks in San Francisco.

This Symposium brings speakers from local jurisdictions, owners and developers together with designers, planners and waterfront visionaries to find ways to put innovation to work for San Francisco and share San Francisco waterfront perspectives with the world. We present this at a time when reduced port activity, underutilized land and sea-level rise present unique development opportunities and challenges to San Francisco’s waterfronts. San Francisco is one of the world’s most well-known and storied global waterfront cities but it now faces significant challenges in protecting its historic assets, improving resilience, activating and improving access along its diverse waterfront edge. International designers offer lessons learned and innovative tools through their successful waterfront planning, design and development for consideration by local owners, developers and regulators.

The presentations will be lined up in four sessions over two days and include input from owners, regulators, developers as well as international design practices on global waterfront projects. The synthesis of viewpoints will offer valuable insight and solutions for current challenges facing the City of San Francisco’s waterfront and provides a point of common dialog between designers, owners and developers during panels that are moderated by well-established thought leaders from respected media publishers.