School of Architecture and Maxwell School to Co-Host Interdisciplinary Forum on Future of I-81

The School of Architecture and the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs are joining together to co-host an interdisciplinary symposium, “Future Infrastructures: The Over and Under of I-81,” on Thursday, March 22, from 4-6 pm in Slocum Hall Auditorium. The event aims to provide a valuable, fresh perspective to what has already been a long, hotly debated topic within the greater Syracuse community and similarly experienced by many other cities in the U.S. and worldwide.

An underpass of Interstate 81

“Future Infrastructures” will focus on the choices for renovating or re-routing the I-81 elevated highway in Syracuse from both an urban design and public policy perspective. What separates this forum from many others is the coming together of nationally recognized urban design and planning experts in conversation with voices from public policy and political contingents.

Says Syracuse Architecture Associate Professor and Undergraduate Chair Lawrence Davis, one of the event organizers, “Our hope is to create an interdisciplinary dialogue that reaches beyond the university that will inform both the design of the project and policy behind it in ways that consider as many constituencies as possible. We intend to frame our discussion in a way that takes a broader view by, among other things, looking at other cities that have similar challenges with their automotive infrastructure as we have in Syracuse.”

Panelists for the event include: economist Joseph Kane, senior research associate and associate fellow from the Brookings Institution’s Metropolitan Policy Program; Alex Krieger, professor in practice of Urban Design at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design; Jonnell Robinson, a social geographer and assistant professor of geography at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs; and Ben Walsh, mayor of the City of Syracuse. Grant Reeher, director of the Campbell Public Affairs Institute at the Maxwell School, will moderate the discussion.

This event is free and open to the public. For special accessibility concerns, please contact Deb Witter-Gamba: dwitterg@syr.edu; 315.443.0790.

About Syracuse University

Syracuse University is a private, international research university with distinctive academics, diversely unique offerings and an undeniable spirit. Located in the geographic heart of New York State, with a global footprint, and nearly 150 years of history, Syracuse University offers a quintessential college experience. The scope of Syracuse University is a testament to its strengths: a pioneering history dating back to 1870; a choice of more than 200 majors and 100 minors offered through 13 schools and colleges; nearly 15,000 undergraduates and 5,000 graduate students; more than a quarter of a million alumni in 160 countries; and a student population from all 50 U.S. states and 123 countries. For more information, please visit www.syracuse.edu.