The future of architecture and the public realm will be the topic for discussion in New York on October 19 as some 300 architects and designers gather in the historic Masonic Hall for Architectural Record’s annual daylong Innovation Conference. “We wanted to explore the expanding role of architects in designing social infrastructure and making architecture engage the public sphere,” says RECORD editor in chief Cathleen McGuigan. “The design community has the opportunity to assume a leadership role in the future of urban spaces as cities increasingly plan projects based on changing needs.”

Sessions will include discussions led by the curators of the 2017 Chicago Architecture Biennial, Sharon Johnston and Mark Lee; New York Times architecture critic Michael Kimmelman; OMA New York partner and director Shohei Shigematsu; architect Brendan MacFarlane of Jakob + MacFarlane; and Weiss/Manfredi founding partners Michael Manfredi and Marion Weiss, who is a 2017 recipient of RECORD's Women in Architecture awards.