Beyond Human: Leveraging the Power of Intelligence

Join ASLA New York, AIA New York, and APANY Metro for PlanScapeArch 2025, a groundbreaking conference that dares to look “Beyond Human” towards how intelligent technologies can become catalysts for building a more resilient, biodiverse, and thriving future across NYC’s unique ecosystems and communities. At this pivotal moment, where the widespread application of radical technologies is poised to dramatically transform how we design, build, and govern our urban landscapes, it isn’t just about new tools; it’s about a fundamental shift in our collective practice.

Beyond Human: Leveraging the Power of Intelligence will explore the exciting intersection of designing for the well-being of all living things within the metropolitan New York City region and harnessing the immense power of artificial intelligence and computational design, integrated into the very foundation of our technologies and processes.

Over one intensive day, through insightful keynotes and four focused panel discussions, we will explore multiple perspectives and engage thought-leaders and policymakers in a crucial conversation to reframe the current challenges of this new frontier. Case studies will highlight multi-disciplinary approaches, showcasing how designers, planners, scientists, and engineers are already leveraging these radical new tools to transform the way that we live, work, play, learn, and plan—all without losing sight of our humanity in the age of intelligence.

Keynote Speakers:
Greg Lindsay, Senior Fellow, MIT Future Urban Collectives Lab
Affua V. Addo, MHC, Chief Program Officer, Perception Institute

Speakers:
Session One: Decoding the Urban Ecosystem: Leveraging AI and Data

Anya Domlesky, PLA, Associate Principal & Director of Research, SWA (moderator)
Anthony Townsend, Urbanist in Residence, Cornell Tech
Luc Wilson, Global Director of Design Technology, KPF
Jessica Lax, Senior Advisor, Responsible AI, New Jersey Office of Innovation

Session Two: Intelligent Technologies in Design

Mark Gardner, AIA, NOMA, Principal, Jaklitsch/Gardner Architects; Assoc. Professor, Parsons School of Design 2025 President-Elect, AIA New York (moderator)
Thomas Bates, Director of Visualization, VDMO
Paul Keskeys, Publisher and Editor in Chief, Architzer
Ana Gabriela Loayza, Architectural Designer and AI Lead, BIG NYC
Jacob Reidel, AIA, Editor and Co-Founder, CLOG

Session Three: Beyond the Buzz: AI’s Real Impact on Planning, Design, and Development in NYC

Part 1:
   Kevin Corte, Principal/Founder, Alumni Planning Solutions (moderator)
   Tyce Herman, CEO, Ulama
   Pablo Sepulveda, RA, LEED AP BD+C, Founder, Zoning Lead, Zlvas
Part 2:
   Robert Holbrook, Executive Director, Get Stuff Built (moderator)
   Andrew Buck, Senior Urban Planner and Technologist, VHB
   Vivien Krieger, Partner in Real Estate, Akerman
   AJ Pires, AIA, President, Alloy Development

Session Four: Ethics, AI, and the Future of Community Engagement

Megan Marini, LEED AP, Principal, 3×3 (moderator)
Rajesh Sankat, Program Strategist, 3×3 (presenter)
Jamil Ellis, Founder and CEO, Unified Ground
Gayatri Kawria, PhD, Adjunct Assistant Professor, Columbia GSAPP
Nneka Sobers, Deputy Director, NYC Innovation
Sarah Williams, Associate Professor of Technology and Urban Planning, MIT

Program Schedule
8:30–9:00 am: Check in with coffee and bagels
9:00–9:15 am: Opening remarks
9:15–9:45 am: Keynote: Greg Lindsay
9:45–11:00 am: Session One: Decoding the Urban Ecosystem: Leveraging AI and Data
Analytics to Understand and Enhance NYC’s Biodiversity
11:00–11:15 am: Break
11:15 am–12:30 pm:  Session Two: Intelligent Technologies in Design
12:30–1:30 pm: Lunch and Networking 
1:30–2:45 pm: Session Three: Beyond the Buzz: AI’s Real Impact on Planning, Design, and Development in NYC
2:45–3:00 pm: Break
3:00–4:15 pm: Session Four: Ethics, AI, and the Future of Community Engagement
4:15–4:45 pm: Closing Keynote: Affua V. Addo, MHC
4:45-5:00 pm: Closing Remarks
5:00–6:30 pm: Reception

6 LU/HSW AIA credits and 6 LA CES HSW have been approved. (Credits are registered for by morning and afternoon sessions; attendees will need to sign in for each session on the day of the event for full credit.)
APA Credits are in process.