Location:
ACSA Intersections Research Conference
New York, NY
Speaker:
Despina Matzakos
Date & Time:
10.02.2026 | 9:00am - 10:00am
How can urban designers measure and advance spatial justice so that projects not only meet sustainability goals but also create more equitable access to opportunity, resources, health, wealth and community well-being?
Join Mithun designer Despina Matzakos for the session “Urban Design, Power and Place,” to learn about the firm’s research initiative, “Making Equitable Places: A Spatial Justice Performance Framework and Practice Toolkit for Urban Design.” This paper introduces a Spatial Justice Practice Toolkit that helps designers evaluate how urban design decisions influence equity, access and community outcomes, expanding traditional sustainability frameworks to support more inclusive and restorative places. Despina’s co-author is Mithun partner Erin Christensen Ishizaki.
University of Arkansas associate professor of architecture Brian Holland will moderate the session, which incorporates five papers.
Date Posted: 10.02.2026
