Presenting Stantec Design Quarterly 07: Adapting to change

There has never been a more exciting, yet challenging time to be a designer. As designers, architects, engineers, and planners our responsibilities are expanding as we face rapid changes in our world: accelerated urbanization, climate change, social inequalities, and increased carbon awareness. The decisions we make with our clients have impacts far beyond the design process.

Fifty percent of the buildings that will occupy the planet by 2050 have yet to be designed and built.

Systems thinking and understanding the greater context of the constructs we design and operate within is critical to deliver intelligent and responsive projects. We must identify and understand the right problems to solve in our complex world of conflicting priorities.

Technology will continue to play a central role in leveraging data to design smarter, high-performance buildings to make our cities more efficient and resilient while reducing and ultimately eliminating their carbon footprint.

Humanism must remain central to our mission as designers of communities for people. And despite the often desperate and overwhelming news on climate change, resource depletion, and declining biodiversity—we must remain hopeful and optimistic. Design thinking will be essential in addressing these challenges collectively. As designers, we can make a difference. 

In this issue of the Stantec Design Quarterly, we look at the rapid pace of change and how it’s influencing innovative design and engineering solutions across education, work, community resilience, urban recreation, and healthcare from Sacramento, California, to Perth, Australia.

We invite you to join us in exploring thoughtful design in an age of dramatic change in the Design Quarterly.

Read Design Quarterly 07: Adapting to Change