Barcelona
All the World’s Watching
Technology has made a global practice possible for everyone. Join more than 1,400 architects at the fourth-annual World Architecture Festival (WAF) in Barcelona, Nov. 2–4. Billed as the world’s largest interactive global design awards program, the event draws together designers, product manufacturers, provocateurs, and thought-leaders from 65 countries. One of the highlights will be the Gallery, which will offer more than 700 designs from 59 countries.

Learn more at worldarchitecturefestival.com.

New York
Site Work
The AIA, Culture Now, and AIA New York City pilot a new public engagement tool allowing architects and others to stream stories about new and iconic buildings of New York via the Web and smart phone platforms. The service, offered through Broadcastr, uses streaming audio of designers sharing insights into their work. To be included: America’s Favorite Architecture poll winners matched with post-9/11 voices from design. AIA New York’s Archtober participants will join the mix next month, and the AIA hopes to bring this service to other cities in 2012.

Learn more at broadcastr.com and click Featured.

Atlanta
Growing Diversity
Fostering professional diversity is every architect’s responsibility, and, since its founding in 1971 at the AIA National Convention in Detroit, the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) has been on the front lines. NOMA celebrates its 40th anniversary this month in Atlanta by hosting its annual conference, entitled “Architects as Visionaries.” Scheduled events include student presentations for a “transit village” at Atlanta’s Ashby MARTA station as well as the results of a professional design competition. The conference takes place Oct. 20–22.

Learn more at noma.net.

New York
Archtober
Why take a week to celebrate architecture when you can take the whole month? Archtober is currently under way in New York, hosted by AIA New York, the Center for Architecture Foundation, and Openhousenewyork. Lectures, tours, films, exhibitions, and what organizers promise to be “special access to sites” underscore not only the general value of design, but how architecture shapes our everyday lives.

Learn more at archtober.org.

Washington, D.C.
Best Practices
Design is serious business and you need serious advice. The AIA’s Practice Management Knowledge Community has reorganized, culled, and expanded the online compendium of nearly 400 AIA Best Practices, which now align with The Architect’s Handbook of Professional Practice. Best Practices continue to evolve, and you can join the discussion by emailing [email protected].

Learn more at aia.org/practicing/bestpractices/index.htm.