Brutalism + the Public University: Past, Present and Future is a two-day collaborative symposium held at UMass Dartmouth on Friday, October 22, 2021 and at UMass Amherst on Saturday, October 23, 2021.

This two-day symposium will provide a unique platform that brings together nation-wide scholars, industry professionals and passionate citizens with an interest in concrete Brutalist architecture and preservation of the architectural icons. The symposium’s goal is to create a dynamic, cross-disciplinary conversation among all participants on how we may conserve and provide stewardship of our buildings for the future. Participants can attend professional workshops and scholarly lectures, tour the campuses, and engage with local artists and community activists in public events.

Details

Friday October 22 at UMass Dartmouth
Claire T. Carney University Library
285 Old Westport Rd, Dartmouth, MA 02747

Saturday October 23 at UMass Amherst
Lincoln Campus Center, 11th Floor Marriott Center
1 Campus Center Way, Amherst, MA 01003

Registration

One Day Registration (UMass Dartmouth OR UMass Amherst): $125.00 by September 20; $150.00 after September 20

Two Day Registration: $200.00 by September 20; $250.00 after September 20

Free to students and UMass faculty with valid university ID (limited student seats, register early)

AIA Continuing Education Units: Day 1 - 4 HSW $25.00; Day 2 - 5.5 HSW total $25.00

Registration includes all symposium sessions, lunch, and breaks on the day(s) you select to attend.

About UMass BRUT

UMass Amherst and UMass Dartmouth have joined forces to create UMass Brut, a collaborative advocacy group of faculty members, staff, students and interested parties dedicated to celebrating, preserving, and re-imagining our mid-century Brutalist public architecture. Organizers include faculty members from the arts, humanities, architecture, and engineering disciplines and staff members from campus planning, capital projects, funding, marketing departments, as well as university curators, gallery directors, and librarians working alongside undergraduate and graduate students from both campuses.

Our mission is to raise awareness of the relevance and international significance of Brutalist architectural heritage. To achieve this goal, UMass Brut is developing a series of multi-year initiatives combining cross-interdisciplinary events, social media, and public outreach campaigns. These activities will promote the importance of these architectural icons and highlight the critical need to preserve them now and for future generations.