Nottingham is proud to be chosen to hold this year’s SCALA conference which will focus on “Innovation in Public Architecture.”

The conference will address the challenges facing public sector clients and design professionals, exploring those issues that are a priority in society generally.

The theme of this year’s event is “Innovation in Public Architecture”, and will cover a number of topics including, Designing for Dementia Care, Achieving wider social and economic benefits through construction procurement and Innovation in Design. These issues will be discussed at the conference which will have presentations from practitioners and users. There will also be an opportunity to see best practice case studies from across the UK. This SCALA event is aimed at design, engineering and property professionals involved in public sector architecture projects, including those who commission these services.

Delegates will arrive in the City on Thursday November 6 and will get the chance to visit the newly completed Mary Potter Centre. The centre opened in June 2008 and offers local residents access to the Nottingham City Council service, GP practices, Nottingham City Primary Care Trust, clinics and Nottingham City Homes services, all under one roof. This will be followed by a visit to the Art Exchange, which is Nottingham’s new contemporary visual arts centre led by African, African Caribbean and South Asian artists (the only one of its kind outside London) and designed by the Architects practice, Hawkins Brown.

Andrea Heinlein, newly elected President of SCALA, will officially start the conference on Friday November 7 at Eastwood Hall. Various speakers from the world of architecture will speak at the event including Martin Gawith of Chief Executive of Greater Nottingham Partnership, Adam Caruso of St Johns Architects and Neil Porter of Gustafon – Porter. The winner of the SCALA Civic Building of the Year Award, for an outstanding piece of public architecture, will also be announced on Friday evening.

Cllr Alan Clark, Portfolio Holder for Neighbourhood Regeneration at Nottingham City Council said: “We welcome delegates across the world of architecture to our city and hope we can provide a showcase of innovative architecture at its best. Delegates will have the opportunity to view our fantastic developments such as the new Art Exchange in Hyson Green and our award winning Old Market Square, as well as talk to the developers behind the projects.”

Throughout the weekend delegates will also have the opportunity to visit Nottingham’s architecture attraction including a conducted tour of the sandstone caves of Nottingham, situated beneath the city centre. The programme has been structured to provide maximum networking opportunities for Delegates and Exhibitors.