IASS 2024

Each week, one of the IASS 2024 Symposium Chairs answers four questions about the upcoming event. This week we spoke to Prof. Dr. Catherine De Wolf.

Can you share any insights into the selection process for speakers and presentations? What can participants look forward to keynote speaker wise?

We invited speakers who were inspiring pioneers in the world of construction and who combined not only Efficiency, Economy and Elegance but also Environment and Ethics in their structural design approach. Some of the speakers were my mentors, teachers and colleagues, some of them I’m looking forward to meeting for the first time. I look up to all of them as they all have always used building materials for what they are good for and inspired architects and engineers globally to design responsibly and beautifully. 

What will be different at this year’s IASS 2024 symposium than in last editions?

A strong emphasis on environment and ethics is crucial for how we view the future of the IASS community for inspiring practice and academia in this creative field. 

What do you look forward to during the symposium?

Learning about cutting-edge environmental and ethical structural design research and finding synergies with construction practitioners and researchers globally, so that we can connect the dots to, together, tackle the biggest challenges our industry is facing today, such as our sectors’ social and environmental impact. I believe creativity is the art of connecting. 

Why is IASS 2024 a great place to meet?

As an inclusive community, it goes beyond great structural design. As a hub for innovation, IASS 2024 unites a diverse community of engineers, architects, designers, and builders. Together, they shape a promising future where technology, art, and societal needs converge. We will exchange the latest knowledge about  historical and contemporary excellence in structural design. It not only celebrates the legacy of influential figures like Heinz Isler but also embraces groundbreaking advancements in digital fabrication and industrialized construction of today. We are not just meeting, we will be redefining the art of structural design through a lens of efficiency, economy, elegance, environmental consciousness, and ethics, together.

David Campbell P.E. is the IASS 2024 Honorary Member Speaker. He has a distinguished record of outstanding achievement in the field of spatial structures. Geiger Engineers, a company that he co-founded, specialises in long-span structures, tensile membrane structures and structures and mechanisms for sports and live entertainment venues and events. David has been responsible for the tensile membrane roof of Canada Harbour Place in Vancouver, the Lindsay Park Centre in Calgary, the Redbird Arena at Illinois State University and the air-supported roof of BC Place in Vancouver. We look forward to hearing about your work, David!

Get to know David and his work here.

Sarah Springman completes our keynote roaster. Sarah is a renowned geotechnical engineer and a pioneer in the study of soil-structure interaction and geological mass movements, which are becoming increasingly common due to climate change. Professor Dame Sarah Springman DBE, FREng, is the Principal at St Hilda’s College, University of Oxford. She also was the first female Professor of Geotechnical Engineering in Western Europe and the first female Professor of Civil Engineering in Switzerland at ETH Zurich. Welcome home, Sarah!

Get to know Sarah and her work here.

We are pleased to announce that John Ochsendorf will be giving a keynote at IASS 2024. John has uniquely combined his interests in engineering, archeology, and architectural history to become a leading authority on ancient building structures as well as sustainable design. He is an engineer, educator, and designer on the MIT faculty since 2002. We look forward to welcoming you in Zurich, John!

Get to know John and his work here.

We are happy to announce Dr. Anupama Kundoo as a keynote speaker at IASS 2024. Anupama is an architect who cultivates a holistic practice that combines theoretical investigation, material research and sustainable building methods. Anupama advocates for an abundance of and investment in human resources to encourage ingenuity and places emphasis on time, skill, care and community cohesion. She believes that a focus on structural design can pave the way for a new materiality and new forms. We look forward to your contribution at the IASS 2024 Symposium, Anupama!

Read more about Anupamas and his work here.

Laurent Ney, structural engineer and architect, will deliver a keynote speech at IASS 2024. His approach is characterised by research-driven design, focusing on optimisation and innovative form-finding techniques, thereby transcending traditional, hierarchical construction solutions. As the founder of Ney & Partners, a well-known engineering firm with offices in various parts of the world, Laurent brings invaluable experience and inspiration to the event. We are happy to you on board!

Read more about Laurent and his work here.

We are delighted that architect Mariam Issoufou will be giving a keynote speech at IASS 2024. Mariam’s work is guided by the belief that architects have an important role to play in creating spaces that have the power to elevate, dignify, and provide a better quality of life. She founded atelier masōmī, an architecture and research practice that tackles public, cultural, residential, commercial and urban design projects. Mariam, we look forward to hearing your input during the symposium!

Read more about Mariam and her work here.

We are pleased to announce the first keynote speaker for the IASS 2024 Symposium. Neil Thomas, founder of Atelier One, will enrich us with his presence this summer. In his work, Neil believes in a holistic approach to structural design, with active engagement throughout the design process. Form must follow function, there can not be a disconnect between architecture and engineering. We look forward to welcoming you in Zurich, Neil!

Read more about Neil and his work here.

Go to registrations

We are happy to announce that the IASS 2024 Registration is now open! Early Bird, full-registrations will be on sale from 1 March through to 31 May 2024. Thereafter, regular prices will apply. Ticket prices are categorised for IASS Members, non-Members, for both students and professionals. Get your ticket! Go to Registrations.

IASS 2024 is hosted by the National Centre of Competence in Research Digital Fabrication (NCCR DFAB) at the Institute of Technology in Architecture (ITA) of ETH Zurich. The NCCR DFAB is Switzerland’s initiative to lead the development and integration of digital technologies within the fields of architecture and construction. The conference chairs are Philippe Block, Jacqueline Pauli, Catherine De Wolf and Walter Kaufmann. In the video you can get to know the chairs and get an impression of the beautiful city of Zurich in Switzerland.