EDRA56

Host Committee Members

  • Lewis Blagogie Dalhousie University - Faculty of Architecture and Planning
  • Bobbi Bowering Dalhousie University - Faculty of Architecture & Planning
  • Shannon Fernandes Halifax Regional Municipality - Climate Adaptation
  • Dr. Patricia Manuel Dalhousie University - School of Planning
  • Dr. Susanne Marshall Dalhousie Architectural Press
  • Solange Richer de Lafleche Dalhousie University - Faculty of Architecture and Planning
  • Eric Stotts Stotts Architecture
  • Dr. Chad Walker Dalhousie University - School of Planning,
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EDRA56

2025

The EDRA56 (Environmental Design Research Association) Conference brought more than 450 researchers and practitioners from around the world to Halifax in 2025, putting Dalhousie University and our city on the global environmental design map. With its focus on the relationships between people and their environments, the event tackled urgent themes such as climate change, social and climate justice, health and wellness, and the design of human-centered spaces.

Delegates included environmental psychologists, planners, architects, climate scientists, and graduate students, who not only presented research but also took part in mentorship workshops and hands-on experiences.

The event was uniquely Halifax, with the program featuring immersive field trips to learn about the context, site history, and progress of the Cogswell Interchange redevelopment, tour Dartmouth’s coastal remediation projects, see Omar Gandhi’s award-winning, accessible viewing platform at Peggy’s Cove, and assess coastal change and park planning and development on McNabs Island. These local experiences allowed attendees to directly engage with the environmental and social challenges facing our coastal city.

Role of the Host Committee

Behind the scenes, the Host Committee played a vital role in bringing EDRA56 to life. Co-chairs Chad Walker and Susanne Marshall, supported by a dedicated local team, invested nearly a full year of effort into every detail of the event, from designing the program and reviewing papers to coordinating venues, student engagement, and communications. Their commitment ensured that the conference not only ran smoothly but also authentically reflected Halifax’s context and challenges.

By integrating local expertise and issues, mobilizing community members and students, and managing the complexities of conference design and logistics, the committee helped create a meaningful and memorable experience for attendees, while showcasing Halifax as a great host city  and a meaningful contributor to global conversations on climate and environmental design.

Sustianability