A recent festival of ideas called Uncharted proved to be an inspirational, learning experience for Bay Area architect Sandhya Sood, AIA, principal of Accent Architecture+Design. At the end of it, writes Sood, her “brain cells were dancing. Again.”
While a graduate student at UC Berkeley, architect Sandhya Sood relished connecting with fellow international students over ”lip-smacking” ideas.
What she got at Uncharted, she writes, “was a delectable spread of ideas on the edge, tapped from the fertile environment of Berkeley and the San Francisco Bay Area."
The Berkeley Festival of Ideas was held over the weekend of October 25 and showcased prominent speakers that brought together authors, infovores, makers, activists, architects and artists writes Sood.
Moreover, she goes on to say, “Uncharted brought forth not only pioneering thinking but also ideas that matter to all of us in today’s complex, interdisciplinary world. Critical ideas that can elevate humanity, build equitable communities and conserve precious resources to make our world a sustainable place to live, play and work in.”
FULL STORY: Celebrating Uncharted: The Berkeley Festival of Ideas

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Caltrans
City of Fort Worth
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie