When

Oct 8, 9 & 10

2026

Where

Portland, OR

Portland State University · School of Architecture

Format

In Person Conference

Registration required

Registration

Registration is now open. Register now for early-bird pricing.

About the Conference

Indigenous Public Interest Design:
Cultural Knowledge and Practices

The Structures for Inclusion (SFI) Conference will be held at Portland State University on October 8, 9, & 10th 2026, co-organized by Design Corps and The Center for Public Interest Design along with the SEED Network, and ITECK. The theme for the conference is “Indigenous Public Interest Design: Cultural Knowledge and Practices,” and presentations will highlight projects, architects, designers, engineers, and planners that exemplify Indigenous Public Interest Design. This three-day, in-person event will feature speakers and practitioners sharing Indigenous cultural knowledge and practices and their value in the built and natural environments. Registration required for in-person and on-line attendance.

Organizers

First held in 2000 by Design Corps, the purpose of the SFI conferences have been to share the best ideas and practices that are reaching those currently underserved by architecture. So for twenty-six years, Design Corps has hosted SFI conferences with various design organizations showcasing the most impactful ideas and projects addressing Social, Economic and Environmental Design (SEED) utilizing the SEED Evaluator methodology of Design Corps’ SEED Network. This conference will provide a community of shared interests to learn, network and share.

The Center for Public Interest Design (CPID) is a research and action center at Portland State University’s School of Architecture dedicated to inclusive design practices that address the growing needs of underserved communities worldwide. Through research, fieldwork, and community engagement, they promote a mode of practice that is socially conscious, environmentally sustainable, and economically accessible to all. The CPID fosters interdisciplinary collaboration among professionals, faculty, students, and community partners to advance the emerging field of public interest design.

Indigenous Traditional Ecological & Cultural Knowledge (ITECK) – The Indigenous Traditional Ecological & Cultural Knowledge (ITECK) Program tends to the land in and around what is now called Portland, Oregon, while cultivating community amongst Indigenous peoples, cohorts, and our plant and animal relatives. This transdisciplinary, multifunctional program interweaves ITECK within Western academic structures to uplift Indigenous voices and reclaim the urban landscape for food, medicine, and ceremony. The ITECK Program engages with local Tribes and the urban Native community and provides educational opportunities for K-12 and PSU students. We strive to advance Indigenous science and ways of knowing through collaborative projects and advising with agency partners, local non-profits, and programs within Portland State University and the region.

Schedule

3 - 5 PM

ITECK Center

Registration

4 - 5:30 PM

ITECK Center

Salmon Sampling Social

5:30 - 7 PM

Lincoln Hall Auditorium

Registration Continues

6 - 6:30 PM

Lincoln Hall Auditorium

Opening Ceremony + Address

6:30 - 7:30 PM

Lincoln Hall Auditorium

Keynote

8 - 8:30 AM

NASCC

Registration & Coffee

8:30 - 10 AM

Sharing Knowledge Sessions

Location TBD

Location TBD

Location TBD

Location TBD

10:30 AM - 12 PM

Sharing Knowledge Sessions

Location TBD

Location TBD

Location TBD

Location TBD

12 - 1 PM

NASCC

Lunch

1 - 2:30 PM

Sharing Knowledge Sessions

Location TBD

Location TBD

Location TBD

Location TBD

3 - 4 PM

Lincoln Hall Auditorium

Panel Discussion

4:15 - 5:15 PM

Lincoln Hall Auditorium

Keynote

5:15 - 5:30 PM

Lincoln Hall Auditorium

Closing Remarks

6 PM

Local Bar TBD

Evening Mixer

8 - 8:30 AM

Lincoln Hall Auditorium

Check In & Coffee

8:30 - 9:45 AM

Lincoln Hall Auditorium

Awards Presentation

9:45 - 10 AM

Break

10 - 10:45 AM

Lincoln Hall Auditorium

Keynote

10:55 - 11:40 AM

Lincoln Hall Auditorium

Panel Discussion

11:40 AM - 12 PM

Lincoln Hall Auditorium

Closing Remarks + Ceremony

12 - 1 PM

Lunch

Self Provided

1 PM

Tours Depart

Tours are subject to change. More info soon.

Location TBD

Location TBD

Location TBD

Location TBD

Location TBD

Accessibility

The Structures for Inclusion conference at PSU in Portland, Oregon aims for an inclusive, accessible event that enables all individuals, including people with disabilities, to engage fully. Participants requiring accommodations should contact Bryan Bell at Bryan@designcorps.org or info@designcorps.org by Sunday, October 4, 2026. Requests made after this date will be provided to the best of our ability.