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Organisers of WAF – the world’s largest and interactive global architecture event – will be in New Orleans this week at the American Institute of Architecture (AIA) Convention to promote this year’s event and encourage architects to enter the WAF Awards.

Delegates of the AIA Convention can secure free passes with every award entries to WAF 2011 – which takes place in Barcelona, Spain, from the 2nd - 4th of November – by visiting the WAF team at stand 2139.

Paul Finch, WAF Programme Director, said: “We’ve had a great response from American practices. There have been some fantastic projects completed over the last 12 months. WAF is a truly international event and we’re keen to encourage more American practitioners to attend the festival and join the global WAF community.”

Previous American winners have included the development of TKTS Broadway Discount Tickets Booth in Times Square, New York City and the Malama Learning Center in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Returning for the fourth successive year, WAF is a key event in the global architectural calendar following the inaugural Festival in 2008, and has since attracted more than 5,000 delegates from around the world.

The Festival includes a packed programme of presentations, seminars, exhibitions and keynote addresses from international participants.

The WAF Awards, the largest architectural awards programme in the world, will feature at the heart of the Festival. Past entrants have ranged from renowned global architectural firms to small practices (unknown outside their own country). All compete as equals in presenting their designs on a global stage. The interactive format involves shortlisted entrants presenting their projects live to international judging panels and Festival delegates.

In 2011 the awards will be divided into three main sections: Completed Buildings, Structural Design and Future Projects (for designs in progress). Each section includes up to 16 categories.

This year’s progamme of talks will focus on ‘Difference’ and how architects have responded to political, cultural, ethnic, gender, social and economic differences across the world.

The ‘Difference’ thematic feature and speaker programme will also include case studies showing how materials, construction techniques and software programs are making a difference to the way in which architects think about design.

WAF provides a unique meeting point for the architectural community and brings together influential designers, whilst providing an important to showcase what’s going on in the world of architecture.

For more information:
www.worldarchitecturefestival.com