Power Where It's Needed: Designing Renewable Energy into Urban Data Centers and Public Space

Name: Power Where It's Needed: Designing Renewable Energy into Urban Data Centers and Public Space
Start: 2026-04-22T19:00:00+00:00
End: 2026-04-22T21:00:00+00:00
Location: AIA Global Campus for Architecture & Design®, 1735 New York Ave NW, Washington, DC 20006, USA

An event at DC CLIMATE WEEK — Commodity Talent LLC Presents :

Every development presents an opportunity to deploy renewable energy where it is needed most — adjacent to demand loads and embedded in the communities it serves. Yet onsite generation is routinely treated as an afterthought: aesthetically inconvenient, financially vulnerable, and among the first items cut during value management. Clean energy migrates to remote sites, disconnected from urban fabric and public life — even as energy-intensive facilities like data centers continue to expand into cities, intensifying local grid demand and overtaxing long distance transmission infrastructure.

This panel argues for a different model. It examines how architects, artists, and developers can position renewable energy systems as core to a building's design identity — a generator of form, materiality, and public meaning. What is the current state of energy-generating materials and integrated systems? How are developers of data centers rethinking the relationship between energy production and site? And where funding mechanisms like percent-for-art programs already exist, can those resources be directed toward infrastructure that is both culturally significant and functionally generative?

AGENDA

Time

3:00 Welcome and framing — moderator

3:05 Presentation — Elizabeth Monoian & Robert Ferry, LAGI

3:15 Presentation — Terry Lee, Garvey Labs

3:25 Presentation — Ernest Popescu, Metrobloks

3:35 Presentation — Trevor Lee, Olin Studio

3:45 Moderated panel discussion

4:10 Audience Q&A

4:30 Refreshments and networking

Moderator: Julia C.K. Stein, public artist and Director at Commodity Talent, whose work centers community engagement, climate justice, and urban infrastructure.

DC Climate Week is not responsible for this event. It is organized by the organizing group, and being listed on the DCCW calendar is not an endorsement of content or partners.

About Power Where It's Needed: Designing Renewable Energy into Urban Data Centers and Public Space in Washington

Power Where It's Needed: Designing Renewable Energy into Urban Data Centers and Public Space is a free independent taking place on Wednesday, April 22, 2026 at AIA Global Campus for Architecture & Design®, 1735 New York Ave NW, Washington, DC 20006, USA, Washington, United States. Attendance is free — register to secure your spot. The event runs for approximately 2 hours.

Power Where It's Needed: Designing Renewable Energy into Urban Data Centers and Public Space — key details

Date:: Wednesday, April 22, 2026
Time:: 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM (America/New_York)
Duration:: 2 hours
Location:: AIA Global Campus for Architecture & Design®, 1735 New York Ave NW, Washington, DC 20006, USA, Washington, United States
Price:: Free
Format:: In-person

What to expect at Power Where It's Needed: Designing Renewable Energy into Urban Data Centers and Public Space

Join this independent over 2 hours for an engaging session of learning, discussion, and networking with fellow attendees.

Who should attend Power Where It's Needed: Designing Renewable Energy into Urban Data Centers and Public Space?

This independent in Washington is ideal for:

designers and UX/UI professionals
data professionals and analytics enthusiasts
sustainability and climate tech professionals

Why attend?

Free to attend — no financial commitment required

Washington event — April 2026

This evening independent is part of the growing events scene in Washington. Whether you're based in Washington or visiting for the independent, it's a great opportunity to connect with the local community. Browse more upcoming events in Washington on Rifio.

Topics and categories

Power Where It's Needed: Designing Renewable Energy into Urban Data Centers and Public Space covers topics including Arts & Culture, Climate, Tech. Find similar events by browsing these topics on Rifio.

Frequently asked questions about Power Where It's Needed: Designing Renewable Energy into Urban Data Centers and Public Space

When is Power Where It's Needed: Designing Renewable Energy into Urban Data Centers and Public Space?: Power Where It's Needed: Designing Renewable Energy into Urban Data Centers and Public Space takes place on Wednesday, April 22, 2026 from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM (America/New_York).
Where is Power Where It's Needed: Designing Renewable Energy into Urban Data Centers and Public Space held?: Power Where It's Needed: Designing Renewable Energy into Urban Data Centers and Public Space takes place at AIA Global Campus for Architecture & Design®, 1735 New York Ave NW, Washington, DC 20006, USA, Washington, United States.
How much does Power Where It's Needed: Designing Renewable Energy into Urban Data Centers and Public Space cost?: Power Where It's Needed: Designing Renewable Energy into Urban Data Centers and Public Space is free to attend. Register on the event page to secure your spot.
How do I register for Power Where It's Needed: Designing Renewable Energy into Urban Data Centers and Public Space?: You can register for Power Where It's Needed: Designing Renewable Energy into Urban Data Centers and Public Space through the original event page on Luma. Click the "View on Luma" button above, or save it to your Rifio account to get reminders.
How long is Power Where It's Needed: Designing Renewable Energy into Urban Data Centers and Public Space?: Power Where It's Needed: Designing Renewable Energy into Urban Data Centers and Public Space runs for approximately 2 hours, from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM (America/New_York).