Every good developer and planner knows that a projects require business acumen, good design, traffic mitigation, community outreach, and all the rest. And of course they must conform to countless public regulations while quieting concerns that rise from the popular chorus. But, despite the built environment’s profound impact on every facet of urban life, considerations of the most fundamental human need, healthcare, is often exiled to spas, gyms, and hospitals.
While the medical industry consumes billions of dollars in public and private money to treat disease and decrepitude, far cheaper and effective opportunities to suppress pandemics including diabetes, lung cancer, and obesity lie in our very buildings, streets, and neighborhoods. This month, the Westside Urban Forum will discuss not only the ways that the built environment can enhance health but also the ways to make health just as important to developers, clients, and public officials alike--as parking requirements, earthquake-proofing, and aesthetics.
Moderator
Dr. Peter C. Whybrow, Director of the Semel Inst. For Neuroscience and Human Behavior, UCLA
Panelists
Phil Hart, PhD., Executive Director, Urban Land Institute-Los Angeles
Dr. Neal Kaufman, Co-Director, UCLA Center for Healthier Children, Families and Communities
Walker Wells, Program Director, Green Building, Cities, and Schools Program, Global Green, USA
