2025 RAIC Conference on Architecture Call for Proposals

Successful proponents will receive:

• Continuing Education presenter certificate
• One (1) night accommodation at the Hotel Bonaventure Montréal (for up to two presenters who reside outside Montréal)
• One (1) Conference Day pass (same day as session)
• 25% discount to upgrade to another pass type (multi-day, All-Access, education pass, social events)

The RAIC does not provide financial compensation or honoraria to presenters.

Successful continuing education sessions will be scheduled for in-person presentation between June 1 and 4, 2025. Due to the complexity of scheduling, the RAIC will assign the date and time for each continuing education session. Details will be included in confirmation letters sent to successful session proponents.

In addition to in-person presentation, successful proponents will be asked to record their presentation in March-April 2025 (to be used for post-event, on demand access). The RAIC is striving to increase accessibility of conference to those who would not otherwise be able to attend and on-demand access offers opportunities to those who cannot attend in person. It also offers increased visibility to speakers. Preference will be given to proposals that indicate agreement for both in-person and pre-recording participation.

The RAIC welcomes everyone to submit a proposal. We are committed to equity and justice as well as inclusion across ethnicity, colour, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability and age.

Sessions must be a total of 60 minutes in length—45 minutes of presentation content.  A 15-minutes Q&A period must be included within the presentation format.

Speaker benefits are provided for a maximum of two speakers. For submissions with more than one speaker, the first speaker will be identified as the main point of contact. All communication will be sent to the first speaker—and they will be responsible for communicating conference information with the other speaker. Each speaker may identify one email address that they wish to copy on all correspondence. Speakers can submit more than one proposal.

If your session proposal has more than two speakers, two must be identified for presenter benefits.

The session title and description should accurately reflect content and include all of the elements listed below. Both the title and description will be published in the program and should stand alone and clearly convey what the presentation will cover.

In designing the session, opportunities for interaction amongst participants is encouraged. Proposals should be educational and cannot be promotional in nature. Proposals that are promotional or commercial in nature will be deemed ineligible for consideration.

The session title should be a maximum of 80 characters.

The session description should be a maximum of 1,050 characters. The RAIC may edit the length, clarity, or language in the proposal.

The RAIC 2025 Conference on Architecture has eight (8) themes. Each proposal should focus on one of the following:

• Climate Action, Sustainability and Adaptation
  • Examples include but are not limited to:
    • Regenerative design
    • Building Envelope Design
    • Resilient design
    • Thermal performance
    • Building systems, materials and assembly
• Diversity, Equity and Social Justice
  • Examples include but are not limited to: 
    • Design justice
    • Equitable design and architecture
    • Design for racial and social equity
    • Democratic design
    • Inclusive design
    • Truth and Reconciliation
• Indigenous-Led Architecture*
  • Examples include but are not limited to
    • Indigenous pedagogy
    • Traditional knowledge
    • Indigenous tools, methods, and processes
    • Indigenous-led design process
• Health, Safety, and Accessibility 
  • Examples include but are not limited to: 
    • Pandemic / Post pandemic design
    • Universal design
    • Health and Wellness
    • Long term care design
    • Fire safety
• History, Heritage and Culture
  • Examples include but are not limited to:
    • Heritage conservation
    • Adaptive reuse
    • Adaptive reuse of heritage buildings
    • Architectural history
    • Architectural Theory
• Heritage conservation
  • Adaptive reuse
  • Adaptive reuse of heritage buildings
  • Architectural history
  • Architectural theory
• Housing, Planning and Urbanism
  • Examples include but are not limited to:
    • Higher density design
    • Urban interventions
    • Mixed-use developments
    • Urban infrastructure
• Innovation in Materials, Technology and Construction
  • Examples include but are not limited to: 
    • Innovative construction materials
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • 3D printing
    • Innovative material applications
• The Practice and Business of Architecture 
  • Examples include but are not limited to: 
    • Business development and operations
    • Firm finances and risk management
    • Practice methodologies
    • Diversity, equity, and inclusion in practice

If a proposed session does not fall within one of these themes, speakers will have the option to select "Other" and provide an alternative. Although the RAIC will take provided alternatives into account, it may move a successful proposal into one of the eight (8) main streams.

*Proposals submitted under this stream must include at least one speaker that self-identifies as Indigenous.

The proposal should clearly outline four learning outcomes that provide an advanced level of knowledge relevant to the practice or business of architecture.

The purpose of providing well-written learning outcomes is to set the expectations of the participants for the session and clearly state what a learner will be able to do upon completion of the session. Learning outcomes must:

• be clear and concise – keep learning outcomes short and approximately one sentence, they should not be long or complex. 
• begin with the phrase “At the completion of this, participants will be able to...” 
• use verbs consistent with learning domains (see Table 1) 
• avoid words like appreciate, approach, improve and understand 

Learning outcomes should be formatted like this example : “At the end of this session, participants will be able to describe why it is important to <consider risk in design>”.

Reference

Anderson, L. W., & Krathwohl, D. R. (2001). A Taxonomy for learning, teaching and assessing: A revision of Bloom’s Taxonomy of Educational Objectives. New York: Longman.

A short biography for each speaker must be included with the proposal. Biographies should be a maximum of 1,050 characters, in narrative form, and finalized as they will appear in the Conference program. The RAIC may edit for length, clarity, or language use.

Proposals must include a headshot for each speaker with the following specifications:

• Format: Either .png or .jpeg 
• Size: 350px X 420px 
• Black and white 
• Rectangular with background space above and to the left and right of the subject (avoid extreme close-ups) 
• File name: LASTNAME_FirstName

Speakers will have access to a standard AV set up for in-person presentations (laptop, projector, screen, HDMI/VGA cables and audio). Room layout will be finalized by the RAIC within 8-weeks of the event. 

In addition to in-person presentation, successful proponents will be asked to record their presentation, to be used for post-event, on demand access. Session recordings will take place in March-April 2025 and will be organized by the RAIC. Recording dates will be provided with acceptance letters.

Session materials (slide deck, handouts) must be submitted no later  than two weeks before your recording date. Presentations must be submitted in PowerPoint format and will be reviewed by the RAIC in advance of Conference. Materials may be published on the RAIC website and mobile application. A PowerPoint presentation template will be provided to successful applicants.

The RAIC works diligently to ensure the highest quality content and delivery of its Conference educational content. Conference proposals will be evaluated by a team using a blind review process.

Submissions are evaluated on the following criteria: 

• A clear and comprehensive session description; 
• The subject matter is relevant to the profession of architecture; 
• Session contributes new information or knowledge on the topic; 
• Includes four clearly articulated learning objectives; 
• Fit within the overarching programming; 

Incomplete submissions will not be evaluated. 

Submissions deemed promotional in nature will not be evaluated.

The RAIC reserves the right to make the final decision for selection for the RAIC 2025 Conference on Architecture program. All submissions are reviewed collectively to realize the best overall program for the conference. Although an individual submission may meet all criteria, it may not be accepted. All applicants will be notified as to the status of the submission (acceptance or non-acceptance) according to the posted timeline. 

Successful proponents will receive:

• Architectural tour leader/ organizer certificate
• One (1) night accommodation at the Conference venue hotel (for up to two presenters who reside outside of Montréal)
• One (1) Conference Day pass (same day as presentation)
• 25% discount to upgrade to another pass type (multi-day, All-Access, education pass, social events)

The RAIC does not provide financial compensation or honoraria to architectural tour leaders.

The tour title and description should accurately reflect tour content and include all the elements listed below. Both the title and description will be published in the program and should stand-alone and clearly convey what the tour will cover.

Note that the RAIC may edit the length, clarity, or language in the proposal. The primary tour leader will be notified if edits are requested to a proposal.

Successful architectural tours will be scheduled June 1 to 4, 2025. Tours will be held in two time slots within the Conference program: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Due to the complexity of scheduling, the RAIC will have final decision on the date and time for each architectural tour. Details will be included in notification letters.

Tours are expected to be 2 to 3 hours in duration including the travel time to and from the Hotel Bonaventure Montréal (the Conference venue).

Tours must accommodate a minimum of 25 participants.

Any costs that are associated with the tour must be clearly outlined in the proposal.

Submitting tour leaders will be asked to specify if the proposed tour is for a project under construction and requires hard hats, construction boots or other equipment.  Tour leaders are responsible for arranging the necessary personal protective equipment (PPE) for tour participants.

The RAIC strives to provide safe, inclusive, and accessible events within the Conference. Local tour proposals must confirm they are accessible so that everyone is able to participate.

Each proposal can have a maximum of two tour leaders. For submissions with more than one tour leader, the first tour leader will be identified as the contact. All communication will be sent to the first tour leader—and they will be responsible for communicating conference information with the other tour leader. Each tour leader will have the option to identify an email address they wish to copy on all correspondence. Tour leaders can submit more than one proposal. If your session proposal has more than two speakers, two must be identified for presenter benefits.

A short biography for each tour leader must be provided. Biographies should be a maximum of 1,050 characters, in narrative form and finalized as they will appear in the Conference program. The RAIC may edit for length, clarity, or language use.

Proposals must include a headshot for each speaker.

Proposals must include a high-resolution image and appropriate credits for promotional use.