Alejandro Echeverri

Architecture, Urbanism, Environmental Projects, and Planning

Date of birth: 05/20/62 Nationality: Colombian Marital status: Married

• Alejandro Echeverri is an internationally architect and planner from Medellín, . He is cofounder and Director of URBAM, the Center for Urban and Environmental Studies at EAFIT . His experience combines architectural, urban, environmental projects and planning. He has also collaborated as professor, lecturer and juror for various international and national architectural institutions. His work earned the National Architectural Award SCA in 1996, the National Urban Planning Award SCA in 2008, the Pan-American Biennale Urban Design Award Quito 2008, the Curry Stone Design Prize in 2009, the 10th Veronica Rudge Green Prize in Urban Design from Harvard 2013, among others. In addition, as The General Manager of the EDU, Empresa de Desarrollo Urbano (Institute for urban development of the municipality) from 2004 to 2005, and the City's Director of Urban Projects for the Municipality of Medellín from 2005 to 2008, where he led the conceptualization and implementation of Social Urbanism, Echeverri has played a crucial role in the improvement of the city. With the support and partnership of the city’s mayor, Sergio Fajardo, Echeverri established public works programs and initiated building a series of visually striking libraries, schools, parks, and community centers in Medellín’s most impoverished areas. The works program included urban integral projects that connect some of Medellín’s poorest and most isolated neighborhoods to the rest of the city. Because of these efforts and his belief in the power of design, Medellín is now considered a blueprint for the future of other cities in the developing world. In addition to his work in Medellín, he also has a broad experience as a national and international consultant and advisor of multidisciplinary teams for urban, environmental and social projects. He also has a wide experience as an architect designing a variety of projects from his studio Alejandro Echeverri + Valencia Architects, in themes such as housing, museums, innovation centers, public spaces, parks etc. His intellectual production includes writing articles for magazines specializing in architecture and urbanism, publishing of books and opinion articles in national newspapers.

EDUCATION

1998-2001 Doctoral Studies in Urbanism and Territorial Planning at ETSAB (Escola Tecnica Superior de Arquitectura) - Barcelona, Spain. Diploma in Advanced Studies in Urbanism and Territorial Planning at ETSAB - Barcelona, Spain.

Research and study travel on the works of Architects Alvaro Siza Vieira and Rafael 1988-1989 Moneo, London, Spain and Portugal.

1982-1987 Architect and Urban Planner, Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana, Medellín, Colombia.

WORK EXPERIENCE 2009-2014 Co-founder and Director of URBAM, Center for Urban and Environmental Studies, University of EAFIT Medellín, Colombia. (Urban think tank) (www.eafit.edu.co/urbam)

• Created the masters program: Urban and Environmental Processes, university of EAFIT, Medellin.

Main Consulting Projects, among others:

Director of PMI “Proyectos Municipales Integrales, para la region del Urabá,” (Holistic

Municipal Plans and Projects for the Uraba Region) for the Government of Antioquia. 2013- 2014.

Senior Regional Consultant for UN Habitat for the Strategic Development Plan Zapopan 2030, Guadalajara Mexico, from 2014.

EGM Expert Group Meeting Participant, Planning Denser Cities Program UN Habitat, Guadalajara Mexico 2014.

Director of “Strategic Intervention for the Macro Project Rio Sur”, for the Government of Medellín. 2014.

“Parque Entre Orillas y Renovacion Urbana del Nuevo Guayabal” (River Link Park and the Urban Renovation of New Guayabal), for Government of Medellín and Cementos Argos. 2013-2014.

Co-founded The initiative “Action Cities Network” that gathers practitioners, academics and policy makers to work on complex urban issues, 2014.

Co-director of “Rehabitar la Montaña” (Shifting Ground), Estrategias y Procesos para un hábitat sostenible en las laderas de Medellín, with the University of Hannover for the Government of Medellín. 2012- 2014.

Active member of Informal Urbanism Hub of the UN Habitat University Initiative, from 2013.

Director of “Urabá, definition of strategic framework for its territorial development” for the Government of Antioquia. 2012-2013.

Director of “Bio 2030, Plan Director para Medellin y el Valle de Aburra”. Master and Strategic Plan for the Aburra Valley, for the Metropolitan Area Organization, 2010-2011.

2005-2008 Director of Urban Projects, Municipio de Medellín.

• Direction of strategy of Social Urbanism and definition of design standards: The PUIs

- Holistic Urban Projects- for the Comuna nor Oriental and Comuna 13, Main

Pedestrian Streets Plan, Strategic Urban Projects, among others. Direction and

Definition of urban intervention criteria of Medellín, during the administration of Mayor

Sergio Fajardo.

• Design of: Explora Park, Science and Park, Paseo Carabobo, Paseo del

Poblado, Paseo 107, Plaza Exposiciones, among others.

2004-2005 Director of EDU, Empresa de Desarrollo Urbano (Urban Development institute)

Municipio de Medellín.

• Director of a number of Urban Strategic Projects and Definition of the management structure for Projects such as the Library Parks, PUIs- Holistic Urban Projects, Renovation Plan for the New North, El Poblado Plan, Downtown Plan, among others.

• Direction of the design and conception of the Bus Rapid Transit System of Medellín Metroplus.

1992-2014 Office of Architecture and Urban Design. Echeverri Arquitectos, with the architect Juan B. Echeverri (1990-1998), AE Arquitectos (2001-2012), Alejandro Echeverri + Valencia Arquitectos, with the architect Guillermo Valencia (from 2013) (www.alejandroecheverri-valencia.com) Works include, among others:

• CIAT, Agricultural Tropical Research Center, Palmira, Valle del Cauca 2014. • Soccer Stadium of the City of Santa Marta, in partnership with Equipo de Mazzanti, 2014. • Public Library of Santa Marta, in partnership with Equipo de Mazzanti, 2013, 2014. • Park of Manzanares River, partnership with Equipo de Mazzanti, Santa Marta 2013. • ARVI Park, information and administrative center, Santa Helena Antioquia, 2012 • House Pelaez, Sopetran Antioquia, 2012 • House Henao Giraldo, Envigado Antioquia, 2012 • Ruta N, Innovation Center of Medellin, 2011. • House Campo Alegre, Antioquia, 2010 • Tres Aguas Park, Caldas Antioquia 2009. • “Ordenamiento de la Cuenca del Rio Aburrá, Zona de expansión urbana y Parque Tres Aguas”, (Urban Design and park of the Río Aburrá,) Caldas, Antioquia 2006- 2007. • Director “Identificación de predios y reordenamiento urbano para proyectos de vivienda en el Municipio de Puerto Berrío”, (urban planning for housing projects for Puerto Berrío Municipality), VIVA, Empresa de Vivienda de La Gobernación de Antioquia (Antioquia’s Housing Governmental Agency). 2002 • Director of the “Hipótesis de Mejoramiento Integral para el Barrio Uribe en Armenia” (Hypothesis for the holistic improvement for the Uribe Neighborhood in Armenia) as a consecuence of an earthquake. The team was composed of architects from the Universidad Pontificia Boliviariana in Medellín and the ETSAB in Barcelona, for the FOREC National Government. 2000-2001

Awards and Recognitions

• 2014, Jury Audi Urban Future Initiative Award, Berlin, Germany. • 2013 The Veronica Rudge Green Prize Award in Urban Design, With the Team of EDU 2004-2008, Municipality of Medellin. Project. PUI Nor Oriental (Holistic Urban Project Nor Oriental) GSD Harvard, Boston, USA. • 2013 First Prize Lápiz de Acero of Architectural Design, Project: Ruta N, Medellin’s Innovation Center. PIA13 Bogota. With Architect Emerson Marin. • 2011 Environmental Responsibility, Gold Seal of Sustainable America in Sustainable Design and Construction, Project: Ruta N, Medellin’s Innovation Center. With architect Emerson Marin. • 2009 Winner of the Curry Stone Design Prize. With Sergio Fajardo Mayor of Medellin. Project: Medellin’s Urban Transformation. • 2009 First Prize Lápiz de Acero Azul of Architectural Design. Project: Parque Explora (Science and Technology Park Museum). PIA09 Bogota. • 2008 National Urban Design Award by National Biennale of Architecture SCA, Colombian Society of Architects. With the Team of EDU 2004-2008, Municipality of Medellin. Project. PUI Nor Oriental (Holistic Urban Project Nor Oriental) • 2008 Pan American Urban Design Award, Pan American Biennale, Quito Ecuador. With the Team of EDU 2004-2008, Municipality of Medellin. Project. PUI Nor Oriental (Holistic Urban Project Nor Oriental). • 2006, First prize in the SCA National Competition “Ordenamiento de la Cuenca del Rio Aburrá y Parque Tres Aguas”, (Urban Design of Aburra River and 3 Waters Park), Colombian Society of Architects , Caldas, Colombia • 2002 Jury for the National Biennale of Architecture SCA Colombian Society of Architects, Colombia. • 1996, National Architectural Design Award, by XV National Biennale of Architecture SCA, Colombian Society of Architects. Project: Posada House. With Architect Juan B. Echeverri. • 1996, Honor Prize for Architectural Design, X Pan American Biennale of Architecture, Quito, Ecuador. Project: Posada House. With Architect Juan B. Echeverri. • 1996, First prize in the SCA Colombian Society of Architects National Competition, "Plaza y Espacio Público de la manzana T” (Plaza and Public Space of Manzana T) Cali, Colombia. With architects: Juan B. Echeverri y Ani Velez). • Among others.

1993-2014 Teaching Experience

• 2014: Visting Professor at the W.A.V.E. 2014 Workshop at Università IUAV di Venezia, in Venice, Italy. • 2014, Visiting Professor in the Masters Program Urbanism and Territorial Development of the Universidad del Norte, in Barranquilla, Colombia. • 2014 - : Director and Professor of the Masters Program Urban and Environmental Processes of Universidad EAFIT. • 2014, Professor at EAFIT’s summer school in the extension program: Social Urbanism in Medellín – urban and environmental processes. • 2013, Professor at EAFIT’s summer school in the extension program: Seminar on Social urbanism and public sector management. With TEC, Instituto Tecnologico de Monterrey Mexico. • 2012, Professor at EAFIT’s summer school in the extension program Medellín’s experience. • 2003, Visiting Professor of the Universidad de Los Andes of Bogotá for the Cartagena Workshop interventions in historic downtowns and Holistic Improvement of Marginal Neighborhoods • 2002 -2003, Director of the Workshop for Research and Projects for the Northern Neighborhoods of Medellín, at the Universidad Pontificia Boliviariana, in Medellin, Colombia. • 2001-2003 Director of the Research Groups in Architecture at the Architecture School of Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana, Medellín, Colombia. • 2002, Director of the “International Workshop in Public Space and Urban Renovation” at the Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana, Medellín, Colombia. . • 1998- 1999 Visiting Professor for Urbanism I and II at the Urbanism Department at Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura de Barcelona (ETSAB), Barcelona, Spain. • 1993-1997. Professor at the Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana, Medellín.

1996-2014 Conferences and Workshops

2014

Desarrollo Armónico con la Biodiversidad November 20 – 21 Apartadó, Colombia Invitation: Encuentro Internacional Urabá, Darién, Región Biodiversa, Goverment of Antioquia.

Global Strategies for urban Development, To Hábitat III, Zapopan October 30 Invitation: Goverment of Zapopan and UN-Habitat, Guadalajara Mexico.

Planning Denser Cities Programme, EGM Expert Group Meeting Participant, UN- Habitat, Guadalajara Mexico 2014.

Landscape and Urbanism: Collaborative Strategies for an Urbanizing Planet. October 17 Medellín, Colombia Universidad EAFIT

Urbanismo Social en Medellín, desafíos al 2030: ¿Qué Podemos Aprender de una ciudad líder en transformaciones urbanas? workshop and conference October Antofagasta, Chile Invitation: CREO Antofagasta Foundation

Ecological Urbanism: Measure / Mobilize Panel October 9 – 10 Santiago de Chile, Chile Invitation: Graduate School of Design and the David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies, Harvard University

Urbanismo Social en Medellín: Proyectos o Procesos? October 9 Santiago de Chile, Chile Invitation: Facultad de Arquitectura y Urbanismo, Universidad de Chile

Convención de Verano por el Derecho al Territorio Urbanismo Social and Rehabitar la Montaña in Medellin Agosto 4 – 15 CENEDET Goverment of Ecuador, Quito.

Workshop: No Concrete, Permeable Landscapes In: W.A.V.E. 2014, July Venice, Italy Università IUAV di Venezia

Urabá, un Mar de Oportunidades April 9 Medellín, Colombia Invitation: World Urban Forum, Un Habitat, Goverment of Antioquia. Network Event

Park and Urban Renewall Process of Entre Orillas, PPP Model. April 10 Medellín, Colombia World Urban Forum: Transforming Cities Invitation: Municipality of Medellin and Argos

Claves del Urbanismo Social y la gestión pública en Medellín April 9 Medellín, Colombia Invitation: World Urban Forum – UN Habitat Workshop

Rehabilitar la Montaña, Anticipation Strategies April 11 Medellín, Colombia Invitation: World Urban Forum ,UN Habitat With University of Hannover

2013

Urban Colloquium Series Inescable Ecology: the civil society February 14 New York, USA Invitation: Parsons the New School of Design

New Cities Summit Sao Paulo 2013: The human city Urban Security June 4 – 6 Sao Paulo, Brasil Urban Security – panel discussion Invitation: New Cities Foundation

Seminario de Gestión Pública y urbanismo Social. Escuela de Verano. June 10 – 15 Medellín, Colombia Invitation: Escuela de Verano, Universidad EAFIT and TEC Instituto Tecnológico de Monterrey

Escuela de Verano: Urbanismo Social en Medellín June 24 – 28 Medellín, Colombia Invitation: Escuela de Verano, Universidad EAFIT

Tercer Seminario Urbanismo Internacional Aprendizajes y Retos en la transformación de Medellín August 14 – 16 Cartagena, Colombia Invitation: Universidad San Buenaventura

Arq.futuro Recovery and Integration: the case of Medellín September 23 – 24 Rio de Janeiro, Brasil Invitation: ARQ Futuro and Ministerio de Cultura, Gobierno Federal de Brasil

XXXIII X Congreso Colombiano de Arquitectura: “Construir territorio: el reto de las ciudades intermedias” Lecciones y Retos de Medellín al 2030 October 7 – 9 Cartagena, Colombia Invitation: XXXIII Congreso Colombiano de Arquitectura

Cities in Spaces, Conflicts and Agency Development, Interdisciplinary Debates on Development and Cultures Social Urbanism: Cases from Ghana and Colombia November 12 Leuven, Belgium Invitation: CADES, Master of Cultures and Development Students, Ku Leuven University

Urban Age City Transformations Conference Progressive Planning: Medellín’s Social urbanism October 23 – 25 Río de Janeiro, Brasil Invitation: Urban Age, London School of

Transformative Urban Regeneration: Connecting the Dots between well being, social entrepreneurship and design Transformative Urban Regeneration November 6 – 8 Johannesburg, South Africa Invitation: ACC African Center for Cities and Government of Ekurhuleni

Symposium Metropolis Nonformal – Anticipation Managing Informal Growth in the Hills of Medellín Launch the UN – Habitat Hub on Informal Urbanism November 20 – 23 Munich, Germany Invitation: Technical University of Munich – UN Habitat

2012

Urban Design Conference: Condition and Projections Strategic Upgrading: Conference and Dialogue with Damon Rich, moderated by Rahul Menhotra February 3 – 4 Boston, USA Invitation: GSD, Harvard University

Colombia at Columbia – Innovations in Architecture and Urbanism Urban Process in Medellín: The Present and some ideas for the future February 10 New York, USA Invitation: Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation, Columbia University

TEDx Talk Medellín Social Urbanism Medellín April 2 Medellín, Colombia Invitation: TED Ideas Worth Spreading

La ciudad sostenible: ecosistema en vía de construcción, Colombia hacia la cumbre Río+20. Plan Bio 2030 para Medellín y el Valle de Aburrá May 16 Bogotá Invitation: Consejo Colombiano de Construcción Sostenible, CCCS.

Congreso de Economía Verde Planeación Estratégica del Territorio: Plan Bio 2030 para Medellín y el Valle de Aburrá May 23 – 24 Bogotá Invitation: Environmental and Sustainable Development Ministry of Colombia

Foro Urbano Regional, Retos y Oportunidades para las Laderas y el Cinturón Verde. June 6 Medellín, Colombia Universidad EAFIT

Dialogues and Debates on a sustainable Urban Future, Rio+20. Innovative Approaches for Sustainable Urban Development – North and South June 19 – 22 Rio de Janeiro, Brasil Invitation: AFD Agence Francaise de development

Emerging Models of Planning Practices Seminar – Aga Khan Award for Architecture International Award Seminar Social Urbanism in Medellín, process and projects July 10 – 20 Singapore, Singapore Invitation: National University of Singapore and The Aga Khan Award for Architecture

Espacio Público y Cultura en Acción. V Jornadas Internacionales de Ciudades Creativas Urbanismo y Acción Social en Medellín October 2 – 6 Medellín, Colombia Invitation: Fundación Kreanta and Government of Medellin.

Bordes en Alerta, IFLA Conferencia Regional de las Américas Bio 2030, hacia donde va el Valle de Aburrá October 17 – 20 Medellín, Colombia Invitation: Sociedad Colombiana de Arquitectos Paisajistas (SAP) / IFLA

Cátedra Fullbright Regiones: EAFIT 2012. Ambientes Urbanos: Ciudades en Cambio, Paisajes en Transformación Definición de Criterios de actuación estratégica para el desarrollo territorial de Urabá October 25 – 26 Medellín, Colombia Invitation: Universidad EAFIT and Fullbright

Líderes Académicos conferencia magistral El Proyecto Urbano para la zona norte de Medellín November 7 – 11 Guadalajara, Mexico Invitation: Departamento de Arquitectura, Escuela de Arquitectura, Universidad Guadalajara

Design like you give a damn: LIVE Neighborhood security and violence prevention in the built environment November 12 – 13 San Francisco, USA Invitation: Architecture for Humanity

Lecture Series UnLimited Means Alejandro Echeverri Architecture, makers of Space November 14 Seattle, USA Invitation: Space City Foundation

Program in Latin American Studies, Princeton University Urbanism as a means of social transformation November 19 New York, USA Invitation: Program in Latin America Studies, Princeton University

Agenda for Sustainable Asian Cities and Regions Emerging Issues: Mobility and Lifestyle, Space Culture and Regeneration, and Bogotá / Medellín November 30 Tokyo, Japan Invitation: CSUR Center for Sustainable Urban Regeneration, University of Tokyo

2011

Equity Summit 2011: Healthy Communities, Strong Regions, A Prosperous America. November 8th through 11th, 2011. Detroit, USA- Invitation: Angela Glover Blackwell, PolicyLink

Design for the Nonformal Metropolis. Landscape, Shelter and Infrastructure in Cities of the Global South Transportation, Education and Public Space in Medellín. October 13 -1 Munich, Germany. Invitation: TUM-IAS Hans Fischer Senior Fellow (TUM Institute for Advanced Study, Munich),

3R3: Ciudades Verdes en el Desierto, Workshop “Desarrollo Urbano y Áreas Verdes” October 26 - 28. Lima. Perú Invitation: Government of Lima, Peru.

Workshop Social urbanism: learning from Medellín. August 23 - 26. Curaçao, Dutch Antilles. Alejandro Echeverri – Francesco Orsini. Invitation: National Government of Curacao and Universidad de las Antillas Holandesas – UNA

“Civilização América: um olhar através da arquitetura” August 6 - 9. Sao Paulo, Brasil. Invitation: Escola da Cidade

Sesión VII Ambientes Urbanos: El Reto de la Sostenibilidad July 27 – 28 In: Congreso de Ciencias y Tecnologìas Ambientales Invitation: Isagén

THE JUST CITY: Creating a New Geography of Opportunity. July 12- 16. NY, USA. Invitation: Ford Foundation 75th Anniversary Forum

Cátedra Medellín Barcelona Debate Medellín-Barcelona: dos modelos urbanísticos en diálogo CCCB Encuentro: El desarrollo urbano, una de las claves en la transformación de Medellín. CCCB May 24 – June 4. Barcelona, Spain Invitation: CCCB- Centro de Cultura Contemporanea de Barcelona y Fundación Kreanta

Workshop Unidos Transformado mi Comunidad Taller de Intervencion Social y Urbana April 2 -6. Monterrey, Mexico. Invitation: Government of Nuevo Leon and Universidad Autónoma

2010

361ª The Conference – The Degree of Difference. Design and Informal Cities Design and Informal Cities and Social Urbanism October 24-28 Mumbai, India

The Loeb Fellowship. Harvard University. Social Urbanism in Medellín October 6 – 10. Boston, USA Invitation: The Loeb Fellowship, Harvard Graduate School of Design

Idea Festival. Kentucky University. Reimagining a City Through Design /Presented by Curry Stone Design Prize September 30 – October 4. Lousville, Kentucky, USA Invitation: University of Kentucky and Curry Stone Design Prize.

London Architectural Festival Exposición Una Narrativa Visual de dos Ciudades, Bogota y Medellin. June 17-27. London, UK Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Embajada de Colombia en el Reino Unido - Universidad de los Andes – Universidad EAFIT Invitation: Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and National Government of Colombia.

Revive MTY 2010 fórum 2010 Modelos exitosos de organización para el cambio urbano June 3 - 4 Monterrey, México Invitation: Escuela de Graduados en Administración Pública y Política Pública TEC Tecnológico de Monterrey

Aprendiendo de las ciudades: Hoy Medellín. “APRENDIENDO DE LAS CIUDADES: HOY MEDELLIN” April 28 - 30. Rosario- Argentina Encuentro IGC - Instituto de Gestión de Ciudades. Rosario Invitation: IGC Instituto de Gestión de Ciudades

World Urban Forum, UN Habitat. March 22- 26. Río de Janeiro, Brasil World Urban Campaign Steering Committee Meeting University Roundtable: "Bridging the gap between research and action at city level, the role of " Urban Researchers Roundtable: "Bridging the Urban Transport Divide" “BUILDING CITIES-building neighborhoods” A dialogue with IDB. Presented Medellín Experience. Roundtable "Upgrading Informal Settlements through Socio-ecologic Infrastructure Provision". Invitations: Un Habitat

2009

International Urban Planning Congress - Morgen Tomorrow. Medellin, Social Urbanism Strategies October 1 - 2. Invitation: Government of Amsterdam, NL

Movilidad cotidiana y equidad. September 3 - 4. Santiago de Chile, Chile Invitation : Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile Universidad de Chile Instituto por la ciudad en movimiento (Institut pour la Ville en Mouvement), Francia

Encuentro Internacional: Como Transformar la ciudad? La Transformación de Medellín: Urbanismo Social 2004 – 2007 August 3 Lima, Peru Invitation: Fundación Espacio Expresión

Publications

Books:

“Medellín, Medio Ambiente, Urbanismo y Sociedad.” (Medellin Environment, Urbanism, Society), Fondo Editorial Universidad de EAFIT. Editors Alejandro Echeverri, Jorge Giraldo Ramirez and Michel Hermelin Arbaux. 2010.

“Bio 2030, Plan Director Medellín y Valle del Aburrá”. Mesa Editores. Metropolitan Area and EAFIT University. 2011

Articles:

“Medellín,A City on the Move”. The Plan, Architecture and in Detail. In Collaboration with Francesco Orsini. Magazine Cityplan, Milan Italy, 2014.

“Social Urbanism, Porosity and Change in Medellín, Colombia”. Harvard Design Magazine, 37. In collaboration with Camilo Restrepo. Boston USA, 2014.

“Medellin re-escribe sus barrios”, memorias V Jornadas Internacionales de Ciudades Creativas, Fundacion Kreanta 2013.

“Future Shock”, Financial Times, December 6, 2012

“Informalidad y Urbanismo Social en Medellin”, Revista Cátedra UNESCO de Sostenibilidad, en colaboración con Francesco Orsini, noviembre 2012.

AFD

“Bogota and Medellin, architecture and politics”, in Latin America at the Crossroads, AD Architectural Design, 2011. In collaboration with Lorenzo Castro, editor Mariana Leguia.

“Informality and Social Urbanism in Medellin”, Medellin Enviroment Urban Society, Editorial EAFIT. In collaboration with Francesco Orsini, 2011.

Among others.