Designing the New West will feature leading architects, developers, land planners and landscape designers from around the region, with the aim of identifying best practices, showcasing great projects and understanding how thoughtful and innovative design can help us shape our region in the most positive possible ways.

Join us Thursday afternoon for a pre-conference tour of interesting projects around Bozeman, led by Montana State University Professor of Architecture Ralph Johnson and MSU students. This will conclude with a conference opening reception and social.

Conference highlights will include:

• Presentations on next-generation land planning and architecture from some of the nation's leading practitioners
• Discussion of how the vernacular of Western design is changing, with false fronts and slapdash neighborhoods giving way to new urbanism and creative approaches to materials and landscape
• Analysis of the economics of cutting edge architecture and design, and especially the challenges of sustainability and green building
• A magnificent setting at the historic Gallatin Gateway Inn, and lively networking with some of the top design and development professionals from around the region
• A Friday evening closing reception at Vann's "living kitchen" hosted by Vann’s, Roth Distributing, Sub-Zero and Wolf

Designing the New West has been qualified for the prestigious American Institute of Architects' continuing education program, and will also offer continuing education credits for certified planners and real estate agents.

Designing the New West is produced by NewWest.Net, in cooperation with the Sonoran Institute. New West is a Missoula-based publishing company that created the highly successful Real Estate and Development in the Northern Rockies conference, and recently launched a print magazine, The New West. Please call 406-829-1725 or email conferences@newwest.net if you have any questions, and stay tuned for more details.