What happens when a neighborhood like Pioneer Square or South Like Union turns into a thriving center for tech? How, exactly, does that happen? Knowing that we are growing, what kind of community do we want to become? And frankly, what does technology and innovation have to do with making Seattle a great place to live and work for everyone—healthy, inclusive, creative, productive, and affordable? Are Seattle’s cranes going to truly foster a better—not just bigger—Seattle? Join us to explore what changes to the built environment mean for the future of innovation in our city.

On Monday, October 26th, we will explore the role of the Innovation District model–urban areas that are easily accessible by transit, technologically plugged-in, and populated by public institutions, startups, and other innovators–in shaping Seattle’s future. This event is getting a lot of attention from Seattle’s startup crowd already, making it a great opportunity to network over (hosted) food and drinks with some of Seattle’s future business leaders. But the conversations won’t be complete without you there in attendance.

As suburban office parks fall out of favor, more and more of these collaborative innovation clusters are appearing all over the globe. Major hubs like London, Boston, New York, and San Francisco have led the way, and Barcelona, Detroit, and even Seattle are making names for themselves with exciting examples as well. These significant, rapid changes to the built environment generate positive results for economic growth but mixed results for communities, leading to combative, sometimes violent, responses from those left behind.

Moderated by the founding director of Urban@UW, Thaisa Way, our panel of top thinkers and innovators will explore how Seattle can forge a new, more inclusive approach to urban innovation that empowers startups, established companies, and residents alike. Join us on Monday, October 26th from 4:00 to 6:00 pm at Galvanize, the newest incubator in Pioneer Square.

Panelists: