Academy of Neuroscience for Architecture (ANFA)

The Academy of Neuroscience for Architecture (ANFA) took shape in 2002 as a Legacy Project to the national American Institute of Architects (AIA) Convention. Held in San Diego and hosted by the local AIA Chapter in cooperation with its Architectural Foundation, the June 2003 Convention featured a keynote address on architecture and neuroscience by Dr. Fred Gage, a principal investigator at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla.

Mission:
The mission of the Academy of Neuroscience for Architecture is to promote and advance knowledge that links neuroscience research to a growing understanding of human responses to the built environment.

The Academy benefits from the expanding body of research that has evolved within the neuroscience community in the last two decades, and the promise of even more in the coming century. Some observers have characterized what is happening in neuroscience as the most exciting frontier of human knowledge since the Renaissance. All humanity stands to benefit from this research in countless ways still to be determined. The profession of architecture has become a partner in developing the application of this knowledge base in order to increase its ability to be of service to society.

Vision:
ANFA’s vision is to foster collaboration among neuroscientists and architects to explore, through scientific methods, the range of human experiences with elements of architecture, to organize and validate the information that results from this collaboration, and to disseminate it to professionals and emerging professionals.

The strength of this vision is derived from the enormous body of research that has evolved from the field of neuroscience in the last two decades, with the promise of even more in the coming century. Some observers have characterized what is happening in neuroscience as the most exciting frontier of human knowledge since the renaissance. Through ANFA, the profession of architecture has become a partner in developing a practical application of this neuroscientific knowledge.