Name: Lunchtime talk: Indigenous Design in University Buildings
Start: 2026-03-20T12:00:00+01:00
Location: Sjøgata 1 , 9008 Tromsø, Norway

Lunchtime talk: Indigenous Design in University Buildings

The lunchtime talk is part of the housewarming celebration for Girjegumpi. The conversation is free of charge, open to all and will be held in English.
How can university buildings shaped by Indigenous ontologies and ways of knowing support student, staff, and faculty wellbeing? Around the world, universities have begun creating buildings that function both as sacred spaces and academic spaces — yet little research exists on this emerging global trend.
In this talk, Serge A. Marek, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Geography and Urban Sustainability at Hawaiʻi Pacific University, presents a multi country exploration examining these buildings, their role in university indigenization efforts, and their impact on place making, the built environment, and wellbeing.