The International Association for Shell and Spatial Structures (IASS) gathers architects, engineers, and practitioners worldwide interested in conceiving, designing, and constructing shells and spatial structures. The last IASS Symposiums were held in Melbourne, Australia, in 2023 and in Zürich, Switzerland, in 2024. The next IASS 2025 Symposium will be held in Mexico City.
Mexico has already held two previous editions of this symposium, the first time in 1967 in Mexico City and the second in 2008 in Acapulco, Guerrero. The third edition will be in the historic downtown of Mexico City, the capital and largest cultural city, where you can find around 170 museums, 100 galleries, and 30 concert halls. Besides, Mexico’s gastronomy is worth trying.
Mexico City has plenty of examples of well-known reinforced concrete shells. Félix Candela, in collaboration with many other architects and engineers, constructed several hundred shells throughout the city and the country. Those interested in Candela’s legacy can visit these remarkable lightweight structures.
Welcome to IASS 2025, which will be held from 27 to 31 October 2025 and generate an exchange of knowledge. The latest scientific advances and cutting-edge technology will be available within a sustainability framework and care for natural resources.
Mexico’s cultural richness and constructive tradition have gone hand in hand since time immemorial. This is how the past and the present coexist daily in our territories, architectures, structures, and spatial solutions. The IASS 2025 theme symposium, “The living past as a source of innovation,” will look towards novelty: learning from good construction practices and using the new technologies and materials of our time to project ourselves into the future.
What lessons can we transmit from the historical tradition, from projection, technical, geometric, project, and structural solutions? What can we implement in the future in a world in perpetual transformation? The invitation opens to a rich discussion and deep reflection: let us raise, listen, and learn together from experiences worldwide.
Architects, engineers, students, and anyone interested in shell and spatial structures are invited to submit abstracts starting January 27, 2025 to participate in IASS 2025.
Extended date: March 14, 2025
Artists, designers, engineers, and researchers in cooperation with top universities from all over the world are invited to participate in a contest and exhibition of innovative lightweight structures. Integration of international teams is especially encouraged by pairing a local with an international university for a joint proposal.
The winning team will be awarded a prize of $1000 USD and a certificate signed by the jury.
The IASS 2025 Symposium Chairs look forward to receiving proposals for workshops that address the symposium theme of “The living past as a source of innovation”. Workshops will be held in person at the Palacio de Mineria, downtown Mexico City on Sunday, October 26, 2025.
IASS calls for submissions to the 23rd Hangai Prize, recognizing outstanding original research in shell and spatial structures by young researchers, designers, and engineers. Submit a one-page abstract before February 28, 2025, for a chance to win this prestigious award.
All new memberships include e-subscriptions to both the Journal of the IASS and the online Proceedings of the Annual IASS Symposium.
The IASS 2025 symposium will be held at the Palacio de Minería in the heart of Mexico City. This beautiful 212-year-old building, with its rich history and stunning architecture, will captivate all attendees.
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