From July 15 to September 7, 2009, the National Constitution Center and the Slought Foundation will host Into the Open. The exhibition, which debuted at the Venice Biennale in 2008, features the work of 16 architectural groups and explores the ways that architects are collaborating to foster civic engagement and build better communities.

Join the Community Design Collaborative for a Preview Panel and Opening Reception at the Slought Foundation, 4017 Walnut Street on Friday, July 17 from 6 to 9 p.m. Co-curators Aaron Levy, Executive Director of the Philadelphia-based Slought Foundation and William Menking, Editor-in-Chief of The Architect’s Newspaper will provide insight into the exhibition that made a splash at the 2008 Venice Biennale. Exhibition designers Prem Krishnamurthy of Project Projects and Ken Saylor of Saylor + Sirola will also be on hand to talk about how an idea to highlight a new generation of architects was transformed into an exhibition for the world stage. RSVP: email hidden; JavaScript is required.

The Community Design Collaborative is the public programming partner for Into the Open. Be on the lookout for updates on a summer-in-the-city series of programs created to complement Into the Open and celebrate community activism.