Feb. 6, 2014 –Everyone is talking about Salt Lake air pollution and how to fix it. University of Utah urban planners are talking instead about the city’s mountains, diverse arts, cultural opportunities and landmark architecture. Is there a connection? Planners say absolutely, because it is those unique treasures that draw people to the city, and it is people who cause the pollution.

And as people keep coming—the population of the Wasatch Front is projected to double by 2050—how does the region accommodate that growth, and do it in harmony with what is uniquely Salt Lake City?

Those are questions to be addressed at the annual Mayor’s Symposium titled, “Mountain Urbanism, Mountain Modernism,” Thursday, Feb. 13, 11:30 a.m.- 6:30 p.m at The Leonardo. The symposium will be followed by an exhibition at 5:30 p.m.

The symposium, in its fourth year, is a collaboration of the Mayor of Salt Lake City and the University of Utah’s College of Architecture + Planning. Like its predecessors, the symposium is a catalyst for improving the region by building on existing assets.

“We focused on the Jordan River and the Granary District in the first two years and both areas are regenerating,” said Nan Ellin, chair of the U’s Department of City & Metropolitan Planning. “We are fortunate to be part of a community that cares deeply about this place we live and possesses the talent, creativity, resourcefulness and generosity to make it ever better.”

The symposium is free and open to the public. Details of the agenda are available online here.