Monday, February 22, 2010
The Metrics of Place vs. Space – What I (Re)Learned on Vacation
Speaker: Robert Tullis, Vice President - Director of Design, GID Urban Development Group
Location: Boston Society of Architects, 52 Broad Street, 5th Floor, Boston, MA

 The Metrics of Place vs. Space - Presentation 1 (PDF)

 The Metrics of Place vs. Space - Presentation 2 (PDF)

 Urban planning / Placemaking / Town Squares - Bibliography (DOC)

Rob Tullis, architect and developer, has been on vacation to some interesting cities lately. This October he made his first pilgrimage to Rome; and he’s visited London, Edinburgh, Paris, Venice, Florence, Los Angeles, Savannah, and Charleston in the last few years. He’s also been reading some of the great thinkers on urban placemaking. Somewhere between sipping an espresso in Piazza Navona and re-reading Kevin Lynch’s “The Image of the City,” he’s gained new insight on what he’s been practicing in years of creating mixed-use developments. Equal parts travelogue and lecture, Rob will talk about the urban spaces he’s seen lately, offer some thoughts about what makes them distinctive places for people, and discuss how we might measure our efforts as designers of such places.

Piazza S. Ignatio, Rome. Photo credit: Robert Tullis

Monday, January 25, 2010
More than Just a Pretty Place: Re-imagining Historic Preservation in Boston
Speaker: Sarah Kelly, Executive Director, Boston Preservation Alliance
Location: Boston Society of Architects, 52 Broad Street, 5th Floor, Boston, MA

The values and approach of the historic preservation movement are shifting in Boston and throughout the nation. Sarah D. Kelly, executive director of the Boston Preservation Alliance, will discuss how the organization is embracing new ways of thinking about our city’s built heritage, engaging new demographic groups that have traditionally been overlooked, addressing new building types that were once viewed as “anti-historic”, and confronting new challenges from climate change to social equity. This session will highlight the Alliance’s novel approaches to bringing people and resources together to influence the future of Boston’s buildings, landscapes and communities.

Alvah Kittredge House in Roxbury, MA.
Photo credit: Shelby Graham

Build Boston
November 20, 2009
Seaport World Trade Center, Boston

Design Excellence in Public Places

 DEPP Symposium Abstracts (PDF)

Co-sponsored by the BSA’s Placemaking Network, Public Art Initiative and the Urban Arts Institute at Massachusetts College of Art and Design

This daylong symposium brings together professionals from the areas of architecture, planning, landscape architecture and public art who have distinguished themselves through a holistic approach to the design of public places, including the integration of public art. Participants will delve into the merits and opportunities of the integrated design process.

Our public spaces are part of our cultural legacy and celebrate our cultural heritage. Well-designed public spaces improve a community's quality of life, establish a sense of place, stimulate a region's economic vitality by revitalizing communities and encouraging cultural tourism, and promote civic engagement by encouraging dialogue, involvement and participation by community members.  

Among the speakers are Charlotte Cohen of the General Service Administration, Barnaby Evans of Providence-based WaterFire, Stephanie Gelb of Battery Park City, Rick Parisi of M. Paul Friedberg and Partners of New York, and Christopher Mulvey of Moshe Safdie and Associates.

Monday, December 21, 2009
The Public(s) as Sculpture: Jackie Ferrara and M. Paul Friedberg's Anti-Memorial "Place" at Tufts University
Speaker: Dr. Amy Schlegel, Director, Tufts University Art Gallery

Join the Placemaking Network on December 21 at noon for a discussion on “The Public(s) as Sculpture: Jackie Ferrara and M. Paul Friedberg's Anti-Memorial 'Place' at Tufts University" with Dr. Amy Schlegel, director of the Tufts University Art Gallery.

Alex's Place represents a collaborative vision and a stylized blending of modern landscape design and fine art by New York-based artist Jackie Ferrara and landscape architect M. Paul Friedberg. The team crafted a design that accommodates sitting, studying and socializing, as well as performances and exhibitions, on a 11,000-square-foot L-shaped plaza. Alex's Place fuses Ferrara's love of complex mosaic patterning and dramatic play of light and shadow with Friedberg's acute sensitivity to the balance of the built and natural environments.

Alex's Place, Tufts University Tisch Library rooftop; view of sundial mosaic in ampitheater area. Photo credit: Ralph Dineen

Monday, November 23, 2009
Renewable Energy Design and the Question of Placemaking in Cities
Speaker: Michael Pelken, Assistant Professor of Architecture / Fellow at the Center of Excellence, Syracuse University

Join the Placemaking Network on November 23 at noon for a presentation by Michael Pelken, an assistant professor of architecture and Center of Excellence fellow at Syracuse University, on renewable-energy design and placemaking in cities.

The creation of public space is strongly influenced by historical context, sociopolitical conditions and cultural desires. As environmental issues press us to rethink our cities, the question emerges to what degree energy conservation and generation will affect urban strategies for placemaking.

Energy island e_50 by energydesignlab

Monday, October 26, 2009
The Lowell Plan: Creative Economic Development
Speaker: Rosemary Noon, Creative Economy Consultant

On October 26 at noon, the Placemaking Network welcomes creative-economy consultant Rosemary Noon for a presentation on the Lowell Plan, a private nonprofit economic-development organization that is celebrating its 30th anniversary. Noon will discuss the Lowell Plan’s sense of common enterprise and its track record of implementing ambitious projects in civic engagement.

 

Monday, September 28, 2009
Urban Design in the Information Age
Speaker: Thomas Piper, Principal Research Scientist, MIT Dept. of Urban Studies and Planning

On September 28 at noon, Thomas Piper, a principal research scientist in MIT's Department of Urban Studies and Planning, joins the Placemaking Network to examine "Urban Design in the Information Age." Can city design processes supported by novel configurations of information technology shape acceptance of new urban form and patterns of living and working? Piper’s presentation suggests directions for the future.

With a background in urban design and film, Piper has pioneered the use of media in city design and economic development. Piper currently directs FutureBoston, an outgrowth of The Boston Conference that focuses on ways that networked collaboration might support new patterns of work and living in cities through urban design, energy independence and environmental security.

Monday, May 18, 2009
Collaborative Design: Integrating Architecture with Public Art
Speaker: John Stebbins, Principal, Cambridge Seven Associates. Respondent: Peter Smith, Principal, Global Urban Solutions

Cambridge Seven Associates (C7A) is a multidisciplinary design firm with a history of high quality design that integrates art features into projects. Prominent examples are the Skywalks at Logan International Airport featuring marine imagery by artist Jane Goldman in its terrazzo floors and the Shingu Kinetic Sculpture at Porter Square to mention Boston and Cambridge locations. Respondent Peter Smith will provide feedback on collaborative approach and design.

Terrazzo floors at elevated walkways from Logan Airport terminals to central garage designed by Jane Goldman.

Monday, April 27, 2009
Revitalizing Cleveland
Speaker: India Pierce Lee, Loeb Fellow, Graduate School of Design, Harvard University

 Greater University Circle Initiative presentation (PDF - 4.5MB)

 Greater University Circle Initiative overview (PDF)

In 2006, The Cleveland Foundation, in partnership with Cleveland’s leading “anchor institutions” and local philanthropies and community groups, launched the Greater University Circle Initiative. The Initiative is designed to stimulate new investment in the neighborhoods of Greater University Circle to “create a 21st century community.” The Greater University Circle Initiative is a path-breaking attempt to transform the quality of life for the area’s low- and moderate-income residents. If successful, this Initiative promises to forge a new model of comprehensive community development that could become a national model for how cities can leverage their existing assets to create jobs, address poverty, build community wealth and family assets, and integrate into the development process a core commitment to environmental sustainability. www.clevelandfoundation.org

 

Monday, March 23, 2009
Public Art in Integrated Design
Speaker: Patricia Fuller, Public Art Curator, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Overview of the public art collection at MIT, including permanently sited works on campus, which have been given by various donors, and commissions through MIT's ongoing Percent-for- Art program, in connection with new campus capital projects. Discussion of the integrated design process and interface between planning, architecture, landscape architecture, and public art.

Matthew Ritchie, Games of Chance and Skill, 2002.
A Percent-for-Art commission in connection with the Zesiger Sports and Fitness Center at MIT.

Monday, February 23, 2009
ConstellationCenter: A World-Class Performing Arts Complex
Speakers: Alexandra Lee, Development Officer, ConstellationCenter and David Silverman, Project Manager, President of map-lab inc.
Location: Boston Society of Architects, 52 Broad Street, 5th Floor, Boston, MA

ConstellationCenter, located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, will be one of the world’s finest performing arts centers. With four halls under one roof, superior acoustics, and near-infinite usage combinations for film, music, opera, dance and drama, ConstellationCenter will become home to scores of cultural organizations, creating an arts center rich with creative possibilities. In addition, the Center will provide spaces for conferences, lectures, and other community driven needs. Learn more about project history, current status, and its context in Cambridge and beyond. www.constellationcenter.org

ConstellationCenter, Cambridge, MA

Monday, January 26, 2009
Integrated Design For A More Sustainable Future
Speaker: Matt Noblett AIA, Behnisch Architekten, Studio East
Location: Boston Society of Architects, 52 Broad Street, 5th Floor, Boston, MA

As we continue to question our society’s ever-increasing reliance on automated systems we also endeavor to make the appropriate use of advances in technology. Behnisch buildings are evidence of an architecture, which is not only of high quality, but also environmentally responsible. The presentation and subsequent discussion will explore integrated design process, and particularly the humanistic component of the integration of technology. www.behnisch.com

IBN Nature Research Institute, Wageningen, The Netherlands, Behnisch Architekten.
Garden design by Michael Singer.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Successful Placemaking: The Integrated Design Team Approach
World Trade Center Boston, MA

Christina Lanzl of UrbanArts will moderate the workshop Successful Placemaking: The Integrated Design Team Approach as part of the Women in Design Symposium. This workshop focuses on integrated design team process. Professionals from the fields of planning, landscape design and public art establish a cross-disciplinary dialogue and present noteworthy case studies, such as the Brooklyn Queens Expressway Reconstruction Project, the Concord River Greenway in Lowell, Massachusetts, Percent for Art projects of the City of Cambridge, as well as public parks in Boston. Integrated process includes the engagement of community in the design and planning process. Experienced team leaders and members recount experiences related to integrated design and community process, and offer insights on benefits, challenges and effective strategies. This session is hosted by the Placemaking Network of the Boston Society of Architects. Speakers are Jane Calvin of the Lowell Parks and Conservation Trust, artist Wopo Holup, Lyon CO and NYC, Jason Weeks of the Cambridge Arts Council, and Lynn Wolff of Copley Wolff Design Group, Boston.

Monday, November 24, 2008
Logan International Airport: Humanizing the Airport Environment
Speakers: John Krajovic, Manager of Airport Planning, Massachusetts Port Authority, and David Dixon, Principal, Goody Clancy
Location: Boston Society of Architects, 52 Broad Street, 5th Floor, Boston, MA

Annually, approximately 27 million people travel through Boston-Logan International Airport. The Massachusetts Port Authority, which manages this large-scale operation, is charged with the task to provide safe, efficient and comfortable passage, and to manage community impacts. Planning challenges include integrating urban design considerations into security planning and creating a sense of place and human scale in this concrete tangle of roadway viaducts, terminal complexes, and runways. Join this presentation and conversation with two planning professionals who have the insider's perspective on opportunities and challenges of an airport environment.

Monday, October 27, 2008
Enriching Public Space: Opportunities and Challenges in a Design Team Context
Speaker: Howard Ben Tre, Sculptor / Public Artist
Location: Boston Society of Architects, 52 Broad Street, 5th Floor, Boston, MA

Sculptor and public artist Howard Ben Tre is a pioneer in the use of cast glass as a sculptural medium. Mr. Ben Tre will present major projects, such as the fountain at Boston’s Post Office Square Park and Warrington Town Center in England, which won three national awards in urban design. In addition to numerous public and residential commissions, the artist has exhibited widely and his work is included in more than 85 museum and public collections worldwide. The presentation and subsequent discussion will zero in on his experience, opportunities and challenges working with design teams.

Market Gate at Town Centre, cast low-expansion glass, stone, Warrington, England
Image by Howard Ben Tre

Monday, September 22, 2008
A Place Busy with People: The Buffalo Bayou Master Plan
Speaker: Pratap Talwar, Principal, Thompson Design Group
Location: Boston Society of Architects, 52 Broad Street, 5th Floor, Boston, MA

“A place busy with people, drawing residents and visitors to enjoy its destinations and neighborhoods, its commerce and culture along the rediscovered waterfront.” The vision for the Buffalo Bayou urban corridor south of Houston, TX, characterizes an attractive and energetic district. Urban centers that offer these elements have been hailed for their extraordinary vitality and quality of life. Mr. Talwar, team leader of the Buffalo Bayou master plan, will present and discuss methods and tools on how to achieve this goal.

Buffalo Bayou Corridor master plan rendering
Image by Thompson Design Group

Monday, July 28, 2008
Interim for Learning on the Rose Kennedy Greenway’s Dewey Square Parcels
Speaker: Linda Jonash, Director of Planning and Design, Rose Kennedy Greenway Conservancy

Linda Jonash will give an overview of the Conservancy’s initiative to experiment with bold, innovative public programming on Greenway Parcels 19, 21,22 in downtown Boston. The project, called an ‘Interim for Learning’ will create a temporary park armature system that can support a diverse array of creative public activities beginning summer 2009. All elements of the project will be driven by environmentally sustainable principles and practices. The Conservancy will invite the public to help test and evaluate what works and what doesn’t.  This experimental period, lasting between 2 to 4 years, will provide real-life data to support the City of Boston’s master-planning process for this prime section of the Greenway.

Monday, June 23, 2008
TOPOGRAPHY AS AN ARCHITECTURAL TOOL FOR PLACE MAKING
Speaker: Franziska Amacher, Amacher and Associates Architects, Cambridge, MA

In her architectural practice, Franziska Amacher promotes sustainable building practices and environmentally sensitive, resource efficient methods, materials, and systems. Join this presentation and discussion of the environmental impact of select architecture and landscape architecture projects that minimize mass and eliminate barriers. This examination of local and international examples will include Giardino Botanico Barcelona/Spain, and the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial in Washington, DC. Emphasis will be placed on how to successfully distill the spatial character.

Image by Amacher and Associates Architects

Monday, May 5, 2008
The Intersection of Art and Landscape Design
Speakers: Cynthia Smith, Halvorson Design Partnership and David Phillips, Sculptor

By telling the story of several park projects, including Quincy Square Park near Harvard Square and City Square in Charlestown, the nature of artist/landscape architect collaboration involving interdisciplinary design teams will be explored. In each project, the client asked for a design that was authentic, related to its site and reflective of its context. Together with seminar attendees the presenters will discuss different models of artist/designer collaboration and community engagement.

Quincy Square Park, Cambridge, MA, Halvorson Design Partnership and David Phillips
Image by Halvorson Design Partnership

Monday, April 28, 2008
Celebrations of Place
Speaker: Justin Crane, Cambridge Seven Associates

Justin Crane, co-chair of Common Boston – http://www.commonboston.org, will introduce the group and its upcoming Community & Architecture Festival. Featured as public programming for the AIA National Convention in May, the festival celebrates Boston's neighborhoods through tours, exhibitions, discussions, and charrettes. Justin will discuss the communities featured in the event, as well as other popular celebrations of place, from Open House New York and Illuminale Frankfurt to WaterFire and the Detroit Electronic Music Festival.

Image by Common Boston

Monday, March 24, 2008
Reinventing Public Space: Contemporary Placemaking Practices in Berlin, Germany
Speaker: Christina Lanzl, UrbanArts Institute at Massachusetts College of Art and Design

Since the reunification of Germany in 1990, Berlin has seen immense public and private investment. The city's reunification and the reinstatement of Berlin as the main seat of government triggered an unprecedented wave of building activity, rivaled only by the rebuilding after WWII and carried out on a scale unprecedented in Europe. The architectural elite are designing the new Berlin, and the sites in the city center that stood empty until 1990 are being filled with new buildings and public places at a fast pace. What are the impacts of the rapid transformation from a neglected, ailing metropolis to a new cosmopolitan and globalized cityscape in the context of placemaking? Christina Lanzl's investigation stretches from the grand public spaces at Potsdamer Platz to smaller-scale sites in Berlin Mitte and Kreuzberg, among others.

Sony Center, Berlin
Image by Christina Lanzl