Transforming Providence: A Civic Discussion on Design




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TRANSFORMING PROVIDENCE SCHEDULED FOR NOVEMBER 4; RI ARCHITECTS RESPOND TO CRITIC'S CHALLENGE

Providence,Aug.3. In June 1998 Providence Journal arts writer Bill Van Siclen wrote a column, accusing the local architectural community of being "missing in action" and observed that Providence's "renaissance" was reshaping itself with almost no organized participation from local architects. He challenged local architecture schools and members of AIA/Rhode Island to pay more attention to their capital city and to "beef up" their outreach and education efforts.

In response to this challenge, the Rhode Island Chapter of American Institute of Architects will present Transforming Providence: A Civic Discussion on Design on Saturday, November 4 in the Rhode Island School of Design Auditorium. Focusing on contemporary urban design in Providence, the conference will foster a vigorous public discussion to encourage high quality innovative design in a city known for its architectural character and will seek to involve the general public in the process of city building. Architectural controversies of the past, incited by building designs now part of the landscape and often considered successful, will be examined to demonstrate how stylistic development can be accommodated within an older context.

"The conference will challenge local assumptions about our architectural and cultural heritage as we contemplate new buildings and spaces next to old," said Christopher McMahan of Robinson Green Beretta, chairman of the conference steering committee. "We hope to spark a dialogue between the architectural community and interested citizens to encourage new buildings and spaces of the highest artistic quality and to build support for progressive, risk-taking new design. Collectively, new development has reached a par with historical architecture and landscape in defining the visual character of Providence's built environment. Through the conference we hope to identify a vision for the future evolution of Providence's unique character during a period of tremendous growth and change. "

The panel will be moderated by Robert Campbell, Pulitzer Prize winning Boston Globe architectural critic and architect, whose opening remarks will frame the conference premise: "What should new buildings and spaces look like in Providence?" Edward Sanderson, executive director of the Rhode Island Historical Preservation & Heritage Commission, will present a historical overview of Providence architecture and social development. Panelists will include a mix of prominent design professionals with diverse philosophies of urban design, speaking about their approaches to integrating new design within an existing, historic urban context.

Hugh Hardy, Hardy Holzman Pfieffer Associates, design architect for the new retail/residential complex planned for Parcel Nine, Capital Center and the new Trinity Repertory Company masterplan; Elizabeth Plater Zyberk, coauthor with Andreas Duany of Providence's 1992 Downcity Plan; and Friedrich St. Florian, design architect of Providence Place and the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., will reflect on their recent design experiences from a local perspective. Max Bond, leading African American artist and educator, who has served as dean of the School of Architecture and Environmental Studies at City University of New York and chairman of Columbia University's Graduate School of Architecture and Planning, and George Hargreaves, chairman of Landscape Architecture at the Graduate School of Design, Harvard University, will speak about contemporary design in other urban centers around the world, similar in size, historic context and/or revitalization efforts to Providence.

The conference seeks to stimulate an ongoing public dialogue about architectural design in Providence's neighborhoods as well as the central business core. A panel discussion at the conclusion of the conference will be open to audience participation. Honorary chairs of the conference are Elizabeth and Malcolm Chace. Advisory committee members include Mayor Vincent A. Cianci, Jr., chair; Guy Abelson, Daniel Baudouin, Derek Bradford, J. Carter Brown, Kathryn Cavenaugh, Arnold Chace, Merlin DeConti, Jr., Michael Everett, Laura Freid, Leslie Gardner, Wilfred Gates, Jr.,Tom Gleason, Roger Mandle, Ron Marsella, Patricia Moran, Karen Pelczarski, Tina Regan, Friedrich St. Florian, Jane and Deming Sherman, Robert Whitcomb.

Serving on the steering committee are Christopher McMahan, chair; Barnaby Evans, Gabriel Feld, Christian Ladds, Vivienne Lasky-Freeman, William Morgan, Dietrich Neumann, Paul Pawloski, Edward Sanderson, Samuel Shamoon, Fred Stachura and William Van Siclen.

Registration information is available on the conference's website www.transprov.org.
For phone information call 401-245-5561.