For Immediate Release: April 27, 2012
Media Contact: Marketing and Communication Department
Public Space in Washington, D.C. from the National Mall to McPherson Square Park
2012 Charles H. Atherton Memorial Lecture
WHAT
Architect, urban designer, and City College of New York Professor Lance Jay Brown, FAIA discusses the complex role and ownership of open space in our ever urbanizing environment. From the Bonus Army composed of World War One Veterans camped out on the banks of the Anacostia River to the recent Occupy D.C. movement in McPherson Square Park and Freedom Square, protests and demonstrations often test the boundaries of federal property and the First Amendment.
Following Professor Brown’s presentation, respondents explore how design can play a role in creating spaces that serve a variety of functions and audiences from large demonstrations to everyday use and from tourists to locals. Panelists examine who decides on the development, location, and design of public space and if parks are being designed to actually impede public protest.
Dedicated to providing a forum for discourse on the planning and design of Washington, D.C., the Charles H. Atherton Memorial lecture series commemorates the life and legacy of Charles Atherton, who served for almost four decades as Secretary of the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts. The series examines the architectural, historical, and natural context of the city and its development to promote visionary planning and design excellence in the nation’s capital.
WHO
Lucy Barber, historian
Lance Jay Brown, architect, urban planner, and College of New York professor
Faye Harwell, landscape architect
Thomas Luebke, secretary of the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts
Susan Piedmont-Palladino, National Building Museum curator, moderator
WHERE
National Building Museum
401 F Street NW
Washington, DC 20001
(Judiciary Square Metro, Red Line)
WHEN
Wednesday, May 9, 2012 / 6:30 – 8:00 pm
$12 Member | FREE Student |$20 Non-member. Prepaid registration required. Walk-in registration based on availability.
ABOUT
The Charles H. Atherton Memorial Lecture is supported by generous contributions to the Charles H. Atherton Memorial Fund.
The National Building Museum is America’s leading cultural institution dedicated to advancing the quality of the built environment by educating people about its impact on their lives. Through its exhibitions, educational programs, online content, and publications, the Museum has become a vital forum for the exchange of ideas and information about the world we build for ourselves. Public inquiries: 202.272.2448 or visit www.nbm.org. Connect with us on Twitter: @BuildingMuseum and Facebook.
