Join HCCC for a series of six speaking events designed to provide a forum for Houston’s rich dialogue on urban development. Held in conjunction with the SPRAWL exhibition this fall, the series features a variety of notable individuals from city, county, academic, architecture, and urban planning backgrounds.
Like the exhibition, the speaker series addresses three main topics, “Infrastructure of Expansion,” “Survey, Plan, Build,” and “Aftereffects,” which loosely define the phases of urban growth. To supplement the art works in the show, the series aims to create a cross-disciplinary dialogue to address the complex issues raised by the exhibition and generate public discussion.
Brian Crimmins
City of Houston Planning & Development Chief of Staff
Brian Crimmins has worked for Houston’s Planning and Development department for over seven years. As Chief of Staff, Crimmins has been involved in technology upgrades that interface with the public, such as making the city’s general plan available online as a source of guidance for Houston’s development. He has also assisted in amending ordinances to increase flexibility for developers, establish incentives for high-density and pedestrian-friendly development, and add requirements for parks and open space.
Click here to see the full event schedule and speaker biographies. All events take place at Houston Center for Contemporary Craft and are free and open to the public.
The SPRAWL Speaker Series was made possible in part through the City’s Initiative Grant Program of the Houston Arts Alliance.
Above: Paul Sacaridiz,”An Incomplete Articulation (detail),” 2011. Ceramic, wood, powder-coated aluminum, cut vinyl, board. Overall (approximate): 120 x 120 x 144 inches. Photo courtesy of the Denver Art Museum.