James S. Russell

Speaking

James S. Russell has spoken about Frank Lloyd Wright in Berlin and flood-proofing cities in Calgary. He has moderated panels with politicians, advocates, engineers, and corporate executives. He has also interviewed architects for Bloomberg television and commented on NPR/WNYC public radio. He speaks about:

  • Architecture
  • Urban growth trends
  • Architectural responses to climate change.

If you’re interested in having James speak at your next event, please query him at james@jamessrussell.net

Highlights 

“How do Cultural Landscapes Shape Public memory?” moderated panel on the controversial equity questions in public memorials, for the Cultural Landscape Foundation’s Race and Space online conversations,  May 14, 2023

“Sustainability and Resiliency: Unlocking Climate Change
Solutions,” talk for the annual meeting of Washington Capital Management, Washington, D.C. September 10, 2022

“Large Scale Green Infrastructure Networks,” Silman Resiliency Forum, online, October 20, 2020

“Cocktails and Conversation,” with architects Tom Kundig and Eric Owen Moss, AIA National Convention, New York City, June 21, 2018

“The Legacy of Moshe Safdie,” moderator, press and influencer event, New York City, March 22, 2017

“Celebrating Lauretta Vinciarelli,” speaker, Totah Gallery, New York City, September 14, 2016

“History Becomes Form: International Architects, Local Architecture,” Blouin Creative Leadership Summit, moderator, New York City, Sept. 22, 2015

“What is Good Design?” panel, Historic Districts Council conference, New York City, March 8, 2014

“Transportation and the Second Avenue Subway,” National Academy, New York City, Jan. 8, 2014

“Designing Disaster Recovery: Lessons from Hurricane Sandy,” at ARC-US conference, Hollywood, Fl., Nov. 9, 2013

“New Needle Towers Coming to Manhattan,” interview WNYC/NPR Morning Edition, All Things Considered, Nov. 7, 2013

“After the Flood: Making Resilient Communities,” University of Calgary conference, Calgary, Alberta, October 18, 2013

“Impact of Climate Change on the Built Environment” (moderated all-day conference), Business Alliance for a Sustainable Economy, Kansas City, Mo., Sept 27, 2013

Interview WNYC/NPR Morning Edition, All Things Considered, on new home of Whitney Museum of Art, June 26, 2013

“Densify,” (on micro-apartments, transportation and density) at the Center for Architecture, New York City, June 26, 2013

“Brutalism and Preservation,” at Parsons School of Design, New York City, May 15, 2013

“A Critics Tour of New Waterfront Parks,” WNYC/NPR Morning Edition, All Things Considered, March 19, 2013

Facilitator, community outreach, for NYC Special Initiative for Rebuilding and Resiliency, Staten Island, NY, March 6, 2013

“Eco Cities: From Value Analysis to Projects,” AGRION Energy & Sustainability Conference, New York City, February February 20, 2013

“Adapting Cities to Climate Change in a Post-Sandy World,” National Academy of Sciences, New York City, January 24, 2013

“Addressing the Hard Questions,” (after Storm Sandy), Municipal Art Society Road to Resilience conference, New York City, January 12, 2013

“Four Architecture Critics in Conversation,” (with Michael Sorkin, Christopher Hawthorne, Cathleen McGuigan and Justin McGuirk) Designers and Books Fair, October 27, 2012

“The Future of Preservation: How does it Enhance Livability?” Municipal Art Society Summit for the City, New York City, October 19, 2012

“The Urban Polder: What New York’s Waterfront Can Learn from the Dutch,” Van Alen Institute, New York City, October 10, 2012

“Another Language of Diplomacy,” on new standards for embassy design, Architectural League, New York City, September 19, 2012

Keynote, American Institute of Landscape Architects, New York City Awards program, April 3, 2012

“Are Bay Area Cities Ready for Climate Change?” San Francisco Planning + Urban Research Association (SPUR) March 19 (San Jose), March 20th, 2012 (San Francisco)

“Architecture Criticism Today,” at the Center for Architecture, New York, February 27, 2012

“Soundings: Agile City Panel Discussion,” with Patti Southard, King County; Jarrett Walker, Human Transit; Town Hall Seattle, Nov. 3, 2011

Keynote speech, American Institute of Architects New England Region, Northampton, Mass., October 15, 2011

“Renaissance or Long Emergency? A Debate on the City’s Future,” with Diane Brady, Businessweek, James Howard Kunstler, Guggenheim BMW Lab, New York City Oct. 6, 2011

Oculus Book Talk (AIA New York): James S. Russell, The Agile City, Sept. 15 2011

Podcast: http://cfa.aiany.org/index.php?section=podcast

“The Agile City,” Summer Solstice Round Table, American Institute of Architects Committee on the Environment, Washington D.C., June 22, 2011

“Firms in an Age of Mergers and Acquisitions,” The AIA New York City Center for Architecture, May 23, 2011, New York City

Juror, Awards Program, American Institute of Architects, Texas; Austin May 20, 2011

“Next Generation Green: Sustainable Communities and Infrastructure” American Institute of Architects National Convention, May 12, 2011, New Orleans. (With Hillary Brown)

“Perspectives on the Built Environment: Practicing the Craft,” Lincoln Insitute of Land Policy, April 15, 2011 with Paul Goldberger, The New Yorker and John King, San Francisco Chronicle

“The New Normal,” University of Utah School of Architecture, Salt Lake City Utah, October 27, 2010

Video Links