Of Note Calendar
A veteran of New York’s High Line campaign, Peter Mullan views the effort to restore Austin’s Waller Creek as another chapter in his work to reconcile built and natural environments.
AIA Convention 2015 May 14–16 convention.aia.org With almost 300 opportunities to gain continuing education credits and with former President Bill Clinton as one of the keynote speakers, the AIA Convention in Atlanta promises to set a new standard. The event takes place May 14–16 at the Georgia World Congress Center. Phyllida Barlow at the Nasher May 30 nashersculpturecenter.org This summer, the Nasher Sculpture Center will present a major exhibition of the work of British sculptor Phyllida Barlow. Using commonplace materials — wood, plaster, concrete, cardboard, and strips of colorful cloth or tape — Barlow creates monumental, ramshackle novel sculptural forms. The exhibition will be on view from May 30 to August 30.
Nature’s Curator
PHOTOS THIS PAGE COURTESY ANDY KEATE.
by Ingrid Spencer
Waller Creek Conservancy CEO Peter Mullan graduated from the Yale University School of Architecture in 1997, went back to New York City, and had every intention of changing the world. Luckily, his first employer and mentor James Polshek, principal of then-named Polshek Partnership Architects — now called Ennead Architects — appreciated that bravado and encouraged Mullan to get involved in local advocacy. The young architect was especially excited when people began to talk about saving the dilapidated rail line known as the High Line. “It started as a preservation project,” says Mullan. “I got involved as a volunteer, working to keep the structure from being torn down.” As the High Line project went from preservation to full-on development endeavor, Mullan was tapped to shepherd the project as executive vice president of Friends of the High Line. “That project changed my sensibility about what it means to be an architect,” says Mullan. “We were interested in figuring out how to build a community, how to connect the built environment and public space.” Mullan is ready to do that again, in Austin, with Waller Creek. “There are lots of similarities,” he says. “You need people who are fighters,
who are ready to stand behind their convictions. We have that here in Austin.” Of course, he also sees the differences between Waller Creek and the High Line. Waller Creek is, after all, a functioning waterway with multiple layers of complex organic systems in play. Mullan says it’s the tunnel project the City of Austin is building to control the floodwaters that makes Waller Creek especially fascinating. “From a natural creek to an engineered natural creek, the tunnel will allow us to curate natural processes.” Would he ever go back to architecture? “I don’t see myself as having ever left architecture,” he says. “I may have left traditional practice, but with Waller Creek I’ve found a way to reconcile all the different forces that combine to create environments. It’s not only how they are, but how they could be. It’s transformation. Austin is an exciting place to be, at this moment.”
AIA Sandcastle May 30 aiahouston.org For over two decades, teams of architects, designers, and engineers have taken their tools to East Beach in Galveston for a Texas-sized sandcastle competition. The event takes place on Saturday, May 30. Texas Society of Architects 2015 Studio Awards June 5 texasarchitects.org/studioawards
Ingrid Spencer is the newly appointed executive direc-
The Texas Society of Architects Studio Awards
tor of AIA Austin.
recognize innovation and excellence in design. Real or theoretical projects that go beyond the boundaries of architecture by addressing current critical issues are encouraged. The final deadline for entries is June 5.
5/6 2015
Texas Architect 17