Public Workshop Director Alex Gilliam to Present Lecture on Sept. 15 in Little Rock

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Alex Gilliam is director of the Public Workshop in Philadelphia. He'll give a lecture Sept. 15 at the Arkansas Arts Center, at Ninth and Commerce streets in Little Rock as part of the 2015-2016 Art of Architecture lecture series.

LITTLE ROCK — Alex Gilliam, director of the Public Workshop in Philadelphia, will present a lecture at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 15, at the Arkansas Arts Center, at Ninth and Commerce streets in Little Rock. The lecture, titled "Start With Building," will be preceded by a 5:30 p.m. reception.

Gilliam is the first speaker in the Architecture and Design Network's 2015-16 lecture series. The non-profit organization is starting its 12th season of presenting talks by well-regarded design professionals.

Gilliam founded the Public Workshop and refers to it as the "cheerleader of possibility." The organization helps students in kindergarten through 12th grades receive education about architecture and design through engaging opportunities that allow them to contribute to their community.

Gilliam, who has undergraduate and graduate degrees in architecture, will share his ideas about the value of hands-on experience and its role in design education.

He has worked with the Rural Studio, the Hester Street Collaborative, Cooper Hewitt Museum, the University of Pennsylvania, the National Building Museum, the Chicago Architecture Foundation and numerous other organizations and institutions across the country. His work has been featured in many magazines as well as various websites, and he was named one of Philadelphia Magazine's Smartest People in Philadelphia in 2012.

Gilliam said that he is trying to give children back some control of their lives by letting them have a voice in their community. Because of the efforts of Gilliam and Public Workshop, children are able to have a hands-on participation in the design of their cities. Each effort takes place in full public view with the result that students get feedback from friends and neighbors, some of whom are likely to get involved with the project.

Gilliam helps students hone skills that enable them to repurpose abandoned spaces and bring change to places that figure in their everyday lives — such as playgrounds, bus stops, parks and schools. Students learn lessons from design to leadership to environmental issues and more.

The 2015-16 Art of Architecture lecture series is sponsored by the Architecture and Design Network, with support from the Central Arkansas Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, the Arkansas Arts Center, the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design and community members.

The lecture is free and open to the public, and no reservations are needed. For more information, contact ardenetwork@mac.com.