Museum District Walking Tour
2026-05-09 09:00 - 11:00 (America/Chicago) | Cullen Sculpture Garden, Montrose Boulevard at Bissonnet Street Houston, Houston, 77006
The Houston Museum District is one of the few areas in the country with such a dense population of museums, public art, contemporary architecture, and landscape design. On this 2-hour walking tour you will experience the quintessential Modernism of Mies van der Rohe, the structuralist view point of Gunnar Birkerts, the simplicity and craft of Isamu Noguchi, and the first free standing American structure designed by Yoshio Taniguchi. Come explore these and other world class examples of design with ArCH tour guides and trace the chronology of significant cultural shifts from the early twentieth century through today.
Tour meets at the entrance of the Cullen Sculpture Garden, which faces Bissonnet St. and is directly across from the MFAH. Street, lot, and garage parking available.
AIA Credit: 2.0 LU
AIA MEMBERS PLEASE NOTE:
Per AIA National CE Standards, any learning program approved for AIA Learning Units may award CE credit for the approved program for up to (3) years from the date of approval so long as the CES Provider is in good standing. AIA Members may repeat the same course, but no additional credit will be granted or recorded.

Touring The Gessner Center: Building with Nature for Resilience and Renewal
2026-05-09 10:00 - 11:30 | The Gessner Center, Galveston Bay Foundation, 1725 N Hwy 146, Kemah, Texas, 77565
Join us for a tour of the Galveston Bay Foundation’s new home, the Gessner Center. The Center demonstrates how architecture and landscape design can serve as active agents of ecological stewardship, advancing the Foundation’s mission to protect and restore the Gulf Coast environment while fostering meaningful community engagement.
Located in Kemah, the state-of-the-art four-acre headquarters facility, designed by Kirksey, includes event space, laboratories for water quality sampling, a living shoreline, trails, boardwalks, an observation deck, and educational and event spaces integrated within the natural habitats, creating ripple effects of environmental and social benefit that extend far beyond the property line. The Gessner Center embodies the importance of designing with ecological context in mind.
The tour will highlight the project’s pursuit of the Living Building Challenge goals, including net-positive water and energy strategies, material transparency, and habitat restoration, which is the world’s most rigorous green building certification.
Design Team
Architect: Kirksey Architecture
Landscape Architect: TBG Partners
General Contractor: Satterfield & Pontikes
MEP: CMTA
Civil Engineering: Duplantis Design Group
Structural: Pinnacle Structural Engineers
This event is free and open to the community.
AIA 1.5 HSW
ALSA 1 HSW

Urban Art Walking Tour
2026-05-16 09:00 - 11:00 | Market Square Park, 301 Milam St, Houston, TX, 77002, United States
This tour will look at public art, murals, architecture, place making and urban planning in Houston. Tour stops include Market Square Park, Buffalo Bayou, Lynn Wyatt Square and areas west of Main Street. Artists featured on this tour include Mel Chin, Paul Kittelson, Claes Oldenburg and Dean Ruck.
Meets in the NE Corner of Market Square Park. Street, lot and garage parking are available in the area.
Image: Geometric Mouse X by Claes Oldenburg

2026 Houston's Design Gala
2026-05-16 19:00 - 23:30 | TX
Benefitting the Architecture Center Houston

Proceeds from the gala benefit the programs of the Architecture Center Houston (ArCH).
When: Saturday, May 16, 2026 | 7PM-Midnight
Where: The Shop Club Houston
Chairs: Catherine and Clayton Callaway
To Reserve Your Table: Complete the RESPONSE FORM and email it to Aleks Savitski at aleks@aiahouston.org
Program includes:

Award Presentation and Recognition of the winners of the Ben Brewer Young Architects Award, the AIA Houston Firm Award, and recognition of new firms designated as Emerging Professionals Friendly Firms.
Seated Dinner
Silent Auction
Networking and Live Music

ABOUT ArCH:
ArCH: Architecture Center Houston is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that cultivates public appreciation for architecture and its effect on the human experience through design-focused programming.
ArCH offers architectural tours, K-12 educational programs, community events, lectures, and exhibitions. The programs address a wide range of audiences and celebrate Houston’s rich architectural and cultural heritage. Each year, ArCH programs benefit over 4,500 individuals and continue to grow in size, diversity and reach.
Over the years, the Architecture Center Houston Foundation has given over $400,000 for community assistance, publications, educational projects, exhibitions, and public service.
Grantees have included:
Blueprint Houston, Buffalo Bayou Partnership, Central Houston, Contemporary Arts Museum Houston, Greater Houston Preservation Alliance, Houston Arts Alliance, Houston Public Library, Michael G. Meyers High School Design Competition, Project Row Houses, Rice University School of Architecture, Stella Link Redevelopment Association, and UH Gerald D Hines College of Architecture.
Expected Outreach: 800-1000 attendees. The event is publicized widely across the architecture, construction, and engineering community.
Sponsorships for this event are tax deductible as charitable contributions, less fair market value of the dinner.

Masonry Workshop
2026-05-20 16:00 - 18:00 | Restoration Services, Inc., 9810 Fairbanks North Houston Rd, Houston, 77064, United States
Masonry walls are not all the same! What repair methods are appropriate for the masonry wall system on your building?

Join AIA Houston’s Historic Resource Committee (HRC) for a masonry repair workshop to learn more about masonry wall systems, and appropriate repair methods. Nick Floyd and Glynnis Flaum from SGH will provide a short presentation to discuss the fundamentals of masonry systems (including differences between mass masonry, transitional masonry, and veneer/cavity wall systems common today), performance expectations and repair guidance for each, and some repair example case studies. Following the presentation, Restoration Services, Inc. (RSI) will lead hands-on workshop stations for some common masonry repairs like repointing, patching repairs, and remedial structural anchors.

Get ready to have fun and get your hands dirty!
AIA Credit: 2.0 HSW
Presentation Sponsors:
.

Additional Information:

Workshop stations will include some cutting/grinding and cementitious materials. Please dress in “construction appropriate” clothes – you may get dirty!
If you can, please bring your own safety glasses, gloves, and dust masks. RSI will supply PPE for those who do not have their own.
Parking is available in RSI surface lot – come though gate (look for RSI sign) and park along north fence.
A minimum of 5 days’ notice is required to receive a full refund if you need to cancel your reservation.

ARE Study Group - All Sections
2026-05-20 17:30 - 19:00 | 902 Commerce, Houston, TX 77002, 902 Commerce, Houston, TX, 77002, United States
Time: 5:30 PM
Location: Architecture Center Houston, 902 Commerce
Presented in partnership with the Women in Architecture, Emerging Professionals, and Latinos in Architecture committees.
Join us for the New ARE Study Group session to build your momentum in studying for the ARE. Held in a new mentorship-style format, the session will offer an opportunity to focus on all sections of A.R.E. Bring your questions, your notes, your laptops, and your favorite personal study materials to compare with colleagues!
Additionally, we will discuss study materials and subscriptions available on the market, answer attendee questions, and offer a strategy for approaching and scheduling your exams.
This session will be held at Architecture Center Houston. Light bites and drinks will be provided.
See you there soon!

Coastal Resilience Lunch and Learn
2026-06-02 11:30 - 13:00 | Marmo, 2121 Market Street, Galveston, TX, United States
Join Vision Galveston for Coastal Resilience Lunch’N’Learn, presented by Dr. Jennifer Languell, Resilience Engineer for Babcock Ranch in Florida, on June 2 from 11:30 am – 1 pm at the Marmo.
As climate change intensifies, Babcock Ranch approaches resilience by working with the natural environment as a form of protection. Join Vision Galveston for a conversation with Dr. Jennifer Languell, sustainability engineer who was part of the team that created “the most resilient and sustainable community in Florida”.
As president and founder of Trifecta Construction Solutions, the award-winning Dr. Languell has championed the integration of “green” building principles and sustainable design for more than 24 years, offering cost effective solutions for informed decisions about green building and implementing environmental sustainability.
The event is free and includes lunch, but registration is required: https://forms.gle/rEAQzYmjqQr9zvvZ8

Christopher Kelley Leadership Development Program (CKLDP) Info Session (2026-2027)
2026-06-03 17:00 - 18:00 | TX
Interested in spending meaningful time with fellow architects, industry and community leaders? The AIAH Emerging Professionals is preparing for the 2026-2027 class of the Christopher Kelley Leadership Development Program. The year-long program consists of nine individual half-day sessions attended by a competitively selected group of 16 emerging professionals from Houston. The curriculum focuses on core skills such as entrepreneurship and firm management, the art of negotiation, bringing in new clients, community leadership, industry culture, and developing one’s future within the practice. The program will begin in September 2026.
Come join this diverse and passionate group of practice professionals. Get those letters of recommendation ready!
The official Call for Applications opens on Monday, May 18, and closes on Monday, June 29.
RSVP for an information session below:
Wednesday, June 3 at 5:00pm via Zoom
Thursday, June 11 at noon via Zoom
For more information about CKLDP visit here.
The Christopher Kelley Leadership Development Program (CKLDP) was founded in 2013 by the Emerging Architects Committee as part of the AIA|DC Chapter. Since its founding, the CKLDP has been established in Washington DC, Denver, Detroit, Miami, Georgia and Houston, and strives to carry forward Christopher’s legacy by actively training and nurturing the next generation of leaders within the architectural profession.
Zoom link will be sent a few days before the info session.

Design Awards Presentation
2026-06-04 18:00 - 19:30 | Architecture Center Houston, 902 Commerce St., Houston, TX, 77002, United States
Join us for the 2026 AIA Houston Design Awards Presentation to celebrate excellence in architecture by Houston-based firms and projects!
The AIA Houston Design Awards program recognizes design excellence in:

Architecture greater than 50,000 SF
Architecture less than 50,000 SF
Residential architecture
Interior architecture
Restoration/renovation
Divine detail
Urban design
On the boards
Conceptual

Criteria to be used by the jury include quality of design, resolution of the program idea, sustainable responsibility, innovation, thoughtfulness, and technique.
Learn about the 2026 jury here.

Christopher Kelley Leadership Development Program (CKLDP) Info Session (2026-2027)
2026-06-11 12:00 - 13:00 | TX
Interested in spending meaningful time with fellow architects, industry and community leaders? The AIAH Emerging Professionals is preparing for the 2025-2026 class of the Christopher Kelley Leadership Development Program.
The year-long program consists of nine individual half-day sessions attended by a competitively selected group of 16 emerging professionals from Houston. The curriculum focuses on core skills such as entrepreneurship and firm management, the art of negotiation, bringing in new clients, community leadership, industry culture, and developing one’s future within the practice. The program will begin in September 2026.
Come join this diverse and passionate group of practice professionals. Get those letters of recommendation ready!
The official Call for Applications opens on Monday, May 18, and closes on Monday, June 29.
RSVP for an information session below:
Wednesday, June 3 at 5:00pm via Zoom
Thursday, June 11 at noon via Zoom
For more information about CKLDP visit here.
The Christopher Kelley Leadership Development Program (CKLDP) was founded in 2013 by the Emerging Architects Committee as part of the AIA|DC Chapter. Since its founding, the CKLDP has been established in Washington DC, Denver, Detroit, Miami, Georgia and Houston, and strives to carry forward Christopher’s legacy by actively training and nurturing the next generation of leaders within the architectural profession.
Zoom link will be sent a few days before the info session.

EP University: Documentation Planning and Scheduling
2026-06-17 11:30 - 13:30 | Powers Brown Architecture, MKT- 600 N Shepherd, Building 3, Suite 300, Houston, TX, 77007, United States
Join us for the kickoff session of the EP University Lecture Series. This first lecture, Documentation Planning and Scheduling, will explore the different phases of design delivery and create an alignment on what the documentation deliverables should be at each phase to create a true development timeline.
This session will help you:

Learn better processes
Improve confidence
Accelerate your learning to advance in the field more quickly
Become skilled at analyzing project risks

Presented by the subject matter expert, Jeanette Shaw of Powers Brown Architecture, this session offers 1LU CE credit.
Lunch is provided.
Location: Powers Brown Architecture, MKT 600 N Shepherd, Building 3, Suite 300, Houston, TX 77007
Advanced registration is required. Deadline: Friday, June 12 at 2PM.

Kinetics of Urban Movement
2026-06-18 17:30 - 19:30 | Architecture Center Houston, 902 Commerce St., Houston, TX, 77002, United States
Architecture Center Houston is proud to announce their upcoming exhibition Kinetics of Urban Movement, opening Thursday, June 18, 5:30-7:30pm, curated by Rodrigo Gallardo, Bobby King and Shane Yee.
Skateboarding is not merely a subculture reacting against the built environment, but a distinct way of perceiving architecture and space.
Through their movement, skateboarders activate qualities already embedded in the built environment: geometry, material behavior, slope, continuity, friction, rhythm, and spatial sequence. Architectural elements often treated as background or residue of a design process (handrails, parking curbs, benches) become legible as primary moments. Empty swimming pools and deserted drainage ditches are radically reinhabited- becoming sites of engagement and gathering.
Seen this way, skateboarding does not merely occupy architecture differently but unlocks latent physical and spatial capacities that often exist beyond original design intention or prescribed function.
The exhibition traces how skateboarding reorders architectural value, elevating overlooked forms and explaining how these discoveries gave rise to the field of skatepark design.
Rather than asking what architecture was meant to do, skateboarding asks what architecture makes possible.
Event is free and open to the community.

Exhibition Sponsors and Community Partners
Kinetics of Urban Movement is funded in part by the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance

Cherries Wheels
Honey Skate Club
Houston Parks and Recreation Department
Houston Skate Academy
Select
Skate ECOSYSTEMS
Southside Skatepark

Youth Novice Skateboarding Clinic with Cherries Wheels
2026-06-20 09:00 - 11:00 | The Lee and Joe Jamail Skatepark, 103 Sabine Street, Houston, Texas, 77007
Join ArCH and Houston Parks and Recreation Department on Saturday, June 20, for an introductory clinic designed to teach youth participants the proper technique of skateboarding and to enhance their overall experience at the skatepark. Cherries Wheels (Austin), Honey Stake Club (Houston), and Houston Skate Academy will be on site to lead participants through foundational skills in a fun and supportive environment. With guided instruction and free-skate time, kids can develop coordination and enjoy the excitement of skateboarding at their own pace.
Learning objectives include balance, pushing, rolling in, dropping in, park etiquette, safety, how to fall, and flexibility. Clinic is limited to 30 participants on a “first-come, first-served” basis. (onsite registration only).
Participants will need to bring their own skateboard, helmet, and water bottle. Refreshment provided.
Event Details:

Age: 6-17 years old.
Location: The Lee and Joe Jamail Skatepark, 103 Sabine Street, 77007
Date: Saturday, June 20, 9am-11am.
Cost: Free

This program is in conjunction with The Kinetics of Urban Movement, on view at the Architecture Center Houston from June 18-September 26.
Exhibition Sponsors and Community Partners
Kinetics of Urban Movement is funded in part by the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance

Cherries Wheels
Honey Skate Club
Houston Parks and Recreation Department
Houston Skate Academy
Select
Skate ECOSYSTEMS
Southside Skatepark

New Building Tour: HCU's Smith Engineering, Science and Nursing Building
2026-06-25 15:30 - 17:30 | HCU, 7502 Fondren Rd., Houston, TX, 77074
Emerging Professional Committee invites you to tour HCU’s new Smith Engineering, Science and Nursing Building.
Houston Christian University partnered with Kirksey to design the 71,000-square-foot Smith Engineering, Science, and Nursing Building to expand its STEM and nursing programs and support future enrollment growth. Located on the east side of campus, the building blends modern elements like a glass curtain wall and cantilevered lab spaces with the university’s traditional architectural style. The ground floor is dedicated to engineering, the second floor to nursing with simulation labs, and the top floor to advanced science labs. Designed through a collaborative process, the facility also incorporates energy-efficient features and allows for future campus expansion.
Address:
7502 Fondren Rd.
Houston, TX 77074
This is a hard hat tour and PPE is required, Kirksey will provide if needed.
NOTE: If you need any physical accommodations, please get in touch with AIA Houston staff ahead of the tour.
Registration is required. Free to AIA members.

Full Day Continuing Education
2026-07-15 08:30 - 14:30 | Architecture Center Houston, 902 Commerce St., Houston, TX, 77002, United States
We cordially invite you to attend a full day of Continuing Education

8:30-9:00am Breakfast and Registration
9:00-10:00am
Energy Performance with Modern Glazing – 1.0 AIA HSW
Presented by Channing Wilson, Sierra Pacific Windows
10:00-11:00am
Generative Interiors: The Future of Architecture and Design – 1.0 AIA LU
Presented by Erick Calderon, La Nova Tile
11:00-Noon
Architectural Concrete Finishes for Interiors 2 – 1.0 AIA HSW
Presented by David Miller, Dungan Miller Design | Concrete Finishes
12:00-12:30pm
Break for Lunch
12:30-1:30pm
Texas Accessibility: From CAD to TABS – 1.0 AIA LU & Barrier Free
Presented by Meghan Simecek, Texas Accessibility Group
1:30-2:30pm
ADA Entrance Accessibility- 1.0 AIA HSW
Presented by Mark LeCrone & Amy Salmeron, Allegion Services Group, Greater Houston

Total AIA Learning Units: 5.0 LUs (3 HSW & 2 LU) Barrier Free included

Individual classes are not available for the event.
Pre-registered pricing includes breakfast and lunch
Parking is not included
A minimum of 3 business days’ notice is required to receive a full refund if you need to cancel your reservation
Online registration will close Friday, July 10
Onsite registration is available (breakfast and lunch is NOT included)

EP University: Communication Basic
2026-07-15 11:30 - 13:30 | Powers Brown Architecture, MKT- 600 N Shepherd, Building 3, Suite 300, Houston, TX, 77007, United States
Join us for the second session of the EP University Lecture Series – Communication Basics.
Communication is a fundamental skill required to be successful in the field of architecture. This course reviews communication requirements and skills – from client interface and interaction to internal and external communication among all other team members. Using clear communication facilitates efficient decision-making, minimizes misunderstandings, and prevents conflicts.

Understand the basic types of communication — verbal, non-verbal, written, and visual — in order to determine the proper ways to apply and respond to each type
Review communication preferences by each generation to know how to be the most successful in properly getting needed information to complete projects
Review strategies for successful communication – including understanding team member roles, respecting others, and communicating with clients – with examples
Provide strategies for conflict resolution when disagreements do arise within project teams – with clients, internal team members, or external consultants

Presented by Jeanette Shaw of Powers Brown Architecture, this session offers 1LU CE credit.
Lunch is provided.
Location: Powers Brown Architecture, MKT 600 N Shepherd, Building 3, Suite 300, Houston, TX 77007
Advanced registration is required. Deadline: Monday, July 13 at 5PM.

Navigating the Ropes: Syncing Skills and Strategy
2026-07-23 17:30 - 19:30 | Architecture Center Houston, 902 Commerce St., Houston, TX, 77002, United States
AIA Houston Emerging Professionals and Women in Architecture committees are partnering for an exciting mentorship event for young professionals in the AEC community. Join us for a panel with speakers from the industry with insight into early career experience and guidance on designing career paths.

2026 – Navigating the Ropes: Syncing Skills and Strategy
As you build your career in architecture, you’ll pick up skills, shift roles, and pursue credentials; slowly shaping the kind of professional you want to be. But growth takes more than technical expertise. It’s developed over time, through trial, feedback, and the occasional wrong turn; it takes intention.
This panel explores how to build that skill set on purpose. Through personal experience and practical advice, panelists will share how they defined their goals, advocated for themselves, and grew from where they started to where they are now.
Whether you’re weighing your next role or setting up your career, this session offers practical insight for growing both personally and professionally.
We can’t wait to see you there!
Panelists:

Brinn Miracle – Architangent
Michael Gonzales, AIA – Protolab
Catherine Callaway, AIA, LFA, LEED AP – Kirksey Architecture

Moderator:

Stephanie Pedigo, AIA, LEED AP – GSMArchitects

Time:

5:30pm, Networking
6:00-7:30 Program

Cost:

$10 General Admission
$5 Student

Design the Ride: A skatepark design workshop
2026-07-25 10:00 - 12:00 | Architecture Center Houston, 902 Commerce St., Houston, TX, 77002, United States
Calling all creative thinkers! Get ready for an action-packed morning with the National Organization of Minority Architects, Houston, and Architecture Center of Houston, where design and skateboarding will collide.
What makes a skatepark unforgettable? Is it the bowls, a challenging stair set, a perfect handrail, or a quarter pipe that keeps riders coming back? In this hands-on workshop, students will explore how skateparks are designed to challenge, inspire, and bring communities together.
Students will work in groups to sketch, design, and build elements for a new community skatepark. At the end of the workshop, students will be able to share their designs and receive feedback from architects and use mini skateboards to experience their parks.
Immersed in the current exhibition at the Architecture Center of Houston, Kinetics of Urban Movement, students will be able to draw inspiration from the photographs, 3D-printed models, and skate park sculptures on display. Shane Yee, Rodrigo Gallardo, and Bobby King with Skate Ecosystems will share their experiences designing and riding skateparks.
Workshop Highlights:

Students will work in teams of 5-6 students.
Each team member will select a different element to add to the skatepark.
Students will draw, build, and sculpt their skatepark elements.
Teams will present their designs to the group, explaining features and design choices.
Architects & designers will be on hand to guide participants, answer questions, and share experiences.

This interactive event is perfect for students aged 7-12 who are excited to explore the world of architecture and unleash their creativity. Through fun activities and teamwork, participants will learn how to design while developing essential skills in problem-solving, collaboration, and skateboarding culture. Whether you’re already a skater or interested in designing and building, this is your chance to shape the future of Houston’s skate scene—one ramp, rail, and bowl at a time.
Design the Ride: A skatepark design workshop is part of the arcHERtecture workshop series, which encourages girls to explore careers in architecture.
This program is in conjunction with The Kinetics of Urban Movement, on view at the Architecture Center Houston from June 18-September 26.
Exhibition Sponsors and Community Partners
Kinetics of Urban Movement is funded in part by the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance

Cherries Wheels
Honey Skate Club
Houston Parks and Recreation Department
Houston Skate Academy
Select
Skate ECOSYSTEMS
Southside Skatepark

Participatory Environments with Alexis Sablone
2026-08-01 14:00 - 15:30 | Architecture Center Houston, 902 Commerce St., Houston, TX, 77002, United States
How can we design more active and engaging cities? Drawing from experience as a professional skateboarder and designer, Alexis Sablone reflects on how movement shapes the way space is read, used, and reinterpreted, and how those ideas carry into their design work.

About Alexis Sablone
Alexis Sablone is an architect, designer and multidisciplinary artist, as well as a professional skateboarder and Olympian. They hold a BA from Barnard College, Columbia University, and a Masters in Architecture from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where they were both the Ida C. Green Fellow and recipient of the Imre Halasz Thesis Prize. Much of their work brings together their two worlds of architecture and skateboarding through the design of hybridized playscapes and large scale interactive sculptures in an ongoing exploration and interrogation of public space. Skateboarding, if nothing else, has provided an interesting case study for designers, as skate spaces consistently show themselves to be creatively used, shared and beloved by a broad, diverse and growing community. This diverse usership—cutting across spectrums of skill level, age, race and gender—demonstrates the potential that public play spaces hold, not just for skateboarders, but beyond. Alexis is currently a fellow at University of Chicago’s Gray Center for Art’s and Inquiry, where last spring they co-taught a course about the intersection of skateboarding culture, performance and urban space.

This program is in conjunction with The Kinetics of Urban Movement, on view at the Architecture Center Houston from June 18-September 26.

Image: Candy Courts. Courtesy of Alexis Sablone.
Exhibition Sponsors and Community Partners
Kinetics of Urban Movement is funded in part by the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance

Cherries Wheels
Honey Skate Club
Houston Parks and Recreation Department
Houston Skate Academy
Select
Skate ECOSYSTEMS
Southside Skatepark

Everyday Self-Defense: Building Confidence Through Boundaries & De-escalation
2026-08-13 17:00 - 20:00 | Third Ward Jiu-Jitsu, 2016 Emancipation Ave, Houston, TX, 77003, United States
In this self-defense session, the instructor, Sarah Degar, Jiu Jitsu black belt, and architect at GSMA, will share her unique approach to personal safety, focusing on two key objectives: setting boundaries and de-escalating potential uncomfortable situations. After demonstrating key techniques, attendees will partner up to practice, with the instructor offering guidance to each group.
The first part of the session will teach participants how to navigate unwanted physical contact in everyday situations, particularly with people they know. In professional and social contexts, it can be challenging to assert boundaries—especially for many women who already worry about being perceived as “unreasonable.” The instructor will address simple strategies to divert this contact to maintain comfort and autonomy. For example, a colleague approaches for a hug or puts an arm around the waist to pose for a photo. Attendees will be empowered to practice subtle yet effective ways to establish personal space without confrontation.
The second part of the session will address more serious scenarios, where the potential for physical harm exists. Whether the concern comes from someone familiar or not, de-escalation is crucial. Participants will learn techniques to create and maintain a safe distance, keep a steady stance to avoid being easily pushed or pulled, and how to break free from various types of holds. The session will wrap up with interactive games designed to reinforce the skills learned, making it fun and memorable while encouraging participants to continue practicing on their own.

Concrete Cosmos: Composing Skate Architecture
2026-08-19 12:00 - 13:00 | TX
In Concrete Cosmos: Composing Skate Architecture, Shane Yee presents skate architecture qua architecture, framing the skatepark as a paradigmatic yet unacknowledged achievement of the contemporary moment, characterized by adaptive reuse, the blurring of public and private space, an emphasis on lifestyle recreation, and the ascent of subcultural practices into mainstream culture. Skate spaces manifest in fluid, naturalistic configurations, converging with land art and anticipating parametric/ digital aesthetics; yet despite this sophistication, the language and principles of the discipline remain largely unarticulated.
Drawing on a half-century history of skatepark design (1976-2026) and his own work at Skate Ecosystems, Yee offers a chronological series of architectural close readings, examining design intentions, ordering logics, and formal arrangements. The lecture establishes skate architecture as an emergent field with significant cultural, spatial, and spiritual implications, capable of producing elevated human experiences.

About Shane Yee
Shane Yee earned his Bachelor of Architecture degree from NewSchool of Architecture & Design in San Diego, California. Mr. Yee has a broad range of experiences and capabilities in all phases of project planning, design and construction- from acquisition through operations and maintenance. He has designed award-winning projects including residential, multifamily, civic, religious, master planning, and of course, skate spaces. As an officer in the United States Navy Civil Engineer Corps, Mr. Yee expertly designed & managed DOD projects with a total value of 100+ million to include Design-Build, DBB, and MILCON construction. Mr. Yee is a member of the American Institute of Architects, Society of American Military Engineers, and US Green Building Council.

This program is in conjunction with Kinetics of Urban Movement, on view at the Architecture Center Houston from June 18-September 26.
Exhibition Sponsors and Community Partners
Kinetics of Urban Movement is funded in part by the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance

Cherries Wheels
Honey Skate Club
Houston Parks and Recreation Department
Houston Skate Academy
Select
Skate ECOSYSTEMS
Southside Skatepark

The Architectural History of Houston Street Skating
2026-09-26 09:00 - 11:00 | Tranquility Park, 400 Rusk, Houston, Texas, 77002
Join lifelong skateboarder and architectural historian Ted Barrow on a walking tour of the highlights of Houston’s Modernist and Late-Modernist architecture through a skateboarder’s perspective. The tour will cover key plazas and buildings which became local, state-wide, and eventually global skateboarding destinations from the late 1980’s to today.

About Ted Barrow
Theodore (Ted) Barrow is an art historian, writer, curator, and lecturer whose work bridges academic scholarship and contemporary currents. Born in Bolinas, California, he holds a Ph.D. in art history from the Graduate Center, CUNY, where he explored the Florida paintings of Winslow Homer and John Singer Sargent through an ecocritical lens. Barrow has taught at Barnard College, Baruch College, City College of New York, and the University of San Francisco. Outside of art and academia, he is a distinctive voice in skateboarding culture, known for This Old Ledge, a video series that investigates the cultural and architectural significance of global skate spots.”

This program is in conjunction with The Kinetics of Urban Movement, on view at the Architecture Center Houston from June 18-September 26.

Exhibition Sponsors and Community Partners
Kinetics of Urban Movement is funded in part by the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance

Cherries Wheels
Honey Skate Club
Houston Parks and Recreation Department
Houston Skate Academy
Select
Skate ECOSYSTEMS
Southside Skatepark
