James S. Russell, AIA Consultant

Services

James S. Russell’s unique consultancy helps private owners and public agencies take action to cope with new urban challenges. He guides clients toward opportunities at a variety of scales — from individual properties to the vast metropolitan regions that are emerging today.

He can place local issues in the context of American cities mutating into new forms, like gigantic beltway-wrapping megasuburbs, struggling industrial towns, and rural places facing rapid urbanization.

Competencies

Mr. Russell is an analyst and writer with a knack for crystallizing ideas and actions. His skills suit projects involving architecture, innovative building types, urban form, urban transformation, and citizen involvement in urban-growth choices.

As a journalist as well as a consultant and architect, Mr. Russell listens empathetically and succinctly explains complex issues in plain English. He makes planning abstractions concrete to non-experts. He is a leader and a collaborator, focusing on results that compel action. He has wide knowledge of key resources and data sources, and has ready access to thousands of experts internationally in urban development and architecture.

Expertise

Land-use history and culture; land-use tools and concepts.

Mechanisms of urban growth (drivers of development, government policy).

Emerging urban form (megasuburbs, boutique cities, hypergrowth metros).

Urban design and urban planning.

Forging community cultures for revitalization and growth.

Architecture and economic development; design and urban identity

Design and the workplace.

Design and transportation.

Consulting

Conceptualizing a new mission for a major environmental organization. It aims to convene scientific and activist resources to deal with ecological challenges that operate over vast regions. With Michael Gallis & Associates (ongoing).

As analyst, editor, and writer, united aspirations of diverse organizations within nine counties along the Hudson River. Helped develop a framework vision that addresses global-scale challenges. For Patterns for Progress, with Michael Gallis & Associates (2005-2006).

Evaluated scope and assisted with successful architect selection for renovation of Merkin Concert Hall at the Kauffman Center, New York City (2002).

Hired as editor, helped focus the content and wrote much of the text for “The Mayors’ Institute: Excellence in City Design,” a widely used guide to the uses of design in public projects. For the Institute/a> and the National Endowment for the Arts (2002).

Hired as editor, honed data and wrote sections of report, “Building a World-Class Economy in New Jersey.” For Prosperity New Jersey, with Michael Gallis & Associates (2002).

Hired as writer, augmented research and edited “Designing for Security,” guidelines for architects and designers; for the Art Commission of the City of New York (2000). Excerpt

Journalism

First architecture critic for Bloomberg, the leading media company that reaches 260,000 professionals and is disseminated to more than 350 publications worldwide (2004 - date). Now also appears regularly on TV and radio.

Award-winning editor at Architectural Record, the premier American journal for practicing architects — the magazine of the American Institute of Architects (1988 - 2006).

Writing on architecture, design, and related topics successfully engages a wide variety of general-interest, consumer, and professional audiences for publications including the Wall Street Journal, Philadelphia Inquirer, Vanity Fair, Details, Martha Stewart Living, The New York Times, the Harvard Design Magazine, Business Week and I.D. Mr. Russell has contributed to several books, and is completing Mutant Metropolis: Living in the Emerging American City.

Architect

Architectural design, urban design, and project management of projects from the thousands of dollars to well over $1 billion for Bohlin Cywinski Jackson, Philadelphia; Proposition: Architecture; the Polshek Partnership; and Cooper Robertson & Partners; all New York City (1980 - 1987).

Academic

Teaching in architecture at Columbia University and Pennsylvania State University. Frequent lecturer and guest critic at architecture schools.

Education

Masters of Architecture, Columbia University, New York City

Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Design, University of Washington, Seattle.

Evergreen State College, Olympia, Washington.

Registration

Architect: New York. Member, American Institute of Architects.

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	James S. Russell, AIA Consultant Services James S. Russell’s unique consultancy helps private owners and public agencies take action to cope with new urban challenges. He guides clients toward opportunities at a variety of scales — from individual properties to the vast metropolitan regions that are emerging today. He can place local issues in the context of American cities mutating into new forms, like gigantic beltway-wrapping megasuburbs, struggling industrial towns, and rural places facing rapid urbanization. Competencies Mr. Russell is an analyst and writer with a knack for crystallizing ideas and actions. His skills suit projects involving architecture, innovative building types, urban form, urban transformation, and citizen involvement in urban-growth choices. As a journalist as well as a consultant and architect, Mr. Russell listens empathetically and succinctly explains complex issues in plain English. He makes planning abstractions concrete to non-experts. He is a leader and a collaborator, focusing on results that compel action. He has wide knowledge of key resources and data sources, and has ready access to thousands of experts internationally in urban development and architecture. Expertise Land-use history and culture; land-use tools and concepts. Mechanisms of urban growth (drivers of development, government policy). Emerging urban form (megasuburbs, boutique cities, hypergrowth metros). Urban design and urban planning. Forging community cultures for revitalization and growth. Architecture and economic development; design and urban identity Design and the workplace. Design and transportation. Consulting Conceptualizing a new mission for a major environmental organization. It aims to convene scientific and activist resources to deal with ecological challenges that operate over vast regions. With Michael Gallis & Associates (ongoing). As analyst, editor, and writer, united aspirations of diverse organizations within nine counties along the Hudson River. Helped develop a framework vision that addresses global-scale challenges. For Patterns for Progress, with Michael Gallis & Associates (2005-2006). Evaluated scope and assisted with successful architect selection for renovation of Merkin Concert Hall at the Kauffman Center, New York City (2002). Hired as editor, helped focus the content and wrote much of the text for “The Mayors’ Institute: Excellence in City Design,” a widely used guide to the uses of design in public projects. For the Institute/a> and the National Endowment for the Arts (2002). Hired as editor, honed data and wrote sections of report, “Building a World-Class Economy in New Jersey.” For Prosperity New Jersey, with Michael Gallis & Associates (2002). Hired as writer, augmented research and edited “Designing for Security,” guidelines for architects and designers; for the Art Commission of the City of New York (2000). Excerpt Journalism First architecture critic for Bloomberg, the leading media company that reaches 260,000 professionals and is disseminated to more than 350 publications worldwide (2004 - date). Now also appears regularly on TV and radio. Award-winning editor at Architectural Record, the premier American journal for practicing architects — the magazine of the American Institute of Architects (1988 - 2006). Writing on architecture, design, and related topics successfully engages a wide variety of general-interest, consumer, and professional audiences for publications including the Wall Street Journal, Philadelphia Inquirer, Vanity Fair, Details, Martha Stewart Living, The New York Times, the Harvard Design Magazine, Business Week and I.D. Mr. Russell has contributed to several books, and is completing Mutant Metropolis: Living in the Emerging American City. Architect Architectural design, urban design, and project management of projects from the thousands of dollars to well over $1 billion for Bohlin Cywinski Jackson, Philadelphia; Proposition: Architecture; the Polshek Partnership; and Cooper Robertson & Partners; all New York City (1980 - 1987). Academic Teaching in architecture at Columbia University and Pennsylvania State University. Frequent lecturer and guest critic at architecture schools. Education Masters of Architecture, Columbia University, New York City Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Design, University of Washington, Seattle. Evergreen State College, Olympia, Washington. Registration Architect: New York. Member, American Institute of Architects.
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