Fall Lecture & Book Signing

This year's Lecture Series kicked off with Josh Olsen, author of Better Places, Better Lives: Biography of James Rouse. The night of October 21st began with a book signing where attendees had the opportunity to purchase signed copy of Mr. Olsen's book as well as meet the author. The Architecture Auditorium was full with over 100 students, faculty and guests in attendance, all eager to hear about the life and work of legendary developer James Rouse. In his lecture as well as in his book, Josh Olsen focused on James Rouse as a "restless" man always bent on solving the newest urban or suburban problem. He was motivated by a strong moral code, a desire to break down prejudice and to create places for people to live, work and play as a community. Maryland can claim this native son who developed the first enclosed mall (Minneapolis); invented the first Festival Market (Faneuil Hall in Boston, followed by the Inner Harbor in Baltimore); coined the term "Urban Renewal;" conceptualized the low income housing tax credit; and created a legacy in the Enterprise Foundation and it's many projects in affordable housing and urban development.