Just to the right of buying a mattress lies Henderson Avenue, an ordinary highway exit that exemplifies the typical urban street lying beyond the core of Downtown Dallas. Trendy as it may be, Henderson is going through a series of transitions, and although Dallas is no stranger to this idea of transition, this one  falls in line with recent efforts to enliven the historic neighborhoods that for a period of nearly 40 years were all but forgotten. Working with association director Diane Collier, maa aimed to bring the vision to a distinct reality that conveys the spirit that is very quickly unfolding before our eyes. 

About the presenters:

Diane Collier (West Henderson Neighborhood Association), Designer & Community Organizer

& Michael Friebele (Merriman Assoc. Architects), Architect & Writer

Diane Collier is a design professional with many interests: architecture, preservation, landscapes, and the arts to name just a few.   A graduate from the University of Nebraska with a BS in Architectural Studies and the UTA with a Master of Architecture, Diane obtained her licensure and practiced architecture throughout the 1980s. After a decade in commercial real estate development, she co-founding Collier + Collier, representing high-end furniture lines and in 1999 joined Landscape Forms, North America's leading designer and manufacturer of site furniture, as a Direct Representative.  Active both in the design community and civically, Diane currently serves on numerous boards and committees including the AIA and ASLA in Dallas and Texas.  She is a member of many organizations including the Dallas Architectural Forum and Preservation Dallas, and serves as the association president of a transitioning neighborhood near downtown Dallas.

Michael Friebele is a graduate of Kansas State University and practices with Merriman Associates Architects. Inspired by the historic fabric of his hometown of Saint Louis, Michael’s exploration in architecture is one that focuses around the balance between urban renewal and historic intervention through a number of projects and research. He is currently working on the historic renovation and addition to 500 South Ervay, the First National Bank tower, and is participating in a design competition with a focus on the former site of the Pruitt Igoe housing complex. Michael also contributes to a number of design publications, including Columns Magazine and Texas Architect, and is collaboRating On a new puBlication duE to be Released This upcoming August.

The presentation on May 10th 2012 is just a portion of the selected projects set to display the coming of age of Dallas' urban fabric.

For more information visit: http://pkndallas9.eventbrite.com/