Panelist
Panelist
Mr. Alex Sarian
Arts Commons
Alex Sarian is the President & CEO of Arts Commons, one of Canada's foremost arts centres, where he is leading the largest cultural infrastructure project in Canadian history. Prior to his appointment, he served as a senior executive at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, and taught at New York University, Pace University, and City College of New York. He has served on governing boards and advisory committees for SXSW, Museo de Arte Moderno de Buenos Aires, and the Varkey Foundation's Global Teacher Prize. Alex has received degrees from New York University, is a graduate of the CommunityShift program at Western University's Ivey School of Business, and was an inaugural graduate of the Impact Program for Arts Leaders at Stanford University's Graduate School of Business. His book, The Audacity of Relevance: Critical Conversations on the Future of Arts & Culture (ECW Press / Simon & Schuster) is currently available wherever books are sold.
Speaking at
Wed Oct 30
10:30 AM — 11:30 AM (GMT-05:00) Eastern Time
Resorts World Las Vegas - Level 2, Jasmine CD
Doubling Down on Downtowns
Category
Mixed-Use
A decade ago, Calgary, Alberta, home of Canada's energy sector, battled through the latest oil price crash. As office vacancies loomed large, the city of Calgary embarked on an ambitious journey to transform aging office buildings into vibrant residential hubs, and identify underused but coveted residential and mixed-use hubs in the city's historic east end. By the time the pandemic hit office vacancies, Calgary's foresight was being lauded by media and urbanists globally, with The Washington Post editorial board declaring that "Calgary offers a road map—and a tool kit—for D.C. and other beleaguered cities on how to make the switch rapidly and efficiently." Today, the green shoots of that visionary planning are sprouting across the city, from the largest arts infrastructure investment in Canada to an emerging Culture + Entertainment District packed with mixed-use community that's home to a new convention center and ascendant cultural beacons, room for 8,000 additional residents and 4 million square feet of new development to active transportation links that connect downtown's new residential reuse with the rest of the city.