George Smart
Keynote Speaker: Podcaster, Founder & CEO of USModernist®, the World's Largest Nonprofit Educational Archive of Modernist Residential Design
-
Travels From:
-
Speaking Fee:
-
Categories:
George Smart Biography
George Smart HAIA is the founder and CEO of USModernist®, the world's largest non-profit educational archive dedicated to the documentation, preservation, and promotion of Modernist residential design. A passionate advocate for Modernism, Smart has been one of the nation's leaders in raising awareness preserving this important architectural movement and his work has helped to change the way people think about modernism. He is a frequent speaker to architecture, design, preservation, real estate, and museum groups. Previously, he worked for 30 years as a management consultant with clients such as Boeing, Microsoft, Cisco, Harvard Business School, and UNC-Chapel Hill. He is one of the few to be bestowed an Honorary AIA by the American Institute of Architects.
Modernist home design is characterized by open interior floor plans with vaulted ceilings, large and numerous windows, flat or low pitch roofs, long exposed beams, extensive use of glass to bring in natural light, and unusual geometric forms. Early Modernist architects wanted to change the way people lived by making houses and objects more affordable through better materials, streamlined building, and family connectivity. Gone were formal living and dining rooms. Instead, there was a large family space where kitchen, dining, and living rooms flow into each other; and smaller private bedrooms. More than anything, Modernism creates feelings of optimism for a better and brighter future.
As host of the long-running architecture and jazz podcast "USModernist Radio", named by DWELL as the #2 architecture and design podcast, and by Atomic Ranch as #1, Smart informs, entertains, and inspires audiences to engage preservation and keep the bulldozers away.
USModernist’s intrepid team of non-profit staff and volunteers have documented over 130 major 20th century architects, researched over 20,000 Modernist houses, and scanned over 4.2 million pages of architecture magazines going back over 130 years. Smart and USModernist have won 18 honors for leadership in preservation, including the national AIA Institute Honors for Collaborative and Professional Achievement.
Smart takes The Accidental Archivist presentation on the road to design audiences, architecture conferences, art & history museums, libraries, preservation organizations, and real estate associations across the country. Corporate clients include Architectural Firms, Real Estate, and Pharmaceutical companies.
Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on George Smart and other top speakers and celebrities.
George Smart Speaking Topics
America's mid-century Modernist architects and their original clients are almost all dead; their houses have been sold several times; and the local real estate community would just as soon tear down the properties as find new, caring owners.
Despite many Modernist houses aging over the 50-year mark, city councils and preservation groups have a hard time considering Modernist houses to be historic - because 50 years later many still look like the future. With bulldozers continuing to destroy mid-century Modernist houses (like Marcel Breuer’s Geller House in 2022), these livable works of art continue to be threatened by rising land prices and disinterested heirs. Preservation is more important than ever, but you can’t save something if you don’t know where it is and why it is important. If you’re a Modernist fan in many towns and smaller cities, you may have asked: hasn't somebody documented the Modernist houses? Surely some architect or preservation society or library has a list? Likely, no.
George shares the story of how an energetic and dedicated team of volunteers documented thousands of Modernist houses across America. Audiences learn basic principles of Modernist design, why preservation is important to our communities, and how easy it is to start a documentation and preservation effort of their own - with nothing more than a car, a cell phone, and a laptop.
For anyone who loves good design, this is an informative and fun conversation. George delivers keynotes, and is also available for panels as participant or moderator.
Participants will:
- learn how thousands of significant Modernist houses were documented and made available to the public online, many for the first time.
- identify the beginnings of residential Modernist design as part of a national movement.
- learn key differences between Modernist and contemporary architecture.
- learn the key architects and influencers in national Modernism.
- learn marketing methods to preserve mid-century Modernist houses through preservation, occupancy, and sustainable development strategies.
- discover how documenting, preserving, and promoting residential Modernist design benefits the architecture and construction industries.
- learn key differences between selling a traditional house and selling a Modernist house.
- gain access to a digital archive of over 30,000 photos of over 20,000 Modernist houses, along with profiles on 400+ architects.
- learn how USModernist became the country's largest open digital archive for Modernist houses and a recognized leader in Modernist preservation with 18 local, state, and national awards.
George Smart Videos
How do I book George Smart to speak at my event?
Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like George Smart for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for George Smart, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for George Smart or any other speaker of your choice.
How much does it cost to book George Smart for a speaking engagement?
Speaking fees for George Smart, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book George Smart are $10,000 - $20,000 for live events and Below $10,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire George Smart, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
What topics does George Smart speak about?
George Smart is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Creativity, Art & Design, Architecture, Engineering, Real Estate, History and Culture.
Where does George Smart travel from?
George Smart generally travels from Durham, NC, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.
Who is the agent for George Smart?
AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like George Smart for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book George Smart for your next private or corporate function.
What is a full-service speaker booking agency?
AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host George Smart or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?
If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.
George Smart is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics including Creativity, Art & Design and Architecture. The estimated speaking fee range to book George Smart for live events is $10,000 - $20,000, and for virtual events Below $10,000. George Smart generally travels from Durham, NC, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Douglas Farr, Lori Cheek and Deanna Van Buren. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling George Smart for an upcoming event.
SPEAKING TOPICS
George Smart Speaking Topics
-
The Accidental Archivist: Modernist Architecture in America
America's mid-century Modernist architects and their original clients are almost all dead; their houses have been sold several times; and the local real estate community would just as soon tear down the properties as find new, caring owners.
Despite many Modernist houses aging over the 50-year mark, city councils and preservation groups have a hard time considering Modernist houses to be historic - because 50 years later many still look like the future. With bulldozers continuing to destroy mid-century Modernist houses (like Marcel Breuer’s Geller House in 2022), these livable works of art continue to be threatened by rising land prices and disinterested heirs. Preservation is more important than ever, but you can’t save something if you don’t know where it is and why it is important. If you’re a Modernist fan in many towns and smaller cities, you may have asked: hasn't somebody documented the Modernist houses? Surely some architect or preservation society or library has a list? Likely, no.
George shares the story of how an energetic and dedicated team of volunteers documented thousands of Modernist houses across America. Audiences learn basic principles of Modernist design, why preservation is important to our communities, and how easy it is to start a documentation and preservation effort of their own - with nothing more than a car, a cell phone, and a laptop.
For anyone who loves good design, this is an informative and fun conversation. George delivers keynotes, and is also available for panels as participant or moderator.
Participants will:
- learn how thousands of significant Modernist houses were documented and made available to the public online, many for the first time.
- identify the beginnings of residential Modernist design as part of a national movement.
- learn key differences between Modernist and contemporary architecture.
- learn the key architects and influencers in national Modernism.
- learn marketing methods to preserve mid-century Modernist houses through preservation, occupancy, and sustainable development strategies.
- discover how documenting, preserving, and promoting residential Modernist design benefits the architecture and construction industries.
- learn key differences between selling a traditional house and selling a Modernist house.
- gain access to a digital archive of over 30,000 photos of over 20,000 Modernist houses, along with profiles on 400+ architects.
- learn how USModernist became the country's largest open digital archive for Modernist houses and a recognized leader in Modernist preservation with 18 local, state, and national awards.
VIDEO
George Smart Videos
FAQS
-
How do I book George Smart to speak at my event?
Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like George Smart for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for George Smart, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for George Smart or any other speaker of your choice. -
How much does it cost to book George Smart for a speaking engagement?
Speaking fees for George Smart, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book George Smart are $10,000 - $20,000 for live events and Below $10,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire George Smart, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent. -
What topics does George Smart speak about?
George Smart is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Creativity, Art & Design, Architecture, Engineering, Real Estate, History and Culture. -
Where does George Smart travel from?
George Smart generally travels from Durham, NC, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. -
Who is the agent for George Smart?
AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like George Smart for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book George Smart for your next private or corporate function. -
What is a full-service speaker booking agency?
AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host George Smart or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us. -
Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?
If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.
BOOK GEORGE SMART
We are happy to assist you with your interest in booking a speaker or celebrity for your event, your organization, and the type of talent you would like to secure, and an agent will be in touch shortly.
Fill out the form below to or call us at 1-800-698-2536 if need immediate assistance.
We respond to most inquiries within 4 hours. Under special circumstances, it may take up to 24 hours.
We are happy to help! Call us to speak with a booking agent about your event or specific speaker request.
Gauge Interest and check availability for appearances, speaking engagements, or corporate events.
Provide you with speaking fee to book George Smart or other celebrity appearance fees
Give you personal recommendations for the best keynote speakers or celebrities
Assist you with any questions you have throughout the talent booking process
This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent.
All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.
