Board + Batten: Architecture After Hours

An engaging, social evening blending conversation, architecture, and place with architect Richard Hess - part of the City Stories festival.

Start the evening with architecture, conversation, and connection.

Join us for Architecture after Hours: Board + Batten, an engaging evening program featuring a talk and Q&A with architect Richard Hess of Quinn Evans, hosted in the beautifully restored Hill Library—now the Avalon Theater.

Begin the night with a relaxed mix-and-mingle reception, offering time to connect with fellow attendees, design enthusiasts, and professionals from across the Twin Cities. Then settle in for a thought-provoking presentation exploring architecture, design, and the evolving role of historic spaces in contemporary life.

The evening concludes with a live Q&A, giving attendees the opportunity to engage directly with the speaker.

Richard Hess is a princial architect at Quinn Evans' Michigan office and recently led an award-winning restoration of Detroit's Michigan Central Station. Closer to home, Quinn Evans was also the firm responsible for the restoration of Minneapolis' Arvonne Fraser Library.

Event Schedule

• 5:00 PM – Doors Open + Networking Reception
• 5:45 PM – Welcome + Introduction
• 6:00 PM – Richard Hess
• 7:00 PM – Audience Q&A
• 7:45 PM – Event Concludes

Photography Disclosure

Rethos staff, volunteers and contract employees may document this event for future promotional materials, fundraising or advertising of Rethos as well as Doors Open and City Stories events. By attending this event, participants grant full permission to Rethos to use photographs, videotapes, motion pictures, or any other record of this event, for any legitimate purpose without any monetary payment.

If you prefer not to be photographed, please notify a member of the event staff.

About City Stories

City Stories is a multi-day festival celebrating the architecture, history, and cultural stories of the Twin Cities through tours, talks, and experiences across the region. Buy tickets to other City Stories events here.

About the Speaker

Richard Hess is an architect with Quinn Evans, a nationally recognized firm known for its work in historic preservation, adaptive reuse, and cultural projects. His work reflects a deep commitment to honoring the past while designing for the future.

About the Venue

The historic Hill Library, now the Avalon Theater, offers a unique setting that reflects the themes of the evening—bringing new life to a landmark space through thoughtful restoration and adaptive reuse. As a Gateway Sponsor of City Stories, Avalon Theater plays an important role in supporting access to architecture, history, and cultural experiences across the Twin Cities.