Paris-Houston Sustainability Exchange / Days 1-2

City Systems Immersion

Field learning on how major-event cities move people, operate public places, manage heat, and keep daily urban systems working under visitor pressure.

Sustainable Ecologies Installations Paris-Houston Sustainability Exchange Urban Sustainability Data Analysis Sustainability Best Practices

Field lens

Observe the city as an operating system.

The immersion focuses on the practical choreography behind major-event districts: transit access, walking routes, shade, public gathering spaces, wayfinding, safety, and district stewardship. Paris serves as the comparison city; Houston becomes the implementation frame.

The goal is to turn field observations into a Houston access and public realm checklist for fan districts, campus gateways, neighborhood corridors, and civic gathering places.

ThemeMobility, public realm, operations

Houston questionHow do visitors move without overwhelming neighborhoods?

OutputAccess and public space opportunity map

Paris bike lane and multimodal street corridor

What The Team Studies

Transit arrival points, last-mile walking routes, and shared mobility connections.
Shade, hydration, seating, signage, and public-space comfort during high-demand periods.
How agencies, venues, universities, and districts coordinate daily operations.

Paris Signals

How temporary event routes connect with permanent transit and public-space investments.
How streets and plazas are managed as flexible event infrastructure.
How visitors receive clear cues without turning the city into a closed venue.

Houston Translation

Identify priority fan routes and friction points near transit, hospitality, and campus anchors.
Bundle shade, cooling, water, safety, and wayfinding into a public realm kit.
Define who maintains improvements before, during, and after World Cup 2026.

Experts interviewed

Paris Mobility, Planning, And Public Realm Voices

Sabine Romon

Chief Resilience Officer, City of Paris

Sabine Romon is a recognized expert in sustainability, resilience, planning, mobility, governance, or event delivery. During the Houston Sustainability Delegation, this expert provided insights into how Paris leveraged the Olympic Games to advance long-term environmental, social, and economic objectives. Their work illustrates the importance of integrating sustainability into organizational decision-making and public policy.

Interview focus: city systems and municipal implementation

Virginie Boutueil

Researcher, LVMT

Virginie Boutueil is a recognized expert in sustainability, resilience, planning, mobility, governance, or event delivery. During the Houston Sustainability Delegation, this expert provided insights into how Paris leveraged the Olympic Games to advance long-term environmental, social, and economic objectives. Their work illustrates the importance of integrating sustainability into organizational decision-making and public policy.

Interview focus: mobility research and public realm

Nacima Baron

Professor and Research Fellow

Nacima Baron is a recognized expert in sustainability, resilience, planning, mobility, governance, or event delivery. During the Houston Sustainability Delegation, this expert provided insights into how Paris leveraged the Olympic Games to advance long-term environmental, social, and economic objectives. Their work illustrates the importance of integrating sustainability into organizational decision-making and public policy.

Interview focus: comparative urban systems

Abel K. Reda

Researcher, Université Gustave Eiffel

Abel K. Reda is a recognized expert in sustainability, resilience, planning, mobility, governance, or event delivery. During the Houston Sustainability Delegation, this expert provided insights into how Paris leveraged the Olympic Games to advance long-term environmental, social, and economic objectives. Their work illustrates the importance of integrating sustainability into organizational decision-making and public policy.

Interview focus: transport evidence and access