On Friday October 24th 2008 the board of the International New Town Institute contracted dr. Michelle Provoost for director of the institute. Mrs. Provoost is architectural historian and partner in Crimson, Rotterdam. She is the author of many publications e.g. Hugh Maaskant (dissertation), Welcome into My Backyard! International Building Exhibition Rotterdam-Hoogvliet' and Asfalt, automobiliteit in de Rotterdamse stedebouw'. Crimson Architectural Historians and the International New Town Institute work together in the project The New Town a researchprogram on New Towns in the cold war era.