Why I Chose Penn

I was recently asked to reflect on why I chose the Weitzman School of Design for my graduate education for the Why Weitzman Wednesday section of the Graduate Admissions blog.  When considering graduate school, I looked for degrees in both Architecture and Landscape Architecture. I considered dual degree options, certificates, or electives that could be taken in other schools(ie landscape schools). I had looked…

Zoom Study Rooms

In design there is always studio. In studio, a single room in which each student is given personal desk space to work, classes are taught and homework is done. This space drifts between communal and private. Studio has a lot of the attributes people who love study groups look for. For one in studio you can just stay at your desk and complete all…

A sketch for Tomorrow

The whole field of design is built on imaging the many futures awaiting us. JKRP, a Philadelphia firm, is currently hosting a student sketching competition looking at the future of Philadelphia. Interested, see the flyer below for competition brief: There are soo many views in Philadelphia that perfectly showcase the past, present, and most current future in progress. Right in the foreground of those…

The Hunt Begins!

Career Fair came and went this past Friday in a flash. Before I knew it I had a chronological portfolio in the works, a presentation worthy portfolio for screen sharing, and a long list of updates across platforms. This job hunt is I’m sure going to be as interesting as last years. Most things are still online including Career Fair. The school decided to…

Superbowl Studio!!

My first year at Penn the Philadelphia Eagles won their first superbowl. I was in studio, streaming the game, and munching on snacks. You could hear the celebration echo throughout the city as soon as they won. It was one of the most incredible memories I have of footbal and school. The years to follow I’d join friends to watch the game, critique the…

What a Wednesday!

January 20th, 2021 was certainly an interesting day. The Presidential Inaguration, the start of the school semester at Penn, and the most interesting weather. Adding to that the start of federal work study jobs and the last few days of production for the ULI Hines competition and you have a day like no other. Sadly it was an amazingly busy day seen from a…

School Events

LARP Lecture Series: https://www.design.upenn.edu/landscape-architecture/events/activ-ism ARCH Lecture Series: https://www.design.upenn.edu/events-exhibitions-0/events/weitzman-fall-2020-lecture-series Meyerson Hall is both closed and open. While students can get in and technically have workspace I know many of us would prefer to stay home. With the majority of classes online and the studio requirements adjusting to reflect that a workspace for model making and collaborating doesn’t seem to be needed. However the downside to…

Home-School-Work

With the Pandemic going strong more spaces are coming to serve multiple purposes. My childhood home was no longer a cozy place of memory but a chaotic work-live space with five other people vying for the same resources. My apartment in Philly is no longer the place I go to relax and crash after a long day since I now spend my entire day…

Project Porch

The Back Porch has seen better days. Up until this past week (think June when this started) it has been the safe house for many miscellaneous items from the Florida sun, rain, and heat. As the redesign of the backyard ramps up the design has extended into this poorly used space. Project Porch was officially started earlier this week with a clean out. Bulky…

Penn’s Covid-19 Plan

Penn UPDATES: https://coronavirus.upenn.edu/ Penn has been as straight forward as possible about the pandemic plan. The University became entirely remote halfway through the semester. Professors were as accomodating as possible in handling technical issues, time concerns for students who traveled or left Penn Campus Area, and the resource gap between students. At the end of the semester the Universtity of Pennsylvania had a Covid-19…