Building bridges: A feat of engineering and artistry Architect Masoud Akbarzadeh and research assistant Boyu Xiao of the Weitzman School of Design, along with collaborators including Yao Lu of Jefferson University, defied conventional engineering by constructing a 30-foot-long bridge entirely from 16 millimeter hollow glass units. Their effort is now showcased at the Corning Museum of Glass.(Image: Courtesy of the Corning Museum of Glass) Building bridges: A feat of engineering and artistry At the Corning Museum of Glass, professor of architecture Masoud Akbarzadeh and his team have turned fragility into strength with a 30-foot-long span of shimmering glass, blending ancient wisdom with cutting-edge design to redefine the future of structural engineering and architecture.
Balancing renewable energy development and land protection University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine Dean Andrew M. Hoffman, center, moderated a discussion with Jonathan Thompson and Grace Wu on tradeoffs in land use for renewable energy.(Image: Ashley Hinton/Penn Vet) Balancing renewable energy development and land protection In an Energy Week event, Grace Wu and Jonathan Thompson provided perspectives on tradeoffs in land use from their work in California and Massachusetts.
A rare on-campus assignment for preservation students holds ‘small revelations’ One of the photographs of Weitzman Hall made by historic preservation student Kate Whitney-Schubb and submitted to the Library of Congress for the Historic American Buildings Survey.(Image: Courtesy of Weitzman News) A rare on-campus assignment for preservation students holds ‘small revelations’ Weitzman historical preservation students were able to use a campus building slated to be altered for its class focus, which changed the stakes of the project and the approach students took to documenting the historic building.
Turning the desert into an oasis In Senegal, the ambitious Dakar Greenbelt project seeks to create an extensive network of ecological infrastructure in and around the city to sustainably address environmental concerns and enhance urban life. With support from David Gouverneur and Ellen Neises, Ph.D. candidate Rob Levinthal in the Weitzman School of Design led two courses that included a field trip to Dakar, that culminated in students presenting their visions for parts of the Greenbelt.(Image: Courtesy of Chaowu Li) Turning the desert into an oasis Students from the Weitzman School of Design journeyed to Senegal to help with a massive ecological and infrastructural greening effort as part of their coursework. The Dakar Greenbelt aims to combat desertification and promote sustainable urban growth.
Weitzman’s Jules Dingle on social and environmental sustainability Architect and professor of practice of historic preservation at the Weitzman School Jules Dingle.nocred Weitzman’s Jules Dingle on social and environmental sustainability The Philadelphia architect and professor of practice in historic preservation joined the Weitzman School in the fall.
The practice of art collection as a collaboration nocred The practice of art collection as a collaboration As part of an undergraduate course, Penn faculty and students curated an Arthur Ross Gallery exhibition of works from the Neumann family’s extensive collection of modern and contemporary art.
Jessica Varner on the long arc of built environment and its materials nocred Jessica Varner on the long arc of built environment and its materials Varner, an assistant professor of landscape architecture at the Weitzman School, explores the intersections between architectural, environmental, and chemical history.
Penn staff make the Philadelphia area a better place through side gigs (Image: Eric Sucar) Penn staff make the Philadelphia area a better place through side gigs The 12th piece in Penn Today’s Side Gigs for Good series highlights staff who mentor and empower Latino professionals, lead Girl Scout troops, donate hand-knitted items to people in need, and connect Philadelphia children with music opportunities.
Lisa Servon wins award for community partnership Lisa Servon talks with students in her practicum course. (Image: Weitzman School of Design) Lisa Servon wins award for community partnership A professor in the Stuart Weitzman School of Design, Lisa Servon was recognized for her work with the Kensington Corridor Trust. The honor was presented by Provost John L. Jackson Jr. and Netter Center director Ira Harkavy on Dec. 16.
Using data to make city planning more safe and accessible Xiaoxia “Summer” Dong is an assistant professor of city and regional planning in the Weitzman School.nocred Using data to make city planning more safe and accessible Weitzman School of Design’s Xiaoxia ‘Summer’ Dong focuses on the travel behavior and mode choice impacts of driverless cars. 1 min. read