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How a class of ‘brilliant graduates’ shaped modern Chinese architecture
chinese drawing architecture

(Homepage image) A protestant church designed by Tung Chuin in 1928 and awarded the Beaux Arts Institute of Design 1st place medal. This rendering and the works of more than 20 architecture student alumni from China are currently on display as part of the “Building in China” exhibition. (Image: Ming Tong)

How a class of ‘brilliant graduates’ shaped modern Chinese architecture

The ‘Building in China’ exhibition showcases the work of the ‘first generation’ of Penn architecture alumni from China and how striking a balance between modern and traditional continues to shape the country’s expression of its national identity.

Erica K. Brockmeier

Unlocking the potential of ‘smart’ water in responding to climate change
Aerial view of a flooded Texas town.

Columbus, Texas, was one small town that experienced devastating floods from Hurricane Harvey in 2017. Allison Lassiter’s research focuses on coastal communities from New Jersey to Texas. (Image: Weitzman News)

Unlocking the potential of ‘smart’ water in responding to climate change

Assistant Professor of City and Regional Planning Allison Lassiter researches unlocking the potential of ‘smart’ water in responding to climate change.

From the Weitzman School of Design

After the shutdown, what comes next for the former Philadelphia Energy Solutions refinery?
philadelphia refinery

Flames and smoke emerge from the Philadelphia Energy Solutions Refining Complex in Philadelphia, Friday, June 21, 2019. (Image: Matt Rourke/AP Images)

After the shutdown, what comes next for the former Philadelphia Energy Solutions refinery?

Creating a greener, more equitable future at the site means understanding its complex history, its long-running public health impacts, and working in partnership with communities.

Erica K. Brockmeier

Empowering community engagement through theory and practice
people outside wearing masks taking surveys on their phones while standing next to a table covered with donuts

This fall, Participatory Cities, an SNF Paideia Program Course, delved into the history, methodology, and impacts of community participation and stakeholder involvement processes. Students took what they learned in the classroom and conducted their own engagement activities on campus, such as this freshman tabling event and survey. (Image: Mya Gordon)

Empowering community engagement through theory and practice

This fall, students applied community participation and stakeholder involvement processes to conduct their own outreach activities on campus as part of Participatory Cities, a Stavros Niarchos Foundation Paideia Program course.

Erica K. Brockmeier

Public schools, COVID-19, and addressing education’s aging infrastructure
two panels depicting conditions in philadelphia public schools. the one on the left is a cartoon of students working in a classroom with issues such as mold, vermin, and asbestos and lead highlighted. on the right is an updated version of the same classroom with these issues removed and text below asks "what is your dream for philadelphia schools?"

Renderings developed by students in Planning Public Schools as Infrastructure, one showing deteriorating conditions in buildings and the other encouraging viewers to envision their future, on display outside of City Hall. (Image credit: Akira Drake Rodriguez)

Public schools, COVID-19, and addressing education’s aging infrastructure

Urban planners and architects are working to address one of the many challenges faced by public schools by designing healthy and engaging outdoor educational spaces.

Erica K. Brockmeier

Answering ‘How will we live together?’ at the Venice Biennale
City X Venice Italian Virtual Pavilion A screenshot of the City X Venice Italian Virtual Pavilion, the Biennale’s first-ever virtual pavilion, with Dubbeldam serving as one of the creative directors. (Image: Winka Dubbeldam)

Answering ‘How will we live together?’ at the Venice Biennale

After more than a year of delays, Penn faculty and students were able to participate in La Biennale di Venezia architectural exhibition with both virtual and physical submissions.

Erica K. Brockmeier

The simplest fix to America’s rent problem
The Atlantic

The simplest fix to America’s rent problem

Vincent Reina of the Stuart Weitzman School of Design will be assessing the results of a rental assistance pilot program in Philadelphia that will distribute cash aid rather than vouchers. “There’s been some explorations, but a true, proper evaluation is something that we’ve never really done,” he said. “Cash transfers are often more contentious.”

De Blasio vowed to make city streets safer. They’ve turned more deadly
The New York Times

De Blasio vowed to make city streets safer. They’ve turned more deadly

Erick Guerra of the Stuart Weitzman School of Design said New York City’s traffic fatality rate, though on the rise, is still three to four times lower than the national average. “In some ways, Vision Zero is aspirational,” he said. “Even in cities that have success, you still see traffic fatalities.”

Rethinking resilience in the face of climate change
Hurricane satellite imagery

Rethinking resilience in the face of climate change

Hurricane Ida brought record-breaking rainfall and flooding, and stronger, more destructive storms will inevitably come. Being better prepared will require reconsidering how to protect people and their homes.

Michele W. Berger