We are proud to announce that Partner Tiffany Beamer has been named one of Building Design + Construction Magazine’s 40 Under 40 class of 2018. She was selected from more than 230 applicants to the annual competition of architecture, engineering, and construction industry professionals from around the world who are under 40 years of age and have demonstrated great success in and service to their professions.

Tiffany describes her practice as “as an act of service,” and asserts: “Design is successful when spaces are both functional and understandable but also provide something intangible and emotional. My dedication to people, to beauty, and to landscape has empowered me to manifest meaningful success in my education, my career, my professional affiliations, and my life outside of landscape design.”

The 40 Under 40 list is featured in the September 2018 issue of Building Design + Construction and will be honored at the magazine’s annual AEC Emerging Leaders Meetup at the Greenbuild Conference in Chicago.

For more information about the competition and to see this year’s list of winners, visit the 40 Under 40 webpage.

The Philadelphia Chapter of the American Institute of Architects has recognized OLIN Partner Susan Weiler, FASLA with the 2018 Paul Phillipe Cret Award. Named after the renowned 20th century Philadelphia architect, teacher, and design leader, the Cret Award recognizes individuals or organizations who are not architects but who have made an outstanding and lasting contribution to design of buildings, structure, landscapes and the public realm of Greater Philadelphia. 

Susan was nominated by colleagues for her visionary leadership in the planning and design of landmark civic, cultural, and educational places throughout Philadelphia. Her work spans numerous plans and built works at the University of Pennsylvania, planning and design initiatives along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway including the Rodin Museum, Logan Circle, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art’s Anne d’Harnoncourt Sculpture Garden, and most recently the award-winning transformation of Dilworth Park at Philadelphia’s historic City Hall.

Susan will be honored at the 2018 AIA Philadelphia Design Awards Gala on November 7th at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts. For more information, please visit AIA Philadelphia. 

Expanding on the success of Electric Street, a South Philly mural and light installation realized in 2016 by artist David Guinn, OLIN’s Summer 2018 Interns worked with the Community Design Collaborative and the Passyunk Square Civic Association to envision a conceptual design that extends the life of the vibrant mural throughout the rest of the alley, out into the surrounding streets, and deep into the heart of the community.

The current 30-x-15-foot installation along Percy Street in Passyunk Square uses more than 200 feet of LED light, illuminating an alley otherwise bypassed. Our interns worked to create a design which takes the existing mural one step further by luring residents and visitors off busy streets and into an immersive experience of art – underfoot, overhead, and all around.

The 10-week project kicked off with a community meeting held at the dance studio on Percy Street – the perfect location as the studio has used the alleyway as the backdrop for performances. The first meeting gauged community members’ interest in the project as well as their likes and dislikes for certain design elements. For those who could not attend in person, an online survey was offered so their voices could still be heard. The second engagement meeting combined the feedback offered from the first meeting, online survey, and initial concept proposals to continue the conversation.

After weeks of analyzing feedback and assessing focus points such as traffic conditions, hydrology issues, and cultural landmarks, the interns developed their conceptual design: a set of guidelines that can be used as a jumping off point to transform Percy Street into a welcoming artswalk. Their plan strategically places gateways and connections that draw people from East Passyunk Ave, Reed, and 9th Streets into the artswalk. Proposed elements include changes to pavement and lighting as well as phased murals and sculptural elements to expand the activation of the space during both day and night.

The interns presented their final design to community members and discussed potential next steps and considerations such as cost estimates, partnership opportunities, and a phased implementation plan. The final designs are expected to be published by October 2018. Although the summer is winding down, our interns’ hard work will continue to thrive as the Collaborative and PSCA move forward with the transformation of Percy Street.