In a Penn Today article detailing a design-build studio at the Weitzman School of Design, my role as the director of Justice & Belonging was highlighted. The Spring 2023 studio built on a course I led the previous spring, which focused on developing the identity of a Black cultural district in a part of West Philadelphia that straddles Lancaster Avenue. This initiative aimed to engage with the community to shape a cultural district that reflects and amplifies the rich Black heritage of the area.
The design-build studio faced an aggressive timeline, with the entire process—from site selection and community engagement to design and construction—being completed within a single semester. This challenging but rewarding experience underscored the importance of integrating community voices into urban design and construction processes, ensuring that the resulting spaces are meaningful and reflective of the local culture.
READ: https://penntoday.upenn.edu/news/weitzman-design-and-build-first-collaborate
