Design Advocacy Group

Join DAG to learn more about what's happening at Cobbs CreekCouncilman Curtis Jones Jr has introduced bill no. 220918 that would amend the zoning code to create a new overlay district for the Cobbs Creek and Karakung golf courses. This overlay removes the environmental protection for trees on steep slopes, allows for fences up to 150 feet in height with no setback from adjacent properties, and removes the public meeting requirement, eliminating the opportunity for the public to voice their support or opposition to the project. This proposed ordinance creates a dangerous precedent that threatens to undermine legal protections for

How can Philadelphia think beyond rec centers in our neighborhoods, to build a larger culture of sports and recreation in Philly?With two stadium districts in the works, the FDR Park redesign, and a proposed $60 million waterfront pool park along the Schuylkill River, Philadelphia has a newly heightened focus on sports and recreation. How can Philadelphia leverage these projects, and think beyond rec centers in our neighborhoods, to build a larger culture of sport, recreation, and physical activity in the city?Light refreshments will be served.The event is free to attend and we ask you to RSVP so that we can get

Come listen in on a fireside chat with DVRPC Executive Director, Ariella Maron, about how DVRPC approaches urban challenges.The Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) is Greater Philadelphia's regional planning agency, planning for the nine-county, bi-state region as a whole, while also addressing place-based issues facing various portions of the region, including Center City, Philadelphia.  Ariella Maron became DVRPC's Executive Director in January 2023 and will join us for a fireside chat with Patty Elkis, DVRPC's recently retired Deputy Executive Director. Come listen in on a conversation about how DVRPC approaches urban challenges of aging infrastructure, a changing climate, disadvantaged communities,

The Independence Historical Trust has developed a blueprint presenting a shift within Philly from vehicular to pedestrian centricity.With its project partners, the Independence Historical Trust has developed a physical blueprint for the City’s historical area. This Vision Framework was intended to be a starting point from which additional stakeholders, new perspectives, and revolutionary ideas can contribute to connecting and further activating historical Philadelphia. With an appetite for incorporating new strategies, the Vision Framework presumes one set of constant foundational elements to include collaboration amongst two or more historically oriented organizations, a shift within the area from vehicular to pedestrian centricity

Join DIGSAU to discuss their project with The Clay Studio at 1425 N American St.Since 1974, The Clay Studio has been one of the world’s leading ceramic arts institutions, providing a unique learning and exhibition environment for diverse audiences. Philadelphia’s early 20th century warehouses provide the language for the building’s simple but expressive façade, connecting the building to the city’s tradition of masonry, manufacturing, and craft. Traditional brickwork elements such as raking and corbelling are reinterpreted at a monumental scale to create a richly textured, undulating façade that is highlighted by vivid shadows throughout the day. Generous windows showcase the

Philadelphia will be showcasing the richness of its cultural scene with a series of projects, performances and programs throughout the city.Philadelphia will be showcasing the richness of its cultural scene with a series of projects, performances and programs throughout the city. Leaders of the cultural community will be sharing preliminary plans for these events and for the general citywide cultural celebration. There will also be an opportunity for artists, architects and designers to discover how to get involved in the celebration, where funding might be available and how to create partnerships with cultural centers and communities.Please join us on January 22nd, 2025

Join Keiran Timberlake to discuss their project at 2300 Market St.Please join us for a DAG Spotlight discussion with firm Kieran Timberlake, who will discuss their exciting science research and discovery building at 2300 Market Street.2300 Market is a singular new building that spans a century.Located within the last remnants of the historic industrial fabric of Center City Philadelphia’s West Market corridor, the project is an 8-story, 225,000 SF life sciences research and discovery facility developed by Breakthrough Properties. The project embraces adaptive reuse and rehabilitation of an existing brick loft building and reconstruction of an adjoining building’s terracotta facade.

Please join us on January 16th, 2025 for a one-on-one discussion with Jessie Lawrence, Philly's new Director of Planning and Development.Please join us on January 16th, 2025 for a one-on-one discussion with Jessie D. Lawrence, the new Director of Planning and Development for the City of Philadelphia.Jessie D. Lawrence has nearly 20 years of experience in public and privately driven real estate development, urban planning, entitlements, and land policies. He most recently worked in administration of Philadelphia’s 100th Mayor, the honorable Cherelle L. Parker, as Associate Deputy Mayor for Planning and Strategic Initiatives. His experience has primarily been with the Philadelphia

Building Ghosts: Past Lives and Lost Places in a Changing City (Temple University Press, 2024) and the ghosts that reveal new truths.“Building ghosts” are the idiosyncratic remnants or imprints of demolished buildings, left behind on the sides of neighboring structures. Mostly seen in older Northeastern cities with rowhomes or party-wall adjacencies, they can reveal remarkable things, such as an old staircase going up the side of a building or plaster traces left by a set of shelves in an attic gable. As history in our changing cities is erased and remade, these ghosts can be ephemeral or enduring. They can be quickly revealed and

Join us as we explore the lessons from Philly's comeback story and why it should serve as a model for struggling cities across the U.S.Once a struggling post-industrial city, Philadelphia grappled with decades of economic decline, population loss, and a deteriorating tax base. Yet, against the odds, a bold policy—the 10-year property tax abatement, first applied to commercial-to-residential conversions and later to new residential construction—ignited an urban resurgence.This presentation examines how this powerful incentive revitalized neighborhoods, attracted new residents, and spurred private investment when other strategies failed. Through compelling data, case studies, and expert insights, we uncover the true impact

Sharing the strategic planning process and resulting plan to keep Philadelphia’s Public Market thriving.Sharing the strategic planning process and resulting plan to keep Philadelphia’s Public Market thriving.This event will be held at the Center for Design Philadelphia.Light refreshments will be served.For more information, click HERE!

Lindsey Scannapieco will discuss the approach and ethos in reimagining the iconic buildings at Broad and Pine.This presentation by Lindsey Scannapieco, the Founder of Scout, will focus on the approach and ethos in reimagining the iconic buildings at Broad and Pine, where Strickland, Furness, and Haviland left their influence. Since 1892, these spaces have nurtured artists, makers, and educators --- giving rise to institutions like the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Now, we have the opportunity to build on that foundation, transforming these interconnected buildings into a dynamic ecosystem of studios, small businesses, non-profits, and artist residences—an open-ended, ever-evolving place of