I am passionate for cities, architecture, urban design, and urban planning policy. My education, career choice, and personal interests reflect that ambition. I am a graduate of the nationally renowned College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning (DAAP) at the University of Cincinnati. I recently earned both my Master of Architecture (MArch) and Master of Community Planning (MCP) degrees at UC. I have nearly two years of professional internship experience that includes a wide range of project types: interior architecture, new construction, renovation, urban design, and city planning.
Over this period of time I have collaborated on some very awe-inspiring and forward-thinking projects that represent an abrupt variation of scale and detail. For example: the interior architecture of Frank Gehry's IAC world headquarters in Chelsea, New York and the Atlanta BeltLine, a $2.8 billion redevelopment project providing a network of public parks, multi-use trails, and transit along a historic 22-mile railroad corridor circling downtown and connecting 45 neighborhoods directly to each other. In their own way, both projects have enhanced the human experience by proposing new dialogue and aesthetics for the contemporary urban landscape.
The long-term, sustainable view of development implicit in many of my favorite projects echoes my own passion and experience. My commitment to sustainability began before my design education and is rooted in my previous academic and research experiences in the field of ecology as well as in my attraction to the outdoors.
I have an undergraduate liberal arts degree from Hillsdale College, giving me a strong background in communication and critical thinking. With a concentration in the biological sciences, I have developed refined skills in scientific research, analysis, writing, and presentation. I have served as both a research assistant and teaching assistant in a scientific laboratory setting. My experiences have helped me to develop cross-disciplinary communication skills that will help to both build teamwork and engage disparate groups in dialogue.
My favorite way to experience a new city is through running. I am an avid runner and an advocate for planning cities with health and nutrition in mind. Other special interests of mine include the creation of sustainable urban environments, urban ecology, post-industrial depopulating/shrinking cities, photography, camping, kayaking, and rock climbing.
Atlanta BeltLine, Inc., Urban Planning Intern
I worked directly under the direction of Nathan Conable, Director of Transit and Transportation for the Atlanta BeltLine project. I aided the master planning and Environmental Impact Study (EIS) by coordinating with city departments, preparing for and documenting public meetings, responding to public inquiries, developing GIS and spreadsheet-based project tracking systems, writing draft master plan summaries, researching policy, gathering grant application material, and creating maps, images, and diagrams.
I developed of a database and maps showing the intersection of the capital improvement program of the City of Atlanta Public Works Department and the Atlanta BeltLine transportation improvement needs. I produced a comprehensive list of capital projects, researched the status of project development, and provided financial analyses to support budgeting and public relations efforts.
Supervisor Comments: "Mr. Hall communicates well and always completes his projects on time. His contributions were instrumental to completing the project on schedule and to communicating the results to staff and other stakeholders. I enjoyed working with Mr. Hall, not only because of his work ethic, but because he also demonstrates a genuine interest in the Atlanta BeltLine project." - Nathan Conable, Director of Transit and Transportation
STUDIOS Architecture, Architecture Cooperative Education Intern
STUDIOS Architecture is an international design practice. The firm offers comprehensive services including architecture, interiors, master planning, strategic consulting, and environmental graphics and design.
I collaborated with project architects to design and detail in-store shelving units, fitting rooms, and lighting design for Gucci North American retail stores. I prepared and updated images, renderings, and graphic presentation layouts for the New York Jets Training Center. I inspected completed projects at the Bloomberg and IAC world headquarters. I constructed study models, took site measurements, and produced design, detail, and construction-set drawings for numerous other interior architecture projects.
Supervisor Comments: "Philip was extremely enthusiastic about working at STUDIOS and also experiencing New York. He worked many late nights with me and was always a team player. Philip has a strong work ethic and diligently tackles and completes any task at hand." - Richard Rodelo, Associate Architect
DLR Group, Architecture Cooperative Education Intern
DLR Group is an international design firm with 22 national and international offices. The philosophy of the firm is to elevate the human experience through design. The firm practices architecture, engineering, planning, and interiors.
I developed and detailed security wall typologies in plan and section for the Wyoming Medium Correctional Institution. I created security wall plans and diagrams reflecting typology designations based on area security levels, adjacencies, and necessity. I produced design, detail, and construction-set drawings for new construction and renovation architecture projects such as Phoenix Union New Comprehensive High School and Arizona State University Gymnastics Field House.
Supervisor Comments: "Philip is a hard worker and a mature individual who takes pride in his work and wants to keep improving. Philip fit perfectly into our organization and is very effective in his communication with the project team." - David Boehm, Principal
University of Cincinnati, Masters, Master of Community Planning
The University of Cincinnati's graduate planning program is among the very best in the nation, according to the recent Guide to Graduate Urban Planning Programs. The rankings of the nation's top master degree programs in urban planning rank the University of Cincinnati's graduate School of Planning as a Top 5 program in the Midwest region and a Top 20 program in the nation.
In 2008 I attended the University of Cincinnati's nationally ranked School of Planning where I earned a Master of Community of Planning (MCP) degree with a focus in urban design. The summer quarter 2008, I worked for Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. on corridor master planning efforts and the Environmental Impact Study (EIS).
Studio work included planning and design for select sites and projects in Cincinnati, Ohio: urban design concepts for commercial corridors, a community trail and green space master plan, and a preliminary comprehensive plan for a regional airport expansion. I also studied in Italy with the International Summer School (ESI) at the Facolta di Architettura di Alghero and conducted a collaborative study on regional tourism and business development in Sardinia, Italy. I completed my Masters thesis on the regeneration of empty urban spaces in post-industrial depopulating cities.
University of Cincinnati, MArch, Master of Architecture
A national survey of employers ranks University of Cincinnati's design programs among the best in the nation. The annual survey by DesignIntelligence polls employers who have direct experience in hiring recent design graduates and asks a simple question: which college and university programs best prepare students for the professional world. The University of Cincinnati’s College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning (DAAP) is once again recognized for its premier programs in interior design, architecture, and industrial design. In the 2011 DesignIntelligence survey of employers, UC’s graduate architecture program is ranked at No. 6, tied with Cornell University
From 2004 to 2008 I attended the University of Cincinnati's nationally ranked School of Architecture and Interior Design (SAID), where I earned a Master of Architecture (MArch). I gained professional architecture and design experience from two separate architecture firms, DLR Group and STUDIOS Architecture.
Studio work included numerous building and site designs in Cincinnati, OH, Lexington, KY, Detroit, MI, and ancient Troy, Turkey. I also studied in Paris, France with an international studio at the Ecole Especial d'Architecture (ESA) and conducted an independent study uncovering The Invisible City: Paris. I completed my Masters thesis on the post-industrial depopulating city of Detroit.
Hillsdale College, Bachelors, Biological Science
Founded in 1844, Hillsdale College is an independent, coeducational, residential, liberal arts college with a student body of about 1,300. Its four-year curriculum leads to the bachelor of arts or bachelor of science degree, and it is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools.
Hillsdale’s educational mission rests upon two principles: academic excellence and institutional independence. The College does not accept federal or state taxpayer subsidies for any of its operations
I earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology from Hillsdale College. Secondary concentrations included Chemistry and Psychology. I was awarded a number of academic and community service scholarships while at Hillsdale College and was an active member of the Men's Soccer Team, Sigma Chi Fraternity, Beta Beta Beta National Biological Honorary, and Sigma Zeta National Math and Science Honorary. My undergraduate research thesis was titled "Two years of secondary succession in benthic macroinvertebrate communities in Rockwell Lake, MI".
My interest and education in the biological sciences is essential to my long-term, sustainable view of design and development.
