Design | Penn Today

More is more: Reimagining relics of the gilded age

In discussing Philadelphia’s Lynnewood Hall mansion, Aaron Wunsch of the Weitzman School of Design says that reactionary simplification doesn’t do justice to its historical context or the possibility for creative imagination.

Tensile test for welding procedure. It, also known as tension testing, is a fundamental materials science and engineering test in which a sample is subjected to a controlled tension until failure

Repairing fractured metals for more sustainable construction

Mining, refining, and processing metals commonly used in construction are estimated to contribute around three billion tons of CO2-equivalent emissions. Now, researchers have developed a new metal-healing technique that fully restores previously unrepairable metals, presenting sustainable options for manufacturers.

The forgotten story of America’s first female architect

Molly Lester of the Weitzman School of Design and William Whitaker of the Architectural Archives discuss a new exhibition dedicated to Minerva Parker Nichols, the first woman to establish an independent architectural practice in the U.S.

Congratulations, you’re the owner of a house by Minerva Parker Nichols

Molly Lester of the Weitzman School of Design discusses the impact of Minerva Parker Nichols, the first woman to practice architecture independently in the U.S.

Sonja Dumpelmann on the staircase leading down to the Schuylkill River Trail

Sonja Dümpelmann on designing nature

Sonja Dümpelmann, professor of landscape architecture, explores ‘the reciprocal relationship’ between humans and their environments.

Want to tackle gun violence? Think about trees

Research by Eugenia C. South of the Perelman School of Medicine, John MacDonald of the School of Arts & Sciences, and Vincent Reina of the Weitzman School of Design shows that fixing up dilapidated homes in low-income Philadelphia neighborhoods is an effective way to prevent shootings.

From left: Lon Henderson, U.S. Forest Service; Weitzman students Ari Vamos, Vyusti Agarwalla, Jiajing Dai, Caz Gagne, and Oliver Atwood.

Designing for, and with, forests

Nicholas Pevzner, assistant professor of landscape architecture at the Weitzman School of Design, is leading a landscape architecture studio that focuses on forest management in the American West.

Climate change could threaten Philly’s drinking water

Allison Lassiter of the Weitzman School of Design discusses the options for protecting Philadelphia drinking water if rising seas and drought threaten sections of the Delaware River.

Jessica DeJesus, a Latina leader always seeking to help others reach their potential

A profile of Jessica DeJesus of the Weitzman School of Design examines her past work at Prospanica Philadelphia empowering Hispanic professionals to achieve their full potential.

James Spady (right) and South African writer Es'kia Mphahlele.

Penn Libraries receives archive of writer, activist, and historian James G. Spady

Spady’s prolific archive highlights figures in African American history including scholars, musicians, and architects, and documented Philadelphia’s place in the Civil Rights Movement and hip-hop.

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