About

Eli Storch is a recognized voice in the design community, bringing nearly two decades of experience in architecture, advocacy and urban development. As Chair of the Design Advocacy Group in Philadelphia, he champions design equity and quality, leading public forums that engage communities on policy, planning and the built environment. His influence extends to editorial work in architectural journals and civic engagement, including serving on boards such as his neighborhood civic association and Education Works, a nonprofit focused on educational equity. A Philadelphia native, he earned his Master in Architecture from the University of Pennsylvania and has remained deeply invested in the city’s growth and architectural future. Specializing in adaptive reuse, multifamily housing and urban infill projects, his work focuses on creating livable, efficient and environmentally responsive spaces. His experience spans market-rate, affordable and student housing with a strong emphasis on context-sensitive design. He brings a collaborative, process-driven approach, valuing early and transparent communication between architects, contractors and clients to achieve high-quality, well-executed buildings. For Residential clients, Eli provides strategic guidance in navigating zoning complexities, maximizing site potential and aligning projects with both financial objectives and community needs. He helps integrate cost-conscious, market-responsive environmental strategies that boost efficiency, tenant appeal and long-term asset value. Whether repositioning office buildings into vibrant mixed-use communities or advocating for policy solutions that support smart urban growth, his work is rooted in the belief that architecture is a powerful tool for creating resilient, livable and future-ready cities. Eli approaches architecture with a team-first mindset, ensuring that every project benefits from strong collaboration and diverse input. His athletic background instilled in him a deep appreciation for strategy, coordination and adaptability—qualities that shape his leadership and problem-solving approach. Whether in the studio or guiding clients through complex design and development challenges, he fosters the connections and clarity needed to drive their vision forward.

David B. Brownlee is an architectural historian at the University of Pennsylvania, where he is the Shapiro-Weitzenhoffer Professor Emeritus. His seven authored and co-authored books include studies of English Victorian architecture, German neoclassicism, the architecture and city planning of Philadelphia, and the work of Louis Kahn, Robert Venturi and Denise Scott Brown. He has won most of the major publication prizes of the Society of Architectural Historians, and his teaching was recognized by Penn’s Lindback Award in 2001. In recognition of lifetime achievements, he was named a Fellow of the Society of Architectural Historians in 2015, awarded a "Globy" by the Global Philadelphia Association in 2016, and received the Paul Philippe Cret Medal of the Philadelphia chapter of the American Institute of Architects in 2021 and the James Biddle Award of the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia in 2025.

George L. Claflen, Jr. FAIA, is an architect, urban designer and teacher who has practiced in Philadelphia for more than thirty years. He has worked as Principal-in-Charge of numerous projects for the City of Philadelphia Capital Projects Division, completed preservation work with Fairmount Park Historic Preservation Trust and with Cheltenham Township, and had extensive public art project experience with Fairmount Park Art Association. In 2014, AIA Philadelphia presented George with its John Frederick Harbeson Award, presented annually to a long standing member of the architectural community to recognize their significant contributions to the profession.

Patty Elkis, PP, AICP, has over 35 years of planning experience, having spent the bulk of her career at the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC), the regional planning agency for the Greater Philadelphia area. Serving as Deputy Executive Director, Patty helped run the organization, overseeing all the agency's work in transportation, capital programming and project implementation, smart growth, housing, economic development, demographic analyses, environmental, climate and energy, and healthy communities planning. Her work centered on promoting equity, partnerships, and implementation, with recent focus on leveraging opportunities in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) for our region. While guiding the planning work of the agency, Patty also continued her passion for environmental planning by promoting open space preservation through Return on Environment studies and by leading The Water Table, a collective impact initiative to improve water quality.

Marsha advocates for public art, championing the ideas and energy that creative efforts bring to the life of a city. She has established major permanent commissions at medical, corporate, university and Percent for Art sites and at transit and performing arts centers. As director of Sculpture Outdoors, Marsha curated major exhibitions on public sites across the country. While serving as a member of the Mayor's Cultural Advisory Council, she founded The Artfront Partnership, which transforms vacant storefronts into dynamic destinations. She continues to serve on the Mayor's Public Art Advisory Council, a body which advises on matters related to public art policy. The Arts and Business Council has twice honored her, and most recently Marsha was awarded the Fleisher Founder's Award as "a transformative force in the Philadelphia arts community."

In 2024, after over 28 years in the public sector, Laura M. Spina joined Michael Baker International as the Planning Department Manager of their Philadelphia office. She manages a team of community, transportation, and hazard mitigation planners, working on projects across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Previously, she held several positions with the Philadelphia City Planning Commission, starting in 2006, and as a planner for the City’s Historical Commission for ten years prior. At PCPC, Laura served as the Director of Comprehensive Planning, where she oversaw a team of planners and managed the implementation of Philadelphia2035, the City’s current comprehensive plan. Laura was previously the community planner for Center City, working with various neighborhood groups and City agencies in shaping the development that occurs in the heart of Philadelphia. Laura represented PCPC on two city boards – the Mayor’s Historic Preservation Policy Team and the Philadelphia Housing Development Corporation’s Percent for Art Committee – and worked on multiple citywide planning efforts. She has a BA in Art History from Rosemont College and an MA in American Studies–Historic Preservation Planning from The George Washington University.

As the founder, principle, and guiding influence of Viridian Landscape Studio, Tavis leads a team that works every day to make sure they leave more than they take – and have fun while they're doing it. Her belief in the essential and healing power of landscapes drives all of the firm's design projects and ecological master plans. A natural storyteller and gifted communicator, Tavis knows how to build consensus between diverse stakeholders and counsels clients on balancing long-term ecological resilience with memorable placemaking. Her work and ideas have helped reshape cities, transform college campuses, and improve lives for communities all over the country.

Judy has cross-sector knowledge from her careers in government, public-private development, healthcare, urban design, historic preservation, and nonprofit administration. She has managed large, complex, multi-jurisdictional projects; and, at a smaller scale, she has developed and implemented a diverse range of community-wide initiatives and has facilitated workshops and board development for nonprofit organizations. Judy brings this broad range of skills and her project management lens to her consulting work with institutions, nonprofits, community groups, and other professionals. She is also an avid baseball fan, fly fisher, rowing enthusiast, and fountain pen user; and has way too many hats.

Dan has focused on applying the tools of design in public service to improve lives, promote equity, and advance environmental sustainability. His consulting architectural career included work at number of exceptional design firms in New York, Princeton, and Philadelphia, where he led residential, institutional, hospital, and corporate projects at a variety of scales. In 2000, he accepted the role of Senior Planner at the University of Pennsylvania, and in 2008 transitioned to lead the Penn Sustainability Office. After setting in place a renewable power agreement that reduced campus emissions by over 65%, he accepted the University Architect position at Rowan. Dan is currently the Director of Sustainable Operations for the Edelman Fossil Park & Museum in New Jersey. Dan has taken the commitment to public service seriously: he served in the Peace Corps twice (as City Architect in Lilongwe, Malawi, and in Sri Lanka as a disaster recovery consultant after the 2004 tsunami). He founded Philadelphia’s Community Design Collaborative; co-founded the Delaware Valley Chapter of the US Green Building Council, and drafted the City’s first sustainability action plan for Mayor Michael Nutter during the 2008 campaign. He currently serves as Vice Chair of the Philadelphia Civic Design Review Committee, and has served as a member of Navy Yard Design Review Advisory Committee from 2020 to 2024.

Jerry has practiced as a commercial real estate lawyer in Philadelphia for over 30 years. He is a partner in the Real Estate Group of Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP. Jerry’s practice involves all aspects of commercial real estate including construction and design contracts, land use and zoning approvals, project development, acquisitions and dispositions, financing and leasing. He has worked on a number of major projects over the years, including the acquisition and development of several warehouse and distribution facilities, sales of a number of regional shopping malls, development of multi-family projects, several leasing and development projects for student housing and retail uses for the University of Pennsylvania, leasing and development of the Wells Fargo Center, the City’s acquisition of the One Parkway Building, Main Line Health’s acquisition of the historic St. Charles Seminary and the lease for the new Chubb Center office building at 2000 Arch Street. He has also been involved in a number of historic preservation issues including representation of the City of Philadelphia in the designation of the Dream Garden mural at the Curtis Building. He has handled several pro-bono real estate matters for Roman Catholic High School, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Philadelphia and other non-profit entities. Jerry is a member of the Board of the Philadelphia Chapter of the ADL and Board of Advisors of Roman Catholic High School of Philadelphia. He has been elected as a Fellow of the American College of Real Estate Lawyer and was named as “Best of the Bar” in the real estate category by the Philadelphia Business Journal in 2023.

Allison is committed to creating landscapes that honor the health and wellness of communities, the environment, and humans. Drawing on a foundation in material science and studio art, Allison’s design approach is focused on thoughtful beauty rooted in evidence-based design. In addition to design work, she is presently leading an 18-month interdisciplinary field study funded by the Landscape Architecture Foundation, to develop new industry best practices of landscapes adjacent to air pollution point sources. A professional Landscape Architect in Pennsylvania, Allison earned a Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA) and a Master of Architecture (MArch) from the University of Pennsylvania, and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Physics, Math, and Psychology. She has practiced in Philadelphia for the past twelve years, overseeing numerous built projects throughout the country, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art Plaza in New York City, Carnegie Hall Roof Terrace in New York City, the Rotunda Landscape at the University of Virginia, and the Rodin Museum Gardens in Philadelphia. She presently is working on The Baylands in San Francisco and Brisbane, CA, addressing large scale environmental design and open space planning. Her experience has focused on working with cultural institutions, universities, developers, public agencies, and community groups, resulting in a diverse portfolio of design that champions wellness, meaningful narrative, and enduring beauty.

Kat is an architectural photographer and environmental advocate. She has spent her career in the AEC industry, working with local and national firms to support their storytelling efforts both through project documentation and as a marketing strategy consultant. Her photography is widely published and award winning, and her favorite day of the year is shooting as the official photographer for PARK(ing) Day. She is an active member of Philadelphia’s architecture, arts, and environmental communities, and is happiest while engaged with community projects, including ongoing work with Sierra Club and PHS Tree Tenders. Along with Eli Storch, she leads the DAG Streeteries initiative, and is co-chair of the Public Space working group.

Nate, the Director of Planning and Design at University City District (UCD) since 2015, brings dedicated enthusiasm and urban design expertise to enhance the quality of life in Philadelphia's University City. His impactful leadership includes pioneering progressive placemaking and tactical urbanism strategies, notably transforming the Trolley Portal Gardens into a vibrant public space. Spearheading initiatives like Green City Works, UCD's landscape social enterprise, Nate continues to lead innovative public space projects. Co-founding Open Streets PHL before the pandemic, and since 2020, he has advocated for community engagement and activating the public realm. He successfully guided outdoor dining initiatives during the pandemic to focus on the public realm, turning parklet rules and regs into streeteries. Nate's global influence as a speaker underscores his commitment to inclusive urban environments, featured in publications like The Washington Post.

Craig is a principal of Schelter & Associates, a practice providing counsel and support to organizations promoting job creation and seeking to balance growth with environmental, design and community sensitivity. He currently serves as the Executive Director of the Development Workshop, Inc., as a senior member of both the Urban Land Institute and Design Advocacy Group, and as a board member of the Fairmount Park Historic Preservation Trust. Craig formerly served as Philadelphia’s Planning Director and the Executive Vice President of the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation

James Templeton, AIA, is the Assistant Vice President and University Architect of Temple University. In this role, he oversees the planning, design, physical development, and preservation of all Temple campuses, and serves as the lead design representative for the University on all major capital projects. Additionally, James provides strategic leadership to the overall direction of the University campus development plan. As a leader in the Project Delivery Group, all planning and design functions report to him. James has helped guide the physical growth of the University for over a decade now, leading the design and development of such projects as the recently built Mazur & Gladfelter Lobby, Terrace and Infill projects, the Aramark STAR Complex, the Temple Sports Complex, the Tyler School of Art Renovations, and the award-winning Landscape Master Plan & multi-project landscape implementation. Currently James is overseeing the Paley Hall renovations and expansion, a new signature building for the Klein College of Media & Communications/Center for Performing & Cinematic Arts, and a new Campus Development Plan. Prior to joining Temple, James served as Director of Design & Planning with H2L2 Architects/Planners, where he designed a diverse range of projects, both overseas and throughout the Philadelphia region, for private developers, secondary schools, and universities. His clients included The American School of Paris, the American University in Cairo, Shanghai American School, Shippensburg University, Tower Investments, Bridgeman’s Development, The Center City District, and Temple University, where he designed the Architecture Building and the Pearson McGonigle Recreation Center Expansion & Renovations. James has also worked on several notable waterfront infrastructure projects, including the Providence River Relocation & Waterplace Park projects in Rhode Island and the new South Street Bridge in Philadelphia. James is a past winner of the Carpenters Company of London & Philadelphia professional exchange fellowship and is a long-time Steering Committee Member of the Design Advocacy Group and served as Co-Chair of DAG’s Waterfronts Task Force.

Over the course of her 20+ year career, Fon has led projects ranging from state-of-the-art academic facilities to the restoration of a late-19th-century station house. Her practical knowledge in sensitive interventions to existing heritage structures, as well as new construction in a historic context, is attuned to the evolving requirements of today’s occupants. Her designs adhere to the guidelines of the preservation community and building codes while recognizing the importance of evolving environmental and cultural concerns. Fon received the Young Architect Award from AIA Philadelphia in 2015 and served on the Mayor's Historic Preservation Task Force. She earned a B.A. from Syracuse University and an M.S. in historic preservation from the University of Pennsylvania, where she was the inaugural recipient of the David De Long Fellowship.

Nika Faulkner is a historic preservationist focusing on adaptive reuse, historic tax credits, and preservation planning, currently serving as a Project Coordinator for Heritage Consulting Group in Philadelphia. She came to preservation after a career in industrial design, seeking a path which was more community oriented. She holds a Bachelor's Degree from Pratt Institute, and a Master's Degree from Thomas Jefferson University. Nika has worked with an array of nonprofits and city/state governments, writing nominations for the inclusion of significant properties to the registers of historic places at both federal and local levels. She has a particular passion for cultural preservation and loves to tell the little-known stories hidden within the historic built environment.