Megan Born (MArch‘08 MLA‘08) was an aspiring modern dancer studying at New York‘s Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater prior to coming to PennDesign. She is now a partner at PORT Urbanism and Lecturer in the Department of Landscape Architecture at PennDesign teaching the first and second-year design studio and visual representation courses.
If you could go backward or forward in time, what era would you choose and why?
I’d prefer to stay right where I am. There are so many exciting things to accomplish and critical problems to solve here and now. If it were a short-term visit, I’d love to experience New York at the end of the 19th century. The city was transforming so rapidly: Central Park, the Brooklyn Bridge. It would be fascinating to observe the making of these massive and transformative projects.
What’s your favorite place in Philly?
There is a collection of blocks in Center City, between Locust and Spruce around 12th Street, that I love. They are narrow and tucked away, lined with tiny colonial homes. I lovingly refer to these blocks as “Narnia,” because as you turn off busy Spruce Street into the area, you feel completely transported to another place and time.
What do you miss most about your time at PennDesign?
Happy Hour! And my classmates. I met so many wonderful friends and colleagues during my time at Penn, and I truly miss the inspiration and support we gave each other, and all the fun we had.
What was your longest day on campus?
Leading up to final reviews, my friends and I would inevitably pull all-nighters. We’d call these “Super Days”, and there was one semester where I pulled a double Super Day prior to my review.
What’s been your favorite professional project so far?
The redesign and reconstruction of Nicollet Mall in Minneapolis, which is a project I led during my time at James Corner Field Operations. I had the great opportunity of working on it from the competition and commission, through design and into construction. Public realm projects tend to span for several years, so to see a project though all of it’s stages is a rarity. The project is in my hometown, which added a unique layer of personal engagement and satisfaction to the work. It was incredibly exciting and gratifying to have a positive impact on a place that I care very deeply about.
Favorite book or movie about art/design?
There are so many, it’s impossible to pick a favorite! A few that come to mind: The Life and Death of Great American Cities, by Jane Jacobs; Delirious New York, by Rem Koolhaas; Design with Nature, by Ian McHarg; The Landscape Imagination, by James Corner
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