PennDesign Dean and Paley Professor Marilyn Jordan Taylor joined nine mayors and seven design leaders from around the U.S. at the 63rd Mayor’s Institute on City Design (MICD), which was held September 23 – 25 in Charleston, South Carolina. The event also celebrated the 40th and final year of hosting mayor Joe Riley’s term.
Dean Taylor presented the redevelopment of Union Station in Denver, Colorado, a project of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, where she was partner and firm chairman from 1989 – 2008 before becoming dean at PennDesign. She described how civic and political will, public and private investment, and a big vision came together over 25 years to transform the historic site into a successful urban destination.
MICD was launched in 1986 to transform communities through design by preparing mayors to be the chief urban designers of their cities. The event focuses on issues like waterfront redevelopment, downtown revitalization, transportation planning, and the design of new public buildings such as libraries and arts centers. Following each presentation, mayors and the Resource Team offer suggestions and potential solutions.
Dean Taylor participated as a member of the Resource Team, comprised of Zabe Bent (Nelson\Nygaard, San Francisco),Vishaan Chakrabarti (SHoP Architects, New York), Harry Cobb (Pei Cobb Freed & Partners, New York), Walter Hood (Hood Design Studio, Oakland), Alex Krieger (NBBJ, Boston) and Kjersti Monson (City of Minneapolis).
In addition to Charleston’s Joe Riley, participating mayors included: Steve Adler (Austin, Texas); Ethan Berkowitz (Anchorage, Alaska); Kirk Caldwell (Honolulu, Hawaii); Jorge Elorza (Providence, Rhode Island): Andy Hafen (Henderson, Nevada); Esther Manheimer (Asheville, North Carolina); Timothy McDonough (Hope, New Jersey); and Kevin McKeown (Santa Monica, California).
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