Stewart Tillyer

Hometown: Cranford, NJ
Education Background: Bachelor of Architecture, Syracuse University ‘20

How did you get interested in your field?
I’ve always been interested in cities and the other places we live. I also love to design and make things, and it has always been a goal of mine to contribute to our built environments in some way. City planning and urban design felt like a good way to tie these interests together. 

What was your background prior to coming to Penn?
I studied architecture and Syracuse University and then worked at an architecture firm in Princeton, NJ before coming to Penn.

Why did you choose Penn?
City planning programs are very much informed by where you study, and I think Philadelphia is an incredibly interesting city to learn from. I chose Penn because Philadelphia was the city I was most interested in studying in.

What has been your favorite class so far?
I am really enjoying the Vermont climate resiliency studio that I am participating in currently. We are confronting a lot of relevant and urgent issues – climate change, housing shortages, land use reforms – in an applied setting. We have been working closely with groups in Vermont to better understand their challenges and to develop strategies specifically in response to flood mitigation. The work feels like it has a chance to be meaningful, which makes this studio feel rewarding.

What are you learning right now that will help you in the future?
I am learning a lot about city-building principles in a few of my classes. While I have a design background, learning more about design and planning principles specifically related to the city-scale has been helpful with understanding how to think about cities spatially and systemically. 

What do you like best about Philadelphia?
It is one of the most walkable cities in the entire country. I love being able to explore all the different neighborhoods in Philly without having to use my car. There are also a ton of awesome concert venues and a great local music scene.

What kinds of activities and/or organizations are you involved in?
I am currently interning at the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission supporting several different transit related projects. I play pickup soccer with other planning students, when possible, too. 

What are your career ambitions?
I want to play a big role in making cities better places to live. I’ve become especially interested in planning and designing transit systems and adjacent developments to create more pedestrian-friendly and accessible places. I was able to get involved in these types of projects at my internship this summer and hope to continue supporting this type of work moving forward.