Tia Yu
I am a Master of Architecture candidate at the University of Pennsylvania, building on a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from Cornell University. My training spans both Chinese and U.S. design practices: I worked with Kengo Kuma & Associates and 00 GROUP in Shanghai, then completed summer internships at S9 Architecture in New York City and EwingCole in Philadelphia during my years at Penn. These experiences enhanced my skills in conceptual development, digital and physical modeling, and construction documentation across scales—from urban masterplans to bespoke residential interventions.
My work has been recognized through Dale’s Travelling Fellowship, multiple nominations for End of Year Design Awards, and selections for Pressing Matters. My time at Penn deepened my leadership, technical, and research abilities—guiding team‑based design projects, exploring innovative materials through funded research, and refining critical thinking via rigorous studio critiques and performance‑driven analysis.
Outside of architecture, I’m passionate about contemporary dance: years of traditional Chinese dance and urban dance training inform my sense of spatial rhythm, human scale, and the choreography of movement through built environments. I bring to my practice a disciplined work ethic, cross‑cultural perspective, and a creative approach shaped by both design and dance.
My work has been recognized through Dale’s Travelling Fellowship, multiple nominations for End of Year Design Awards, and selections for Pressing Matters. My time at Penn deepened my leadership, technical, and research abilities—guiding team‑based design projects, exploring innovative materials through funded research, and refining critical thinking via rigorous studio critiques and performance‑driven analysis.
Outside of architecture, I’m passionate about contemporary dance: years of traditional Chinese dance and urban dance training inform my sense of spatial rhythm, human scale, and the choreography of movement through built environments. I bring to my practice a disciplined work ethic, cross‑cultural perspective, and a creative approach shaped by both design and dance.
