Members' 25-Year Reminiscences

Mark Hall, AICP

Toronto, Canada

I was not sure if I fit the window of 25 years, so took a look at my certificate. Lo and behold, I have aged. My AICP certificate says 1978!

I am both a licensed architect (since 1966) and a registered professional planner in Toronto, Ontario, Canada (yes, I emigrated to Canada — in 1988).

I think that one of the most important remembrances I wanted to relate is one which begins in 1961, my second year of Architectural school at University of Michigan. As I was going through this training, I strongly remember that I was disturbed about the myopic view being taught at that time — the importance of an individual building. I really wanted to be able to address more directly the context of the buildings that I might be designing.

So, I set out to have a dual career — Architect/Planner. Eventually, I found the Urban Design program at Harvard, which helped me to put all of the pieces together. That was before the Planning program decided to move away from physical design to the Kennedy School of Government — a real mistake, I contend.

After graduation from Harvard I "emigrated" to Lotus Land (Los Angeles) where I lived and worked for 17 years, founded a new firm (ARCHIPLAN urban design collaborative), did a bunch of interesting downtown development work, designed some follow-on buildings, and got involved founding the Los Angeles Conservancy (historic preservation).

Now in Canada, I have embarked on real estate development of urban waterfront property (brownfields stuff) with a new firm, MW HALL CORPORATION. You can see the project on our website www.elginbay.com. It incorporates the best principles of planning, brownfields development, urban design, and architecture in an existing historic district. Building is nearly completed, and will be occupied by 54 lucky residents in June 2004.

Being a "Planner" has been extremely rewarding. Never regretted and have always enjoyed the career. What we do is extremely important, and affects people's lives every day. I have, of course, observed APA over the years — an important organization for the public as well as the profession. Keep it up.