2013 National Planning Excellence Awards: Emerging Planning & Design Firm

Interface Studio LLC

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Founded in 2004, Interface Studio LLC is a full-service planning and urban design practice. The firm has had tremendous success with their approach to public dialog and design, which is graphic, grassroots-driven, and interactive, and garners support for and among the communities with which they work. Their plans are data driven, visually engaging, fundraisers, and stakeholder driven. With their creative touch and forward thinking agendas, the design studio helps distressed urban communities achieve a positive outlook for the future.

The firm's work has been recognized with state and national awards, including three American Planning Association National Awards, two for Grassroots Planning (2009 and 2012) for Yorktown and the Lower Italian Market Revitalization Project in South Philadelphia, and the Wicker Park Bucktown Master Plan for Public Outreach (2010).

Interface Studio's work has seen implementation success and fundraising. Their plan for Francisville stimulated private investment in line with community goals.