This urban design proposal for Southwest Philadelphia strives to use the action of bridging to connect communities with each other, create socio-economic opportunities, and provide the access to local waterways through public realm, building, and infrastructural interventions.

Our project analyzed historical and contemporary bridges and other forms of connections, such as ferries, trolleys, trains, and roads, as well as observing places of disconnection. Through the extension and new connections of the trolley routes, expansion of the Schuylkill River Trails corridors, and location of the regional rail line, we are able to catalyze development that encourages bridging between the communities and the new industries along the river.

The infrastructural interventions create three nodes of development. The proposed program mix includes community residences with 50% low income housing and new cultural facilities that build upon existing assets. It also includes Life science industry spaces for research, development and manufacturing that create opportunities for youth and the underemployed. Since water and life are fundamentally connected, the expansion of life sciences in this development to include water sciences jobs allows for youth to become connected to entry level jobs in the water outside and can advance to opportunities all around.