Question 1

Q: Your profile highlights your expertise in envisioning transportation-focused public realms with an international perspective. Can you share an example of a project where your global perspective led to innovative solutions that transformed the urban experience?

A: I get a lot of inspiration from places I lived at or visited outside of the U.S. I often look at them with my designer hat on and analyze which spaces work well and why. But I also experience them as a user, especially when it comes to public transportation including trains and stations, because that’s the main way I get around when I travel. One thing that I always found remarkable about great stations is the fact that they are not only designed for the seamless movement of people from one mode to the other and also serve as meeting points with services and amenities. They often feature impressive architecture, generous interior spaces, and grand plazas that connect to the surrounding neighborhood - in other words they are “cathedrals of mobility”. Drawing from these experiences, I try to introduce ideas for a public realm around stations that is people-focused and less car-dominated, whenever appropriate.