PRP Now! Evan Greulich // KieranTimberlake

March 23, 2017
PRP Now! is a series of interviews that highlight a current UTSOA Professional Residency Program student every few weeks.
 Kieran Timberlake PRP Now

PRP Now! aims to showcase the great experiences students encounter within the Professional Residency Program. PRP offers upper-level architecture students a unique opportunity to expand their education through work experience in the architectural profession. Over the past twenty years, our students have been linked with 260 firms in 29 countries. We will feature a handful of students within each session, graduate and undergraduate, domestic and international firms. PRP staff most recently had the pleasure to speak with Evan Greulich [M.Arch.'17] about his experience. 

PRP: Tell us about your PRP firm. Where are you working?
I'm working at KieranTimberlake in Philadelphia, PA. With about 120 employees, the firm is known for a few things - designing the new London Embassy (opening in 2017!), being an industry leader in both sustainability and innovation, and incorporating a Research Group of a dozen researchers skilled in anthropology, ecology, chemistry, physics, economics, and sculpture (among others!) into the regular practice of making buildings. The firm is made up of a remarkable community of curious, intentional, and caffeinated people. I feel lucky to be here! 

PRP: Do you enjoy the city you’re working in? Favorite aspects?
Philadelphia is fantastic. Besides getting to walk past Independence Hall, where both the Declaration of Independence and Constitution were signed, every morning, I love seeing the rich variety of buildings here. From phenomenal, fantastic(al) brickwork, to having more murals than any other American city, to truly civic public parks & plazas (what other city has a "Love Park"!), this city has such a unique and storied spirit, especially as it relates to building.

PRP: What is currently on your desk? What are you working on?
I've got a large stack of red-lined drawings for a U.S. government project that just finished up 100% Construction Documents (we're going to have a "Shred Party" next week), a roll of trace, a few pencils, pens, and highlighters, my sketchbook, a task lamp, headphones, a personal fan (which I understand will come in handy this summer), and a large cup of coffee. Besides working on this government project (which I can't say much about), I've been lucky to work on presentations for two University of California system projects. Next, I'm going to work on the closeout phase of a renovation and addition to the arts building at Wellesley College.

PRP: Describe the firm culture? The office atmosphere?
Questions, questions, and more questions. Humble yet bold. Optimistic and realistic. Thoughtful and insightful. Invested in our specific place and community, but also curious about the broader world. People here are interested in making buildings that are (somehow!) simultaneously deeply investigated, thoroughly considered, well crafted, and holistically designed. It's an atmosphere that believes in the transformative potential of architecture.

Plus our office is really, really awesome. KieranTimberlake-designed, it's in a re-purposed old bottling factory that gets tons of daylight, and the ground floor has a fantastic variety of shop/making/prototyping spaces (mock-ups are an essential part of KT's design process).

PRP: What is the first thing you'll tell your classmates upon your return to UT? 
Do Residency! And go somewhere that will challenge you in new ways.

PRP: As you’re finishing up the week, what are your plans for this weekend?
I'm excited to explore and hike around Hawk Mountain, a historic "raptor sanctuary" along the Appalachian Trail that's only two hours west of Philly. The views are supposed to be spectacular!

PRP: Is there anything else that you would like to add?
Oh, breakfast tacos! :'-)