Becker Raab, AIA
Associate, KSS Architects
Becker is an associate at KSS Architects and a registered architect in Pennsylvania. His experience extends across markets including higher education, behavioral health, preK-12, and industrial. He views the field of design with curiosity and desire to explore the day-to-day spaces we inhabit and enjoys the rigor of a collaborative design process to arrive at unique, thoughtful responses to project conditions. Currently, Becker is serving as Project Architect for Amy Gutmann Hall, the first six-story mass timber building in Philadelphia. As co-chair of KSS’ Community Design Group and local volunteer in his neighborhood, Becker believes in the agency of design to make meaningful impact on our world.
Amy Gutmann Hall, A New Home for Data Science for Penn Engineering
Penn Engineering’s Amy Gutmann Hall will serve as a hub for cross-disciplinary collaborations that harness research and data across Penn’s 12 schools and numerous academic centers. At six-stories tall, the building is on track to become Philadelphia’s tallest new mass timber building. This presentation will consist of a brief project and design overview followed by a panel discussion amongst representatives from the project team. Panelists will explore the decision to pursue mass timber, highlighting its benefits to schedule, cost, sustainability, and impact on occupant well-being, as well as the feasibility and accessibility of this construction type. The goal of this session is to educate, motivate, and inspire others by showcasing the ease, efficiency, and natural beauty of wood in the building’s design.