PROJECT ARCHIVE
Philadelphia Zoning and Place-Based Planning
Philadelphia, PA | 2011
UC Studios approaches zoning as a tool for shaping complete, resilient communities. Through form-based coding, we establish standards for the relationship between buildings, streets, sidewalks, public spaces, and the surrounding neighborhood—not simply the uses permitted on a site. This place-based approach connects development standards with neighborhood character, transportation, housing, public space, and market conditions to guide context-sensitive, implementable growth.
For Philadelphia’s Zoning and Place-Based Planning initiative, UC Studios supported the city’s zoning update by integrating form-based codes with neighborhood-scale planning. The work established physical standards for building form, frontage, street character, and mixed-use intensity while aligning zoning with existing development patterns, walkability, mobility, and public-space goals. The resulting framework supported equitable growth while reinforcing the distinct identity and physical form of Philadelphia’s neighborhoods.