Daren Crabill
Degree Programs: M.U.D. '09
Current Employer: Sound Transit
Job title: Urban Design - Manager
Master of Urban Design
“My background is in landscape architecture, so I was very intentionally looking for an urban design graduate program – one that was at the intersection of architecture, site, and real estate development – I found that at Taubman.”
Describe the work you do. What are some of your recent and current projects that excite you? What inspires you about the future of your chosen field?
After 15 years of consulting that included a broad range of master planning and project development, I joined Sound Transit to lead the planning and design of new light rail stations in the Seattle area. I currently work on two projects: West Seattle Link Extension as the urban design lead and Tacoma Dome Link Extension as the planning lead, where I oversee architecture, urban design, landscape architecture, transit integration, and TOD planning. I really think about the projects as ‘city building’ — we are shaping how people will move, develop, and engage with neighborhoods for generations. It is very dynamic and complex requiring the ability to problem-solve not only the technical and regulatory design issues but also the political and relational issues.
Why did you choose Taubman College for your education?
My background is in landscape architecture, so I was very intentionally looking for an urban design graduate program – one that was at the intersection of architecture, site, and real estate development – I found that at Taubman.
What did you like best about attending Taubman College?
During my time in the M.U.D. program, the design studios were intentionally located across the country and world — there was a local (Ann Arbor/Detroit), a New York City, and an international (Turkey) studios. Having experiences that are ‘global’ in nature speaks to the work we do professionally and the commitment of the college to prepare us for that work.
What advice or important lesson would you share with someone considering Taubman College?
I finished graduate school in the middle of the “great recession” in 2009 – our profession is very cyclical and you often need to hustle during the dips. Don’t despair! – take advantage of every opportunity presented to you. If you do great work, even on things that maybe aren’t your ideal coming out of school, it will lead to other opportunities and that’s how a career is made.
