Taubman College Romil Sheth, M.U.D. ’06, M.S. ’10, a principal, urban designer, and architect at Sasaki Associates, recently returned to Taubman College for a conversation and networking event with current urban design students. The event was organized by the Matters of Urban Design Student Association (MUDSA).
Sheth spoke about how his Taubman College education laid the groundwork for his domestic and international projects, which include campuses, student housing, K-12 facilities, urban revitalization, innovation districts, and waterfronts.
“What I loved most about the interaction with Romil was the fact that his ideas mixed both practicality and a degree of speculation,” said Shourya Jain, current urban design student and MUDSA member. “I was also amazed at how he was able to seamlessly bring together different disciplines to create a sustainable design.”
Sheth credits his Taubman education and multidisciplinary background for enabling him to connect built work with visionary planning and urban design by engaging a diversity of issues, multiple constituents, and varying scales across a range of contexts. He spoke with students about how he adopts a collaborative approach to design, working with integrated teams that engage landscape, strategic planning, and architecture.
“As a part of the MUD Student Association, I was glad that we were able to create this interaction that showcased the importance and the need of urban design in today’s transitory urban landscapes,” Jain said. “Romil’s practical experience lent us the perspective needed to create the connection between our taught concepts, the research we have been doing, and the expectation of the industry. It gave us a glimpse of the practical challenges that urban designers face daily.”
Sheth’s projects have consistently been honored for their integration of implementable visionary ideas, programming strategies, and sustainability. His work has received multiple national awards including from the American Institute of Architects, Urban Land Institute, American Society of Landscape Architects, and the Society for College and University Planning.
