2010 - Over the coming weeks we'll be profiling some of our most prolific Collaborative volunteers. This week, we'll be profiling Benjamin Cromie, a Collaborative volunteer who has worked over a hundred and thiry hours on three different projects. An Urban Planner and an enthusiastic bicyclist, Ben has offered his expertise to the Collaborative on conceptual designs for North Broad Street, Millbourne, and 63rd street.
He became interested in design at a young age. Hs father was a Theater Art instructor at a high school in New Jersey who taught Ben about set design and construction. An urban planner by training Ben attended the University of Pennsylvania where he received his Masters in City Planning. Though an Urban Planner by profession he currently works primarily in economic development. Part of his reason for volunteering for the Collaborative is the opportunity to work as an urban designer.
He first volunteered for the Collaborative in 2007, but he considers his most memorable project to be his recent work for the Borough of Millbourne describing it as a "great opportunity to show off some hidden assests in a very interesting community." That project involved coming up with conceptual development plans for one of the most densely populated communities in Pennsylvania in order to establish a vision and strategies for encouraging beneficial development for area residents and business over the long-term.
When asked why he works for the Collaborative he responded that he was particularly appreciative of the client groups and their capacity to work with the volunteer teams as "eager and energetic partners." Working for the Collaborative has also allowed him to develop as a professional by adding projects to his portfolio and opportunities to network with the other volunteers.
While he is currently between Collaborative projects, Ben has been offering his expertise to the Bicycle Coalition in their plans to make the city more friendly to bicyclists and pedestrians. When not working for the Collaborative you might run into Ben riding the Schuylkill River trail or hanging out at a local art gallery.
