The Chinatown Stitch is a major local infrastructure project that aims to reconnect two parts of Philadelphia's Chinatown that were divided by the construction of the Vine Street Expressway. This complex project involves work and input from a number of environmental design disciplines. This panel will bring together city planners, landscape architects, and community engagement professionals to discuss their ongoing work on the Chinatown Stitch—what has been accomplished so far and the outlook for the future.
Meg Prier, Senior Project Manager at Connect the Dots
Meg brings 10+ years of experience in participatory design, interdisciplinary design and engineering, and community organizing. They have a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Princeton University and a dual Master’s Degree in Sustainable Design and Design for Sustainable Development from Chalmers University and the Norwegian University of Science and Technology. Previously, they have worked on a broad range of projects around the world from sustainable agriculture to sanitation, water reuse, and urban greening and air pollution. As Senior Project Manager at Connect the Dots, Meg specializes in leading community and stakeholder engagement for large, complex infrastructure projects, bringing her expertise in strategic planning and creative problem solving.
Allison Harvey, Principal at OJB, ASLA, PLA
Allison is a Principal at OJB and co‑established the firm’s Philadelphia Studio. Her design leadership encompasses transformative, large‑scale projects such as the revitalization of the Alamo, the vision for The Baylands, and the Chinatown Stitch in Philadelphia. Across this work, she applies a transdisciplinary approach that integrates ecological systems, cultural narratives, and community wellness to shape resilient, long‑lasting landscapes.
In addition to her project work, Allison leads OJB*lab, the firm’s research initiative, where she advances design through inquiry, innovation, and a deep commitment to research‑based practice. With a background in physics and early‑career research experience, she operates at the intersection of art and science. She serves on the Landscape Architecture Foundation Board of Directors and is the inaugural recipient of the Foundation’s Deb Mitchell Research Grant, supporting her ongoing study of green infrastructure for air quality in near‑highway public spaces. Conducted in collaboration with the EPA, this research directly informs her design work and furthers the creation of equitable, evidence‑driven environments.
Chris Puchalsky, Director of Policy and Strategic Initiatives at the City of Philadelphia's Office of Transportation
Chris is a nationally recognized transportation expert with a passion for livable cities. He has Bachelor‘s and Master’s degrees in Mechanical Engineering from Temple University, as well as a Ph.D. in Urban Transportation Systems Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania.
Chris is currently the Director of Policy and Strategic Initiatives at the City of Philadelphia's Office of Transportation, Infrastructure, and Sustainability (OTIS). His past professional experience includes designing engines for the Ford Motor Company, working as a transportation consultant both in the United States and abroad, teaching and advising as an adjunct at the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Waterloo, and serving the greater Philadelphia region as Director of Transportation Planning at Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC).
Chris has sat on advisory panels for the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), the Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP), and the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP), and he has produced numerous conference presentations and papers.