Studio for Spatial Practice is an innovative award winning design firm with a multi-disciplinary approach to architecture, urban design, landscape architecture and art. We specialize in public realm projects that engage clients and community members in creatively envisioning changes to their environment. Our unique process utilizes graphic communication to analyze complex urban situations, explore possible scenarios and ultimately build clear narratives to communicate with broad audiences.
Our People
Christine Brill, AIA - Principal
Architecture
Christine Brill co-founded Studio for Spatial Practice as a firm with a creative, integrated approach to delivering architecture, urban design and landscape projects. Her early work with SfSP includes the creation of a Streetscape Plan for Lower Lawrenceville, collaborative efforts to develop a Greenprint for Pittsburgh’s Hill District neighborhood, and several building-repurposing projects in the surrounding southwestern PA region. Christine led the renovation of Superior Motors, a former auto-dealership, into a restaurant in Braddock, PA. Located across from the still-operating Edgar Thomson Steel Plant, the restaurant drew inspiration from Braddock’s people, history and character, providing an inviting venue, showcasing the eclectic cuisine of Chef Kevin Sousa. Christine has also developed a special interest in historic preservation projects, including the award-winning Electric Shop rehabilitation. She has taught architecture and site-design focused studios at Carnegie Mellon University School of Architecture, and participated in the City of Pittsburgh’s Contextual Design Advisory Panel. Christine is currently an active volunteer working with Lawrenceville Tree Tenders to re-forest the dense, Victorian neighborhood. SfSP provided pro bono design services for Lawrenceville’s Tree Park, located at Keystone Street and Stanton Avenue, showcasing mainly native trees and other plantings that are suitable for use on challenging urban sites. Christine Brill, AIA is a licensed PA architect with a Bachelor of Architecture from Carnegie Mellon University, and a Master of Landscape Architecture, focused on Community Design, from The Pennsylvania State University.
Jonathan Kline - Principal
Urban Design + Art
Jonathan is an urban designer who's work focuses on advancing the form and culture of cities. Jonathan's work ranges from guiding the creation of mixed-use developments integrated with transit, to planning for complex urban neighborhoods, to imaging how to transform urban mobility. His projects include the transformation of the East Liberty Transit Center, its associated Transit Revitalization Investment District, and the TOD Guidelines for Allegheny County based on its success. Recent work has focused on creating strategies for affordable housing, and community driven urban design guidelines. Through two decades of teaching and research as an Associate Studio Professor at Carnegie Mellon University School of Architecture, Jonathan has explored the future of cities more speculatively. In the Master of Architecture program he co-teaches the the introductory studio exploring architecture’s capacity to support societal transitions in response to issues of climate change and inequity. In the Master of Urban Design program his thesis students speculate on harnessing the bottom-up capacity of communities to share resources through urban commoning. He has also worked on research projects at the Remaking Cities Institute and the Studio for Creative Inquiry. As a volunteer he is on the board of Oakland Planning and Development Corporation and a part of the Riverlife Riverfront Design Committee. Previously Kline worked with Urban Design Associates on neighborhood master-planning projects in cities around the United States. Jonathan is also a trained artist, creating paintings and drawing that visualize the spatial and social networks of cities. Jonathan received degrees from Carnegie Mellon University (BArch) and The Pennsylvania State University (MFA Painting & Drawing).
Jen Gallagher, RLA, LEED AP - Principal Landscape Architecture
Jen is a registered landscape architect in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and LEED accredited professional. Originally trained in architecture and urban design, her transition into landscape architecture grew out of her interest in the relationship of structure and motion in the natural and built environment as witnessed through the lens of design. Currently Jen leads green infrastructure and streetscape projects at SfSP. Previously Jen worked with LaQuatra Bonci Associates on projects in the United Kingdom, India and throughout the United States. Jen's dedication to sustainable landscapes, is evident in her various LEED accredited projects including her work on the Environmental Center at Frick Park, a project pursuing the Living Building Challenge. As an Adjunct Assistant Professor she taught third year architecture studio at Carnegie Mellon University School of Architecture, as well as Architecture Summer Camp at the University of Notre Dame. Early in her career Jen studied urban design with a research fellowship to St. Petersburg through the Prince of Wales Foundation for the Built Environment. She also owns and teaches regular folkloric dance classes and workshops at Art in Motion Pittsburgh, a studio focused on international dance forms. Currently Jen is also on the Board of Directors of Alia Music Pittsburgh, a new music performance and production group. Jen was born in Pittsburgh, PA and received her degree from the University of Notre Dame (BArch).
