SOM's Marilyn Jordan Taylor to head Penn School of Design

PHILADELPHIA—The first female chair of the architectural firm of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill has been chosen as the new dean of the University of Pennsylvania's School of Design.

Marilyn Jordan Taylor will start work Oct. 1, succeeding Gary Hack.

The 61-year-old Taylor has spent 35 years at SOM. She has specialized in urban planning for major rail, airport and waterfront developments. She helped develop the plan for rebuilding New York's ground zero.

Hack is departing after 12 years as dean, the maximum allowed by Penn. He created PennPraxis, a nonprofit institute that provides planning assistance to the city.

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Information from: The Philadelphia Inquirer, http://www.philly.com