Thursday, January 03, 2013 Admissions, Department of City & Metropolitan Planning, University of Utah Letter of Recommendation for

David Mann Master of City & Metropolitan Planning Program It is my complete pleasure and privilege to recommend David Mann as a graduate student in the University of Utah, Master of City & Metropolitan Planning program. I clearly remember David from my ARCH 1610 and 1611 classes. In fact, David remains one of my best students, probably in the top 5% of all students Ive had the pleasure to teach here at the U. In fact, at the end of one of his fine papers, I wrote him a note telling him, You are probably my best planning student ever, with good instincts and ideas. In the fall ARCH 1610 Introduction to Architecture class, David wrote an insightful paper comparing and contrasting the Roman Colosseum, the Paris Opera House, and the Guggenheim Museum of Art in New York City. But it was his ARCH 1611 paper, entitled, The Future of Mixed-Use Development in Salt Lake City, that I will remember most for its mature analysis and insightful ideas about the future of Salt Lake City. In both classes, David demonstrated academic maturity and well developed powers of observation. The 1610 class is an introduction to architectural theory and practice using Leyland Roths book, Understanding Architecture: Its Elements, History and Meaning. The ARCH 1611 class is a very demanding class based on the writings of professional planners and environmentalists such as Jane Jacobs, Kevin Lynch, Andres Duany, Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk, Jeff Speck, Alex Marshall, Peter Calthorpe, Christopher Alexander and the work of the Congress for the New Urbanism. The class outlines challenges facing our current ongoing suburban expansion across the United States, and proposes viable urban solutions that will be both sustainable and prosperous, notwithstanding the reality of global warming and climate change. David excelled in this class. I recommend David to your graduate program without any reservation whatsoever. I know he will prove himself to be one of your better and more mature graduate students. The department will never regret his acceptance into your program to advance his education toward what I believe will be a brilliant professional career. Given the roles architecture and planning will play during this critical time of climate change and global warming, we need graduate students and professionals with the character and work ethic already possessed by David. He is truly a fine man and as fine a student as I have ever seen. Most Sincerely, Erin R Silva Architect Erin R Silva, RA 115 South 1100 East, #505 Salt Lake City, UT 84102 801-557-3400 erinrsilva@comcast.net Adjunct Assistant Professor College of Architecture + Planning LEAP Faculty, College of Undergraduate Studies University of Utah silvaer@arch.utah.edu