In 2023, I was tasked with bringing the story of C. Emlen Urban to life through an oversized architectural monograph. Author Gregg Scott, FAIA, chronicled the life and work of Lancaster’s influential 19th-century architect, while photographer Matthew Tennison captured the remaining Urban-designed buildings throughout Lancaster City, PA. My role was to bring these elements together into a cohesive, immersive book that would invite readers not only to learn about Urban, but to experience his work.

I approached the design much like a film director approaches a feature: first immersing myself in the story, researching the architect, and reading through the manuscript to understand its narrative arc. From there, I developed a multi-page visual style guide to establish a consistent visual language throughout the book. The design was then carefully paced—balancing striking architectural photography, engaging storytelling, typography, and considered design details—to create a book that unfolds with the rhythm of a film and keeps the reader turning the page.