
In 1999 Katz received his Master of Architecture from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee-School of Architecture and Urban Planning, where he graduated at the top of his class. He received his Baccalaureate in Landscape Design with honors from the College of Santa Fe in 1994. His prior academic work included attendance at St. John’s College in Santa Fe, New Mexico where he studied the Great Books of Western Civilization. In Europe Katz studied Architecture at the Ecole Spe'ciale d'Architecture which included field study in Paris, Rome, Florence, and Venice. He also attended The Oxford Brooks University in Oxford, England where he focused on Urban Planning.
His graduate thesis concentrated on sacred architecture and earned the Integration of Research and Design Prize. Katz’s field research that documented natural day-lighting in modern and ancient architecturally significant buildings in Europe, titled, “Let there Be Light: The Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis of Natural day-lighting in Modern and Pre-modern Architecture “received first place at the University of California, Berkeley School of Architecture “Vital Signs’ Competition”.
From 2001 to present Katz taught architectural design, construction, engineering, and history at The University of Milwaukee School of Architecture and Urban Planning and the Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE). Katz earned an award for seven years of outstanding service for his teaching at MSOE.
In 2006 and 2007 Phillip Katz Project Development LLC (PKPD) received three awards from Milwaukee Home Magazine for the firm’s residential designs. Katz has earned Beautification awards in the cities of Milwaukee and Glendale. PKPD’s residential work has been published in several Home Design magazines.
In 2008 PKPD received two Mayor’s Urban Design Awards for entertainment and education projects in the City of Milwaukee for renovations of significant historic architecture. PKPD along with development partner, Williams Development, received a Real Estate Award from the Business Journal of Milwaukee for ‘Renovation of the Year’. The award was for their design and development of a formerly blighted property for Lad Lake, a school for at risk youth in Milwaukee’s central city with a one hundred year tradition for excellence in education. This project was also awarded a Brownfield Grant from t he State of Wisconsin Commerce Department for the complete environmental remediation of the site.
In 2009 PKPD received an award for the Most Environmentally Friendly Project from the Business Journal of Milwaukee for his renovation of AB Data’s corporate headquarters, the former Manpower World Headquarters.
PKPD has developed particular expertise in the design and construction of liturgical environments, specifically synagogues. PKPD’s current project, the creation of a sanctuary and communal space for Congregation Emanu-El Bnei Jeshurun embodies extensive research in the tradition, history, laws, and culture of sacred architecture.
Katz has led artist and architect in-residence workshops, and has lectured on liturgical architecture, sanctuary technology, and Jewish sacred space for the Wisconsin Society for Jewish Learning, the Jewish Community Center, the Coalition for Jewish Learning, the Union for Reform Judaism, and the Marquette University real estate mentorship program (ACRE).
Katz serves on the board member of the Jewish Community Center of Milwaukee (JCC), the Milwaukee Jewish Federation (MJF), and Business Improvement District #32. Katz has served on building and planning committees for various institutions including: the Urban Ecology Center, JCC, MJF, and The Jewish Home and Care Center. Katz is a member of the Presidents Council of the Milwaukee Children’s Hospital. Katz was listed among ‘ Top 100 Milwaukeeans to Know ’. Katz is a founding member of the Wisconsin Green Building Alliance.
Phillip Katz is the founder and principal of Phillip Katz Project Development LLC (PKPD) a Milwaukee design and management practice.
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