Architecture / Industrial Design
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Studio Profile
SHIFTSPACE is a Philadelphia-based design studio focused on the interplay of architecture and industrial design. Led by Mario Gentile and Tim Barnes, the multidisciplinary team engages with brands, institutions, and cities to complete projects at varying scales. Their work ranges from large scale urban interventions and creative placemaking to architecture and furniture. The studio has been blending architectural space, public art, and landscapes together with places and products since 2009.
Services: Architecture, Placemaking and Activation, Interior Design, Landscape Design, Industrial Design, Experience Concepts
Clients
Amtrak
Brandywine Realty Trust
Bryn + Dane’s
City of Philadelphia
Comcast
Dallin Financial
Drexel University
Genji
Grow NYC
Interbrand
Ligne Roset
Metalwerks
Museum of the American Revolution
National Parks Service
Philadelphia Water Department
Shake Shack
TD Bank
Temple University
Tesla
The Barnes Foundation
The City College of New York
The Goldenberg Group
University City District
Urban Outfitters
Union Square Hospitality Group
Process
As a process-driven studio, all projects, independent of scale and type, are guided by a formal process that allows for effective exploration, conceptualization, and management
1 : Discovery
The client and design team agree on desired project outcomes and the team conducts necessary research related to the brief. The design team then reports findings to ensure the objectives are in line.
2 : Concept
The studio produces initial concepts based on the research findings. This lateral-thinking exercise allows for a range of ideas to be explored. Through extensive experimentation unexpected and innovative ideas are unearthed during this phase.
3 : Design
The studio and client agree on a concept to pursue. The development of that concept involves a deeper exploration into materiality, potential challenges, fabrication, and detailing. At this stage the design team begins engaging fabricators, vendors, or contractors for the project.
4 : Production
During this phase the design team provides management for the selected fabricators, vendors, or contractors. A deep technical knowledge of construction and fabrication processes allows the studio a great amount of control to ensure positive results.
5 : Launch
The design team provides the oversight necessary to ensure that deadlines are met and the final product is representative of initial desired results.
Team
Mario Gentile
founding partner, studio director
As founder and CEO of Philadelphia-based SHIFTSPACE Design, Mario guides the strategic direction of the studio’s work for the design of environments, experiences and lifestyle products (under the SHIFT brand). The work and research have a modern aesthetic with a focus on mass-customization, prefabrication, and sustainable design. He is a Registered Architect in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the state of New York, and is accredited by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB). An honors graduate from the University of Kentucky with a Bachelor of Architecture degree and he has received his Masters degree in Advanced Architectural Design from Columbia University.
Before founding SHIFTSPACE, he worked with KieranTimberlake, Peter Marino Associates and JXN Studio in Philadelphia and for George Ranalli Architect and Resolution 4: Architecture in New York. Mario has been involved with award winning and published residential, commercial and institutional building projects in both national and international locations.
Mario has served as an Adjunct Professor at University of Pennsylvania and Temple University with studio work focused on urban interventions, product design and craft. He has served as guest juror and lecturer at design schools throughout the country. He has served on the Facilities and Horticultural Committees for Philadelphia’s Historic Bartram’s Garden and currently sits on its Board of Directors.

Tim Barnes
partner, creative director
Tim oversees both the creative direction and technical design of the studio’s work. His diverse experience in the fields of architecture and industrial design inform his work at Shiftspace. As a designer, Tim is inspired by and strives to produce work that promotes civic engagement, provides positive ecological impact and is both honest and expressive in form, function, and material.
Throughout his tenure at Shiftspace he has overseen the design of major placemaking and urban improvement projects at The Barnes Foundation, 30th Street Station, Urban Outfitters HQ and the National Parks Service. He has designed products for both commercial clients and for the SHIFT brand in addition to architectural design for various private residences, retail, and hospitality spaces.
Selected works include: a public art installation and placemaking project at the Barnes Foundation; products designed for Shake Shack and Tesla; an award-winning picnic table for SHIFT; a modular parklet system; a fold-up green roof tile; an installation for GrowNYC in Union Square; and architectural design for Ligne Roset. Tim was a participant in Bloomberg Philanthropies FastFWD Accelerator and is a Next City Vanguard. Tim holds a Bachelor of Architecture from Temple University’s Tyler School of Art.

Wim May
designer
William May is a founding member of Los Angeles design house Bend Goods, and current Brand Director at Philadelphia-based furniture manufacturer Shift. His work with Bend Goods and Shift have been featured by Design Milk, Dwell, Architects Newspaper, Gear Patrol, Gizmodo, Sunset Magazine, and Remodelista, among others. William is a triplet, and a BFA graduate of CalArts in California.

Zhefeng Liu
designer
Zhefeng Liu is a graduate from the Product Design program at Drexel University. She works with Shiftspace in product development, manufacturing, packaging, and creating graphic components. Her roles vary from digital and physical modeling for rapid prototyping, project managing, and communicating with fabricators.

Christina Drexel
architectural designer

Janyah Green
press coordinator

Location

Our office is located in Brewerytown, Philadelphia. We’re proud to work alongside these companies:
Careers
We are currently hiring for summer intern positions. To inquire, please send a portfolio and relevant work experience to info@shiftspacedesign.com
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