Scout is a design and development practice interested in reimagining how once neglected places can be transformed.
OUR STORY
Scout began in the United Kingdom in early 2011 to bring a temporary cinema to life in Hackney Wick. The resulting project, Films on Fridges, was called “Britain’s coolest new pop-up cinema” by The Guardian. Other site-specific commissions followed for projects that balanced community engagement and creative activation of otherwise overlooked spaces. Many of these were short-term experiments that tested long-term aspirations for how a space could develop and evolve. Examples of this included, Watch This Wall commissioned by Brent Council and Network Housing Group and the study of Millicent Fawcett Court.
Through our work exploring temporary ideas, we started to question the role of the public sector and private developer in the transformation of our cities. After a robust strategy for the reuse of a public asset got put on hold by our client, a community member asked us why (scout) wouldn’t buy a building and apply the learnings and partnerships that we have formed in the community in the process. That got us thinking - but we didn’t imagine we would ever purchase a building.
In 2014 we stumbled upon a list of historic schools for sale and submitted a bid where the infrastructure could be thoughtfully reused to support a creative community. In this way we became accidental developers of Bok, and this old school has become our entire life over the last 8 years.
We hope to take on future projects of long-term and short-term reuse that are thoughtful, community-driven and unexpected in our role as developers, designers, advisors and collaborators.
MEET OUR TEAM
Lindsey Scannapieco
Managing Partner
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Lindsey co-founded scout UK in 2011, then moved back to her native Philadelphia and established scout US in 2015. Lindsey holds a B.S. from the University of Southern California and a Master's in City Design & Social Science from the London School of Economics. She is actively engaged in the wider development of the city as a board member of Fleisher Arts Memorial and as the co-president of the Friends of FDR Park. Lindsey was recognized as a '40 under 40' by the Philadelphia Business Journal in 2023 and received the Emerging Leader Award by ULI Philadelphia in 2023.
Liz Maillie
Director of Leasing & Marketing
Liz joined the Scout team in early 2015 and, in her role, has the pleasure of working closely with some of Philadelphia's best and brightest to find spaces to call their work home. Previously as Next City's programming and development manager, Liz created and implemented the organization's Philadelphia-based event series and lectures and conferences in cities across the country. Liz is also co-founder and a board member of the nonprofit, Friends of the Rail Park.
Everett Abitbol
Director of Hospitality & Development
Everett began as a prospective tenant at Bok, and joined the Scout team in 2020 to work on development, hospitality and operations at Bok. He attended the University of Rhode Island (where he met his wife Valerie) and began his career in the transportation industry, co-founding a fleet with operations in 5 cities. In 2018, Everett founded the Deacon Hospitality Group, which owns and operates hotels; The Deacon in Graduate Hospital, Dye House in Providence, RI, and a forthcoming project with YOWIE. He also serves on the board of The Steel Yard, an arts organization. Everett is a proud father of two, as well as a constant scavenger for great design.
Morgan Jezierski
Director of Operations
Morgan joined the Scout team in 2023.
Kelley Garrard
Creative Marketing Director
Kelley joined the Scout team in early 2023, bringing with her over 13 years of experience in graphic design, marketing, and brand identity. A Maine native, she studied advertising and graphic design at the New England School of Art & Design in Boston. Kelley has previously worked as a designer at Nylon Magazine and Entertainment Weekly, and as a creative director at Urban Outfitters. She has executed design projects for several clients including Baggu, Cocokind, Yowie, and the Deacon Hospitality Group. Outside of design, Kelley's hobbies include craft projects, dancing to disco, and road trips to any place weird or historic.
Hannah Baker
Operations and Leasing Manager
Hannah joined Scout in the spring of 2019 bringing nearly a decade of experience in residential leasing and management. She attended University of the Arts and received a BA in Crafts with a focus in Metalsmithing. She was part Philadelphia community and arts scene for over 16 years before she relocated to the UK in 2021. With a passion for nature, fine details and traveling, you will often find her exploring the British countryside, the rich culture of Philadelphia, or somewhere completely new.
Brogan Austin
Events Manager
Brogan joined the Scout team in 2022, bringing with her a passion for community driven programming and events. Her enthusiasm stems from her experiences in the nonprofit and service industries, along with her education in Community Development and Studio Art from the University of Vermont. She grew up with goats and chickens in Western Massachusetts, however has been thrilled to call Philly home for the past 10 years. When she’s not running around at events she can be found slurping down a bowl at Pho 75, or painting at home with her 2 cats.
Lily Goodspeed
Leasing & Community Manager
Lily has an MPA from UPenn's Fels School in Public Finance and Economic Development and has extensive experience in South Philly organizing, communications, marketing, outreach, and community-based planning. Independently she writes comics, dances, volunteers, explores, and has a public art project called Plaque to the Future. Lily also has a dog named Shorty in English, Chorizo en español!
Matt Symonette
Operations Coordinator
Matt supports the Operations team as Operations Coordinator. He might look familiar to some, as he has worked at Bok Bar since 2020. With over a decade of hospitality experience, Matt is fortunate to have had the opportunity to connect with people from all walks of life in this vibrant city! He enjoys tasteful pranks, thunderstorms, nature, and board games
Danielle DeMuro
Book Keeper & Accounting
Danielle joined the Scout team in 2018.
Erik Zumaran
Human Resources Coordinator
Erik joined the Scout team in 2023. After attending Colorado Mesa University, his marketing background allowed him to start his career as a human resources (HR) recruiter, in which he now has over seven years experience in the field. Erik is new to Philadelphia, and enjoys spending time with his dog exploring the city.
AWARDS
Scout received a Special Mention by the Urban Land Institute (ULI) Americas 2023 Awards of Excellence, among the select 20 projects listed in the US.
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Scout was longlisted for the 2022 Dezeen Awards in the Rebirth Project category, one of only two projects in the US.
Scout was awarded the 2021 Urban Land Institute (ULI) Philadelphia Vision Award for Transformative Development of Bok, for excellence in adaptive reuse, mix of uses and catalytic economic development
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Scout was awarded a 2020 Charter Award from the Congress of the New Urbanism for our work on Bok. The award recognizes exemplary work by those who design and build places people love.
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Scout was the recipient of the The 2016 Young Friends of the Preservation Alliance Award for the project's approach to adaptive re-use of a historic building.