Greensaw Design & Build, the Philadelhpia-based design/build company known for its work with architectural salvage, is on its way to becoming the city's first employee-owned co-op. Brendan Jones, Greensaw's founder and current owner, hatched the idea in November 2010 while considering ways to entice employees to stick around instead of seeing the company as a stepping stone. He was also interested in unloading some managerial duties but couldn't stomach the idea of another owner diluting what he and his colleagues had built.

A few Philadelphia-area outfits have attempted the employee-owned coop model only to dissolve for lack of profits. Jones believes Greensaw has what it takes to succeed. "Design/build companies rise or fall on their ability to communicate -- both externally and internally," he says. "While it's important in all businesses, it's especially true with design/build because so much time is spent speaking with the client. The ability to communicate holds us in good stead when it comes to a co-op, which will also rise and fall on the ability of folks inside to communicate."

Jones sheepishly admits he was extremely motivated to move ahead on the idea after watching HBO's John Adams series. "This city has a history of industry, underdogness, and creativity," he says. "All these are strains of yeast necessary to make the dough of this co-op rise, and we -- we're just the happy bakers." Greensaw had a few Independence Hall/Carpenter's Hall moments of its own at a recent mountain retreat to hammer out bylaws and a constitution. The co-op's expected launch date is March 15th.

AND THE WINNER IS: The Groundwork Group made it onto the American Society of Interior Designers' Top Picks list at the New York International Gift Fair, held at the end of January. The Germantown-based furniture designers, who create pieces from industrial and architectural salvage, won for "Innovative Product Design." The ASID judges noted, "Table bases were made from southern cypress trees, with zinc roofing materials crafted into tabletops, and ornithology slides, discovered in an old science lab, created into beautiful wall art."

UPCOMING LECTURES: The design cognoscenti is descending on Philadelphia this Spring, thanks to a couple of lecture series. The new Periodic Lectures on Design, produced by University of the Arts' Corzo Center for the Creative Economy in conjunction with DesignPhiladelphia launched February 15 with an appearance by TerraCycle owner, Tom Szaky. Susan Szenasy, Editor in Chief of Metropolis magazine, is the next speaker in the series, which focuses on innovation and entrepreneurship. She's scheduled for March 1. The lectures are free, but space is limited so reserve online.

On March 28, Karim Rashid will speak at Penn Design at the University of Pennsylvania. Rashid, who designed Morimoto and once taught at University of the Arts, might be best known for his ubiquitous Garbo garbage can.

TACO TOUCH: It's well known that everything Jose Garces touches turns to gold, but how many people know about the Brooklyn-based designer who makes Garces look good? Jun Aizaki and his Creme Design Collective have designed every Garces joint from Amada to JG Domestic. The chef and designer's newest collaboration is a taco food-truck that'll begin roaming the city this spring.

Guapos Tacos is as loud as its inspiration, Mexico City. Most everyone will be able to see the truck coming, thanks to an all-over mosaic made using 45,000 beer bottle caps collected by Garces' staffs and in bars in Aizaki's Brooklyn neighborhood. Follow Guapos Tacos on Twitter to be alerted of its launch.

CAROLINE TIGER is a Philadelphia-based design writer who blogs at design-phan. Find her on Facebook.or send feedback here.