Designer, Facilitator and Professor based in Tampa. Currently inspiring sustainable communities.
Introduction
Urban design practitioner, researcher, and educator of context-based design anchored by a passion to involve citizens in actively shaping the built environment. My research is committed to the merging of design and civics to advance sustainable and equitable outcomes through the architecture of cities with focus toward climate change adaptation, transit modes and public space. I have extensive experience building partnerships between community members, organizations, and government leaders.
Design is a tool for generating big ideas, solving wicked problems, bridging disciplines, and engaging communities. Design is a language, a process, and a practice.
Professional Work
Community Design Master Plan and Policy Update: Wimauma
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Sponsored project through the Florida Cener or Community Design and Research at the University of South Florida in partnership with the Hillsborough County City-County Planning Commission.
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University of South Florida Center for Community Design and Research funded research project through the Gulf Research Program at the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine in partnership with the City of Tampa and Resilient Cities Catalyst. Study on data sources informing extreme heat and equity.
Heat Resiliency Playbook: City of Tampa
Transit Oriented Development and Value Capture: Best Practices for the Tampa Bay Region
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University of South Florida Center for Community Design and Research funded research project through the Tampa Bay Partnership.
Additional Work can be viewed at:
Student Work
I employ an interdisciplinary approach to design education and creative thinking, moving through an iterative process toward concept development.
Teaching Philosophy
Streets and Blocks
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Graduate Elective Course for the Master’s of Urban and Community Design program. This course series was developed as a community engagement course in partnership with the City of Tampa.
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Graduate studio course in Urban Design for the Master’s of Architecture program at the University of South Florida. Sponsored studio program
Urban Design Studio
Interdisciplinary Innovation Studio
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Graduate studio course in Urban Design for the University of South Florida. The studi brought together 24 graduate students from 4 different colleges and 6 different disciplines working together on interdisciplinary teams. Sponsored studio program
Select Works
Public Art
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Screen print enlargement of original mixed media work.
Tactical Urbanism
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A tactical urbanism project of the Urban Carrette. Temporary street design for a block in downtown Tampa.
Engagement
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In 2008, the Urban Charrette submitted an application to the American Institute of Architects Center for Communities by Design for a technical assistance grant to address Tampa’s sustainability through neighbrhood connectivity. The program is the Sustainable Design Assistance Team (SDAT). It spurred a design movement in Tampa and set a trajectory for a decade of grassroots leadership for the Urban Charrette.
Biosketch
My nearly 25-year career is anchored in interdisciplinary practices and collaboration. I have worked professionally in the field of architecture on projects focused on mixed-use development, historic preservation, and downtown redevelopment programs. As a Research Associate Professor and Director of a university research center, I manage projects concerning urban design policy, climate adaptation and sustainability, public realm, urban transportation systems, and community engagement. I am the co-founder of the Tampa-based non-profit, Urban Charrette, Inc. committed to the community through creative interventions—providing community members a voice in their cities by guiding the design of a shared vision.