DPZ Holiday Newsletter 2025

With a little holiday help from AI we commemorate our collaboration with Leon Krier on the Village of Heulebrug, Knokke-Heist, Belgium. 

Happy Holidays from DPZ!

As 2025 concludes, we reflect on an eventful year of contrasts. Projects varied in scale, geography, and intent, and our charrettes spanned from Monaco to Alabama. Despite unpredictable political and economic conditions, it was a productive year that reflected DPZ’s full practice: new towns, downtowns, regional strategies, codes, and long-term implementation, all carried forward by our three offices and many collaborative hands.
 
In Florida, several long-running public-sector efforts reached milestones. Orange County adopted Vision 2050 and the Orange Code after eight years. Walton County’s Evaluation and Appraisal Report was unanimously approved. Windsor’s final phase, the North Village, broke ground.
 
In New England, a pro bono CNU Legacy Project was produced for Providence’s Health District. In Northwest Arkansas, a multi-county Regional Growth Strategy is underway for the NWA Council. 
 
Internationally, DPZ traveled to the Bahamas and Mexico for new work. In Europe, earlier projects continued in Old Hatfield, Tornagrain, Chapelton, and Heulebrug. In the Middle East, DPZ returned to Riyadh after a 2-year hiatus to resume work on the Riyadh Urban Code.
 
Along the way, DPZ also participated in events like the Seaside Prize, CNU33, and a conference and exhibition honoring Leon Krier.
 
As we start a new year, we remain committed to designing thoughtfully, responsibly, and maintaining optimism. We extend our best wishes for health and success to all.

To read and learn more in depth about our work this past year, check out the other posts on the DPZ Pulse.

Rosemary Beach Celebrates 30 Years

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The Playa Tiku beachfront at the groundbreaking of Lahun Tiku, the Caribbean new town just south of Mahahual, MX.
Photo: Costa Maya News

Lahun Tiku Resort Breaks Ground in Costa Maya, MX

A DPZ project has broken ground on the southern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula. Designed in 2016, Lahun Tiku is a planned resort town situated on the outskirts of the village of Mahahual. Built on the site of an abandoned hotel, the initial phase consists of a tactical entertainment hub featuring a central beachfront green, a food truck court, and a series of vendor kiosks dedicated to showcasing the arts, crafts, and cuisine of the Yucatan Peninsula and Mayan culture. 

In November, the Governor of the State of Quintana Roo, Mara Lezama, toured the venue and unveiled plaque honoring the newly-designated Playa Tiku beach. The development aims to serve as a tourist attraction for the numerous cruise ship passengers who frequent the area known as Costa Maya.

Read more information here.

“Paper Tiger,” a portrait and capriccio of Léon Krier (Carl Laubin, 2002)

Notre Dame Hosts Léon Krier Memorial Event

This November 23-25, the University of Notre Dame hosted a series of panels, speakers, and exhibitions centered around honoring the late Léon Krier. Lizz and Andrés were among the participants, with Andrés delivering the keynote speech on the final morning of the conference.

The speaking engagements and conference itinerary commenced on Monday, November 24, and included a showing of Léon’s last interview followed by a keynote speech by Demetri Porphyrios. After the break, Lizz had an opportunity to share her thoughts and experiences with Léon in a heartfelt presentation.

Read more about the event on DPZ’s Pulse here.

Photos courtesy of Mallory Baches

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Lizz & Andrés + Urblandia

On December 16th, Lizz and Andrés participated in an Urblandia event in conversation with Andrew Quarrie and UM Associate Professor Richard John at the DPZ Miami Guest House to celebrate the life and legacy of the late Léon Krier. 

The ticketed event served as an intimate question-and-answer discussion where people could remember and learn about Léon Krier and his profound impact on New Urbanism directly from Lizz and Andrés, two of his closest contemporaries. This included an in-depth exploration of his beginnings and his early influence, the brilliance and simplicity of his diagrams and essays, and the sincerity and warmth of his humanity and friendship.

Learn more on the Urblandia event page here.

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Main Street Vero Beach Mural Festival

While progress in Vero Beach can sometimes feel incremental, it’s encouraging to see tangible pieces of DPZ’s 2024 Downtown Master Plan coming to life—from interim streetscape improvements to continued conversations around long-term district management.

In November, downtown Vero Beach came alive during the Main Street Vero Beach Mural Festival, an energizing community event produced in partnership with Main Street Vero Beach, the Vero Mural Project, and the Friends of the Vero Beach Art Village. 

Read more about the festival on DPZ’s Pulse here.

Photos courtesy of Utah City

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On YouTube, Fourth Place shared a video exploring Rosemary Beach as a ‘European’ community.

House Beautiful, a lifestyle magazine, included Rosemary Beach (as well as Alys Beach) on their list of prettiest American Beach towns that look like Europe.

Finally, Business Insider shared an article that honored Rosemary Beach as a vacation alternative that presented a beautiful, walkable, and laid back environment.

Read more about Camana Bay on the ULI finalist page here.

Learn about the 2007 Camana Bay Charrette in this documentary.

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Read more about Robert A.M. Stern and his remarkable legacy on the Seaside Institute’s tribute page here.

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From our DC, Portland & Miami Offices…

Best Wishes for a Great 2026!

“Paper Tiger,” a portrait and capriccio of Léon Krier (Carl Laubin, 2002)

Remembering Leon Krier

“That is my skill set… blood and mud and fight. And his skill set was to think clearly.” – Andrés Duany

This November 23-25, the University of Notre Dame hosted a series of panels, speakers, and exhibitions honoring the late Léon Krier. Lizz and Andrés were among the participants, with Andrés delivering the keynote speech on the final morning of the conference.

The speaking engagements and conference itinerary commenced on Monday, November 24, and included a showing of Léon’s last interview followed by a keynote speech by Demetri Porphyrios. After the break, Lizz presented Krier’s built work in the U.S. — his house in Seaside, the meeting hall at Windsor, and the Jorge M. Perez Architecture Center at the University of Miami School of Architecture. As dean of the school at the time, Lizz guided that building to completion in 2005.

Lizz presenting on Léon Krier at Notre Dame (Photo: Mallory Baches)

Krier’s theories and realized designs provided the foundation for the placemaking principles and practice of New Urbanism — and they continue to inspire the preservation of cultural heritage.

Andrés’ keynote presentation took the audience through decades of memories, photographs, and ideas as he remembered Léon, both as a brilliant innovator and a beloved friend. He also placed strong emphasis on carrying the torch while encouraging evolving ideas and future clear thinkers:

“The greatest minds will not be attracted to merely polish what we have already discovered.” – Andrés Duany

Andrés presenting on Léon Krier at Notre Dame (Photo: Mallory Baches)

The conference also served as an opportunity to display drawings by Krier as the university had acquired the Léon Krier Library and Archives in 2014, adding nearly 8,000 volumes to the architecture library. While the exhibition of selected work was on display temporarily, you can also view all the materials on Notre Dame’s digital library and archives here.

Altogether, the conference was a moving reminder of legacy and impact. Conference goers were able to reflect upon Léon’s lessons as well as his personal connections with many people, and all were reminded that the next generations will continue to build upon these lessons as they seek to discover their own paths.

“Build in such a way that the maxim of your design may at the same time rate as a principle of general legislation or design buildings in such a way that you, yourself and those you love, will take pleasure in using them, look at them, live, work, spend holidays and retire in them.” – Léon Krier

Main Street Vero Beach Mural Festival

While progress in Vero Beach can sometimes feel incremental, it’s encouraging to see tangible pieces of DPZ’s 2024 Downtown Master Plan coming to life—from interim streetscape improvements to continued conversations around long-term district management. In November, downtown Vero Beach came alive during the Main Street Vero Beach Mural Festival, an energizing community event produced in partnership with Main Street Vero Beach, the Vero Mural Project, and the Friends of the Vero Beach Art Village.

Over the course of a few days, three new permanent murals were completed—at the Chamber of Commerce building in Pocahontas Park, at the former Fish & Wildlife building now being transformed into a preschool, and in an alley at the south end of downtown. In addition, six commissioned artists created murals on movable 8’ x 8’ panels placed throughout the district, alongside a student mural by a local middle school and a community paint board where anyone could grab a brush and participate. The festival drew a great turnout, and the finished panels will be redistributed around downtown and the Art Village as part of a broader Art in Public Places strategy.

DPZ staff (and Vero Beach residents) Heather and Dylan Wassell helped to organize the event. As board members for the Friends of the Vero Beach Art Village, they are working closely with partners on neighborhood revitalization efforts that use art as a tool for community-building. Events like the mural festival are a rewarding reminder of how planning and design can translate into visible, on-the-ground impact, and it’s been meaningful to stay connected to that work at the neighborhood scale.

DPZ Fall Newsletter

Liles Plaza Artists Village & Stage, Bonita Springs, FL

As the fall season winds down, DPZ is pleased to share some of the updates, events and news items from the last few months. Many of our projects continued their progress and marked important milestones, as new projects and initiatives emerged. Meanwhile, DPZers remained active in panel discussions, both in person and online.

Walton County EAR Approved

The Rural Settlement Place Type promotes the concentration of development and preservation of open space and natural habitats.

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Liles Plaza Study Adopted as Master Plan

The now-empty building and the green space that surrounds it are used as event spaces, but there is a disconnect between the hotel, the Artist Village row of cottages behind it, and a field that links these elements to the bandshell at the town square, Riverside Park.

DPZ’s plan envisions a series of modest to ambitious interventions that unite and better define the collection of structures and spaces. Among the proposals is the reshaping of the entrance drive to the hotel into an actual plaza with an enhanced fountain, more cohesive paving, new landscaping, and a future community center. The artist village receives additional pavilions as well as a set of steps that double as a stage and connect to the open field and bandshell beyond. A new event space is carved out of the stand of trees to the north of the hotel and existing paths to the river receive a pair of waterfront gazebos.

Following the unanimous adoption of the vision plan as the park’s master plan, the City staff was directed to develop a strategy to implement the ideas.

Watch Council Presentation by Xavier Iglesias here (starting at 1:26:50).

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The restored vehicular connection between the reimagined Salisbury Square and the Broadway Market plaza.
Rendering: Max Von Trott
Third Photo Courtesy of Christy Milliken

Old Hatfield DPZ Proposal Underway in UK

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Windsor North Village Progress

The Windsor team has been posting video updates showing the rapid progress at the North Village, north of Vero Beach, FL. The two new bodies of water — a freshwater lake and an estuary, as well as the weir connecting them — are in place. A boardwalk spanning the lake now sweeps around a new rookery island.

Enhancing the landscaping, a collection of mature trees previously cultivated on this site in preparation for the new village has been relocated to establish the central park. In addition, the reshaping of North Savannah Place to accommodate the new ellipse-shaped entry green has been paved.

The Park Residences complex at the NW corner of Windsor is characterized by the community’s distinctive Anglo-Caribbean vocabulary that is to be maintained in the adjacent North Village with a more streamlined aesthetic.
Top Two Photos Courtesy of Windsor’s LinkedIn

Left to Right: Hillary Adam, Bill Lennertz, Camille Cortes, Matt Lambert, Laurence Qamar, Lucas Ritter, and Susan Novak.

Portland Downtown Vision 2050

DPZ was represented by Matt Lambert, Jonathan Konkol, and Camille Cortes alongside long-time DPZ Cascadia collaborators Bill Lennertz and Laurence Qamar.

The discussions centered on three organizing principles: celebrating the Willamette River as a place of connection, reimagining and transforming the transportation network, and creating residential urban villages with unique identities. Participants envisioned a vibrant Central City that celebrates its riverfront, prioritizes walking, biking, and transit, and fosters mixed-use neighborhoods capable of doubling downtown’s population.

With its emphasis on collaboration and long-term implementation, the Portland 2050 effort signals renewed momentum – reaffirming the Central City as the heart of Oregon’s economy, culture, and community life. Jonathan continues to collaborate on City Club’s efforts.

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NWA Road Show

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DPZ on the CNU Park Bench

Watch Camille’s Climate Ready Communities session here.

Watch Andrés’ Mississippi Renewal Forum session here.

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COMPLAN 2025 Conference in Brazil

In her presentation titled “Urbanism Without Barriers: Constructing Open, Human, and Safe Environments,” Bingre shared insights on urban design strategies that not only enhance safety but also foster a human-centric and inclusive urban fabric.

“Participating in this significant conference in Brazil and connecting with professionals committed to the creation of better cities was both inspiring and gratifying. DPZ’s contributions to Brazil have been substantial, and it was particularly encouraging to witness initiatives that are advancing urban design practices within the country,” expressed Bingre. The speech elicited thoughtful engagement, as noted by the media, which prompted reflection on the roles of architects, planners, and investors in shaping cities that truly serve their inhabitants.

Read more about COMPLAN 2025 in a local online journal here.

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Urblandia Adaptive Coastal Cities Event

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World Architecture Festival (WAF)

Their session translated decades of DPZ practice into a fast-moving, actionable checklist for cities grappling with climate risk, affordability, and social cohesion — showing how the 8 Cs can move resilience from slogan to street, block, and neighborhood.

Explore the festival highlights here.

Photos Courtesy of the World Architecture Festival.

Second Photo Courtesy of UM School of Architecture

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Presenting the awards was Billy Hattaway, PE, Senior Advisor at England-Thims & Miller and board chair of CNU Florida.

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However, she also acknowledged that this is typically the consequence of a delicate equilibrium between competing interests. Developers, lenders, retailers, municipalities, and residents all establish their priorities differently. Planners must comprehend and calibrate these frequently conflicting criteria to design successful neighborhoods.

Read more at CNU’s Public Square here.

First Photo (Courtesy of Cornish Associates): Downtown Providence, RI
Second Photo: Kentlands, MD, Town Center Green
Third Photo: Lakelands, MD, “Pin-Wheel” Townhouse Square

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See the video from The Aesthetic City here.

Read more about Heulebrug in the CNU Public Square Journal here.

First Photo Courtesy of The Aesthetic City
Second Photo Courtesy of WVI

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These lessons have profoundly reshaped hurricane preparedness in the region. DPZ’s Lizz Plater-Zyberk shares her thoughts on the post-Hurricane Andrew response by the local design and construction industry. She noted that the investigation following Andrew led to a “sea change” in how structures were built after the storm, with new construction standards in the Florida Building Code of 2002 that today make buildings more fortified.

She also commented on the We Will Rebuild charrette. This volunteer effort that she helped lead was convened by the University of Miami School of Architecture, Florida International University, and other local organizations. The 100+ volunteers studied the effects of the hurricane and identified ways to rebuild better, both in terms of more resilient structures and with regard to urban design strategies that could help mitigate the effects of future storm events.

Read the full article on the lesson’s learned and Lizz’s thoughts here.

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Happy Thanksgiving!

The DPZ Team wants to wish you and your loved ones much warmth and gratitude this week.

DPZ Summer Newsletter

The historic Biltmore Ballroom in downtown Providence was a key venue at CNU33.

This summer DPZ has been reminded of something that we often tell our downtown clients: drafting a code or implementing a master plan has to be viewed through the lens of time. Our very first downtown master plan, for Stuart, FL, just celebrated its 37th anniversary. We also welcomed the adoption of two recent urban code projects that were years in the making, in Michigan and Florida respectively. Meanwhile, at CNU33 in Providence last month, conference attendees saw first hand how successful urban revitalizations can take decades. Our Downcity Providence project’s development team was honored with two prizes that recognized their nearly 40 years of perseverance.

So here’s to all those clients, as well as their supporters and collaborators, who stay the course in seeing long-range urban visions come to life.

We would like to share more about these and other highlights from the past few months.

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Orange County Adopts New Form-Based Code

The Orange Code features an online transect map managed by Gridics.

Reconciling competing priorities and visions involved extensive dialogue, negotiation, and refinement. The successful adoption of both Vision 2050 and the Orange Code marks a significant step forward in shaping a more sustainable, resilient, and community-centered future for Orange County.

Read more about the adoption here.

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The redeveloped office park features a green buffer to minimize its visibility from Old Cutler Road.

Laguna Vista Redevelopment Moves Ahead in Palmetto Bay, FL

The master plan aims to minimize the redevelopment’s visibility from Biscayne Bay and the frontage road. To address concerns about the natural environment, the owner committed to donating 22 acres along Old Cutler Road as a nature preserve and buffer. The project introduces a supermarket, fitness club, shops and restaurants within walking or biking distance of homes on the east side of the Village, providing a balance for the distant US-1 commercial zone on its western edge. A raised main street provides the focus for adjacent townhouses and apartment buildings. This combination of live, work, and play options should maximize the number of residents likely to remain near home on any given day and reduce vehicle circulation on Palmetto Bay streets.

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Ivanhoe Village: A new mixed-use, employment center for Mundelein, IL

According to Don Vitek, Sr. VP of landowner Wirtz Realty, the project will preserve 11 acres of the existing Ivanhoe Farms dedicated to locally grown produce. Furthermore, over 40% of Ivanhoe Village’s land will be designated as open space, featuring a network of paths and amenities connected by12 miles of trails.

The project is also committed to diversity in housing types and sizes, offering a broad range of price points. Of the new village’s 3,100 residential units, notably less than a third of these units will be single-family homes, while 25% will be specifically designed for seniors. To ensure sustainable growth, the development will be phased gradually, with residential construction limited to 155 units per year.

Not surprisingly, the town of Mundelein has enthusiastically embraced Ivanhoe Village’s new urban plan, and its dedication to green space, walkability, and job creation.

Busy street life in a reanimated downtown with the iconic Art Deco “Superman” building in the background. Photo Courtesy of @indowncitypvd

DPZ at CNU33 – Providence, RI

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The bronze statue of Lady Abundance, a gift from the Women’s Club of Stuart, stands in the middle of Haney Circle on Osceola Street.
Photo Credit: Donna Crary

Saving Stuart: Then & Now

the collaborative spirit and faith that Stuart residents have in their personal agency to make a place better – the reason we continue to work on municipal projects!

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Kentlands Market Square during the annual Kentlands Under the Lights Event.

Kentlands Under the Lights

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Marina Khoury discussed sprawl repair tools at the Vivre-en-Ville conference in Montreal.

“Sprawl Makeover: Big Ideas for Small Sites and Small Ideas with Big Impacts”

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Matt Lambert presented PLACE Initiative’s research on climate migration.

MR2025: Mobility, Adaptation, and Wellbeing in a Changing Climate

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“Beauty and the Built Landscape” Exhibition in Viterbo, Italy

DPZ chose to send 4 projects. They ranged from the Blue Water affordable housing pocket in the Florida Keys and the Heulebrug social housing village in Belgium, to two examples of form-based codes: Seaside, FL, and Miami 21. DPZ thanks the organizers of the event and University of Notre Dame School of Architecture professor, Steve Semes, for the invitation.

You can view the projects from DPZ’s submission here.

Left to Right: Mariana Fleites, Andrea Lira, Jayson Moron, and Joe Eiden

In the past 12 months, DPZ has welcomed a few new faces to our offices, and we wanted to take this opportunity to present them.

Andrea Lira, B.Arch, joined DPZ’s team as a designer in October of last year. She is a recent graduate from the University of Miami with a minor in music theory. Mariana Fleites, B.Arch, is another recent graduate of the University of Miami School of Architecture. A rising fifth-year architecture student at the University of Miami, Jayson Moron expects to obtain his Bachelor of Architecture next May. Joe Eiden, B.Arch, is a recent graduate of the University of Notre Dame where he minored in Sustainability.

This summer DPZ also welcomed some short-term volunteers in Miami: Erela Yashiv, a rising high school senior at Ransom Everglades School in Miami, was at DPZ in mid-July; Fabio Vallejos, who will be starting his freshman year in FIU’s Architecture program this fall joined us for part of the summer; and Isabella McGrath, who was with us for a week in August, expects to graduate next May with a Bachelor of Architecture degree from Notre Dame. Meanwhile, in our Portland office, returning for a second summer was Gardner Berry who will be a high school senior starting this fall.

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University of Miami Professor Joanna Lombard, a DPZ team led by Matt Lambert and Lizz Plater-Zyberk conducted a charrette with the City of Providence, Brown University Health / Rhode Island Hospital, other area stakeholders, and leaders, developers, and non-profit organizations.

The proposed plan for the “Providence Community Health District” aims to restore the neighborhood interface and catalyze economic development by leveraging the potential of a mixed-use health district and providing needed housing in proximity to jobs and the downtown. The plan preserves existing assets and operations while also expanding employment, retail, and education, in transforming the district from a car-dominated to a pedestrian-oriented anchor for surrounding neighborhoods and institutions.

Read more at CNU’s Public Square here.

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In 1986, developers Buff Chace and Doug Storrs set out to create that core by retrofitting the strip shopping mall into a recognizably New England village center. With the help of a DPZ master plan and a team of local architects, they had crafted just enough walkable urban fabric out of the shopping center parking lots to merit inclusion in Peter Katz’s 1994 book “The New Urbanism.” Today “it is …comprising approximately 10 blocks, a diverse mix of buildings and public spaces, and a network of streets.”

Rob notes that “Mashpee Commons is generally credited as the pioneering suburban retrofit example in America, but [it has not] been recognized enough for its innovations and quality. It should be studied because the US has thousands of dead and dying shopping malls that now—or soon will—require reuse or teardown, and the developers of Mashpee Commons have been doing this the longest.”

Read the Public Square article here.

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Starting on September 17th, DPZ will be facilitating an eight-day roadshow that is essentially one long charrette, but with meetings in multiple locations. The meetings will be less focused on design, as on creating and discussing growth strategies with the residents and stakeholders who will be most impacted by the outcomes.

A final report is expected to be ready by April 2026, in time for the Council’s annual Spring Meeting. Read the full article here.

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The key was to bring residents back to the downtown. As usual it was the tripod of urban design that helped support the effort: a master plan to inspire the vision and guide physical improvements (design); a form-based code to help implement the vision (policy); and strategic, pragmatic procedural tweaks to expedite the process (management).

Regarding the latter, the writer cites early objections to DPZ’s advice that code-compliant proposals receive swift administrative approval, and not be subjected to a long public review, unless a developer needs variances.

Read the full article here.

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The Florida panhandle’s Emerald Coast is more of a draw for both tourists and property investors than ever, particularly the once-sleepy stretch of 30-A. With many of the DPZ and neighboring villages nearing completion, existing properties have become increasingly desirable and expensive.

In some areas, such as Sea Grove, tear-downs of single-story cottages has become more common, replaced by large multi-story homes. Despite all the construction and summer traffic, the diverse amenities and visual offerings along this county road still continue to delight and attract visitors of all ages.

Read the full article here.

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Leon Krier
7 April 1946 – 17 June 2025

Our civilization has lost both a pillar and a buttress—one a brave, brilliant, uncompromising architect — Krier; the other a warm, funny, generous, friend and mentor — Leo.

– Andres Duany

Read the Common Edge piece on his legacy and view Andrés and Leon in The Art of Building Cities.

The Hon. Hilary Mary Weston
12 January 1942 – 2 August 2025

Earlier this month, Windsor village founder Hilary Weston passed away. Along with her husband, Galen Weston, they commissioned DPZ in 1989 to master plan and code the oceanfront village located in Vero Beach, FL. From the beginning she was instrumental in guiding the elegant simplicity of the community’s Anglo Caribbean style, an intentional response to the Neo-Mediterranean excesses of 1980s Florida development.

More recently, she had been working with DPZ and her daughter, Alannah Weston, on the design of Windsor’s final phase, the North Village, where she championed the creation of nature trails and the relationship to the adjacent wildlife refuge and the Indian River Lagoon.

Read her tribute on the official Windsor website.

Busy street life in a once dormant downtown with the iconic Deco “Superman” building in the background. Photo Credit: @indowncitypvd

DPZ at CNU33 – Providence, RI

This past June, the Congress for the New Urbanism’s annual conference marked a rewarding homecoming of sorts for DPZ. The City of Providence, RI, hosted the event for a second time. Back in 2006 at CNU14, the promise of DPZ’s Downcity Providence 1991 and 2003 master plans were starting to yield tangible results. By 2025 those ideas had matured and expanded with the tireless efforts of Buff Chace and his Cornish Associates team, and the enlightened contributions of local leaders, entrepreneurs, and civic organizations.

The CNU33 attendees encountered the fruits of their collective labor: a lively downtown that had flourished into a hub of locally owned restaurants, theaters, shops, public art, and new green spaces. These amenities are now home to a diverse population of college students, young professionals, families, and relocated retirees. Westminster Street and other downtown corridors, once abandoned and characterized by vacant storefronts, have undergone a remarkable transformation. Most notably, an impressive collection of 20th-century architectural landmarks has been restored to their former glory, complemented by the invigorating arrival of busy establishments lining the sidewalks and newly converted housing units above.

Grant’s Block Plaza is a pocket park and popular lunch spot at the corner of Westminster and Union Streets. (Photo: @indowncitypvd)

Outdoor dining has become a fixture throughout the Downcity. (Photo: @indowncitypvd)

The theme of the congress was a regional one, and thus New England was showcased with a number of sessions and special topic tours. Mashpee Commons on Cape Cod, often-cited as the first example of sprawl repair, was one of those visited by attendees. A group of DPZers took part in a special Mashpee tour and was able to see the evolution of another pair of DPZ master plans from 1986 and 2002. Now a full-fledged village center, the commons continues to work its way around suburban-minded zoning challenges to deliver the long-ago promised multi-family housing units that are starting to ensure a more walkable, balanced 24/7 node for the largely rural Upper Cape.

A group of DPZers took in the evolving streetscapes of Mashpee Commons.

This year’s conference saw a number of DPZers in action at a variety of sessions. Among them was outgoing CNU Board Chair Matt Lambert who handed the baton to next year’s Board Chair, frequent DPZ collaborator Jennifer Hurley. The sessions covered a wide range of topics organized around the principal tracks of climate, development, housing, urban design, and policy, as well as the Art Room.

The Influence of New Urbanism in the City of Providence opening session saw Andrés Duany  share his thoughts on Downcity’s  impact on the larger New England region.

Downcity Providence Project Showcasefeatured Buff Chace and Andrés Duany discussing the process and key challenges encountered during the nearly 40-year revitalization.

Building Regional Resilience Through Local Economies featured Andrés in a discussion of  lessons from Latin America. The co-presenters were Fernando Pages and Korkut Onaran.

In Conversation: Reconsidering Recovery Response, in which Mallory Baches moderated six members with experience in recovery work, including Lizz Plater-Zyberk who traced DPZ’s experience from the firm’s response to Hurricane Andrew in 1992 to more recent recovery plans for Katrina (2005) and the Haiti Earthquake (2010).

The Perfect Little Town was led by longtime DPZ-collaborator Dhiru Thadani who was joined by Andrés on the lessons to be gleaned from the timeless urbanism and beauty of Uzès, France.

Model Climate Adaptation Enabling Legislation gave Camille Cortes a chance to share her research on Climate-responsive policy, covering climate resilience and economic diversification in Appalachian communities, and drawing from her nonprofit PLACE Initiative’s work with post-coal regions. Co-presenting were Hazel Borys, Korkut Onaran, and Scott Bernstein.

Adaptation in Action: Four Regions Respond to Climate Impact was moderated by Lizz Plater-Zyberk, who was joined by Galina Tachieva and DPZ client Sikes Ragan of the Village of Cheshire, Black Mountain, NC, along with Marc Wouters (New York) and Martin Dreiling (California). The conversations surrounded four presentations that illustrate adaptation responses to a variety of climate change impacts including coastal flooding, inland flooding, heavy rainfall, and fire in the wildland urban interface (WUI).

Neighborhood Design in the Art Room included Xavier Iglesias who showcased the art of  DPZ  illustrations as a tool in neighborhood planning. Moderated by James Dougherty of Dover Kohl & Partners, the session also included presentations by Eduardo Castillo and Kenneth Garcia– followed by an audience participation exercise.

Block Design in the Art Room included  Xavier Iglesias who was joined by Chris Ritter to further showcase the art and techniques of DPZ block assemblages. Moderated by James Dougherty of Dover Kohl & Partners, the session also included a presentation by Thomas Dougherty– followed by an audience participation exercise.

Andrés and Buff Chace recounted the story of Downcity Providence (left); Xavier Iglesias presented the techniques of Neighborhood Design via the art of DPZ illustrations (right)

Marina Khoury shared a number of lessons learned in operating a new urbanist practice (left). Ben Northrup highlighted neighborhood design concepts during the audience participation Art Room session (right).

A New Urbanist and Necessary Perspective on Density had the participation of Marina Khoury addressing common misconceptions and misperceptions about density, where she emphasized design over numbers: people live in places. Other session presenters were David Dixon and Todd Zimmerman.

Urban Design Illustration: Principles and Work Flow in the Art Room featured Chris Ritter demonstrating his design methodology.

From Start-up to Succession: Lessons from the Entrepreneurs of the New Urbanism included Marina Khoury in a dynamic panel discussion where design company owners shared lessons on leadership, growth, and evolving firm succession. Moderated by Mike Lydon, the panel also included Joe Minicozzi and Lisa Wise.

Shaping the Future: Miami 21 and the Evolution of Form-Based Codes featured Lizz Plater-Zyberk. She was joined by Sevanne Steiner (moderator, City of Miami planner), David Snow, Melissa Tapanes Llahues and Juan Mullerat.

Hack the Code: Finding the Common Ground in Zoning Reform Strategies was a series of group discussions aimed at increasing zoning reform. Matt Lambert led the closing discussion and group report-outs. His co-facilitators in these sessions included Susan Henderson, Hazel Borys, and Jenn Hurley.

With DPZers by his side, Buff Chace accepted both the Downcity Providence Generational Project Award (left) and the Sisyphus Implementation Medal (right).

A highlight of CNU33 for DPZ was the Charter Awards presentation ceremony. Downcity Providence was honored with the inaugural Generational Project Award, recognizing the multi-decade effort usually required to revitalize older downtown neighborhoods.

Even more gratifying was to see Buff Chace, the indefatigable force behind Cornish Associates, presented with the inaugural Sisyphus Implementation Medal. The honor recognizes the importance of the private sector developer and his role in leveraging investment by individual entities with the public sector’s often-limited financial resources but all-important political support. Implied is the persistence by that private developer in cultivating the long-term returns that come from the many short-term commitments. Congratulations to Buff and his Cornish team!

To read more about Downcity Providence, you can see CNU’s Public Square article and the On the Park Bench interview with Buff Chace and Andrés Duany.

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Matt Lambert presented to the NWA Council and community at the 2025 Spring Meeting

Northwest Arkansas Regional Growth Strategy

The annual Seaside Prize walking tour with Robert Davis and Dhiru Thadani
Photos courtesy of Christy Milliken

Seaside Prize Weekend

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ENU Spring Urban De-Code Miami

Emerging New Urbanists (ENU) meet with DPZ, Dover Kohl & Partners, and Kimley Horn for their Miami Spring Event

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ICAA-FL Awards & Teófilo Victoria Tribute

The ICAA-FL World Accomplishment Award was presented posthumously by Lizz to Teófilo Victoria

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DPZ Returns to The Villages of Loreto Bay

This January, DPZ returned to The Villages of Loreto Bay (Loreto Bay) in response to an RFP to update the community’s design code. It’s always a rewarding experience to reconnect with past clients and help further shape a community as it grows. We’re grateful for the continued trust and excited to keep contributing to Loreto Bay’s evolving vision.

DPZ was first engaged by Loreto Bay—a budding 8,800-acre eco-friendly resort village in Baja California Sur, Mexico—in 2003. Bordered by the Sea of Cortez to the east and a golf course and the Sierra de la Giganta mountains to the west, the vast majority of the property was preserved for recreation and conservation. Since then, the community has made additional strides in protecting the natural landscape, putting even more land under federally protected conservation status. Most of this area remains in its natural state, offering recreational trails for hiking, horseback riding, and nature appreciation. From the outset, the project embraced a deep commitment to sustainable and regenerative design.

The DPZ Loreto Bay Master Plan (left) depicts the vast expanse of conservation land to the west of the developed area. The Phase 1 detail plan (on the right) illustrates the fine grained urban fabric of pedestrian paseos defining the residential blocks.

The master plan, which unfolds in multiple phases, envisioned Loreto Bay as a smart, environmentally conscious, and highly walkable community. Six compact neighborhoods and a lively town center were planned along the coastline. These neighborhoods offer a mix of housing types—including Village and Custom homes—with the village homes designed as variations on a few efficient and flexible plans. Instead of large front yards, homes are clustered together and centered around private interior gardens with fountains.

The majority of homes, except those along the waterfront or golf course, are permitted a viewing tower for wide expansive views of the stunning landscape. A defining feature of the community are the homes viewing towers. Great care has been taken to position individual towers to minimize their impact on private courtyards and to avoid obstructing neighbors’ views.

Basic amenities are all within walking distance, while the town center features the highest concentration of commercial space, anchored by 5-story mixed-use posada buildings.

A cafe along the Main Street, Paseo Misión de Loreto.

Community life is supported by a range of gathering spaces and shared facilities, including pools and social courtyards that foster ongoing interaction among residents. Beyond the central Main Street, Paseo Misión de Loreto (known simply as “the Paseo”) which permits cars and provides on-street parking spaces, the community is entirely pedestrian-oriented, with homes accessed only by foot, bicycle, or solar-powered electric carts. A charming network of narrow pedestrian paths winds through the neighborhoods, opening into small shared courtyards and inviting communal spaces.

Sustainability is deeply embedded throughout the development, with strategies that include passive solar design, dark skies, water conservation, the use of local building materials, and the bold elimination of cars with a reliance on solar-powered carts as the most intense mode of transportation. The strategic and limited use of water, combined with native plantings, is employed in courtyard fountains to create a cooling and tranquil microclimate. The interplay of greenery and flowing water helps to lower surrounding air temperatures while enhancing the serenity and beauty of courtyards.

Loreto Bay has become a model for highly restorative and inspiring development. Homeowners are deeply committed to preserving the beauty and simplicity of village life while actively enhancing the surrounding ecosystem.

Mixed-use buildings, rooftop terraces, and viewing towers facing the Paseo.

In 2024, DPZ was selected to conduct a charrette in January 2025 to provide a comprehensive code update and collaborate with developers on planning several key vacant and controversial sites.

The return to Loreto Bay also gave DPZ an opportunity to witness the village’s remarkable growth since the original 2003 planning process. True to the original vision, on-site parking remains limited to the Paseo reflecting a diminished reliance on cars. Most residents—whose average age is now over 60—prefer to walk, bike, or travel by golf cart from parking areas to their homes. Recreation is deeply woven into daily life, with activities like golfing, kayaking, swimming, and whale watching thriving amid the community’s spectacular natural surroundings.

The range of non-residential uses has also flourished, with the village now home to three small markets, a dozen restaurants, coffee shops, spas, offices, salons, dog groomers, pools, and more. Ultimately, Loreto Bay is building out remarkably true to the vision that was first drawn 21 years ago.

Drone-view of one of Loreto Bay’s pedestrian path plazas.

Unique to Loreto Bay’s Spanish Colonial–inspired architecture are brightly colored homes that present a calm, generally unadorned street frontage, reserving decorative details for special elements such as door surrounds, entry doors, tiled wall bases, decorative iron lighting, and sculpted rooflines.

The beauty of the maze of pedestrian paths is enhanced by a lush and colorful mix of plantings and trees, with bougainvilleas often cascading over courtyard walls, adding vibrant splashes of color to the walkways.

Pedestrian paseos

Though largely built out—and now guided by an updated code—Loreto Bay will continue to grow, evolve, and refine itself for years to come. This ongoing process is the nature of urban planning, and DPZ is proud and grateful for the opportunity to return and continue helping to shape this community toward its long-term vision.

DPZ Company Meet & Holiday Party

To close out the year, DPZ celebrated with our annual Company Meet and Holiday Office Party. Our three offices gathered to share valuable lessons from the past year and brainstorm ways to make 2025 even better.

The following day was packed with tours and exploration of several great South Florida neighborhoods: the Miami Design District (led by Lizz), Wynwood (led by Wynwood BID), and South Beach. These adventures gave new employees the opportunity to learn from DPZ veterans about some of our firm’s contributions to the local urban realm.

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DPZ’s three offices were busy in 2024 with a variety of new public and private sector projects. We were also excited to see ongoing projects continuing to grow. Here are some highlights:

Top: Hendrick Farm, Chelsea, Canada; Naples Design Walk, FL
Center: Fishkill, NY; Downtown Vero Beach, FL
Bottom: Meridianville, AL

Miami Office Showcase

Some of the most notable updates the Miami team have seen include:

• Fishkill, NY – DPZ, in collaboration with Alex Gorlin Architects, participated in a developers’ bid for the redevelopment of a state penitentiary facility. The bid was successful, and the DPZ renderings and master plan were exhibited on the NY Governor’s websitehere.
• Vero Beach, FL – Last February, a charrette took place for the revitalization of Downtown Vero Beach. The Master Plan was approved by Council in May. While the referendum to raise downtown density failed on Election Day, the planning director has expressed confidence that many of DPZ’s master plan recommendations can be implemented. Additionally, a new RFP for the Three Corners redevelopment into mixed-use center was issued, moving the much anticipated project to the next stage. Learn more about Vero Beachhere and Three Cornershere.
• Naples Design District, FL – The design for the Pilot Block for the Design Walk has evolved, more interaction with the property owners is expected in the first quarter of 2025, and updates will be presented to the City Council in late January. Read more about DPZ’s history with Napleshere.
• The Village in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada – The Village began in 1997 and has been a labor of love with DPZ guiding its planning and architecture for decades. In 2017, DPZ designed the Village Center master plan and code and is now overseeing its final phase as Town Architect, moving toward completion in 2025. Learn more about Village in Niagara on the Lakehere.
• Hendrick Farm, Chelsea, Canada – DPZ began design work for Hendrick Farm in 2016 and continues as the town architect, contributing to the design phases that are now underway. Learn more about Hendrick Farmhere.
• Meridian Commons, Meridianville, AL – 10 years after the Village of Providence Charrette, DPZ returned to Huntsville, AL, this past summer to design a new community 10 miles north of the downtown. The 568-acre project will consist of 3 new walkable neighborhoods and a regional park. The project aims to establish an activity node for a sector of suburban Madison County that currently has no real urban center, and will begin with a mixed-use hamlet at the northeast corner of the property. A number of parks will highlight the site’s natural features, including the Overlook Bluff whose pavilion graces our animated holiday card above.

Top: Walton County, FL; Ivanhoe Village, IL
Bottom: Friday Harbour, ON, Canada; Loreto Bay, Mexico

D.C. Office Showcase

The DC Office has rounded out 2024 with a great deal of international work, but a few significant domestic ones as well. In addition, a number of events and lectures have kept the travel schedule quite active. Notable project updates include:

• Musqueam Village, BC, Canada – Master planning work on this master plan for the Musqueam band outside Vancouver has been completed this year. Local architectural firms, including Perkins & Will, are now working on the first phase.
• Loreto Bay, Mexico – A resort town designed the same week as Alys Beach has returned to DPZ to redo their design code.
• Skylands, Tasmania – This 300-hectare site in Australia was approved by Council this year, and the city is now working on a Structure Plan based on the one developed by DPZ in 2020.
• Friday Harbour, ON, Canada – This 2003 DPZ project achieved a number of milestones the past year, and is now looking to densify around its waterfront. Read more about the updates on this projecthere.
• Ivanhoe Village, IL – This 800-ac new town in Mundelein was designed in 2022. This year, we have worked on securing entitlements, and developing the codes for the village. Phase 1 is also being developed to accommodate multiple builders.
• Cane Bay Village, SC – The design process for this 900+-acre new village with a town center anchored to an existing conventional project began in 2019. It has required 2 codes for 2 different municipalities with the client negotiating with each. Following a moratorium on all development in the County that has been lifted, PUD and Plan approvals are now in process.
• Walton County Comp Plan EAR, FL – This past spring, a visioning charrette was held to commence the design for a Comprehensive Plan Update. With the assessment now complete, the next step is to assemble a list of recommendations to the County. Read more about this projecthere.
• Middle East – The flow of work in this region continued with a new town project and several public codes. Some promising new RFPs should keep DPZ traveling to this region in 2025.

Top: PDX Office; Rogers, AR
Bottom: Plan Bentonville, AR

Portland Office Showcase

DPZ’s Portland Office has moved and expanded to the Pearl District in Downtown Portland in 2024, while advancing a diverse portfolio of projects. Some of their most notable project updates include:

• Winnipeg, MB, Canada – Workshopped in June, DPZ’s by-right zoning code for high-density, incremental development of strip malls, malls, and major corridors throughout the city was adopted this fall. In the works, is by-right zoning for missing middle housing.
• Northwest Arkansas – The Portland office has seen the passing of a new unified development code and future land use map in Rogers, AR, development of a fiscally-based future land use map for Bentonville, AR, has received multiple awards, and the office took part in an Urban Thinkers Campus as part of ULI Northwest Arkansas’s annual Place Summit along with PLACE Initiative.
• Orange County, FL, Code – In collaboration with DPZ DC, a great deal of work went into developing this county-wide code in Central FL, in 2024. After a midyear pause, a home stretch is envisioned in early 2025.
• Montava, Fort Collins – Approval of phase 1 is underway and will begin construction in 2025. See past updates on Montavahere.
• Clore Station, KY – The phase-1 design for this community, a neighbor of DPZ’s Norton Commons, is complete with construction slated to commence in 2025.
• Vista Field, Kennewick, WA – With construction on the first building now underway, Vista Field has received four additional Town Architect Review applications. For a better visual, The Port of Kennewick released this aerial videohere.
• Nonprofit Work – Portland’s the office has contributed to both the Congress for the New Urbanism and PLACE Initiative, two non-profits closely tied to the work of DPZ. You can learn more about PLACE Initiative’s mission and effortshere.

NTBA Fall Roundtable

This October, DPZ Partner Senen Antonio joined the NTBA in Winter Haven, FL for the annual Fall Roundtable. Members gathered in the “Chain of Lakes City” to examine the downtown development in Central Florida that has succeeded through the use of local capital and by reviving and animating one building at a time.

The purpose of roundtable discussions are to bring together industry specialists and NTBA members to share their expertise with the goal of advancing the town building industry.

Read more about NTBA’s Fall Roundtable here.

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DPZ attends United Nations HQ

Also in October, DPZ Partner Marina Khoury was at the United Nations 19th Annual Session of the Global Forum on Human Settlements (GHFS) in New York. She took part in a panel on innovation and integration in urban planning and design.

She showcased DPZ’s various Initiatives such as Transect-based development, Agrarian Urbanism, Sprawl Repair, Light Imprint, Lifelong Communities, and Green By Design. Earlier in the summer, Marina had served as a juror for the awards given out by the UN Environmental Program – GHFS. The award ceremony was part of this October forum.

In addition, Carlos Moreno gave a presentation on the 15-minute city, the idea for which he credited many, including Lizz and Andres.

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Cityscape Global 2024 in Riyadh

In November, Marina was in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for Cityscape Global 2024. She participated in an Oxford Style debate comparing the virtues of skyscrapers vs. low-rise buildings. As you might expect she advocated for the many urban benefits of low-rise buildings.The session was moderated by Anthony Woods, President of the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat. She was joined in the discussion by Paul Rodgers of 10 Design, Maxime Laroussi of Urban Agency, and Mohammed Al Mohammed of Retai.

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USGBC Presentation by Lizz Plater-Zyberk

In December, Lizz Plater-Zyberk spoke at the USGBC’s Florida Building Transformation Forum. The event was held to celebrate the achievements of Florida’s leadership in shaping the green building industry. The activities included a Centennial Village Tour, cocktail hour, awards reception, a Leadership in Green Building Panel, and a Keynote Address by Lizz on New Urbanism and South Florida’s Role.

Learn more about this event and the agenda here.

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2024 Hurricane Season

Settling into the 2024 holiday season we are very much aware of our friends in the South who are still in response mode to this year’s hurricanes. We are grateful that friends and communities in which DPZ has worked in the region survived the storms safely. But damage to individual homes and community assets have been enormous and the recovery will be prolonged.

Read more about DPZ’s thoughts on pathways to recovery from Helene and Milton here.

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Finally, we are happy to share “Winter Walk”, the 2024 Hallmark commercial set in Norton Commons, is here.

“The holidays are for honoring your favorite traditions. And over the years, those traditions turn into some of your most cherished memories.”

Here’s to a joyful and safe holiday season, and we will see you all again in 2025!