Happy Holidays from DPZ!
As the year comes to a close we want to take a moment to look back at the events and accomplishments of 2023 and share a few updates and achievements.
2023 was a volatile year globally and the development world also remains unpredictable. Yet, for DPZ, it was a year of continued productivity. It brought another round of charrettes, continued research, ongoing implementation of our community codes and plans, speaking opportunities, and a few awards and special recognitions along the way. We are thrilled to wrap up the year by recapping some of these highlights that underscore our mission to enable those who inhabit our communities to live more sustainable, resilient, and happier lives.
To read and learn more in depth about our work this past year, check out the other posts on the DPZ Pulse.
Fall Presentations by EPZ
Lizz Plater-Zyberk had an eventful 2023 with a number of presentations and engagements. This past November saw two notable conferences that featured her as a panelist: a keynote lecture at the ICAA National Conference in Charleston, SC, on November 4th (Enduring Places) and a CNU discussion on Gender Equity and Urban Planning on November 14th.
Click here to read more about Enduring Places.
ULI 2023 Spring Council Day – Toronto
DPZ Partner Senen Antonio was invited by the Urban Land Institute Community Development Council (ULI CDC) Gold Flight to speak at the 2023 Spring Council Day as part of the ULI Spring Meeting in Toronto this past May. Senen was part of a roster of seven speakers comprising leaders in various areas of the development industry.
As the recipient of the Randall Lewis Small Grant program, which seeks to incorporate topics of health and well-being at the Product Council level, Senen spoke on the principles for creating sustainable and resilient communities.
View the full event recap here.
Project Updates
Windsor North Village – Vero Beach, FL
35 years after the original charrette, this coming year sees Windsor break ground on the final large phase of development with the North Village.
Tucked between a pair of lakes, a collection of estate homes and townhouses will join the new fitness center at the northwest corner of the community.
A refreshed evolution of Windsor’s Anglo-Caribbean architecture will exude a more contemporary feel amidst a dense native landscape—acknowledging the proximity to a restored wildlife refuge to the north and Indian River Lagoon to the west.
Click here to read more about the project.
Port of Kennewick – Kennewick, WA
DPZ client, the Port of Kennewick, is celebrating a number of new projects and updates, including habitat restoration, investment in multiple city projects, and way-finding signage added to their waterfront.
This new signage in particular allows for local food, wine, and amenities to be highlighted for visitors.
Click here to learn more.
Vineyard – Utah City, UT
The new TOD in Utah is now breaking ground. The ambitious 300-acre development will host over 20 million square feet of new buildings of every use, including 17,000 residential units and a town center.
This means the Utah development is planned with the density and amenities of a big city downtown that is groundbreaking for the area.
Click here to learn more.
Naples Design District – Naples, FL
Plans for DPZ’s Naples Design District have started taking shape this past fall. The 2021 Master Plan envisioned a walkable local district that could become as well-known as the nearby Fifth Avenue South (DPZ Master Plan, 1993) but with its own eclectic and art-infused flair.
The CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) approved a Demonstration Project for the Design Walk, intended to serve as an example of the “tactical and lean” activation of the alleys. In November, a workshop with the property and business owners of the first block took place to begin the first phase of the Design Walk.
Click here to read more.
Evo City – Cavite, Manila, Philippines
Evo City, a 200ha estate in Cavite, Manila in the Philippines, is rapidly becoming a progressive economic center. Partnered with developers, Ayala Land, the area has transformed a visionary concept into a reality.
The continued development and success of this project is shaping up to further cement DPZ’s international presence and accomplishments.
Click here to read more.
Chapelton – Aberdeenshire, Scotland
180 new houses and retail units have been approved for DPZ’s community in Chapelton by Abderdeenshire Council. This new planning approval will mark the largest development to date in the town.
The plan includes a neighborhood center and a range of two to five-bedroom houses as well as 11 new retail units.
Click here to read more.
In the Press
The Messy City
DPZ Partner Marina Khoury joined Kevin Klinkenberg at The Messy City for an interview on her accomplishments in the world of urban design and planning.
The episode explores her work around the world, from Lebanon to Paris and, ultimately, to DPZ.
Listen to the podcast episode here.
CNU Public Square
DPZ’s Downtown Doral project is blossoming into a walkable downtown instead of the previous nondescript office park it once was.
Local developers, Codina Partners, envisioned a family-friendly town center for a diverse community in a rapidly evolving area, and it is starting to really take shape and garner recognition.
Read the full article here.
N Focus Magazine
N Focus Magazine is celebrating the design and conservation elements of DPZ development Alys Beach in North Florida.
For nearly 20 years, the community has been a captivating draw for visitors in the Gulf Coast area. It is instantly recognized by its signature white buildings complemented by the area’s emerald waters and white sandy beaches.
Read the full article here.
Tampa Bay Times
DPZ client John Sullivan, who built the Winthrop Town Centre planned community near Riverview, FL, has been featured in the Tampa Bay Times.
Winthrop was designed by Andres Duany in 1999 after the Sullivans expressed a need for a walkable, close-knit community while remaining in East Hillsborough. It now boasts a population of about 1,200.
Read the full article here.
Awards
Topaz Medallion
We are excited to announce that DPZ Founding Partner Lizz Plater-Zyberk is the winner of this year’s AIA/ACSA Topaz Medallion for Excellence in Architectural Education!
This award, presented by AIA and the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture, recognizes outstanding individual contributions to architectural education.
Read the announcement here.
Seafront Residences and Foressa Mountain Town
Congratulations once again to Aboitzland Inc. for receiving two more awards for DPZ-designed communities Seafront Residences and Foressa Mountain Town at the 2023 PropertyGuru Philippines Property Awards this past September.
These honors include Seafront Residences as the Best Housing Development in the Philippines and Foressa Mountain Town as Highly Commended in the Best Subdivision Philippines division.
This marks the seventh award for Seafront Residences.
Civic Arts Award –
Lizz Plater-Zyberk
On November 18th, Lizz Plater-Zyberk was honored to receive recognition alongside five other remarkable women in arts and leadership at the Coral Gables Museum’s “It’s a Woman’s World” gala.
This achievement served to acknowledge her accomplishments in architecture and urban design and how they have shaped Miami’s landscape and the minds of the next generation at the University of Miami.
From Andres Duany
CNU Public Square: Why We Code
Earlier this year, Andres teamed up with CNU’s Public Square to craft a piece on why we code.
Ultimately, we prepare codes because it is the most “abstract, rigorous, and intellectually refined practice available to a designer.” The default setting in contemporary design is unbecoming of the goals of urban planning, making it necessary and vital to craft codes that will legally allow for the goals of a walkable, urban community.
Andres explores these concepts and more to remind architects, designers, and urban planners why code work is such a crucial part of the process in crafting these communities to their full potential.
Read the full article here.
Lessons from the Future – CNU 31
At CNU 31 in Charlotte, NC, Andres presented Lessons from the Future, discussing innovative community design counter-proposals to high-profile, smart city projects addressing global challenges.
There was also a great deal of focus given to the future of New Urbanism amidst climate change and mitigation, one of the most pressing talking points at this year’s conference.
After careful editing and combined efforts with CNU Latino, the full video is now available to watch and review.
Watch the full video here.
In Memoriam
As we welcomed a new crop of designers, this year saw the passing of several beloved members of the DPZ family. Three DPZers and one alumnus lost their moms. Last summer, longtime DPZ comptroller Tony Lopez also passed away. These losses remind us of the need to be grateful for the contributions by our own Co-Designers and the support our work receives from our immediate families.
