Urban Design Catalog by Jasmine Ibrahim

Placemaking | Planning | Urban Design Firm Overview

PLACEMAKING | PLANNING | URBAN DESIGN Phil Myrick is an advisor to planning and development projects around the world, helping to create vibrant public spaces, destinations, districts, and mixed-use environments. Former CEO of Project for Public Spaces, Phil is a leading practitioner of placemaking - helping his clients activate the public realm, engage people in their community, and stimulate economic development. A vibrant public realm is what great urban environments are made of – their stimulating mix of activities and energy makes us want to visit again and again. Our enjoyment of such places is only human – but it is also the underpinning for healthy communities and local economies. In today’s world, a high-performing public realm only happens with careful planning and design. Phil’s expertise fills that niche, and has helped transform projects into dynamic places that bring enormous social and economic benefit to the client and the larger community. Phil’s impact is illustrated by the long list of awards to his clients coming from leading organizations like the Urban Land Institute, the American Planning Association, and the American Institute of Architects.

DEVELOPMENT, PLANNING & PREDESIGN SERVICES Pre-development strategy Placemaking and activation Master planning Placemaking frameworks Retail experience Social infrastructure Programming of spaces Concept development Community engagement Facilitation, workshops

PROJECT TYPES Parks and plazas Urban districts Mixed-use and P3 developments Waterfronts Civic and arts institutions Innovation districts College campuses Master-planned communities Resorts Suburban town centers

CLIENTS Phil’s clients include government agencies, downtown organizations, private developers, public-private partnerships, planning and design teams, and international NGOs, such as USAID and the World Bank. 2

Placemaking, Planning, Urban Design

Firm Overview

TEAM MEMBER BIOS

Placemaking, Planning, Urban Design

Philip Myrick, AICP | Placemaking Expert and CEO Phil is a twenty-five year veteran of planning and designing some of the best public spaces in America. He has helped his clients achieve their goals of attracting people, engaging them in their community, strengthening connections and social fabric, and stimulating economic development. Public destinations: Phil is an advisor to municipalities and nonprofits on how to create public spaces and great streets that have huge impact on the life of the community and the local economy. Some of his hallmark projects are Discovery Green in Houston, Times Square, and Canalside in Buffalo. Mixed-use developments: Phil has advised many developers of mixed-use communities to create authentic places that foster social interaction while supporting retail and the goals of the developer. One of his best-known clients is the Pearl in San Antonio which, over the last decade, has become one of the best-loved places in the region, and one of the most successful developments in the US. Civic, Cultural, and Educational Institutions: Phil consults with universities, libraries, city halls, museums, and other civic anchors. His master planning work with campuses like Harvard in Allston and the University of the South contributed to the development of places where social interaction builds knowledge communities, places for innovation, and opportunities for students to bond. By working at the pre-design stage, setting concepts and strategy, Phil helps create great impact and return on investment. Phil has worked with some of the best-known public space management organizations in the nation. He delivers keynotes, professional training, and workshops to a wide array of audiences at the international, national and local level. Phil currently serves on the board of the City Parks Alliance.

Alessandra Galletti | Architect, Landscape Architect Alessandra is trained as an architect and landscape architect. Her expertise is in placemaking, and she is passionate about designing inclusive and welcoming spaces with communities. Her knowledge, skills, and design strategies equip people to fuel lasting changes. She has had a twenty-five year career in landscape architecture, based in the New York area, with projects in the United States and abroad. Alessandra’s recent projects include low-impact designs for several parks, urban sites, waterfronts, and greenways. Alessandra’s work includes landscape and site design; designing and selecting amenities and other public spaces components; establishing a program; identifying opportunities for art; and design interventions with a high impact and a low budget. Alessandra is currently a visiting professor at the New York Institute of Technology, teaching site planning and architecture.

Firm Overview

The Pearl

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS The historic Pearl Brewery was an icon of a past era in San Antonio, which salsa entrepreneur Kit Goldsbury bought in 2001 to develop as a mixed-use destination. The vacant complex of abandoned buildings across 22 acres needed a creative approach to achieve its goal to create a new destination in the city, starting from basically scratch. Phil Myrick, working with PPS, helped developer Silver Ventures create an experiential plan that focused development decisions in ways that have created an inspiring environment that surpasses any other urban experience in the city. Using placemaking principles, the outdoor spaces create a sequence of destinations that lead visitors through the district. Working with the ground floor building program as well, this placemaking approach is a way to focus development decisions on a peak experience for visitors, which brings them back over and over again. Pearl’s mix of indoor and outdoor uses adds up to an experience that feels like a downtown district, but with a more curated feel, and with an emphasis on food. The Pearl has become one of the most talked-about and visited projects in the San Antonio region. With anchors like the Culinary Arts Institute and boutique hotel, Emma, this new district easily rivals downtown as a nightlife destination. Pearl’s sense of place has also sparked unprecedented adjacent development in the surrounding area north of downtown. The placemaking and programming strategies have helped lend The Pearl an unmistakable authenticity and visitor appeal. Client: Silver Ventures

Placemaking, Planning, Urban Design

“Over the ten years that I have served as CMO of Pearl and as a member of the team tasked with the ongoing design and activation of the project I have found the insight, counsel and creativity of Phil to be invaluable. When I walk our property I can recognize his impact in so many places and the strategies he has helped us design have led us to many of the features that make Pearl the unique, thriving environment we see today. Phil is that rare talent who brings extraordinary expertise and the highest level of skill as a placemaker and urban designer while being an incredible listener who is a catalyst for bringing the best thinking out of the teams he works with.” — Elizabeth Fauerso, Chief Marketing Officer, Pearl

Firm Overview

Hemisfair

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS Phil has been advising the redevelopment of Hemisfair - a major mixed-use development with park spaces in downtown San Antonio - since planning and design kicked off in 2011. Starting with Yanaguana Garden, and followed by Civic Park and Tower Park, these three projects make up the 50 acres of public realm that will transform this former World’s Fair site, which is being developed as a public private partnership. Development components will include hotel, retail and restaurants, office, and residential - all designed in ways to activate the parks and also help Hemisfair achieve its goal of becoming financially self-sustaining. Phil’s role has been to facilitate stakeholders, the public, and the Hemisfair Park Area Redevelopment Corporation (HPARC) to develop a guiding vision and space program that provided a design brief for subsequent designers. Each park within Hemisfair has a unique niche character: Yanaguana Garden, which opened in 2015, combines a destination playground with retail and civic activities that make it an attraction for all ages. The Civic Park will be the setting for festivals, concerts, and community celebrations, as well as water features and plazas activated by restaurants, retail and the Convention Center. This public-private project will also include a hotel and apartment building. It has been called “perhaps the most ambitious development in San Antonio’s history when you consider the cost, scale and location.” Tower Park, which includes the 750-foot tall Tower of the Americas, will be a community oasis that reinforces focuses on local arts and culture, health and wellness, and the importance of Hemisfair’s history. Client: Hemisfair Park Area Redevelopment Corporation (HPARC) 8

Placemaking, Planning, Urban Design

“Phil helped us develop vision and use plans for the three Hemisfair parks, based on placemaking strategies. Through that effort we defined our park DNA, the ‘Je ne sais quoi’ that makes public spaces beloved by the community for generations.” — Andres Andujar, Hemisfair CEO Firm Overview

Ho’opili Public Realm Experience Plan WEST HONOLULU, HAWAII

Ho’opili is the largest development in Hawaii, comprising 1,290 acres of land centered on a new light rail line leading to Honolulu. Working for MIG, Phil Myrick created an overlay Public Realm Experience Plan to ensure that the Ho’opili public realm delivers a lifestyle specifically targeted to residents and users of Ho’opili. The Public Realm Experience Plan will guide design and programming to create authentic community places and experiences that speak to every key audience, including families, teens, single millennials, seniors, workers, and shoppers or other visitors to the community. The Public Realm Experience Plan considers not only the spaces themselves for placemaking, but also the relationships between the public realm, adjacent buildings, and nearby transit hubs, so that together they create a fully vibrant and energetic community. Ho’opili will include a mix of uses with over 11,000 residential units, four million square feet of commercial and industrial space, 100 acres of park space, and five public schools. Additional land preserved for agriculture and conservation creates a total site area of over 1,500 acres. Client: DR Horton

Placemaking, Planning, Urban Design

Firm Overview

Pittsburgh Market Square PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA

Although always appealing for its historic interest and central location, by 2007 Market Square was a dilapidated downtown space dominated by bus traffic and known as a place to avoid at night, and even during the day. The Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership saw an opportunity to create a magnetic space that would resuscitate downtown real estate and potentially alleviate the negative social atmosphere. Phil Myrick managed the Project for Public Spaces team to develop a vision, program and strategy that would revitalize the square. Phased improvements were emphasized so that the transformation would begin even before capital construction began. These interim improvements included markets, events, a façade program, removing trees and adding lighting. Long term recommendations included rerouting bus traffic, creating a flexible stage area, kids’ programs, and repaving the entire space as a unified, European-style square. Klavon Design Associates developed the final design and the plaza was completely rebuilt in 2010. Market Square is now an elegant piazza with markets, events, and incomparable management provided by the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership. The impact on the life of downtown has been undeniable, as a spurt of new apartments, condos and offices, retail and restaurants has followed, along with a huge uptick in social activity. Client: Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership

Placemaking, Planning, Urban Design

Firm Overview

Saadiyat Island, Marina District ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

Phil led an international team through a district master planning process for a new city totaling 2 million square meters GFA (20 million square feet). This waterfront district was envisioned to break new ground in the region by creating a place that is less auto-centric, more walkable and human in scale, and defined by a series of compelling public destinations. Working with Project for Public Spaces, the process flipped the usual planning process on its head by exploring first and foremost what public destinations would define the district as a place to live and visit, with an emphasis on creating one of the great waterfronts of the region. Cultural, civic and religious anchors were then laid into the plan as community-building opportunities at a finer grain. User groups were closely studied to map out what experiences could be had in the district by different types of people. This process driven by placemaking was a key part of achieving a master plan that prioritized the human experience, walkability, and culture. Client: Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC)

Placemaking, Planning, Urban Design

Firm Overview

Houston Discovery Green HOUSTON, TEXAS

Led by Phil Myrick, prior to joining MIG, the project team developed a vision and program for Houston’s Discovery Green in support of a larger multi-disciplinary design team, with the idea that this would become Houston’s “Backyard.” This programming approach to design was essential to creating a vibrant and functional space, rather than one that was merely a design statement that remained passive in nature. Such design-driven spaces do not have the power to transform surrounding areas and create economic and social impacts. The park site is just outside the downtown core and surrounded by surface parking. Additionally, the convention center occupies one edge. With these visual constraints, it was difficult to imagine people in downtown visiting a park when it is blocked from view. Furthermore, Houston’s downtown at the time was primarily an office center with only about 1200 residents, and the remaining residents of this suburban city were unlikely to come downtown for any reason – especially not for pleasure. The team had to create a truly regional destination to be able to attract users. The park now attracts more than a million visits per year, hosting more than 800 public and private events each year, consistently attracting local patrons. In terms of economic impact, Discovery Green has catalyzed more than $800 million dollars in adjacent development and downtown’s residential population has approximately doubled since the park began construction. Art was incorporated into almost every area of the park – but rather than being stand-alone pieces they were incorporated into the various places and destinations, so that they became part of the experience and not separate. One result of this is that the art pieces get much more visitation than they would have otherwise. Client: Downtown Houston, Discovery Green Conservancy 16

Placemaking, Planning, Urban Design

“Phil was instrumental in creating Discovery Green, a downtown park that has literally changed our city. He opened our eyes to what was possible and created a template that guided the park’s overall design and vision for creative programming. More than a decade later, Discovery Green continues to thrive in large part because of the strong foundation Phil helped us build.” — Guy Hagstette, Founding President, Discovery Green

Firm Overview

Rackspace World Headquarters SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS Rackspace is a fast-growing tech company that was looking for a new global headquarters in 2007. Their unlikely choice was the abandoned Windsor Park shopping mall on San Antonio’s northeast side. Within a short time, the mall – renamed The Castle – was a hive of activity, as Rackspace expanded rapidly and repurposed the interior to a funky office space fitting of the company’s young “Racker” culture. However, The Castle’s 12-acre site was still mostly parking and sat in a suburban strip environment that robbed the project of its full potential. The goal was to create an urban park environment surrounding the Castle that would offer the kind of places and activities that young people want in a workplace, especially when talented tech people can move anywhere and are driven by their lifestyle interests to look for cool urban environments. A long term development plan for empty sites around The Castle was developed by new urbanist firm Duany Plater-Zyberk. Client: Rackspace Corporation

Placemaking, Planning, Urban Design

Firm Overview

Weston Centre SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS

Weston Centre has long dominated downtown as one of its tallest and most important office buildings. But by 2019, its owner felt that there was room to improve its ground floor and public realm experience. Graham Weston asked Phil Myrick to look at all the exterior spaces, including the front plazas and its greenspaces directly on San Antonio’s famous River Walk. Phil and colleagues at Project for Public Spaces developed concepts for how to make more of the existing ground floor café and make it much more of a presence on the street, with exterior sitting areas, a new greenhouse structure, and a redesigned entrance and connection to the lobby. Additional concepts were prepared for how to update the look of the office tower so that it felt more contemporary and highlighted the activities happening on the ground floor. The larger plaza area was also redesigned to be a more flexible and usable space for gathering, and for programmed activities and amenities. Together with changes to the River Walk frontage, these placemaking improvements will completely update the profile of Weston Centre to be in tune with the younger generation of people who look for exciting downtown settings, and flexible work environments that support a healthy work-life balance. Client: Weston Centre

Placemaking, Planning, Urban Design

Firm Overview

Renderings by Overland Partners

UTSA The National Security Collaboration Center and School of Data Science (NSCC/SDS) SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS

In a central location in downtown and on the new San Pedro Creek, the NSCC/SDS project marks a new era of the University of Texas in downtown San Antonio. This building is important to UTSA’s research and profile as a leader in cybersecurity – but also to UTSA’s future as an urban campus that anchors a resurging downtown tech district. UTSA engaged Phil Myrick and his team at Project for Public Spaces to help make sure this building delivered on a promise to be a truly urban building that engaged the street, helped activate the creek and surroundings, and felt welcoming to visitors and students. Phil provided critical direction for the project’s ground floor program so that the project would incorporate placemaking as a fundamental element, which grew out of a placemaking workshop with UTSA staff, Weston Urban, Centro San Antonio, the San Antonio River Authority, and key city and county staff. Phil and colleagues worked with a larger consulting team to develop criteria for placemaking and site planning that guided the RFP process, and ultimately is guiding project development. The placemaking recommendations also make creative use of a portion of the site, being reserved for future development, as a flexible outdoor space for student life and recreation, establishing a strong presence for UTSA in the downtown core. Client: University of Texas, Weston Urban

Placemaking, Planning, Urban Design

Firm Overview

Harvard University CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS

Harvard University brought in Project for Public Spaces, led by Phil Myrick, to create a Placemaking framework for the Allston Campus master plan, including academic places and civic spaces that would be shared with the Allston community. For example, “Barry’s Corner” was conceived as the Harvard Square of the Allston campus, at an intersection where the greatest interaction of Harvard and Allston communities would likely occur. Other places were planned around key destinations, such as a public library, a new arts center, the dining hall, and sports venues. Engagement included workshops with students, faculty and staff, as well as Allston residents, to develop ideas for complementary uses that would become new destinations as the campus was built out. The overall placemaking framework conceived of a full range of experiences, from quiet places for relaxation to energizing social hubs that would deliver an extraordinary campus experience. Phil worked with Harvard on several other efforts, including an activation plan for North Campus, and its barren plaza outside the science center. Working with Interboro Partners, PPS developed a design and management plan that has completely transformed the plaza, as well as student culture. After some additional training of a new Common Spaces team, Harvard then got up the courage to introduce movable seating to Harvard Yard, parting with 350 years of policy that had forbad any seating. The Common Spaces team now uses Placemaking in a variety of spaces around campus, including the new Smith Campus Center on Harvard Square. Client: Harvard University 24

Placemaking, Planning, Urban Design

Firm Overview

Entrecampos Mixed-Use District LISBON, PORTUGAL

Phil worked with a team of designers to bring an active public realm to one of the most important development projects in central Lisbon to occur in decades. The Entrecampos project is turning 25 hectares (62 acres) of land – a former fairgrounds – into a combination of public park, office, retail, hotel, and residential. The Placemaking work brought to the project a concept for a public destination that had a strong sense of community, that connected the development with the local culture and the surrounding neighborhoods, and that drew upon the rich history of the site. These connections helped reveal what makes the surrounding area unique and that authenticity was woven into the public spaces. Local people have long-standing associations with the Entrecampos site: from its days as a marketplace, to when it was a fairgrounds full of amusements and street food. The placemaking worked across the site, activating entrances, the metro station plaza, city streets, retail frontages, and park spaces. As a central site adjacent to a thriving business district, a university, and dense neighborhoods, this project will compliment those destinations and stand out as a singular amenity for the whole city. Client: City of Lisbon, Fidelidade Property Europe, Fosun Hive 26

Placemaking, Planning, Urban Design

Firm Overview

Cowles Pavilion, Minneapolis Sculpture Garden MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA

This assessment of the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden resulted in recommendations for the Cowles Pavilion. The Pavilion has been one of the most cherished features of the Garden, and yet had potential to be a much betterused destination. The vision and program helped to redefine this place as a community destination and be a potential source of revenue for the Park Board. The strategy also looked at management and operations, event programming, and how surrounding outdoor spaces could also be used for markets, festivals, and other types of events. Key strategies and recommendations included: • Attracting new visitors and audiences for the Garden and adjacent Walker Art Center • Developing new sources of revenues to support improvements • Increasing the level of programs and events • Revamping the operations and management structures that would enable the Park Board to implement these strategies In addition to the high-level vision and detailed program, the deliverable included an operations plan and proforma budget, and case studies and comparable destinations. Client: Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board

Placemaking, Planning, Urban Design

Firm Overview

University of the South Village Plan SEWANEE, TENNESSEE

The Village Vision and Master Plan provides a template for future growth and development of a charming but underperforming village center. The plan directs how future university investments into facilities can be complemented with public spaces and amenities that bring the university and residential communities together. This marked a major shift in thinking, acknowledging that concentrating uses with civic appeal in the village would boost both student life and strengthen the greater community, The goals for future growth and development were based on a well-attended series of meetings with the public, and intensive work with staff, and market analysis, which ensures that proposed concepts for the village are based on realistic expectations of what kind of growth might occur in the foreseeable future. The plan presented development concepts around six key themes that emerged through the public process: Civic, Entertainment, Residential, Retail and Restaurants, Hospitality, and Public Spaces and Infrastructure. Key public space improvements were identified for each proposed building project, with a goal to bring many of the building uses to the outdoors, including arts programming, music and film, markets, and outdoor merchandising. Client: University of the South

Placemaking, Planning, Urban Design

Firm Overview

914-505-0660 | phil@philmyrick.com | www.philmyrick.com

Placemaking, Planning, Urban Design