Hi. Call me Chad.
About Me
Urban Designer | Specialist in Sustainability & Environmental Policy | LEED Green Associate
In response to an increasingly variable climate, resilience has transitioned from a long-term goal to a foundational principle of design. Just as we ensure a structure’s integrity against physical forces, we must design our urban environments to balance their ecological contributions. This approach seeks to advance the dialogue beyond the baseline of sustainability, moving toward a model of active ecological participation. By doing so, we ensure our built environments are not merely enduring their surroundings, but are contributing meaningfully to them.
My perspective was forged in the post-Katrina reconstruction of New Orleans, where the failure of infrastructure wasn’t a theoretical exercise, but a catalyst for radical systemic change. I worked on the front lines of deltaic urbanism, learning how to design with nature rather than against it.
I align ecology and development, managing the transition from high-level policy to site-specific reality.
I specialize in aligning policy with the technical realities of the built environment. By organizing these frameworks around the Triple Bottom Line , I transform abstract policy into actionable, enforceable design standards to ensure that environmental, social, and economic goals are synchronized with the policies, standards, and codes that govern development.
My work, including the Wilmington Urban Design Guidelines and Charlotte Green Streets, serves as the critical link between agency or department silos (DOT, Public Works, Planning, etc.) by resolving the friction between regulatory intent and site-specific physical constraints to ensure development yields long-term, restorative results.
Expertise
Planning & Policy: Applying evidence-based insights to implement LEED, SITES, and LEED for Cities frameworks, translating multi-dimensional environmental and socio-economic data into actionable urban planning and policy solutions.
Natural Systems: Implementing the Dutch Dialogues "Living With Water" principles to move beyond mitigation and into development that actively participates with natural systems.
Built Form: Leveraging the Lafitte Greenway model to align large-scale planning and ecological restoration with the realities of project feasibility and urban constraints.
15+
Years of Technical Experience
Jan 2025 – Jan 2026
Focused on advancing municipal sustainability goals and supporting strategic funding initiatives for major transportation infrastructure.
Sustainability Policy: Spearheaded the creation of the Green Streets Toolkit, providing the foundational guidelines and standards for a city Green Streets Program to integrate sustainable stormwater management and enhanced public realm design.
Strategic Planning & Funding: Provided essential urban design and planning expertise for the CATS Transit System Plan Update, directly contributing to the framework used to support the successful sales tax referendum for transit enhancements across the county.
July 2021 – Mar 2024
Led urban design initiatives focused on creating high-quality public spaces and establishing city-wide standards for development.
Design Standards: Authored the city’s comprehensive Urban Design Guidelines, establishing a framework to ensure consistent, high-quality development and enhance the public realm.
Public Space Design: Developed concept designs for the Riverfront Plaza, envisioning a vital waterfront amenity.
Project Oversight: Conducted design review for Bijou Park, ensuring the project met city standards and community needs.
Dec 2017 – Jun 2021
Collaborated with multiple agencies to advance transportation, housing, and economic development goals through strategic urban design and policy management.
Transit & Corridor Planning: Served on the Franklin Blvd Technical Advisory Committee and the Moving Ahead Project Management Team, contributing design expertise to major transportation corridor improvements.
Civic Architecture: Participated in and guided the architect selection and design review process for the Lane County Farmer’s Market Pavilion, a key community asset.
Nov 2011 – Nov 2017
Played a pivotal role in the city’s post-Katrina recovery and long-term planning, acting as a bridge between city agencies, stakeholders, and design professionals to deliver environmentally sustainable public projects.
Riverfront Revitalization: Spearheaded the master plan and design for the New Orleans Tricentennial Riverfront Park Redevelopment. Managed the design and review process for the Moon Walk Riverfront Park, ensuring a seamless connection between the city and the Mississippi River.
Greenway Development: Served on the Lafitte Greenway Steering Committee and oversaw design review and guideline creation for the Lafitte Greenway, a transformative linear park connecting diverse neighborhoods.
Design Review Oversight: Conducted design reviews for high-impact projects including the Louis Armstrong International Airport Terminal and Tivoli Circle.
Say hello!
Let’s create something wonderful together.