University District Masterplan Framework

As a partner and director at Gehl, I led our internal team and a talented group of collaborators to generate the masterplan framework for a major urban neighborhood in a world class city in Northern Mexico. The plan encompassed both a specific vision for the university landholdings in the district to guide the repositioning of their existing assets into a mixed use neighborhood and roadmap intended to serve as a catalyst for a the broader neighborhood urban regeneration. The vision is to create an exceptional place to live and work as well as an epicenter of Art, Culture, and Technology — a Hub for Innovative Industries, ignited by the Ecosystem of Learning nurtured by the local university and the other educational institutions present in the area. It will be a diverse and inclusive international district shaped by transparent and participatory processes where every voice is heard.

At the heart of the Master Plan framework is the goal of making a neighborhood for people. A walkable grid and increased density will reinforce the human scale. Defined block types and activated fronts along street walls will increase the character and encourage public life. Emphasizing urban form and architectural quality, the vision responds to the context of the district, paying special attention to its microclimate, its cultural and architectural heritage, and respecting the scale, character, and identity of each neighborhood sub-district. To create a complete public realm network, the space includes different scales, typologies, functions, and characters, while remaining cohesive and connected.

Collaborators: Ghigo DiTommaso (Gehl), Celsa Dockstader (Gehl), Esben Neander Kristensen (Gehl), Steer (Transportation and Mobility), Transolar (Building Systems & Sustainability), Leland Consulting Group (Economic Development)