B&A DESIGN

A comprehensive and innovative urban design studio, ready to collaborate.

The B&A Design Studio is a leading, international, and stand-alone design group that is integrated within our firm's full range of knowledge and expertise. Our hands-on, collaborative studio specializes in innovative projects for sensitive sites: from large-scale masterplans to urban pocket spaces.

Our practice is founded on functional, sustainable, contemporary urban design. Our core design competency focuses on the design and implementation of mixed- use, walkable, urban, and rural places that build value through timeless principles of placemaking.  With these principles integrated throughout our practice, design is delivered through our dedicated Design Studio.

DESIGN STUDIO SERVICES

The design and visioning of dynamic walkable mixed-use centres ranging from existing downtowns to new village and neighbourhood centres.  Our design process ties building design, public space, and street design into a cohesive vision that creates valuable outdoor rooms and unique places while maintaining flexibility and a focus on implementation.

Mixed-Use Centres

The design and visioning of dynamic walkable mixed use centres ranges from existing downtowns, to new village and neighbourhood centres. Our design process ties building design, public space, and street design into a cohesive vision that creates valuable outdoor rooms and unique places while maintaining flexibility and a focus on implementation.

We specialize in:

  • Transit-Oriented Development
  • Downtowns
  • New Town and Neighbourhood Centres
  • Suburban Retrofits
  • Resort Village Centres

Rooted with time-tested principles of neighborhood design, walkable villages, towns, and neighbourhoods feature a strong identifiable centre, a diversity of land uses, a variety of vibrant public spaces, and strong connectivity throughout.

We specialize in:

  • Traditional Neighbourhood Development
  • Urban Neighbourhood Planning
  • Towns and Villages
  • Resort Villages

Great neighbourhoods are created by great streets and public spaces, shaped by active buildings. We work with stakeholders to build visions for great streets and corridors through attention to network, street design, and the character of specifications of streetscape elements. Neighbourhoods are also served by larger civic centres, parks, natural areas, and recreation areas. Our process focusses in on the design of these individual elements, that together build great neighbourhoods, towns, and cities.

We specialize in:

  • Corridor Planning and Street Design
  • Public Space Design
  • Recreation and Civic Centre Design
  • Urban Infill - Building and Lot Scale
  • Building Character and Development Studies

Effective urban design requires visioning processes informed by stakeholder feedback and engagement, clear design and visualization, and close integration with an implementation plan. Working closely with our planning approvals and engagement teams, our design studio has experience integrating several implementation tools.


We specialize in:

  • Charrettes and Workshops
  • Project Visioning
  • Land Use and Feasibility Analysis
  • Form-base Coding
  • Architectural and Urban Design Guidelines
  • Design Review and Vision Advisory Services

Rooted with time-tested principles of neighborhood design, walkable villages, towns, and neighbourhoods feature a strong identifiable centre, a diversity of land uses, a variety of vibrant public spaces, and strong connectivity throughout.

Great neighbourhoods are created by great streets and public spaces, shaped by active buildings. We work with stakeholders to build visions for great streets and corridors through attention to network, street design, and the character of specifications of streetscape elements. Neighbourhoods are also served by larger civic centres, parks, natural areas, and recreation areas.  Our design process focuses on the design of these individual elements, that together build great neighbourhoods, towns, and cities.

OUR DESIGN APPROACH

Through creativity and real-world experience, our methods bring ideas and designs to life.

Urban Design is City building in three dimensions. It lies at the nexus of the many disciplines and the intense stakeholder consultation often required to envision, design, and implement great places. It requires creativity, inspiration, and a pulse on current development trends balanced by market intelligence, design standards, politics, and client aspiration.

The B&A Design Studio is a comprehensive, internationally-focused urban design practice embedded within B&A’s Planning, Design, and Engagement framework. It brings together award-winning urban designers and architects who design from the scale of the building and street to the neighbourhood and region, and across the spectrum from the most urban to the most rural. Our hands-on team works through a collaborative studio process that allows for creative and innovative ideas to be developed into a clear, implementable vision. Our design studio is foundational to our B&A Urban sector but works seamlessly with the B&A Planning and Engagement teams, and can also be found pursuing exclusively studio-led design projects.

Multi-disciplinary leadership bringing innovative design.

Our highly skilled urban design team is dedicated to creating livable and sustainable urban environments that enhance the quality of life for communities. Their expertise has made them leaders in shaping the future of our cities.

GEOFF DYER

Partner, Urban Design Lead
MEDes. (Urban Design), CNUa

As an accomplished urban designer, Geoff has completed over 100 projects in 18 U.S. States and four Canadian Provinces, earning him two Charter Awards and a place on the 2008 Charter Award Jury chaired by Andrés Duany and eventually serving as Jury Chair in 2020 and 2021. Geoff is a regular educator, lecturer, and writer on sustainable urbanism, urban design, and alternative land use regulations and development standards.

LAURA YOUNG

Senior Urban Designer
MArch BSc Arch RIBA

Laura is an award-winning, creative, and personable urban designer with significant experience in delivering innovative, sustainable projects within sensitive contexts. She has worked on a range of internationally acclaimed projects of varying scales in North America, Europe, and Asia: with a background in constructed and conceptual mixed-use, residential, commercial, cultural, and resort urban design projects.

FEATURED DESIGN PROJECTS

We are proud to provide

Comprehensive services to ensure the best outcome.

Planning

Our Planning Studio develops effective strategies to drive forward projects that are supportable, implementable, and award-winning.

Design

Our Design Studio is founded on functional, sustainable, modern urban design that creates memorable and functional places and spaces.

Engagement

Our Engagement Studio focuses on the design and implementation of accessible and transparent engagement strategies that help broaden project understanding.

Sustainability & Environment

We understand the importance of sustainability and the environment as a critical aspect of modern design.

Visualization & Analytics

Our team of technical experts uses data, tools, and compelling visuals to strengthen project materials.

Strategy & Communications

We collaborate with clients to develop strategies and communications tools and techniques to connect with audiences.