Designing Local

06/09/2026

We are delighted to share that the City of Orem, Utah unanimously adopted the Orem Heart Downtown Master Plan. This plan envisions a dynamic, family-friendly, and economically vibrant downtown core, seamlessly integrating the arts, recreation, education, entertainment, and retail to forge a distinct sense of place for both residents and visitors.

This comprehensive plan outlines a framework for advancing the Downtown vision by proposing incremental phasing and a blend of public and private investment. It identifies potential project sequencing, implementation considerations, and a menu of funding tools and revenue strategies that may be evaluated as opportunities arise. Rather than prescribing a single path forward, the plan emphasizes flexibility, coordination, and shared responsibility, providing a roadmap for aligning future decisions with the community's long-term goals.

To read the full plan, please copy the URL below:

https://www.designinglocal.com/work-portfolio/orem-heart-downtown-master-plan

A special mention to all of our collaborators:

Shalae Larsen, ASLA, PLA and Mackenzie Yeager of Io LandArch

Jake McIntire of Union Creative

Greg Nelson and Tyson Grant, P.E. of Horrocks

Susan Becker, AICP of Zion's Public Finance

06/04/2026

How can commemorative projects reshape our cities — and who gets reflected in public space?

Join the Central Park Conservancy and Urban Design Forum for an evening conversation exploring how designers, artists, and communities across the country are reimagining memorials and civic spaces to honor overlooked histories, confront contested legacies, and create more inclusive public realms. We are so thrilled for Designing Local Managing Principal & Co-Founder Amanda Golden and collaborator Kimberly Danielle to be featured as key speakers, discussing our Reimagining Columbus project. Please join us!

📍 The Greene Space, 44 Charlton Street
�📅 June 11, 2026
�⏰ Doors open at 6:00 PM | Program begins at 6:30 PM
�🎟️ Free admission

To RSVP and learn more, please follow the URL below:

https://www.centralparknyc.org/activities/events/shaping-public-memory-lessons

06/01/2026

Our team is here, there and everywhere!

We have had the pleasure of developing and completing a variety of Public Art Plans in Florida, including in Port St. Lucie, Pompano Beach, Ormond Beach and Riviera Beach. Urban Planner Gabrielle Smith presented at the Florida Association of Public Art Professionals (FAPAP) annual conference in West Palm Beach. We were so excited to be part of discussions and learning about current trends, best practices and issues of Public Art.

Senior Planner Meredith Reed attended the Monuments Lab Summit: “School of Monumaking’ in Philadeplphia. This summit includes artists, educators, activists, and cultural leaders to imagine monument-making as a living classroom. From bold national perspectives to intimate community histories, the Summit centered monument-making as an ongoing practice of learning together: asking who is remembered, how stories are told, and what it takes to build more just public landscapes.

05/23/2026

Join us Thursday, May 28th at Fuller Lodge for a free lecture and contribute to the Los Alamos County Historic Preservation Plan! In the lecture Secret Cities: Architecture of Manhattan Project Communities Martin Moeller (Former National Building Museum curator) will discuss how the planning of Los Alamos and its sister cities influenced 20th-century design and why these "proving grounds" are vital to our country and our community today.

When: Thursday, May 28th | 6:00pm Open House | 6:30pm Lecture
Where: Fuller Lodge
RSVP:

Dive into the cool design vibes of Manhattan Project towns and discover their secret architectural stories!

05/15/2026

The City of San Luis, AZ is seeking Statements of Qualifications for City of San Luis Approved Artist List- Public Art Program for the City!

We are tremendously excited that the City of San Luis is establishing an Approved Artist List as part of its Public Art Program, following the adoption of the El Corazón de San Luis Historic Preservation and Public Art Plan, that our Historic Preservation Team developed.

This initiative is intended to create a broad and diverse pool of qualified artists who can be considered for future public art and placemaking projects throughout the community. These projects may include murals, installations, and other artistic elements that enhance public spaces, reflect the City’s unique border identity and cultural heritage, and contribute to a more vibrant and welcoming environment for residents and visitors.

The development of this list will allow the City to streamline future project implementation, respond more efficiently to funding opportunities, and ensure that selected artists align with the community’s values and the City’s long-term vision for economic development, revitalization, and cultural preservation.

To read the full RFQ, please follow the URL below:

https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/sanluisaz/projects/256529/document?section=2454909

05/12/2026

We are excited to share that the City of New Braunfels, Texas has unanimously adopted the 2026 Arts and Culture Master Plan (ACMP), a comprehensive roadmap designed to guide arts and cultural development in the community for the next 15 years. New Braunfels City Council unanimously approved the plan at their meeting on April 27th, 2026, establishing a long-term strategy to strengthen the City’s arts and cultural sector.

The Arts and Culture Master Plan outlines ways to support local artists and cultural organizations, encourage the development of creative spaces, foster collaboration among public, nonprofit, and private partners, and leverage the creative sector to strengthen the local economy, quality of life, and sense of place.

Organized around four priority areas — Programming and Community Experiences, Places and Spaces, Visibility and Tourism, and Organizational Capacity — the plan charts short-, medium-, and long-term strategies to grow the cultural ecosystem, support the artists and organizations already doing the work, and position New Braunfels as a cultural anchor for the Texas Hill Country and a leader in arts investment.

To read the full plan on our website, please copy the URL below:

https://www.designinglocal.com/work-portfolio/new-braunfels-arts-and-culture-plan

05/12/2026

We are excited to share that the City of New Braunfels, Texas has unanimously adopted the 2026 Arts and Culture Master Plan (ACMP), a comprehensive roadmap designed to guide arts and cultural development in the community for the next 15 years. New Braunfels City Council unanimously approved the plan at their meeting on April 27th, 2026, establishing a long-term strategy to strengthen the City’s arts and cultural sector.

The Arts and Culture Master Plan outlines ways to support local artists and cultural organizations, encourage the development of creative spaces, foster collaboration among public, nonprofit, and private partners, and leverage the creative sector to strengthen the local economy, quality of life, and sense of place.

Organized around four priority areas — Programming and Community Experiences, Places and Spaces, Visibility and Tourism, and Organizational Capacity — the plan charts short-, medium-, and long-term strategies to grow the cultural ecosystem, support the artists and organizations already doing the work, and position New Braunfels as a cultural anchor for the Texas Hill Country and a leader in arts investment.

To read the full plan on our website, please copy the URL below:

https://www.designinglocal.com/work-portfolio/new-braunfels-arts-and-culture-plan

05/11/2026

The City of Port St. Lucie is seeking an artist or artist team to conceptualize, fabricate, and install a newly-commissioned sculpture at the Torino Parkway roundabout (“Project Site”). Construction is projected for completion in summer 2027. In alignment with Port St. Lucie’s Public Art Plan, the sculpture should reflect the character of Port St. Lucie and enhance the City’s visual landscape. Specific goals for the artwork at the new roundabout include:

* Express the unique identity of Port St. Lucie
* Offer a visually stimulating, transformative, and inspiring experience
* Enhance traffic and pedestrian safety
* Enliven the built environment

To learn more, please copy the URL below, or email [email protected] for any inquiries!

https://www.designinglocal.com/artist-calls/portstlucie-roundabout-sculpture

05/08/2026

Calling all Atlanta Metro-based artists! Submissions are due by May 28th!

The City of Smyrna is seeking qualifications for Atlanta Metro-based artists working in all mediums for its Pre-Qualified Artist List. This list may be consulted when the City is preparing to install 2-dimensional digitally-reproduced original artwork on vinyl for application on utility boxes, structures, etc. The City is seeking artistic excellence and innovation in past artwork, especially in similar settings. The artist(s) must be able to work in collaboration with a Project Team made up of the representatives from the City of Smyrna, the project designer, the departments responsible for the site, city leadership and the community.

To learn more, please copy the URL below, or email [email protected] for any inquiries!

https://www.designinglocal.com/artist-calls/smyrna-georgia-pre-qualified-artists

05/05/2026

To kick off our celebration of Historic Preservation Month we wanted to share highlights from our recent trip to the Main Street Now Conference in Tulsa, Oklahoma!

Historic Preservationist Megan Adornetto attended along with community leaders, civic officials, and industry professionals working at the intersection of economic development, civic infrastructure and historic preservation. Tulsa’s 27 nationally designated Main Streets, and the centennial year of Route 66 provided a great backdrop that offered inspiration and tools to serve as agents of meaningful connection and resilient renewal in Main Streets across America.

We look forward to implementing and sharing what we learned with the Main Street communities we are currently working with and those in the future.