Urban Design Group
Urban Design Group (UDG) is professional architectural, interior, planning and urban designservices firm. The firm offers services from their studios in Atlanta, Georgia, and Dallas, Texas. UDG has been recognized by over 100 magazine articles, newspaper pieces, and various design resource books, including coverage by international publications. The firm has additionally received more than 80 design excellence awards and honors, as well as 15 design competition awards.
Organizational background
Urban Design Group was founded in 1975, by John M. Novack, Jr., after leaving his position as Design Director at C. F. Murphy Associates of Chicago.[1] The organization has grown steadily since 1975, having designed several urban projects, including Rivercenter in San Antonio, Texas; One Tabor Center in Denver, Colorado; Disney's Wilderness Lodge in Orlando, Florida; and Carlson Center in Minnetonka, Minnesota.
Urban Design Group is managed with a studio approach. Each office functions as an independent studio within the larger firm. This allows the firm to offer small firm response time and close involvement with clients, while providing the resources and expertise of a larger firm.
The firm was formed within the context of place-making. With the design of the Tabor Center in Denver and Rivercenter in San Antonio, UDG was thrust into the later stages of American urban renewal, and responded with the revelation of a new kind of place.iii iv The resulting projects included both the development of new and unforgettable places in the urban core, as well as the startling idea that the inner city buildings that surround these spaces could be revitalized.v vi UDG has been recognized as an innovator of buildings that affect their contexts remarkably, leading to new and reinvigorated urban environments.
UDG is known for its generalist approach. Noted architect Sean W. Sculley observes, “This consortium of studios has no specialty, but rather seems capable of specializing (as did the versatile Ancients) in almost every type of architectural endeavor.”vii Design is contextual.viii Solutions rise from a design philosophy that puts responsiveness to the program, the setting, and the project’s context far above any preconceived idea of a particular design style.ixx
The firm has completed more than $4.5 billion work of projects worldwide. UDG’s work has also garnered national and international recognition and numerous design awards.
Selected projects
- Amrit Touristic Development, Tartous District, Syria
- Animal Kingdom Lodge, Walt Disney World, Orlando, Florida
- Carlson Center, Minnetonka, Minnesota
- Cameron University Science Complex, Lawton, Oklahoma
- Castle Creek Lodge, Aspen, Colorado
- Convergence Center, Virginia Beach, Virginia
- Denver Dry Goods, Denver, Colorado
- Eagles Nest Ranch, Northeastern, Colorado
- E.M. Dirksen Federal Building: Phase III Renovation, Chicago, Illinois
- Fallen Oak Golf Clubhouse, Gulfport, Mississippi
- Four Winds Casino Resort, New Buffalo, Michigan
- Grand Californian, Disney's California Adventure, Anaheim, California
- Great Platte River Road Archway Monument, Kearney, Nebraska
- Galleria 400, Atlanta, Georgia
- Grand Bear Golf Clubhouse, Gulfport, Mississippi
- Hollywood Slots at Bangor, Maine
- Hollywood Casino at Penn National, Grantville, Pennsylvania
- International Baptist Theological Seminary, Prague, Czech Republic
- Law Offices/Crawford Hill Mansion, Denver, Colorado
- Nakheel Design Summit, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
- OCT Yantian Eco Park and Resort, Shenzhen, China
- One Ten Broadway, San Antonio, Texas
- Opera Galleria, Fort Collins, Colorado
- Quartz Mountain Arts and Conference Center, Lone Wolf, Oklahoma
- Philbrook Museum of Art, Tulsa, Oklahoma
- Preston Ridge I & II, Alpharetta, Georgia
- Rivercenter, San Antonio, Texas
- Silver Legacy, Reno, Nevada
- Sinclair Cabin, Montrose County, Colorado
- Sogang University Graduate School of Business, Seoul, Korea
- Tabor Center, Denver, Colorado
- Tramway Renovation, Denver, Colorado
- Tulsa Community College West Campus Tulsa, Oklahoma
- Tulsa Union Depot, Tulsa, Oklahoma
- University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts, Los Angeles, California
- United Artist Theatres, Bugis Junction, Singapore
- United Artist Theatres, Shatin, Hong Kong
- Wilderness Resort, Walt Disney World, Orlando, Florida
- Windward Fairways I and II, Atlanta, Georgia
Selected awards
- 18th Street Atrium, Denver, Colorado (1984) Architectural Award of Excellence, W.O.O.D. Inc.
- Animal Kingdom Lodge, Walt Disney World Orlando, Florida (2002) THEA Award for Outstanding Achievement, Themed Hospitality Entertainment Association
- Brookfield Lakes Corporate Center XVII, Brookfield, Wisconsin (2001) Building of the Year Award, under 75,000 s.f. Building Owners and Management Association
- Cactus Club, Denver, Colorado (1990) Award of Honor, Colorado/AIA Region/AIA (1991) Preservation Award, Historic Denver Inc. for Community Preservation
- Cameron University, Science Complex, Tulsa, Oklahoma (1999) Award for Specialized Facility, Learning by Design Magazine (1998) Design Excellence, American School and University
- City Center West, Las Vegas, Nevada (2000) Special Recognition, Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute
- Convergence Center I, Virginia Beach, Virginia (2001) 1st Place, Best Office Buildings over 75,000 s.f. Hampton Roads Assoc. for Commercial Real Estate
- Galleria 600, Atlanta, Georgia (2002) First Place Award, High Rise Buildings, Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute
- Grand Californian, Disney's California Adventure Anaheim, California (2001) Project of the Year, Land Development Award, American Society of Civil Engineers, Orange County Branch
- Great Platte River Road Archway Monument, Kearney, Nebraska (2002) I.D.E.A.S. National Merit Award for Innovative Design and Excellence in Architecture Using Structural Steel in the U.S. ($25–$100M category) (2001) THEA Award for Outstanding Achievement, Themed Hospitality Entertainment Association
- Haddon Cabin, Pagosa Springs, Colorado (1985) Honor Award for Professional Excellence in Urban Design, Division of Urban Design, University of Colorado (1993) Award of Excellence, Western Mountain Region/AIA
- Hamilton Lakes East, Itasca, Illinois (2001) PCI Certificate of Special Recognition, Precast Concrete Institute (2001) PCI Award, Design Excellence Award, Precast Concrete Institute
- Johnson, Robinson, Neff, and Ragonetti Law Offices I, Denver, Colorado, Award of Merit, Corporate Interiors Honor Award, American Bar Association
- Law Offices, Crawford Hill Mansion, Denver, Colorado, (1990) Presentation Award, Historic Denver, Inc. (1991) Award of Honor, Western Mountain Region/AIA
- Little Lake Lodge, Aspen, Colorado (2002) Tucker Award for Design Excellence, Building Stone Institute
- One Ten Broadway, San Antonio, Texas (1985) Certificate of Recognition, San Antonio Conservation Society (1992) Renovation Award, National Association of Industrial and Office Parks, Honor Award, The Construction Specifications Institute
- Opera Galleria, Ft. Collins, Colorado (1992) Honor Award, Colorado/AIA, Award of Merit, Corporate Interiors
- Philbrook Museum of Art, Tulsa, Oklahoma, Lighting Awards of Honor, American Society of Illumination Engineers
- Preston Ridge I & II, Alpharetta, Georgia (2001) Building of the Year Award, MidRise Runner-Up, Building Owners and Management Association
- Rivercenter, San Antonio, Texas (1987) Award of Honor, The Construction Specification Institute; (1988) Honor Award, Central States Region/AIA; (1988) Grand Award, International Conference of Shopping Centers; (1989) Center for Excellence, Urban Centers over 500,000 sf, National Mall Monitor; (1989) Lighting Award of Honor, American Society of Illuminating Engineers
- Riverfront Park, Denver, Colorado (2002) Merit Award, Colorado AIA
- State Office Building, Denver, Colorado (1986) Honorable Mention, Restoration and Renovation Projects, Construction Specifications Institute; (1986) Award for Renovation, Rocky Mountain Regional Design Awards; (1987) Lighting Award of Honor, American Society of Illuminating Engineers
- Tabor Center, Denver, Colorado (1986) Award for Architecture, Rocky Mountain Region, AIA; (1986) Excellence in Concrete Buildings, Portland Cement Association
- The Shops at Tabor Center, Denver, Colorado (1984) Honorable Mention Award, Excellence in Specifications, Construction Specifications Institute; (1985) Honor Award, Tulsa Chapter AIA; (1985) Honor Award for Professional Excellence in Urban Design, Division of Urban Design, University of Colorado
- Three Westlakes Office, Berwyn, Pennsylvania (1990) Delaware Valley Award for Building Design, National Association of Industrial & Office Parks
- Tramway Renovation, Denver, Colorado (1992) Downtown Denver Award, National Theater Conservatory
- Tulsa Community College, West Campus, Tulsa, Oklahoma (1999) Award for Specialized Facility, Learning by Design Magazine; (1998) Design Excellence, American School and University
- Tulsa Union Depot, Tulsa, Oklahoma (1984) Landmark Art Deco Building, Art Deco Societies of America
- USC School of Cinematic Arts, Los Angeles, California (2009) Award for Exterior Institutional by a Wall and Ceiling Contractor, Western Wall and Ceiling Contractors Association
- Wilderness Resort, Walt Disney World Orlando, Florida (1994) Hospitality Design Gold Key Award, People's Choice Award
- Williams Center Green, Tulsa, Oklahoma (1981) Environmental Improvement, Grand Award, Art Deco Societies of America
- Windward Fairways I & II, Alpharetta, Georgia (2001) Building of the Year Award, MidRise, Building Owners and Management Association
Gallery
References
Further reading
iiBaxter, L. (1988) A Sense of Place. Identity.
iiiDivision of Urban Design of the University of Colorado College of Design and Planning, Award of Honor, Tabor Center, 1985.
ivIdeal Places: Rockefeller Visions for America, featuring Tabor Center. 5th Annual Honor Awards.
vGaskie, M. (1989). Just Add Water. Architectural Record, 100.
viJohnson, C. (1983). Tulsa’s Union Depot. Oklahoma Home and Garden. 15.
viiSculley, S.W. (2003). Musing on an ‘American’ Architecture. Urban Design Group: Selected and Current Works, The Master Architect Series, 8.
viiiMorris, D.L. (1996). The Wilderness World of Disney. Log Home Living, 59
xiCommercial and Retail Development (2001). Galleria 400. Georgia Construction Review: Atlanta Edition, 26.
xBruegmann, R. (1989). The Corporate Landscape. Inland Architect. (reprint)
External links