Patrick Piuma And Urban Design Studio Become Part Of Louisville Downtown Partnership
April 13, 2016
For Immediate Release
CONTACT: Jeanne Hilt
Marketing, Communications and Events Manager
502-614-4122 (office)
502-649-4583 (cell)
PATRICK PIUMA AND URBAN DESIGN STUDIO BECOME PART OF LOUISVILLE DOWNTOWN PARTNERSHIP
(LOUISVILLE, KY) – The Louisville Downtown Partnership (LDP) and the University of Louisville’s Urban Design Studio (UDS) are pleased to announce an innovative new partnership that allows the two organizations to share the expertise of well-known urban planner and designer, Patrick Piuma. Piuma has joined LDP as Planning Director, managing the day-to-day operational and tactical aspects of multiple community development and strategic planning projects in support of Downtown Louisville’s development. In this new partnership, Piuma will continue to provide community engagement and outreach as Director of the University of Louisville’s Urban Design Studio (UDS).
“Patrick brings a layer of urban planning and design expertise to our organization that will enhance LDP’s ability to strategically consider how these disciplines relate to the larger urban and social context of Downtown development,” said Rebecca Matheny, LDP’s Executive Director. As part of the LDP team, he will be responsible for a broad array of community development and redevelopment assignments, including coordinating and executing programs for City Collaborative. City Collaborative is a non-profit, community-based team that has provided high impact projects such as the Louisville Love App and the ReSurfaced initiative. The dynamic team provides concepts and execution that are intended to have large-scale impact that can be seen, heard and felt throughout the community.
In addition, Piuma will be responsible for strategic planning and will provide assistance with the implementation of the Downtown Master Plan.
Piuma has served as Director of UDS since 2007 where he is an adjunct instructor for the University’s Master of Urban Planning program, as well as project management, site planning, design, research and analysis. As Director of UDS, he also handles a wide array of community outreach and promotion of sustainable urban design principles locally and throughout the country, and is nationally recognized for his recent work in creative placemaking through such efforts as ReSurfaced. Launched in September of 2014, the ReSurfaced initiative activates underutilized urban spaces in order to enable economic growth and social interaction in Downtown Louisville.
“We are proud to continue to offer our students the highest caliber of urban planning and design education through Patrick’s leadership and believe this partnership allows Patrick and UDS to have a tremendous positive impact on the built environment, creative placemaking, and sustainability to improve the quality of life for all Louisvillians,” added Dr. David Simpson, Chair of U of L’s Department of Urban and Public Affairs.
In 2012, Piuma was selected by Mayor Fischer for an Urban Land Institute (ULI) Daniel Rose Fellowship to work with ULI on a yearlong study dealing with land use and urban design in Louisville. He was also selected by Business First as a “40 Under 40” honoree, is a Leadership Louisville Bingham Fellow, and received an Acorn Award for Green Leadership presented by the Green Building.
LDP drives economic growth in Downtown and adjacent urban core neighborhoods for the benefit of the entire region, as well as oversees multiple on-street enhancements that help establish Downtown Louisville’s distinctive character and widespread appeal. LDP believes the economic engine of any great city starts with a strong Downtown.
For more information, go to: LDP can be contacted at 556 S. Fourth Street; Louisville, KY 40202; (502)584-6000.