Bio:
The great planner, trained as an architect and urbanist, Dawveed has a strong passion to make design a strong tool to enhance the lives of everyday people. He has experience working on a variety of projects from vision strategies that create a framework to move forward to developing implementation strategies that allow those visions to be realized. Dawveed is a graduate of IIT school of architecture and was recently awarded the ULI Chicago Young Visionary Award in 2018 and 2019 Kahan Fellowship.

How did you first learn about architecture and when did you decide that built environment profession was an area of interest for you?
I first learned in high school through drafting classes and after winning an internship through the Newhouse architecture competition I decided architecture was really what I wanted to do.

What do you do?
I’m an urban designer and planner at SOM City Design Practice. A major part of my role is design and project leadership on projects from multiple blocks to urban districts and neighborhoods.

What excites you in the work you do?
Getting to spend my time on issues that impact predominantly black neighborhoods. Gentrification, displacement, cultural erasure, equitable development and empowerment of locals.

Who or what inspires you professionally?
Seeing how we collectively contribute to the reshaping of our field and communities. Numerous artists, architects, designers, planners and many others pushing for justice and equity in our places.

What is your proudest professional accomplishment or achievement?
Recently leading an planning project for Atlanta University Center to understand the future of the neighborhood. I’m very interested in pursuing efforts to strengthen and amplify HBCUs nationally with strategic planning and investment.

Featured Project Name: 
Reinvesting In Robbins
 
Featured Project Location: 
Robbins, Illinois
 
Featured Project Completion Date: 
2019-2020

Role in Featured Project: 
Lead Designer
 
Featured Project Description:
Reinvesting in Robbins is a pioneering effort by Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) and the Village of Robbins to: Solve flooding in Robbins with no relocation of residents Create a major recreation space Spark economic & jobs growth Attract new residents The project has attracted public and private partners and we are working together to acquire land, refine the design of the park, and position the Village of Robbins for economic investment.

Photography Credit:
SOM, Living Habitats


Featured Project Name: 
Detroit East Riverfront
 
Featured Project Location: 
Detroit, Michigan
 
Featured Project Completion Date: 
2017

Role in Featured Project: 
Lead Urban Designer
 
Featured Project Description:
Building on a ten-year initiative led by the Detroit RiverFront Conservancy, SOM developed a framework plan for Detroit’s East Riverfront District. Designed to preserve more riverfront land for public use, generate greater community access to the Detroit River, and spur investment along the East Riverfront, the project seeks to continue the transformation of the East Riverfront area from a blighted, industrial area into a vibrant public waterfront accessible to all Detroit residents.

Photography Credit:
SOM; MIR+SOM (for the renderings)