Bio:

The great designer, Sam is Principal and Director of Urban Design at Overland Partners. Her project experience includes mixed-use development, downtown revitalization, campus master plans, and urban streetscapes. She holds a post-professional Master of Architecture with a specialization in Urban Design from the University of Texas at Austin and a Bachelor of Architecture from Syracuse University.

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How did you first learn about architecture and when did you decide that built environment profession was an area of interest for you?

As a kid, I enjoyed art and creating dioramas and collages. My interest in architecture stemmed from “This Old House”. In high school, I took architecture courses which fed my creativity and influenced my decision to pursue architecture in college.

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What do you do?

I lead the urban design area at Overland which includes setting strategy, overseeing projects, promoting our urban design work, and directing BD efforts to engage clients and projects that align with Overland’s vision and approach to urban design.

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What excites you in the work you do?

At Overland, a common thread in all our work is discovering the social impact potential of each project. I am motivated by this aspiration, especially since working at the urban scale allows us to multiply this concept.

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Who or what inspires you professionally?

I am always inspired by female colleagues - designers, architects, and landscape architects who find a way to pursue design excellence while balancing the complexities of life, family, career development, and overall well-being.

 

What is your proudest professional accomplishment or achievement?

Leading the Lubbock Downtown Master Plan update. This effort included collaborating with amazing people which made the work so enjoyable. Our team built a strong foundation of trust with the community that has led to further work in the city.

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Featured Project Name: 

Downtown Lubbock Master Plan Update

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Featured Project Location: 

Lubbock, Texas

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Featured Project Completion Date: 

2019

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Role in Featured Project: 

Lead Urban Designer, Project Manager

 

Featured Project Description:

With the objective of achieving the highest impact with the least amount of capital investment, the Master Plan focuses on catalyzing transformation through immediate and implementable investments to the public realm, upgrades to utilities and infrastructure to support ongoing development, and formalizing a strategy for shared parking that allows for acres of existing surface parking to be unlocked for a higher and better use such as new housing and other programs that will energize the city.

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Photography Credit:

Overland