With preservation of our unique landscape and cultural heritage in mind, a local, grassroots steering committee formed to address these challenges and submitted a formal application for this opportunity. The R/UDAT is comprised of a multi-disciplinary team of professionals recognized by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) that volunteers their time and expertise to provide a recommendation for what desirable change can look like in our community.
THE REGIONAL/URBAN DESIGN ASSISTANCE TEAM :
TERRY AMMONS, AIA, TEAM LEADER
Terry Ammons, the Principal of StudioAmmons, is a 1987 architectural graduate of Virginia Tech and has worked for over 28 years in the architecture and museum fields working on museums throughout the U.S. and Europe. His recent interpretive designs at Sailor’s Creek Battlefield and several Virginia state parks have won plaudits across the state. He also provided award winning restoration and exhibit design for the recently completed Robert Russa Moton Museum, the national center for the study of Civil Rights in Education and has recently provided planning and design services to such nationally recognized museums as Wyoming’s National Museum of Wildlife Art and the Chrysler Museum in Norfolk, Virginia.
TOM LAGING, FAIA
Thomas Laging, FAIA, NCARB Professor Laging has recently served as the director of the Architecture Program at the University of Nebraska and as the Killinger Distinguished Professor of Urban Design and Architecture. His teaching specialties include urban design and architectural representation. He has taught or been an invited critic at numerous universities both nationally and internationally––including the Isthmus School in Panama in 2013 and Tianjin University in 2008. He was a Fullbright Scholar at Simon Bolivar University in Caracus. As a skilled environmental visualizer Professor Laging has informed his teaching though an urban design consulting practice. He has been involved with numerous mixed-use urban retail projects, town center planning developments and campus-planning efforts. Laging was the 2013 Chairman of Nebraska State Board of Engineers and Architects where he has served for over twelve years and was a member of the NCARB education committee. He is a charter member of the Nebraska Capitol Environs Commission a member the Centennial Mall design team. He was elevated to fellow in the AIA for his service to communities. He holds a Masters Degree from The Harvard Graduate School of Design.
STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Carson Taylor, Mayor of Bozeman
Ralph Johnson, MSU Professor
Stephanie Irwin, MSU Graduate
Brian Caldwell, Sponsor of the RUDAT
Amy Hoitsma, NENA
Tod Hoitsma, NENA
Paul House, NENA
Jeanne Wesley-Wiese, NENA
Chris Nixion, Business Owner / Resident
Bobbi Clem, TIF Board
Alan McCollim, Kenyon Noble
Brodey Simkins, Simkins Hallin
Dave Curry, Simkins Hallin / Resident
Troy Scherer, Landscape Architect
Erik “Ole” Nelson, Business Owner
Ethan Barlow, Business Owner
Shane Strong, KLJ Engineering / NEURB engineer
Jessica Johnson, City of Bozeman Neighborhood Coordinator
Erik Nelson, Thinktank Design Group INC
Rob Pertzborn, Intrinsk Architecture
Stacie Wunsch, MERCURYcsc
JASON CLAUNCH
Catalyst has recently completed market analysis and recruitment projects with many communities including Arlington, Farmers Branch, Kyle, Edmond, Red Oak, Midlothian, Colleyville, Northlake, Trophy Club and DFW International Airport. Jason is currently working on projects that included Panera, Whole Foods, HEB and Wal-Mart as well as over 100 local and regional tenants. Jason has consummated over 1,000,000 square feet of leases and closed over 190 raw land transactions. Jason is experienced with the full lifecycle of real estate from initial market strategy, planning, entitlements, due diligence, design, vertical development and disposition using his extensive relationships with owners, developers, vendors, end users, and the brokerage community. Prior to Catalyst Commercial, Jason directed Billingsley’s retail division, consisting of over 4,000 acres of raw land and portfolio value of over $1B. Prior to joining Billingsley Company, Jason was a partner of a Dallas based development company and was responsible for site/market planning, acquisition and development of projects in Colorado, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Georgia, and Texas for national tenants. Jason also worked as a National Accounts Broker on multiple projects in Dallas, exclusively representing national accounts such as Wachovia Bank, Valvoline, Taco Bueno, CVS Pharmacy, Walgreens. Additionally, he completed projects for Target, Albertson’s, Wendy’s, Brinker, Eckerd’s, Home Depot, Ross, PetsMart, Pier One, Staples and many other national concepts. He also developed additional business opportunities with third parties, and was responsible for internal development projects. Jason is an active member of the North Texas Commercial Association of Realtors (NTCAR), International Conference of Shopping Centers (ICSC), Certified Commercial Investment Manager (CCIM), Urban Land Institute (ULI), National Association of Industrial and Office Professionals, (NAIOP), Texas Municipal League (TML), Oklahoma Municipal League (OML), Texas Economic Development (TEDC) and NTCAR Young Professionals. Jason has previously served on national design assistance teams in Georgia, Illinois, and Utah.
ALAN HOLT, AIA
Alan Holt has focused his career as an architect in promoting well designed, vibrant, healthy communities with positions in municipal government, education, and his own private practice. Alan obtained his Masters in Architecture from Columbia University, spent his early career working for architectural offices in NYC, and practiced most of his career in New England until moving to Austin in 2010. Since then, he has served as a Principal Planner in the City of Austin’s Urban Design Division where he leads the City’s waterfront planning. His previous stents as a municipal urban designer include serving as the Deputy Director of Design for the City of New Bedford, Massachusetts, and as the City of Portland, Maine’s Urban Designer. Alan has served as the chair of the Texas Society of Architect’s Urban Design Committee, and now serves on the AIA Regional and Urban Design Committee Leadership Group. AIA Austin awarded him the 2015 Community Service Award for his efforts to plan Austin’s South Waterfront, which was begun with an SDAT in 2012 and culminated in the creation and adoption of the South Central Waterfront Master Plan in 2016. Since adoption last summer, the Plan has received planning honors by Texas chapters of both the American Planning Association and the American Society of Landscape Architects.
KUSH PAREKH, ASLA
Kush Parekh, a Senior Associate at Mia Lehrer & Associates has over 12 years of project experience in design, strategic planning, and construction administration. Passionate about cities, he is inspired by the complex relationships between socio-cultural factors and ecological systems in urban environments. With a holistic understanding of the built environment, he strives to apply the highest level of design and sustainable principles while exploring creative use of materials and building techniques. Kush is currently leading MLA's effort for the new LA NFL Stadium and Entertainment District– a 298 acre, multi phased project to reimagine, design and build on the site of the old Hollywood Park race track.
JOEL MILLS, AIA
Joel Mills is Senior Director of the American Institute of Architects’ Center for Communities by Design. The Center is a leading provider of pro bono technical assistance and democratic design for community success. Its programs have catalyzed billions of dollars in sustainable development across the country, helping to create some of the most vibrant places in America today. The Center’s design assistance process has been recognized with numerous awards and has been replicated and adapted across the world. Joel’s 24-year career has been focused on strengthening civic capacity and civic institutions around the world. This work has helped millions of people participate in democratic processes, visioning efforts, and community planning initiatives across four continents. In the United States, Joel has worked with over 100 communities, leading participatory processes that facilitated community-generated strategies for success. His past work has been featured in over 1,000 media stories, including ABC World News Tonight, Nightline, CNN, The Next American City, The National Civic Review, The Washington Post, and dozens of other sources. He has served on numerous expert working groups, boards, juries, and panels focused on civic discourse and participation, sustainability, and design. He has also spoken at dozens of national and international conferences and events, including the Remaking Cities Congress, the World Eco-City Summit, the Global Democracy Conference, the National Conference on Citizenship, and many others.
ERIN SIMMONS, AIA
Erin Simmons is the Senior Director of Design Assistance at the Center for Communities by Design at the American Institute of Architects in Washington, DC. The Center is a leading provider of pro bono technical assistance and participatory planning for community revitalization. Through its design assistance programs, the AIA has worked in over 250 communities across 47 states, and has been the recipient of numerous awards including “Organization of the Year” by the International Association for Public Participation (IAP2) and the “Outstanding Program Award” from the Community Development Society. Erin is a leading practitioner of the design assistance process, providing expertise, facilitation, and support for the Center’s Sustainable Design Assistance Team (SDAT) and Regional and Urban Design Assistance Team (R/UDAT ) programs. In this capacity, she works with AIA components, members, partner organizations and community leaders to provide technical design assistance to communities across the country. Her portfolio includes work in over 100 communities across the United States. A frequent lecturer on the subject of creating livable communities and sustainability, Erin contributed to the recent publication “Assessing Sustainability: A guide for Local Governments”. Prior to joining the AIA, Erin worked as historic preservationist and architectural historian for an environmental and engineering firm, where she practiced preservation planning, created historic district design guidelines and zoning ordinances, and conducted historic resource surveys. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Florida State University and a Master’s degree in Historic Preservation from the University of Georgia.