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National Planning + Design

Midtown Miami | Miami
​​22-acres | Miami | Florida

 

Midtown Miami is the collective term for the Wynwood and Edgewater neighborhoods of Miami, Florida, United States, north of Downtown and south of the Miami Design District. It is roughly bound by North 20th Street to the south, I-195 to the north, I-95 to the west, and Biscayne Bay to the east. Midtown's urban design is reminiscent of New York's So Ho district with a Miami twist.

 

Provided planning, urban design analysis, and due diligence

 

While at Kimley-Horn (KHA)

 

North Philadelphia Transit Station

8-acres | Philadelphia | Pennsylvania

 

The $180-million dollar North Philadelphia Transit Center project is a public-private partnership venture to redevelop parcels owned by Amtrak that are adjacent to the Temple University Medical campus into a 4 million square foot mixed-use development and community destination. The project will stimulate the redevelopment of a currently impacted area and will be a catalyst for local smart growth. 

 

Provided planning and urban design analysis and due diligence. Was instrumental in developing a parking strategy based on the most current City of Philadelphia Zoning Ordinance. Led the placemaking framework linking local mural artists and emerging event programs.

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While at Gensler

New Carrollton Metro Station

​​39-acres | New Carrollton | Maryland

 

Provided urban design, landscape, hardscape, lighting, and streetscape design services for a $170 million dollar project and phased plan for a mixed-use Transit-Oriented Development with a multi-modal transit station. Utilizing complete street principles, among other smart growth principles, the master plan proposes a walkable community that enhances and reconnects with the existing local community, surrounding ecological systems, and strengthens job creation. 

 

While at Gensler

Miami Design District

​​19-acres | Miami | Florida

 

Provided existing conditions analysis and due diligence of the streetscape and pedestrian circulation across the district. The studies were instrumental in understanding where trees could be incorporated, sidewalks widened, crosswalks and lighting introduced in order to create a more welcoming setting for pedestrian use.

 

While at Kimley-Horn (KHA)

Universidad de Panama

​​15-acres | Panama City | Panama

 

Provided masterplanning services for a private university’s market and real estate analysis.  The study included providing phased development, multi-programmed spaces interconnecting six new education buildings and sports fields. 


The sustainability consulting services included photovoltaic and green roof systems on all buildings, energy and shared parking, a water treatment train as the spine of the quad, and drawing in local vendors for indoor and outdoor dining.

 

While at Gensler

685 Pocket Park|NYC
​​4,000 SF | Midtown Manhattan | New York

 

Provided urban design and landscape architecture services from concept through construction observation to create a vest-pocket park while working at Gensler. Park amenities include a 30' tall waterwall creating white noise to buffer conversations, moveable chairs to customize the user experience, a 2000-SF living wall, seasonal canopy trees, wood flooring to enhance the natural setting surrounding users, evening lighting, and a food retailer (Luke's Lobster).

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While at Gensler

 

Marymount University
​​25,000 SF | Arlington | VA

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Provided urban design and landscape architecture services to create a central courtyard park for neighboring student and administrative buildings. Park amenities include a linear interactive water basin, interactive entry water feature, lawn areas, flowering tree groves, residential alcoves, movable chairs to customize one’s seating area, vertical and canopy landscaping, crushed stone, and wood flooring to enhance the natural setting surrounding users, evening lighting, and an outdoor cafe seating area.

 

While at Gensler

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10 Hudson Yards Terrace |NYC
​​4,000+ SF | New York | New York

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Provided landscape architecture services to create an outdoor terrace for employees and visitors.

The L-shaped terrace experience surrounds a central cafeteria, and exchange space for various users. The design was intended to respond to day and evening programming while reflecting a facade maintenance device.

 

While at Gensler

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Queens Mixed-Use Development
​​Queens | New York

 

Provided due diligence planning and design services to help create a local and regional destination. Design and programming leveraged each building to provide various uses and activities at each level. Parking structures offer temporary/permanent recreational amenities on the roof decks, pocket parks are utilized for leisure and weekday league activities, and building vertical uses are mixed to interact at ground level.

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While at Gensler

 

LeFrak Atrium |NYC
​​4,000+ SF | LeFrak Music School |

Queens College | New York

 

Provided landscape architecture services to create an indoor pocket park for the Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College. The atrium experience surrounds a central performance, exhibit, and exchange space for various programs. The surrounding landscape is comprised of a bamboo grove set into the terraced seating. The surface uplighting serves to emphasize and highlight moments within the grove to evoke depth and a background setting.

 

Novartis Campus Courtyard
​4,000+ SF | East Hanover | NJ

 

Provided architecture and landscape architecture services to create a courtyard pocket park as part of a corporate campus master plan. The design invites users to experience a more passive interaction with a functioning garden that includes a local artist's sculpture piece, and warm wood decking with moveable seats set over a stormwater garden. The surrounding building and hardscape materials are designed to register and function with the garden. Evening lighting provides for a warm background during the winter season.

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While at Gensler

 

Streetscape and Pedestrian Promenade
Newwark | NJ

 

Provided urban design and landscape architecture services to plan, design, and program a linear connection from the transit station to the Prudential Stadium. Design and programming include outdoor ice hockey exhibitions, interactive fountains, rotating art exhibits, and seasonal vendors.

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While at Gensler

 

Building Entry and Streetscape Design
NewYork | NY

 

Provided urban design and landscape architecture services to plan and design the streetscape and entry area to a new headquarter. The design sought to complete the streetscape and fulfill NYC's streetscape plan while balancing the building's main entry. The result is a more inclusive exchange and the relationship between entry and streetscape.

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While at Gensler

 

1133 Avenue of the Americas 
NewYork | NY

 

Provided urban design and landscape architecture services to plan and design the streetscape and entry area to a headquarter located on the Avenue of the Americas. The design sought to scale the building to communicate with passersby at the sidewalk level. The design requirments include framing the art installation in the entry gallery and no groundcover or shrubs.

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While at Gensler

 

Del Frisco's Terrace
NewYork | NY
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The design for this high-end Midtown Manhattan steakhouse considers the shifting seasons as it frames a new and special experience for the popular restaurant. Multiple accents draw the elegant interior experience to the outside; one such example being the detailed, up-lit glass panels that are integrated into outdoor planters. Gensler’s services include landscape, lighting and seating design.

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While at Gensler

 

Creative Corridor Development Plan
Detroit | MI
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Working with the City of Detroit our planning and design team envisioned the future of Woodward Avenue, the central datum of Detroit's heart. With the community and local stakeholder input, we developed a vision that promotes a 24-hour city center with multipurpose public spaces, light rail system extending to various socioeconomic transects, and appropriate located destination and service retail at station nodes.

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While at Gensler

 

Biscayne Blvd. Urban Islands
Downtown Miami | Florida
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Helping plan and design the future of Biscayne Boulevard's downtown corridor. Services include space planning, 18-hour programming that compliments surrounding destinations, and walkable/bikeable connectivity to the surrounding communities. Temporal programming and response to day/evening events is imperative in order to maintain the unique and fresh series of public spaces.

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Collaboration with David Font Designs

 

Grosvenor-Strathmore Project
North Bethesda | Maryland
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Providing FAR and density design analysis for a mixed use public/private partnership development located at the Grosvenor-Strathmore Metro Station.

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While at M-NCPPC

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City of Frankfort Civic District Improvements
Frankfort | Kentucky
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Proposed civic district improvements to address the expansion of the city administration. The master plan transforms a modern plan that offers little interaction or seamless transition to the historic downtown fabric. The plan includes recommending a series of civic, cultural, and service buildings that interact at the ground floor, create visual interest and blend with the surrounding scale and historic architecture. Services include LEED Silver building and landscape designs.

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Hawthorne Trail Design Competition
Gainesville | Florida
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Helped lead the design and delivery of a rails-to-trails project located adjacent to the University of Florida. The project extends east-west, traverses several communities, and transforms railroad programs and facilities into vibrant cultural and entertainment points of interest.

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While at Kimley-Horn

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Pio Pico Trail
Jamul | California
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Collaborated with engineers and local stakeholders to design a bike trail along highway and arterial roadways. The project challenges included easement allocation and use, and bridge and overpass coordination.

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While at Kimley-Horn

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Arts District Hyattsville HOA Community Art Program
Hyattsville | Maryland
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Led the planning and management of a design competition and collective vision to transform storm drains in the Arts District in Hyattsville. Close collaboration with the Hyattsville Community Development Corporation's (HCDC) leadership was key to successfully complete financial allocation, surveying, and polling in order to finalize the selection and implement.

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Boynton Beach Blvd. Extension & Promenade
Boynton Beach | Florida
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The Boynton Beach Boulevard Extension and Promenade was a strategically planned, catalytic project designed to create an inviting pedestrian and vehicular link to the Intracoastal Waterway; Showcase Boynton Beach's historical waterfront, landscape, and fishing area; and transform the existing walkways into a series of scenic experiences framed by gateways.

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The project length is 4,000 feet and consists of two specific elements: the extension of Boynton Beach Boulevard and the boardwalk. 

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The streetscape goes well beyond a typical design in that it includes 40-foot gateway elements, extensive landscaping, and a high level of hardscape design including decorative seat walls, gathering areas, paver intersections/crosswalks, an urban plaza with a proposed 100-foot tower monument, a link to a pedestrian promenade, and future riverwalk along the Intracoastal Waterway. Our ability to seamlessly blend landscape architecture and civil/roadway engineering allowed this project to be designed efficiently and implemented smoothly.

 

While at Kimley-Horn

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The Preserve at Heron Bay
Coral Springs | Florida
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Providing a Landscape Master Plan for the transition of a golf course into a preserve and recreation and reflection park. The concept is driven by the natural ecosystems surrounding area to re-establish a native landscape setting for flora, fauna, and recreation purposes. The site is broken down into area destinations to enhance the user experience and reflect the site's various ecosystem characteristics.

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With David Font Design

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United Nations Headquarters
New York | New York
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Provided consultation and recommendations to improve the complete streetscape and urban design security measures along the United Nations Plaza, connecting intersections, and driveways.

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With Gensler

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PNC Bank Net Zero & Design Review
Eastern United States
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Provided design review services during construction administration and landscape architecture consultation during design for various PNC Bank locations, including its first Net Zero bank in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

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With Gensler

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I-295 Underdeck & Heritage Trail Project
Miami | Florida
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Providing design analysis and consultation related to design concept implications on estimated cost. The quantitative analysis for the two distinct concepts served to inform the program and scheduling strategy as they related to the project cost.

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With CGLA

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Miami International Airport - Airport City Project
Miami | Florida
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Worked on an airport study to introduce a mixed-use experience to broaden its services. Programs include a university extension, hotels, substation, and improved rail access and circulation.

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While at Gensler

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© 2020 by Mike Bello Designs

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