A closer look at TBG’s Urban Design + Planning Team

TBG’s Urban Design and Planning team (UD+P), co-directed by Samantha Whitney, AIA, AICP, and Robert Acuña-Pilgrim, PLA, ASLA, announced the addition of a new studio to the firm this year. Building on TBG’s 37 years of experience, UD+P is committed to empowering communities to become more walkable, equitable, resilient, and playful through a collaborative approach to planning and design that prioritizes connections between people and place. 

Spread across TBG’s four offices, the Urban Design + Planning team consists of 16 practitioners including: Aaron Farray, Alexa Nallen, Cheng Xie, Jake Burgus, Leah Li, Luiza Mola Curi, Nick Kearney, Rob Parsons, Robert Acuña-Pilgrim, Ryan Blair, Samantha Whitney, Shirin Namavar, Victor Drago, Wes Gentry, Yixin Jiang, and Yuhe Xiao.

Team Leadership

Samantha Whitney, Co-Director: A Principal in TBG’s San Antonio office, Sam is an architect and urban designer committed to building consensus through leveraging collaborative processes that strengthen connections between people and place.

Robert Acuña-Pilgrim, Co-Director: A Principal in TBG’s Dallas office, Robert serves as Co-Director of Urban Design and Planning with more than 30 years of wide-ranging professional experience encompassing all aspects of planning, architecture.

Regional Leadership

Wes Gentry – Central Texas Lead: A Senior Associate in TBG’s Austin office, Wes enjoys being a steward of long-term visioning and placemaking efforts for communities across Texas.

Jake Burgus – Gulf Coast Lead: A Senior Associate based in TBG’s Houston office, Jake excels at planning and design and brings a thoughtful approach to projects at varying scales, ranging from communities and mixed-use development to streetscapes and open space environments.

Rob Parsons – Subject Matter Expert: A Senior Associate in TBG’s Austin office, Rob has deep rooted experience in planning, real estate development and the policy framework in which those operate. With a passion for creating walkable places that people cherish, Rob has devoted his practice to finding the intersection of nuanced urban design and market realities that result in implementation.

The integrated team consists of:

4 AICP certified planners
2 PLA licensed landscape architects
1 AIA licensed architect
6 APA members
5 ULI members
6 CNU members

Join our team

The Urban Design + Planning team is currently seeking a dynamic and experienced Regional Leader for our growing team in North Texas. Visit tbgpartners.com/firm/#careers to apply.