Urban Design Associates
Urban Design Associates is an international urban design firm in Pittsburgh that, since 1964, provides master planning, design guidelines, and architecture services to public housing authorities, municipalities, developers, and non-profits using proprietary techniques like UDA X-Rays and Dot Exercises.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1964
- HeadquartersPittsburgh, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Urban Design Associates does
Urban Design Associates (UDA), founded in 1964 by David Lewis and Ray Gindroz in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is an international urban design firm that practices Master Planning, Design Guidelines/Pattern Books, and Architecture. The firm operates a boutique, principal-led model (1-10 employees) anchored by a 'design-by-ear' methodology developed over 60 years, with proprietary techniques including UDA X-Rays (analytical neighborhood drawings), Dot Exercises (community engagement protocol using color-coded maps), and an integrated illustration practice spanning hand drawing through digital 3D modeling and watercolor rendering. UDA's core offering comprises three integrated service lines: Master Planning (strategic planning and engagement for cities, neighborhoods, and resilience), Design Guidelines/Pattern Books (flexible design tools for builders and municipalities), and Architecture (contextually-inspired building design).
UDA's customer base is concentrated in four primary verticals: government housing agencies (HUD, Housing Authority of Pittsburgh, LMHA, NRHA), real estate developers (Destination Homes, Sego Homes, RCP Companies), non-profit housing organizations (McCormack Baron Salazar, GKFF, Community Foundation SWLA, Habitat for Humanity, Cherry Hill Development Corporation), and municipalities (Waterfront Toronto, Strong Museum of Play). The firm generates revenue through project-based professional services fees, acquired via government RFPs, competitive bidding for HUD-funded programs (HOPE VI, Choice Neighborhoods Initiative), direct engagement with private developers, and grant-funded resilience and planning mandates. Notable outcomes include 23 HOPE VI projects designed, 14 communities supported through CNI Implementation Grants ($29-$50M each), 9,000+ mixed-income homes delivered, and over $4.5 billion in neighborhood investment catalyzed — with HUD policy influence dating back to the firm's role chairing CNU's Inner City Task Force.
UDA has authored multiple publications (The Urban Design Handbook, The Architectural Pattern Book, UDA60 | Six Decades of Urban Design) and actively participates in the Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU34 in 2026). Current leadership consists of Chairman Eric Osth, Managing Principal & CEO Megan O'Hara (Oxford MSc in Sustainable Urban Development), and Managing Principal & President Barry Long (35+ year tenure). The firm operates a single office in Pittsburgh and extends its project footprint across the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Legal entity is Urban Design Associates, Inc., incorporated in Pennsylvania, with no parent company, subsidiaries, outside investors, or publicly disclosed revenue.
Urban Design Associates firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Urban Design Associates
- Legal name
- Urban Design Associates, Inc.
- Website
- https://urbandesignassociates.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1964
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Urban Design Associates is an international urban design firm in Pittsburgh that, since 1964, provides master planning, design guidelines, and architecture services to public housing authorities, municipalities, developers, and non-profits using proprietary techniques like UDA X-Rays and Dot Exercises.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Urban Design Associates industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Urban Design Services
- NAICS
- Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services (5413), Architectural Services (541310), Engineering Services (54133)
- SIC
- Services-Engineering Services (8711), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Urban Planning & Master Planning (BPAHAKAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA), Urban & Regional Planning (Land Use, Zoning, Master Planning) (BPAIANAD)
Keywords
Where Urban Design Associates is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Pittsburgh
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Urban Design Associates business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Urban Design Consulting Services: Project-based professional services for urban design, master planning, design guidelines, and architecture. Revenue generated through contracts with government agencies, housing authorities, municipalities, developers, and non-profit organizations. Projects include Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grants, private community developments, and municipal planning engagements.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
Urban Design Associates product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Urban Design Associates is an international urban design firm that practices Master Planning, Design Guidelines/Pattern Books, and Architecture for cities, towns, and neighborhoods. Engagements are delivered through project-based consulting contracts with government agencies, housing authorities, municipalities, developers, and non-profits, supported by proprietary techniques such as UDA X-Rays, Dot Exercises, and comprehensive illustration services. The firm has authored multiple industry publications and operates a listening-based "design-by-ear" methodology refined over six decades.
Product overview
Urban Design Associates (UDA) is an international urban design firm founded in 1964, offering a unified suite of services centered on its proprietary 'design-by-ear' methodology. The core offering comprises three integrated service lines: Master Planning (strategic planning and community engagement for cities and neighborhoods), Design Guidelines/Pattern Books (flexible design tools for builders and municipalities), and Architecture (contextually-inspired building design). Supporting these are proprietary techniques including UDA X-Rays (analytical drawings), Dot Exercises (community engagement tools), and Illustration services. UDA has authored multiple publications including The Urban Design Handbook, The Architectural Pattern Book, and specialized pattern books for Louisiana and affordable housing. The firm serves public, private, non-profit, and institutional clients across the United States and internationally.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Master Planning Services Comprehensive urban design planning services for cities, towns, and neighborhoods, involving community engagement and strategic team organization to develop shared visions and implementation strategies for government agencies, municipalities, developers, and non-profits.
- Design Guidelines / Pattern Books Urban design guidelines and pattern books providing flexible design tools for builders, developers, and city officials to maintain neighborhood character while enabling growth and change.
- Architecture Services Locally inspired architecture that belongs to a region or neighborhood, developed using the same design-by-ear approach with client team interaction.
- The Urban Design Handbook (Second Edition) Published book by W.W. Norton & Company capturing UDA's techniques and methodologies for urban design practice.
- The Architectural Pattern Book Published book by W.W. Norton & Company on architectural pattern books and their application in urban design.
- Louisiana Speaks Pattern Book & Toolkit Guidance and tools for rebuilding communities in hurricane-affected Louisiana, part of the Louisiana Recovery Authority's Louisiana Speaks program for safer, stronger, smarter reconstruction.
- A Pattern Book for Neighborly Houses Pattern book developed with ICAA and NEA for Habitat for Humanity to help make affordable housing architecturally compatible with existing neighborhoods.
- UDA60 | Six Decades of Urban Design Commemorative publication documenting UDA's 60-year history of urban design practice and innovation.
Quantifiable outcome
- 14 communities won $29-$50 million HUD CNI Implementation Grants
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Urban Design Associates
Customer profileNamed customers12 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Urban Design Associates technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Urban Design Associates partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
21 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- McCormack Baron SalazarcoreLong-standing partnership with McCormack Baron Salazar for mixed-income housing developments. McCormack Baron Salazar serves as developer while UDA provides master planning and design services. Partnership has produced landmark projects including Crawford Square (Pittsburgh), Larimer Choice Neighborhood, and West Park development (Tulsa).
- HUD (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development)coreUDA has shaped national housing policy through the HOPE VI program and Choice Neighborhoods Initiative. UDA led CNU's Inner City Task Force partnering with HUD to establish national design principles, scoring criteria, and training workshops for CNI program.
- Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU)coreUDA co-founder Ray Gindroz chaired CNU's Inner City Task Force which partnered with HUD to establish national design principles for HOPE VI and Choice Neighborhoods. Partnership involves developing training workshops, design guidelines, and scoring criteria for the programs.
- Housing Authority of the City of PittsburghcorePartnership for Larimer Choice Neighborhood redevelopment, involving comprehensive neighborhood revitalization planning with stakeholder and community engagement.
- Louisville Metro Housing Authority (LMHA)coreUDA engaged as master planner for Beecher Terrace / Russell CNI project. Led neighborhood plan, housing site plan, and architectural building character through resident and stakeholder engagement. Louisville awarded $29.5 million CNI award in 2016.
- Norfolk Regional Housing Authority (NRHA)corePartnership for Diggs Town public housing renovation. This project influenced HUD policy to allow porches in public housing and demonstrated the impact of thoughtful urban design on community outcomes.
- Strong Museum of PlaymajorUDA served as master planning and design lead for the Neighborhood of Play project in Rochester, NY. Team included Konar Properties, Indus Hospitality, and CJS Architects. Project transformed the museum area following Inner Loop East expressway removal.
- Konar PropertiesmajorDevelopment partner on Neighborhood of Play project in Rochester, NY. Part of the team assembled by Strong Museum of Play for the infill development project.
- CJS ArchitectsmajorArchitecture partner on Neighborhood of Play project in Rochester, NY. Part of the development team assembled by Strong Museum of Play.
- RCP CompaniescoreUDA selected to reimagine 68-acre MidCity site as a new mixed-use walkable urban center. Partnership with City of Huntsville through public-private partnership. UDA developed master plan, concept architecture, and placemaking strategies.
- City of HuntsvillecorePublic partner in MidCity development through public-private partnership with RCP Companies. Identified former mall site for redevelopment as vibrant urban center.
- George Kaiser Family Foundation (GKFF)coreUDA hired by GKFF and McCormack Baron Salazar to create revitalization plan for West Park development in Tulsa. Foundation investment focuses on education, early childhood education center, and neighborhood revitalization.
- Community Foundation SWLAmajorUDA engaged to develop a 50-year Resilience Plan for Southwest Louisiana covering 3,030 square miles and 210,000 people. Project involved listening to 7,300 community ideas and developing 11 catalytic projects for implementation.
- Waterfront TorontomajorUDA prepared West Don Lands Master Plan and Form-Based Code for Waterfront Toronto. Project included extensive public planning process resulting in LEED-ND precinct with Corktown Commons civic park.
- Cherry Hill Development Corporation (CHDC)coreUDA led community process to develop 15-year Transformation Plan for Cherry Hill neighborhood in Baltimore. Partnership to address disinvestment, gentrification concerns, and equitable development.
- Destination HomescoreUDA partnered with Destination Homes in Utah since 2005 to bring thoughtful design to Daybreak community through Pattern Books. Builder embraced higher-density, well-crafted neighborhoods.
- Sego HomescoreUDA working with Sego Homes to create new urban communities in Daybreak, Utah. Builder expanded from initial work to offer more high-density types and create own new urban communities.
- FEMAmajorUDA resilience planning for SWLA involves collaboration with FEMA and other federal agencies including HUD and National Park Service for implementing recovery and adaptation projects.
- Larry H. Miller CompanymajorUDA participated in vision for Daybreak, UT downtown development. Larry H. Miller Company developed Ballpark at America First Square as key step in implementing vibrant downtown.
- Habitat for HumanityminorUDA team developed A Pattern Book for Neighborly Houses for Habitat for Humanity, funded by National Endowment for the Arts grant. Project focused on making affordable housing acceptable in neighborhoods through architectural design.
- Harvard/Opportunity InsightsminorResearch partnership where Harvard and Opportunity Insights studied over one million public housing residents to determine HOPE VI transformation outcomes, validating UDA's long-held beliefs about mixed-income communities and connections.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Urban Design Associates competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Pyatok Architects: Architecture and urban design firm focused on affordable and mixed-income housing, with deep involvement in HOPE VI and CNI-era projects. Closely mirrors UDA's affordable housing transformation niche and CNU-aligned approach.
- Opticos Design: Opticos is a planning and architecture firm known for Missing Middle Housing work, form-based codes, and walkable neighborhood design. Highly comparable to UDA's Pattern Book methodology and builder-focused community design service line.
- Calthorpe Associates: Urban design and regional planning firm founded by Peter Calthorpe, with deep roots in New Urbanism, TOD, and sustainable community design. Comparable to UDA in transect-based planning methodology and thought-leadership publishing.
- Moule & Polyzoides: Moule & Polyzoides is an architecture, urban design, and planning firm focused on traditional neighborhoods, mixed-use development, and form-based codes, with deep involvement in CNU. Comparable to UDA in scale, methodology, and emphasis on contextual urban design.
- Duany Plater-Zyberk & Company (DPZ): DPZ is one of the founding firms of the New Urbanism movement and practices urban design, town planning, and architecture with a focus on walkable, mixed-use neighborhoods. It is the closest direct peer to UDA in terms of methodology, CNU involvement, and Pattern Book-style codification of neighborhood design.
- Dover, Kohl & Partners: Town planning firm specializing in traditional neighborhood design, charrette-based community engagement, and form-based coding. Direct peer to UDA in process, scale, and CNU-aligned practice area, particularly in master planning for new and revitalization projects.
- Torti Gallas + Partners: Architecture and urban design firm with a long history in mixed-use, mixed-income, and TOD projects. Comparable to UDA in its integration of architecture and urban design practice and emphasis on community-rooted placemaking.
Broad incumbents
- SOM (Skidmore, Owings & Merrill): Global architecture, engineering, and urban design firm that also delivers large-scale master planning and mixed-use district work. Overlaps with UDA on urban design and master planning engagements but operates at vastly greater scale and broader scope.
- Robert A.M. Stern Architects (RAMSA): Large, established architecture practice with deep expertise in contextual and traditional design across residential, institutional, and master planning work. Broader incumbent compared to UDA, with much larger headcount and a wider portfolio, but overlapping on residential and campus master planning.
Emerging players
- HR&A Advisors: Real estate and economic development advisory firm working with cities, developers, and institutions on large-scale revitalization, including HUD program implementation. Comparable to UDA in serving public-sector clients on neighborhood transformation, though from a financial/strategy rather than design lens.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Urban Design Associates social profiles
Digital presenceUrban Design Associates financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Urban Design Associates leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles16 records
Urban Design Associates funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Urban Design Associates M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Urban Design Associates
What does Urban Design Associates do?
Urban Design Associates is an international urban design firm that practices Master Planning, Design Guidelines/Pattern Books, and Architecture for cities, towns, and neighborhoods. Engagements are delivered through project-based consulting contracts with government agencies, housing authorities, municipalities, developers, and non-profits, supported by proprietary techniques such as UDA X-Rays, Dot Exercises, and comprehensive illustration services. The firm has authored multiple industry publications and operates a listening-based "design-by-ear" methodology refined over six decades.
Is Urban Design Associates a public or private company?
Urban Design Associates is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was Urban Design Associates founded?
Urban Design Associates was founded in 1964. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Urban Design Associates based?
Urban Design Associates is headquartered in Pittsburgh, United States, in the North America region.
How does Urban Design Associates make money?
One revenue line is on record: urban Design Consulting Services.
Who are Urban Design Associates's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Pyatok Architects, Opticos Design, Calthorpe Associates, Moule & Polyzoides, Duany Plater-Zyberk & Company (DPZ), Dover, Kohl & Partners and Torti Gallas + Partners. Broad incumbents are SOM (Skidmore, Owings & Merrill) and Robert A.M. Stern Architects (RAMSA). HR&A Advisors is listed as an emerging player.
Does Urban Design Associates have an API?
No public API is recorded for Urban Design Associates.
What industry is Urban Design Associates in?
Urban Design Associates's product category is Urban Design Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAKAD, Urban Planning & Master Planning, with a secondary code of BPAHAKAA, Architectural Design Services. Its NAICS code is 5413 and its SIC code is 8711.