William H. Whyte Award

William H. Whyte Award

The William H. Whyte Award recognizes those individuals who have exemplified and maintained the mission and ardor of Whyte, whose work provides a factual basis for achieving livability through empirical observations of the relationship of human beings to place.

M.J. “Jay” Brodie has been a leader in the real estate and development field for more than 40 years, beginning in 1969 with the Baltimore City Department of Housing and Community Development where he molded much of the character and image of the Inner Harbor and many neighborhoods.

As Executive Director (1984-1993) of the Pennsylvania Avenue Development Corporation, a federal corporation established by Congress to revitalize a 21-block, 110-acre area between the White House and the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., Jay oversaw the near completion of the nation’s most prestigious urban redevelopment project using $150 million public funds to attract $1.5 billion in private investment.

From 1996 until his retirement in 2012, Jay served as President of the Baltimore Development Corporation (BDC), a non-profit organization working with the City of Baltimore to provide economic development services. Under his leadership, BDC’s efforts retained or attracted an estimated 62,672 jobs in 1,087 businesses and/or projects, resulting in a capital investment in rehabilitation or new construction exceeding $3.4 billion.

William H. Whyte Award

The William H. Whyte Award recognizes those individuals who have exemplified and maintained the mission and ardor of Whyte, whose work provides a factual basis for achieving livability through empirical observations of the relationship of human beings to place.

Oehme, van Sweden & Associates, Inc. is being honored for continuing the proud tradition of firm founders Wolfgang Oehme and James van Sweden. Oehme and van Sweden co-founded the landscape architecture firm in 1977 and created the ‘New American Garden’ style of landscape architecture. Their understanding of the strong sculptural relationship between architecture and landscape has helped promote the greening of cities and has resulted in the improvement of public health around the world. Lisa Delplace, principal and CEO, will accept the award.

Accepted by Lisa Delplace, principal and CEO

Wolfgang Oehme and James van Sweden co-founded the landscape architecture firm Oehme, van Sweden & Associates, Inc. in 1977. The firm is credited with creating a ‘New American Garden Style’ of landscape architecture, which celebrates the beauty of the natural environment and seeks to treat the physical structures of a garden as complementary elements that enhance the natural landscape. OvS’s notable projects include the World War II Memorial and the Federal Reserve Board Garden in Washington, D.C., as well as the Native Plant Garden in the New York Botanical Garden and the Gardens of the Great Basin in the Chicago Botanic Garden.

OvS partnered with Marilyn Melkonian of the Telesis Corporation on multiple endeavors to bring the beauty of landscape to low-income affordable housing including the Townhomes on Capitol Hill, Paradise Manor Apartments, and Parkside Townhomes in Washington, DC. This partnership allowed for beauty to be brought from grand settings to humble surroundings.

Lisa Delplace, principal and CEO of the firm, will accept the award on behalf of these two innovators and pioneers of landscape architecture.

William H. Whyte Award

For his contributions to creating more environmentally, socially, and financially sustainable communities through his work as a developer, academic, and author.

William H. Whyte Award

Principal at the Townscape Institute, Urban Planner and Designer, Preservation Advocate, Environmental Educator and Critic, for his visionary discussions of visual literacy and place making in the American community.