SmithGroup has hired urban design and mobility specialist Janet Attarian where she will work with multi-disciplinary team members within the firm’s Urban Design Practice and across the U.S. to help drive the creation of smart, sustainable urban environments and transform the way mobility is implemented.
Attarian has more than 25 years of experience and was a ranking leader within the planning and development, and transportation departments for the cities of Detroit and Chicago, where she held the roles of deputy director of planning & development and complete streets & sustainability director. During her tenure with these organizations, she led the creation and implementation of a wide range of innovative programs, policies and community enhancement projects, including neighborhood framework plans, river walks, green infrastructure, trails, green alleys and an array of mobility-focused projects, from protected bike lanes to complete streets.
“Janet is a visionary leader whose vast body of work has had a transformative impact on the way transportation infrastructure is designed and implemented in cities,” said Dan Kinkead, co-director of SmithGroup’s Urban Design Practice. “With her national expertise, she understands the complex challenges associated with innovative urban projects and will use her capabilities to help our partners and clients create systems and spaces that improve the quality of life within their communities.”
Her project work has been featured in a range of mainstream media and industry publications, including The New York Times, National Geographic and Public Roads. Her background has also earned her invitations to speak at conferences around the world, including the Urban Land Institute, Urban Development Institute of Australia, National Association of City Transportation Officials and American Planning Association.
Attarian earned a Master of Architecture from the University of Michigan and is a past member of the school’s Alumni Board for the Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning. In addition, she serves as a member of the Federal Highway Administration’s Sustainable Pavement Technical Working Group, which is tasked with producing guidelines for maximizing pavement longevity and reducing the ecological footprint of our nation’s roadways.
