Margaret Newman and John Bachmann join Stantec’s Urban Places

Key hires will grow urban planning and smart cities practice in New York City, Washington, D.C. areas

NEW YORK, NY – NYSE, TSX:STN

Global integrated design firm Stantec has hired industry veterans Margaret Newman and John Bachmann to lead its growing Urban Places practice in the New York City and Washington, D.C. areas. The two additions bolster the firm’s capabilities in smart infrastructure, designing livable communities, and mobility, bringing decades of experience in North America and around the world. Both were named to Architect Magazine’s “A Who’s Who of Smart Cities” in 2019.

“Cities are on the cusp of a new revolution that leverages data for better planning outcomes, improving the way we live and move around,” said Nancy MacDonald, Director of Stantec’s Urban Places. “We are thrilled for Margaret and John to join us in our work to support better outcomes for communities. Both are household names in our industry, with stellar pedigree and experience.”

Margaret Newman is joining Stantec as Practice Leader for Urban Places and Smart Mobility, based in the firm’s New York City office. A trained architect and urban planner, she has more than 30 years of experience designing public realm projects and leading multidisciplinary teams. Prior to joining Stantec, Newman headed up her own consulting firm More Urban, advising on design, urban planning, and development projects. Under Mayor Bloomberg and Commissioner Sadik-Khan, Newman served as Chief of Staff at the New York City Department of Transportation where she directed major agency projects including the capital construction plan for Times Square.

“Prior to joining Stantec, I followed with great interest the formation of the Urban Places practice as a unique approach to integrating architecture, landscape architecture, urban design, smart mobility and transportation,” stated Newman. “With the complex set of skills and knowledge increasingly required for successful project outcomes, the idea of deliberately and thoughtfully integrating planning, design and engineering within one firm made so much sense and has the potential to provide clients with a very rich resource. As a designer, I couldn’t hope for a better group of colleagues to collaborate with and deliver innovative twenty-first century solutions.”

John Bachmann will serve as Practice Leader for Community Development, sitting in the Fairfax, VA office. Bachmann is a trained architect and urban planner with more than 30 years of experience specializing in the integration of urban development policies and plans—in both cities and suburbs—and focuses on walkable, vibrant mixed-use places that promote quality of life and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. His work includes a strong portfolio of smart infrastructure, planning, economics, and international development across 40 countries.

“I am very excited to join Stantec’s vibrant Urban Places team, which is doing cutting-edge work in the areas I care about most: cities for people and reducing our carbon footprint,” said Bachmann. “I believe North Americans are on the verge of a major shift towards a more inclusive and sustainable way of living in cities, and Stantec has got the right skills and values to help make it happen.”

Stantec’s Urban Places team is an interdisciplinary hub bringing together leaders in planning and urban design, mobility, resilience and sustainability, mixed-use development, real estate advisory, and smart cities. The team works in cities and suburbs across North America to unlock new economic, social, and environmental value through enhanced livability, equity, and resilience. By blending data and industry expertise with creative approaches, the group equips communities with the tools necessary to proactively manage change and confidently shape the future.

In Centennial, Colorado, the team is near completion on the Dry Creek Station Next Generation Infrastructure Study. The multidisciplinary team of smart city experts is working with the City of Centennial to update development policies in preparation of growing trends in technology-integrated infrastructure, and to develop smart city pilot project recommendations with potential city-wide expansion. The team is also working with 12 communities across Massachusetts to conduct Covid revitalization planning, supported by a $10 million federal grant. In Raleigh, North Carolina, the team is undertaking planning efforts along a proposed 5.1-mile, 10-station bus rapid transit corridor on New Bern Avenue—one of the fastest growing areas in the country.