Founded in 1974, DPR Design has grown from a small practice into a multidisciplinary design studio recognized for its commitment to innovation, collaboration, and enduring design excellence. For over fifty years, DPR has combined the disciplines of landscape architecture and civil engineering to create meaningful places that balance human experience with ecological resilience. From their earliest projects, the firm has remained guided by a simple but powerful philosophy: design should enrich communities, respect the environment, and endure over time. Their work spans master-planned communities, urban design, civic spaces, parks, and private development. In every case, they seek to integrate natural systems, innovative infrastructure, and thoughtful placemaking. Today, their firm continues to evolve while holding true to the values that shaped their first fifty years: creativity, integrity, and a relentless pursuit of design that serves people and place.

The Commons at the Park; Charlotte, NC

Commons at the Park is a mixed-use development centered on an urban green space that functions as both a community gathering place and an organizing framework for retail, office, and residential uses. DPR's scope included site assessment, conceptual planning, infrastructure coordination, and landscape architecture. The central commons anchors the development with walking loops, shade trees, and flexible lawn areas for events and gatherings. Attention was placed on pedestrian connectivity and integrating stormwater features as visible amenities. This project reflects their philosophy of leveraging open space as the heart of community design, providing value both to residents and the surrounding city.
Photo Credit: Ben Amend @BENSAWTHIS

 


Station West; Charlotte, NC

Station West transforms a series of underutilized industrial buildings into a vibrant mixed-use destination. DPR led the site planning, streetscape improvements, and amenity design to create an inviting environment for businesses, retail, and community events. The design emphasizes adaptive reuse, with plazas and courtyards carved between historic warehouse structures framed by native plantings and flexible seating. Connectivity to adjacent neighborhoods and future transit was a key consideration, positioning Station West as a long-term catalyst for urban revitalization. The project demonstrates how thoughtful site design can honor industrial heritage while creating modern, people-focused spaces.
Photo Credit: Ben Amend @BENSAWTHIS




Oak Farm; Huntersville, NC

DPR Design provided civil engineering, rezoning, and landscape architecture to transform a historic family farm into a context-sensitive neighborhood. They preserved 17 acres of open space, protecting environmental areas and delivering a connected green network. A key technical achievement was securing approval for a non-standard entry road that winds through mature trees and crosses a creek - creating a calm arrival sequence that honors the site's agrarian character. The landscape framework centers on three parks: The Fields, an open meadow for active play; The Farmhouse, an open-air pavilion that houses the community's mailboxes and shaded seating, and The Backyard, a family hub with a playground, fire pit, and flexible recreation lawn. Their scope also included the entry monument and branding, reinforcing a clear sense of place. Photo Credit: Ben Amend @BENSAWTHIS




Founders Yard; Charleston, SC

Founders Yard is a multi-family residential community designed around the principle of blending social amenity with quiet retreat. The project included site planning, grading, utilities, and detailed landscape architecture for courtyards, pools, outdoor kitchens, and resident gathering spaces. DPR's design team created a series of interconnected outdoor "rooms" that balance activity and relaxation, including a resort-style pool deck, fire pit lounges, and shaded dining terraces. Planting design emphasizes seasonal color and shade, creating year-round vibrancy. Founders Yard reflects the team's approach of designing residential environments that elevate daily life, where outdoor spaces serve as an extension of the home.
Photo Credit: Ben Amend @BENSAWTHIS

As seen in LASN magazine, October 2025.