John is recognized as one of the leading international designers in the retail industry. With over 40 years of experience in the design of Shopping Centers, Mixed-Use, Residential and Hospitality, he creates unique destinations with a special sense of place, and his efforts have earned his designs over 10 ICSC Design and Development Awards.
John is credited with designing the first food court in the United States in Paramus Park, New Jersey, and went on to design the first lifestyle center–CocoWalk in Coconut Grove, Florida. In the mid 90’s, he turned his urban planning talent to design the first neo-traditional Town Center in the USA–Easton Town Center in Columbus, Ohio. In 2000, his efforts were directed towards another first–the sports-anchored retail entertainment town center–Westgate City Center; a two-hundred acre mixed-use environment that integrates sports, retail, residential, office and entertainment in Glendale, Arizona.
Today, John finds himself continuing to work on numerous commissions that span the globe. Two of his most recent projects, located in Quito, Ecuador, ironically find him back where his retail career began-with the design of enclosed retail centers and the creation of the next evolution of the mall food court.
A maverick with a relentless passion for design, John is always striving to expand the concept of place, while truly thinking outside the box. Those clients he has had the opportunity to work with have always been rewarded with very special and unique environments.
After having both mentored and worked alongside Jim, Simon and William for almost two decades, he now collaborates with D3i to offer clients a combined wealth of experience that is second to none.