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Institute of Transportation Engineers

Crossroads Matthews



A plan for equitable suburban growth in North Carolina.

Overview


Light rail is coming to the middle-class Charlotte suburb of Matthews, bringing with it uncertainty about how the town might grow yet still hold onto its small-town character. This made it an ideal case study for Institute of Transportation Engineers’s annual urban design competition.

I led historical research and cultural strategies for Arup’s submission to the competition. Inspired by the “salt and pepper” urban fabric of Charlotte after the Civil War, I focused my strategies around finding ways we could evolve the town’s identity from a protected bedroom community to a point of intersection where diverse communities can mingle and generate collective identity.

We placed second in the competition and were invited to present our plan at ITE’s annual conference in New Orleans.

RoleDesigner, Planner

Activitiesarchival research
interviews
concept development
creative direction
spatial analysis
planning strategy

TeamSteve Gaskill, Stella Yip, Thyda Uy, Katherine Buck, Mike Ernst, Alexandra Hyatt
ClientInstitute of Transportation Engineers (ITE)

Date2022

LocationMatthews, North Carolina

StudioArup Cities, Planning & Design
Sample Spreads
“John...provided expert background research, went above and beyond in seeking out external perspectives from local experts, and developed high-quality graphics that greatly improved our submission and directly contributed to its success.”

- Steve Gaskill, Project Director
John Moody is creative director & urban designer specializing in user research, urban strategy & place identity. Let’s connect!  ~ john.s.moody@gmail.com