Urban Design Associates (UDA) was founded in 1964 by David Lewis, FAIA, and Raymond Gindroz, FAIA, as one of the earliest architecture firms to concentrate on the design of neighborhoods and cities.
[2] Lewis and Gindroz pioneered methods for engaging citizens in the design of community centers, schools, and neighborhoods.
[3] The firm is known for refining and developing public planning process and authored The Urban Design Handbook, Techniques and Working Methods, a textbook published by W. W. Norton & Company.
[4] UDA has advanced urban design as an important branch of the architecture profession, and co-founder David Lewis was influential in creating the Regional Urban Design Assistance Team (R/UDAT) service of the American Institute of Architects,[5] and organized the "Remaking Cities" conference that was held in Pittsburgh in 1988 to address post-industrial cities.
[8][9] The Urban Design Associates portfolio of work includes urban design, transit, and community development projects working with local and regional governmental authorities and private developers in North America, Europe, and Eurasia.