SANTA ANA, CA—Understanding what each community needs and whattheir unique challenges are is key to a successful planning, designand environmental firm likePlaceWorks, principal Brian Juddtells GlobeSt.com. The firm recently won five awards from fourdifferent sections of the American Planning Association'sCalifornia Chapter for its exceptional work incomprehensive planning, urban design and transportation planning.GlobeSt.com caught up with Judd to discuss important things to keepin mind in comprehensive planning, urban design and transportationand what firms that specialize in these areas need to know in orderto thrive.

GlobeSt.com: What are the interesting things you'renoticing when doing the type of work you do?

Judd: We're a multidimensional firm,which is what makes us different from our competition. We offerenvironmental practice, urban design and planning all rolled intoone. We have expertise in economics, policy and regulatory,environmental, landscape architecture, public health and greenhousegases. We're working with a private developer on a master-planningcommunity, and we're bringing in experts in those different fieldsto really help them understand the issues and opportunities. We'regaining greater appreciation of the linkage between economic growthand housing affordability—how we deal with the built environment.For example, with the Bergamot Station Area Plan in SantaMonica, there are vital urban and suburban corridors, theaward we won recognized our efforts to convert 142.5 acres ofpreviously industrial land into atransit-oriented neighborhood centered around anew Metro Line stop that is expected to open by2016.