James Wassell
Creative Director
The milti-talented James Wassell has collaborated with Bruce Beinfield for over 20 years. He is an expert on the subject of traditional neighborhood design and fully understands the principles and techniques involved in creating energized, walkable, sustainable urban communities. Throughout his career, James has provided concept design and presentation services to museums, entertainment groups, urban planners and restauranteurs.
In addition to his many years with Beinfield Architecture and DPZ his resume includes work for Cirque Du Soleil, the Rockwell Group, the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum, Sony Corporation of America, and Hyper Entertainment.
James spent many years as a Senior Concept Designer in Walt Disney's Imagineering Department in Glendale, California where he was a vital member of the team that created the "Tomorrowland" theme park for Disney World's Magic Kingdom in Orlando, as well as early Epcot Center concept studies.
Additionally, as Creative Director for Rock Maple Studios, James has provided concept design and presentation services to planning and architectural firms. Projects include: the New Millennium Dome for Namura Bank in partnership with Hyper Entertainment, Aqua Resort Villages for DACRA in Miami Beach in association with Craig Robbins and DPZ Town Planners, Oracabessa Resort Village in Jamaica for Chris Blackwell and Island Outpost, and The Phantom of the Opera in Las Vegas with the Rockwell Group NYC.
He has exhibited his work all over the country and has received many awards over the years, including: Selected Artist/San Francisco Redevelopment Agency for Public Arts Program, Merit Award Best Overall Design/Decker Residence Metropolitan Home Magazine, Garden Community on the Water in Greenwich Connecticut - Design Award, Connecticut Society of Architect Drawing Award Juror's Honor, New England Electric Passive Solar Home Competition-Design Award, The Ford Foundation Grants (1979, 1980).
James received his MFA from Syracuse University. A university fellowship allowed him to pursue his parallel interest in architecture in the MArch program at the School of Architecture, Syracuse University. He held Graduate Teaching Positions at both Syracuse University School of Architecture and Syracuse University School of Visual and Performing Arts. James received his BFA, painting cum laude from the University of New Hampshire.