James Wassell
Design Director
The multi-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.
James' experience working with the urban design firm, Duany Plater-Zyberk & Company, in over 60 town and urban planning charettes through the past ten years has placed him at the forefront of "New Urbanism" planning principles. He was a key DPZ planning team member and charrette participant.
In addition to his many years with Beinfield Architecture and DPZ, James was the Director of Environmental Design for Sony Corporation of America for 4 years working on projects in Berlin, San Francisco, Chicago, and Tokyo.
James spent five years as a Senior Concept Designer at Walt Disney's Imagineering in Glendale, California, where he collaborated on site planning and concept design for resort properties in Japan and the United States.
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 work throughout the United States including the Art Institute of Chicago and the Bass Museum in Miami Beach. He has received many awards over the years, including: 2018 AIA CT Chapter Drawing Award - Waterfront Home Concept Sketch, 2014 AIA CT Chapter Design Award-Covered Bridge House, 2012 AIA CT Chapter Drawing Award - Mount Zion; 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 a University Fellowship from Syracuse University to pursue his graduate studies in the Masters of Architecture program at the School of Architecture. In addition, he received a full scholarship to study painting at the School of Visual and Performing Arts at Syracuse University culmination in a Master of Fine Arts. In 1981, James served as a teaching assistant for two years in the School of Architecture and Visual and Performing Arts at Syracuse University.