Urban Environments: Designs that Build Better Communities

URBAN ENVIRONMENTS

designs that build better communities

LS3P is a versatile firm providing planning, urban design, interior design, and architecture services to a diverse range of clients in the southeast.

With twelve offices spanning four states and a central presence in the Southeast, LS3P is dedicated to bringing the cutting-edge design, planning, and expertise of a robust regional firm directly to our clients on a local level.

contact Justin Kearnan, AIA Urban Planning & Design Leader justinkearnan@ls3p.com

who we are

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Our Mission Our Values & Principles The Urban Design Difference

key service areas

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Urban Design Urban Planning Development Advisory Large-Scale Mixed Use

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experience 10 Urban Design & Large-Scale Mixed Use Urban Planning

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our mission

Leveraging our insight of urbanism architecture, policy, and economics, we create great places that benefit people, communities, and planetary health.

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LS3P’s Urban Environments practice is purpose-built for positive transformation, focused on impact, and driven by our mission. Every project has an impact on, and becomes part of, our shared built environment, and as cities across our region continue to experience rapid growth and economic investment, it is imperative that we engage with the

communities across the Southeast to better understand the challenges impacting people’s quality of life and planetary health. It is our responsibility to design buildings, places, and systems that respond to these challenges and transform the urban environment across the Southeast in ways that enable all people and the planet to thrive.

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our values & principles 6

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Welcome to our Urban Environments Team, where our values and principles shape the foundation of our work. At the core of our identity, we proudly declare: We are story-tellers, weaving narratives into the fabric of urban spaces. As dedicated urban designers, planners, landscape designers and architects we envision and craft environments that transcend functionality to become inspiring places to be.

interconnected, we integrate diverse perspectives and disciplines to create harmonious, sustainable, and vibrant urban environments. Each project is a testament to our dedication to a comprehensive understanding of the intricate web of factors influencing the places we call home.

In the tapestry of our team, every member contributes to the realization of our shared vision. We are not merely creators; we are stewards of the urban Innovation is the heartbeat of our experience, acutely aware of the team. We thrive on pushing boundaries profound influence our designs wield and exploring new frontiers, on communities and the individuals constantly seeking novel solutions within them. Our primary focus lies in to the challenges presented by urban crafting essential spaces and nurturing landscapes. As problem-solvers, we equitable, resilient communities. embrace challenges as opportunities, Together, we embark on a journey to turning obstacles into steppingstones redefine urban landscapes, leaving an toward groundbreaking design indelible mark that reflects our passion solutions. for excellence and the pursuit of a better tomorrow.

Our commitment extends beyond individual components; we take a holistic approach to our projects.

Understanding that every element is

the urban design difference Holistic Visionaries

Innovative Problem-Solvers

Adaptive Flexibility

Our design team stands out by adopting a holistic approach to every project. We don’t merely focus on isolated design elements; instead, we view projects as integrated systems, considering the environmental, social, and economic aspects. This comprehensive perspective ensures that our designs not only function seamlessly but also contribute positively to the broader context.

What sets us apart is our relentless commitment to innovation. We thrive on challenges, viewing them as opportunities to push boundaries and explore creative solutions. Whether it’s overcoming spatial constraints, integrating cutting-edge technologies, or addressing sustainability concerns, our team excels at turning complex problems into innovative design features.

Our design team excels in adaptability, recognizing that urban environments are dynamic and ever-evolving. We embrace change and evolving trends, allowing our designs to remain relevant and resilient over time. This adaptability is reflected in our ability to integrate the latest technologies, respond to shifting cultural influences, and anticipate future needs, ensuring that our projects stand the test of time.

Environmental Stewardship

Collaborative Excellence

User-Centric Designers

What distinguishes us further is our deep commitment to environmental sustainability. We proactively seek ways to minimize our projects’ ecological footprint, integrating green spaces, renewable energy sources, and sustainable materials. Our team is dedicated to creating not just aesthetically pleasing designs but ones that contribute positively to the health and sustainability of our planet.

Collaboration is ingrained in our DNA. Unlike other teams, we believe in the power of diverse perspectives. Our collaborative approach involves close interaction with clients, stakeholders, and internal team members. By fostering open communication and valuing each team member’s input, we ensure a rich exchange of ideas that leads to well-rounded, inclusive, and successful design outcomes.

We don’t just create spaces; we craft experiences. Through meticulous research and understanding of end-users’ needs, preferences, and behaviors, we tailor our designs to enhance the human experience. Our focus on user satisfaction ensures that our projects not only meet functional requirements but also resonate with and enrich the lives of those who interact with them.

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urban design

key service areas

We sculpt cityscapes and neighborhoods with precision, seamlessly blending form and function to create vibrant, sustainable environments that inspire and connect diverse communities.

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urban planning We navigate the complexities of spatial organization, land use, and infrastructure, shaping cohesive cities and places that optimize efficiency, resilience, and quality of life.

development advisory We guide clients through the intricate structure of real estate development with expertise in managing the redevelopment of complicated parcels for successful and impactful project outcomes.

large-scale mixed use We envision large-scale mixed-use projects and master plans that weave together diverse elements – residential, commercial, and recreational spaces – into harmonious, integrated communities that redefine the way we live, work and play.

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Urban Design Experience

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INTEGRAL GROUP

Morrison Station 12

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The Vision LOCATION Charleston, SC

COMPLETED Ongoing

Morrison Station is an ambitious vision for a holistic, mixed-income, mixed-use development that promises affordability across a broad income spectrum, with the power to transform the Eastside Community.

Historic Inequities SERVICES Urban Design, Architecture, Interiors

Cooper River Courts, dating back to its construction in 1938 and expansion in the 1950s, has been marred by social inequality, with racial and socioeconomic disparities deeply ingrained. The enduring consequences of its original design constraints have

shaped perceptions of affordable housing in Charleston, exerting a lasting influence on the Eastside Community for generations. Our vision for Morrison Station seeks to redefine these perceptions, laying the groundwork for community growth and prosperity. We firmly believe that the time is ripe for this transformation, and this development is precisely what the Eastside needs.

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Celebrated Evolution Morrison Station will evolve into a diverse and inclusive mixed-use neighborhood, fortifying the very essence of the Eastside Community. In Charleston, there are remarkably few locations that can offer a significant amount of high-density, human-scaled, and diverse housing options while ensuring easy access to public transit and proximity to job opportunities. This site undoubtedly serves as the gateway to the Eastside neighborhood, and for many, it will be their introduction to the vibrant heart of Charleston.

Through deliberate and considerate interventions, Morrison Station will emerge as a thriving, diverse, mixeduse neighborhood that enriches the identity of the Eastside, reinforcing its sense of place and belonging.

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CONFIDENTIAL

Ballpark District 16

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LOCATION North Carolina

COMPLETED Ongoing

SERVICES Urban Planning & Architecture

The Vision

Key Elements

The Ballpark District Master Plan represents an exciting and innovative vision for a growing Downtown area. This visionary plan is not just about creating a ballpark; it is about establishing a vibrant and dynamic civic destination that seamlessly blends a multitude of cultural amenities with a diverse range of mixed-use offerings. At its core, the Ballpark District seeks to redefine the urban experience by providing a walkable and immersive community gathering place. Unlike anything else in the region, this master plan envisions a one-of-a-kind hub that brings together residents and visitors alike, fostering a sense of connection and belonging in the heart of the city.

This ambitious project is poised to become a catalyst for urban revitalization, breathing new life into the heart of this town. By weaving together cultural attractions, recreational spaces, residential developments, and commercial opportunities, the Ballpark District will not only create economic opportunities but also establish a true sense of place. With a commitment to walkability and inclusivity, this visionary plan promises to shape the future of this downtown area, offering a compelling example of how thoughtful urban design can transform a community into a vibrant and thriving urban center.

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CRAIG DAVIS PROPERTIES

Copper District 18

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LOCATION Clayton, NC

COMPLETED Ongoing

SERVICES Urban Design & Architecture

The Vision

Key Elements

This transformative mixed-use district connects a legacy of community and farming with a future of curated and dynamic spaces. The District includes offices, shopping, dining, and a rich variety of housing options, making a home for residents in every phase of life and cultivating a robust sense of community.

Our team is developing visionary ideas to establish a new 360-acre mixeduse district. The District will establish a vibrant and active main street corridor, boasting new commercial and residential amenities for the area. Civic and community amenities welcome all of the town to the district, providing key necessities like grocery stores, elementary schools, and ample public space. The district is woven together through a robust greenway network, promoting a highly-walkable and connected place.

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Drawing Connections Within this work, our team is playing a critical role in connecting the goals of the municipality and the developer.

In support of the municipality, we are putting clear design guidelines around the development to maintain the unique identity this district has fostered. In support of the developer, we are shaping a detailed master plan that guides the full build-out of real estate opportunities and the design of projects so that individual investments add up to a cohesive destination district.

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LEGACY ALLIANCE GROUP

Legacy Place 22

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Family Ties LOCATION Raleigh, NC

COMPLETED Ongoing

SERVICES Urban Design & Architecture

Word of God has been a Southeast Raleigh staple since 1988. When Pastor Summerfield’s parents and founders of Word of God passed away, he was inspired to build upon their legacy. With a mission and passion for community-focused, people-first places, he knew the impact Legacy Place could have on his fellowship and beyond.

Untapped Potential Legacy Place has the potential to be the most connected district in the Triangle. The site is at the intersection of I-40 and I-440 on Rock Quarry Road – a major transit corridor for Raleigh.

On the local scale, adjacent residential developments terminate into Legacy

Place and offer direct neighborhood access in five locations.

The Opportunity Southeast Raleigh, home to historic and close-knit communities predominantly comprising black residents, has experienced displacement and gentrification as the city expanded in recent years. Today, the area grapples with persistent challenges in infrastructure, education, employment, and other essential needs. The Legacy Place Vision is dedicated to fostering community and providing vital support, aiming to create a highly accessible mixed-use district.

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Key Elements A place to learn, to grow, to explore, to play, to invent, and to call home.

Legacy Place is the next step for Southeast Raleigh – fulfilling a plethora of community gaps while providing rich, community-focused spaces for people of all ages to enjoy.

The elements of Legacy Place address the missing needs and amenities within the community. While replacing the existing church and school, Legacy Place also offers an innovation hub with flexible classroom space, career training, and after-school curriculums and a recreation center with basketball courts, outdoor fields, and community spaces.

The creek that bifurcates a majority of the site is showcased rather than overlooked. By creating programmed and active green space surrounding the creek, and using the main street as a device to front this newly-formed public space, the once-challenging wetlands become an educational and recreational asset.

Legacy Place includes six housing types across various proposed affordability rates, including townhouses, 4 story walk-ups, 5-7 story apartments, and 12 story, mixed-use apartments.

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CRAIG DAVIS PROPERTIES

Durham Center II 26

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An Ambitious Foundation LOCATION Durham, NC

COMPLETED 2021 (Design Only)

SERVICES Urban Design & Architecture

Durham Center II effort led by Craig Davis Properties, Walsh Group, and Archer Western to develop an ambitious and implementable vision to transform the Durham Center 2 block in downtown Durham into a vibrant, mixed-use residential tower; a vision that captures the balance between Durham’s industrial legacy with the city’s enthusiasm for its medical and technological destiny.

Redeveloping the 1+ acre site presents a generational opportunity to rethink a rare, uniquely-downtown property at a critical moment in our city’s history.

Today, the property accommodates a tired four-floor parking deck integrated with the adjacent parking deck and office tower of Durham Center 1.

The future of Durham Tower will be 300 residential units within a high-rise tower, a podium rooftop of residential amenities, approximately 12,000 GSF of ground level retail, and approximately 400 spaces of structured car parking.

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The Vision

The Goals

Durham Center II will be purposebuilt for the pioneering, innovative, and entrepreneurial legacy that forged Durham’s industrial legacy a century ago and that continues to propel the city today; a residential living experience that is respectful and reverent of the city’s legacy while crafting a heightened living experience for those forging our medical and technological destiny. The Tower will provide:

Built on genuine ambition and grounded in the realities of citybuilding in a downtown location, Craig Davis Properties, Walsh Group, Archer Western, and the City of Durham identified the following 12 key project goals:

• Premiere living experiences supporting medical and technical lifestyles • The gold standard for post-COVID work from home experience • Advancement of Durham’s local history, legacy, and character • Amenity-rich experiences that celebrate incredible citywide views

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01 Create an Activated Public Realm • Lively and vibrant public spaces • Active retail and other uses that front public realm 02 Define Diverse Housing Options • Variety of housing typologies and unit types • Variety of housing price points 03 Curate Unique Resident Amenities

04 Support Multi-Modal Mobility • Alternative transportation options • Multi-modal lifestyles 05 Deliver Expediently to the Market • Expedient design and documentation • Expedient permitting and approvals 06 Achieve Optimal Space Usage • Mixed use • Market-driven project 07 Target Healthy Market Absorption • Delivery timed to the market • Mixed-use 08 Provide Strong Financial Feasibility

• Amenities that increase livability

• Amenities that add value

• Amenities that provide local convenience

• Efficient development

09 Provide Greater Development Certainty • Targeted design to achieve the city’s goals • Market-driven building 10 Design for Ease of Constructability • Simple construction systems • Repeatable construction details 11 Optimize Speed of Construction • Repeatable construction details • Simplified construction sequencing 12 Design for Phased Construction • Simplified construction sequencing • Repeatable construction details

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Urban Planning Experience

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CITY OF MYRTLE BEACH

Arts & Innovation District 32

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LOCATION Myrtle Beach, SC

COMPLETED Ongoing SERVICES Urban Planning, Urban Design, Architecture, Interiors, Experiential Graphics; Stakeholder Engagement

Stakeholder Collaboration

The Vision

The Arts + Innovation District is the result of a remarkable collaboration between many entities and stakeholders. These include Benchmark Planning, the Myrtle Beach City Mayor and Council, City staff, Myrtle Beach Downtown Alliance, One Grand Strand, Horry County, and the State of South Carolina. During the design and planning process, the design leadership of these entities has been instrumental in engaging the community, advocating for public space and equitable housing, preserving and celebrating the City’s history, and building consensus.

The Arts + Innovation District will be community-driven and amenity-richcentered around the vibrant arts and innovation culture. The confluence of residential, cultural, commercial, and civic uses will create a center of gravity for Myrtle Beach, capitalizing on the idea of “locational magnetism.”

As we build on the City’s history and traditions, we look forward to a new chapter: one that embodies innovation, identity, and inclusion. The District will unify citizens around a common point of civic pride and help the City become a four-season destination and even more desirable place to live.

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Key Elements The District will be defined and delineated by eight strategic components, each contributing to the rich mix of amenities and uses.

These include a reinvigorated “main street” at 9th Avenue, a retail hub at the historic Downtown Core, a vibrant civic park, a cultural hub with a children’s museum and library, a commercial/civic gateway with a blend of commercial uses, a central civic complex including City Hall, workforce housing, and an art museum. Together, these elements will create a myriad of live/work/play opportunities to attract multigenerational visitors and residents alike.

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TOWN OF KIAWAH ISLAND

Comprehensive Plan 36

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Setting the Stage Kiawah is a roaring success.

It’s captivating story, decades in the making, expresses how this pristine coastal island has come into its own as a world-class resort, beloved community, and welcoming destination. The development’s original master plans were vital in establishing the vision for the island and setting a trajectory for its growth, while subsequent planning efforts have thoughtfully captured the trends and issues of the day and capitalized upon their energy to further generate this one-of-a-kind place.

The Vision Kiawah’s Comprehensive Plan Update is a unique moment in time to utilize a planning process in order to define the island’s future. The endeavor presents the opportunity to engage the Kiawah community in a powerful way to ask what residents and guests wish for town.

LOCATION Kiawah Island, SC

COMPLETED 2023

SERVICES Urban Planning; Community Engagement

The creation of the title “Kiawah Next” is not simply an exercise in document branding; it is a conscientious choice to avoid planning jargon such as “community engagement” and “comprehensive planning” when reaching out to the public. We have found great success in creating warm, approachable, interactive campaigns through aspirational language, giving residents the freedom to daydream about the success of their community together in unstructured ways.

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TOWN OF CLAYTON

Gateway 42 Small Area Plan 38

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Clayton’s New Front Door LOCATION Clayton, NC

COMPLETED 2023

SERVICES Urban Planning; Community Engagement

As US-70 is upgraded to Interstate 42, a new critical junction is forming where this nationally-significant corridor meets and intersects with Clayton. I-42’s upgraded format invites a heightened condition unlike anything we see today. In the future, I-42 will serve as one of the most important routes by which people reach and enter Clayton, so the area around this crossroads will be a key gateway into town as well as the face of the community for many. This highlyconnected thoroughfare will also bring new activity to Clayton, which translates into both new opportunities and new threats.

The plan considers forthcoming changes and gets out ahead of them,

empowering the community to shape their environment in accordance with their collective vision. The plan acknowledges that growth can be a positive force, when it is harnessed for good and can in fact help bolster the quality-of-life for the whole community.

By embracing a proactive approach that anticipates changes and potential challenges, we can effectively preserve and protect what Clayton holds dear, preventing any detrimental impacts on their community’s resources and character. In order to define those goals, the Gateway 42 plan was informed by a vibrant community engagement campaign from startto-finish that sought to address the aspirations and concerns of those live, work, visit, and travel through the area.

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