About

Andrew Watkins is an architect, urban designer, and planner with over 20 years of professional experience. Andrew is licensed in California and Massachusetts.

As a Principal at JZMK, his work focuses on large-scale urban design projects that explore the confluence of ecology and urbanism. Andrew has led the design of community plans, urban design and new city planning projects in diverse locales, the United States, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Indonesia, India, China, South Africa, Botswana, Ethiopia, Germany, Italy, and Armenia.

Andrew’s work focuses on place making and creating high-quality public realms. His project experience includes urban and suburban revitalization as well as green-field development, creating and transforming mixed-use residential, retail, commercial and light industrial districts.

Andrew has particular interests in projects that engage wellness and the ecological systems of food, mobility, waste, shelter and water.

Andrew has researched contemporary urban conditions as related to these ecological systems, infrastructure and grassroots organization in both developed and developing nations. Past research projects include ‘The Search for the Perfect Ride: The Future of Mobility Oriented Development in Orange County’; ‘Hyperfood: Integrated Food Systems for the Future’; ‘Building for Resilience’ on the Front Range of Northern Colorado; ‘Social Entrepreneurship: Expanded Business Models in Developing Markets’ studying methodologies for Social Impact Design at SWA; ‘Ecologies of Gold’ in Johannesburg, South Africa; ‘Villages in Development’ in China’s rapidly developing Pearl River Delta; ‘Opportunities of Contemporary Urban Transformations’ in Eastern Germany; and ‘Tall Buildings in the City,’ a research fellowship with Moshe Safdie that explored the potentials of connecting tall buildings.

Andrew regularly speaks at and participants in several professional organizations. As a Full Member of ULI, he Chairs the national Residential Neighborhood Development Council and has served on the Health Leaders Network. He also serves locally as part of the Building Healthy Places Council and For Sale Housing Council. With the AIA, Andrew serves on the National Ethics Committee. He holds a Bachelors of Architecture from Syracuse University and a Masters of Architecture in Urban Design from the Graduate School of Design at Harvard University.