Michael Baker International Hires Peter Quintanilla to Lead Urban Design Studio in Pennsylvania

Mr. Quintanilla Delivers Urban Design Solutions for Clients to Build Sustainable, Vibrant Communities

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Nov 14, 2017, 09:23 ET

PITTSBURGH, Nov. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Michael Baker International, a global leader in engineering, planning and consulting services, announced today that Peter J. Quintanilla has joined the firm as the Urban Design Studio (UDS) Lead for the Pennsylvania Headquarters Region. Michael Baker's UDS is a national multidisciplinary team of planners, landscape architects, architects and engineers, solely devoted to projects that improve the physical and social environments of communities.

Based in the firm's Moon Township, Pennsylvania, office, Mr. Quintanilla brings more than 18 years of experience to his new role, where he will lead the UDS team in Pennsylvania as part of a collaborative process across Michael Baker's practice groups to deliver complex and holistic urban design solutions for clients. With increased urbanization across the United States, city residents are looking for communities designed to offer sustainable, healthy and vibrant places to live, work and play. Michael Baker's UDS—a distinct division of the Planning and Architecture Practice—has compiled a team of specialized talents to meet these needs.

"Michael Baker International aims to bring the best minds to the Urban Design Studio to craft innovative solutions for our clients; the addition of Peter Quintanilla to lead the efforts in Pennsylvania provides a talented resource to advance the vision," said Susan Harden, Senior Vice President and Practice Lead, Planning and Architecture at Michael Baker International. "Peter's experience leading collaborative design projects across the globe helps the Urban Design Studio reinforce how 'We Make a Difference' in communities and gives our local and national clients the opportunity to utilize the team's unmatched design services."

Prior to joining Michael Baker, Mr. Quintanilla led numerous projects throughout the world using the charrette methodology. This process brings together local government officials, land owners and residents with project designers and engineers to create a complete design that responds to the needs of the community while creating the largest buy-in from government agencies. He most recently worked as a Senior Associate Urban Designer at PlaceWorks, where he master planned greenfield, urban regeneration and infill projects. Mr. Quintanilla also served in numerous roles for The Prince's Foundation, where he led charrettes and projects in the Galapagos, China and England. He has extensive experience in leading charrettes, master planning, urban design, architectural design, watercolors, hand drawings, AutoCAD and Photoshop.

"I look forward to leading the Urban Design Studio in Pittsburgh, as we grow Michael Baker's regional presence while tapping into ongoing national projects that will help to build our larger portfolio and expertise," said Mr. Quintanilla.

Mr. Quintanilla is a member of the Congress for the New Urbanism, Urban Land Institute and the New Urbanism Film Festival. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from the University of Miami (Fla.) and a Master of Architecture from the University of Miami (Fla.)

Michael Baker's UDS convenes the firm's in-house expertise in urban design, sustainability, mobility, public facilitation and community-based planning to deliver innovation and integrated solutions that build more livable communities. The UDS evaluates the unique design needs of each community and aligns a team with the most precise expertise necessary to steer a project from the visioning and coding phases to the implementation of innovative solutions. The group's efforts ultimately result in the development of creative, context-sensitive design solutions that represent the consensus of multiple stakeholders.

For more information on Michael Baker's UDS, visit: https://www.urbandesignstudio.com.

About Michael Baker International
Michael Baker International is a leading global provider of engineering and consulting services, which include planning, architectural, environmental, construction, program management, and full life-cycle support services as well as information technology and communications services and solutions. The company provides its comprehensive range of services and solutions in support of U.S. federal, state, and municipal governments, foreign allied governments, and a wide range of commercial clients. Michael Baker International has more than 6,000 employees in more than 90 locations across the U.S. and internationally. To learn more visit www.mbakerintl.com.