Speakers

Yogesh A. Saoji is a distinguished planner, urban designer, and architect whose transdisciplinary practice spans three decades. As Global Planning Leader at DLR Group, an integrated design firm, he defines, shapes, and advances a nationally recognized planning practice focused on equity, sustainability, and community-centered design. His experience spans a wide range of project types working with federal, state, and local governments, higher educational institutions, developers, communities, and stakeholders. He has worked on numerous award-winning projects in campus planning, civic design, cultural initiatives, higher education, transportation, and large-scale mixed-use redevelopments.

Yogesh volunteers with allied organizations to broaden the reach of planning and urban design. His work has received numerous awards from various organizations such as AIA, APA, SCUP, CNU, and others, while addressing core issues of social justice and inequity, particularly in support of underserved populations. Yogesh's career demonstrates a comprehensive approach to planning and design, emphasizing the integration of community outreach and engagement, consensus building, resiliency, equity, capacity building, and implementation. He has taught at the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Cincinnati. He previously served on the Board of Green Building United, a Delaware Valley organization focused on green building advocacy and education.