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Internal Event

Public Realm Design Strategies with Marissa Garcia (UPM ’22) & Tara Green of OJB Landscape Architects

November 15, 2024 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM

Online and Higgins Hall 211

Register
An evening aerial view of Klyde Warren Park in downtown Dallas, with a large crowd gathered on the lawn, enjoying an outdoor event. The cityscape features modern high-rise buildings illuminated by lights, including a vibrant red building and structures with colorful lighting effects. Trees line the park, and cars fill the adjacent streets, contributing to the lively urban atmosphere.

Presented by the Association of Pratt Placemakers (APP) graduate student group and MS, Urban Placemaking and Management Program. This event is open to all Pratt students, faculty, and staff.

Pratt alumni Marissa Garcia (UPM ‘22) and OJB Principal Tara Green will join us virtually from Dallas to present their work at the internationally recognized landscape architecture and urban planning firm OJB. Marissa and Tara will share how they came to specialize in public realm design, and offer valuable insight into their process, explaining how community engagement, management strategies, funding and maintenance plans are all integral aspects to a successful public project. The presentation highlights Klyde Warren Park, a park decked over a highway in Dallas, where Tara previously served as President. This event is open to the entire Pratt community, the presentation will be followed by a Q&A session.

About the speakers:

Tara Green is the Principal of Public Realm Strategies at OJB. Tara earned a Master of Sports Administration from Ohio University and a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Tara works with designers, consultants, clients, and communities on project programming, governance and staffing, and budgeting. Her ability to build support for activation and self-sustaining operations has been pivotal to the success of several of OJB’s major urban parks, university campuses, and mixed-use developments.

Marissa Garcia joined OJB in 2023 as a Public Realm Design Specialist. She earned a Master of Urban Placemaking and Management from Pratt Institute and a Bachelor of Science in Urban, Community, and Regional Planning from Texas A&M University. Marissa seeks to create unique outdoor experiences accessible to all users. Before coming to OJB Marissa worked at a regional consulting firm as an Urban Planner/Designer. She also had internships as a Project Coordinator at Public Works Partners, and as a Planning Intern at The Municipal Art Society of New York.