Duany ranks high on Builder’s most influential list

Andres Duany of Duany Plater-Zyberk & Company was the only new urbanist to make Builder magazine’s list of 50 top industry power brokers. Duany was ranked number five, behind only Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan, Fannie Mae Chairman Franklin Raines (now retired), President George W. Bush, and Jerry Howard, CEO of the National Association of Home Builders. Here’s what Builder said about Duany: “Let’s face it — the building industry wouldn’t be buzzing about traditional neighborhood developments or New Urbanism if it weren’t for Duany. Seaside clearly is Duany’s most famous project, but his groundbreaking firm is associated with a whole lot more. In fact, DPZ has a whopping 120 projects in its global portfolio. In addition, Duany, a founder and board member of the Congress for the New Urbanism, has been at the forefront of a movement that integrates planning with accompanying design codes. His philosophy has changed the look of communities everywhere, on sites that range from 10 to more than 500,000 acres.” Two other architects made the list: Sarah Susanka of The Not So Big House fame (number 13 on the list); and William McDonough, maven of sustainable design (number 22). Most of the rest of the list is composed of CEOs of major building and building industry companies. Builder has never previously put together such a list. u