Adam Light
Los Angeles,CA
Summary
Adam Light, AICP-CUD
Urban Designer - Transit Station Design
Senior Director at Los Angeles County Metro, leading the development and implementation of some of the transit industry's most innovative station and urban design standards. Proven expertise in interagency and interdisciplinary coordination and negotiation. Exceptional at project planning and professional team building. Adept at delivering high-performance, cost-effective station and urban design solutions that elevate transit rider experience, universal accessibility, and design excellence. Personable and client service-oriented with extensive experience in the urban design and public transit industry. Dedicated team player with an upbeat, positive attitude, and proven skill in establishing rapport with clients.
Overview
28
28
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Sr. Director, Metro Systemwide Design
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro)
Los Angeles, USA
08.2015 - Current
- Design Direction - Direct team of architects and planners responsible for HRT, LRT, and BRT station planning, siting, and design – leading station siting, station public area design, and urban design coordination on seven new transit corridor projects that are recently completed, under construction, or in the planning and design phases.
- Design Standards - Led the successful development of innovative, integrated transit station design standards, incorporated into existing and future Metro transit projects. New standards enhance customer experience, safety, security, accessibility, and station functionality, while making stations more cost-effective to design, build, operate, and maintain.
- Station Remodels - Developing integrated design standards and architectural plans to remodel existing station public areas, including architectural finishes, furniture, wayfinding, customer information, accessibility elements, and advertising.
- Project Coordination - Extensive experience coordinating and negotiating with design-build and progressive design-build contractors, public agency departments, elected officials, and multiple municipalities to implement Metro’s planning, design, and construction of seven new transit corridors, including approximately 80 stations.
- Urban Design - Directing urban design feasibility studies and coordinating with multiple teams managing environmental assessments for new subway and LRT transit corridor plans, including station siting and site design, as well as transfer facilities, first/last mile, and joint/adjacent development.
- Aviation - Led design direction and coordination of a major airport multi-modal transit hub station at LAX (LAX-Metro Transit Center), including rail transit, direct APM interface, 13-bay bus terminal, large secure bike hub, and pick-up/drop-off.
Urban Design and Planning Approvals Coordination Lead
MMM Group, Ltd. (now WSP) - TTC contract staffing
Toronto, Canada
07.2009 - 08.2015
- Planning Approvals - Site Plan and Building Permit Applications – Coordinating approval processes to maintain construction schedule, including supervising professional planning staff.
- Coordinating station architects, engineers, and other design consultants to address station/urban design, land use planning, utilities, and property issues for each station site.
- Coordinating station architectural and urban design elements to ensure seamless multi-modal transportation interface and access.
- Addressing input from public agencies and other stakeholders at each stage of the design process. Meeting with public agencies and landowners to negotiate and address site planning and urban design, and landscape architectural issues for roadways, the GO Transit Barrie line, buildings, wood lots, hydro corridors, plazas, landscaping, utilities, property, etc.
- Assisting with Environmental Assessment amendments to ensure that all planning, cultural heritage, and natural heritage issues are addressed.
- Advising and assisting the project team in these processes, and ensuring the Project’s core design principles were not compromised.
Community Planner
City of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Toronto, Canada
09.2008 - 07.2009
- Managing and coordinating a large team of planning and architectural consultants to develop the Downsview Area Secondary Plan, addressing future park land, land uses (residential, commercial, employment, military), heritage resources, utilities, roadways and transit interface.
- Organizing public consultation outreach, including meetings with landowners, public officials, and neighborhood groups.
- Creating, evaluating, revising, and recommending development options for City Council approval.
Manager
City & County of San Francisco, Planning Department
San Francisco, USA
06.1997 - 08.2008
- Manager for a team of eight planning professionals who reviewed all current development projects for downtown San Francisco and surrounding neighborhoods.
- Reviewed, analyzed, and made recommendations on development proposals for downtown San Francisco and surrounding historic districts, including major developments that interfaced with large transit facilities.
- Team leader for architectural and public realm improvement development projects review to ensure compatibility with surrounding urban environment.
- Presented development projects to the Planning Commission, the Landmarks Board, and the Board of Supervisors.
- Coached, mentored, and trained team members to optimize their job performance and teamwork products.
Lead Pedestrian Project Planner - Manhattan
City of New York, Department of City Planning
New York, NY
01.2000 - 06.2000
- Managed the redesign project for Columbus Circle, developing the center of the circle into a pedestrian park, and improving the interface with the Columbus Circle subway station.
- Supervised design consultants, including landscape architects and engineers, ensuring deadlines and deliverables were met.
- Developed key components of the design concept that were ultimately implemented.
- Held design collaboration and neighborhood meetings with various city agencies and community groups.
- Sidewalk widening plan implementation coordination for Lower Manhattan.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Economics – Business Management & Community Development
Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University (Virginia Tech)
Blacksburg, VirginiaMaster of Urban & Regional Planning - College of Architecture - Urban Design & Land Use Planning
Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University
Blacksburg, VirginiaSkills
- Interagency Coordination
- Third Party Coordination
- Negotiation
- Project Planning
- Design Coordination
- Design-Build
- Design-Bid-Build
- Progressive Design-Build
- Management
- Team Building
- Urban Design
- Land Use Planning
- Public Speaking
- Public Meeting Facilitation
- Microsoft Office Suite
- Share Point
- Architectural Design
- CPTED
References
Available upon request
Phone Numbers
213-675-1244
Organizations
- American Planning Association
- American Institute of Certified Planners, Certified Urban Designer
- National Trust for Historic Preservation
Certification
- American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP)
- Certified Urban Designer (AICP-CUD)
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Sr. Director, Metro Systemwide Design
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro)
08.2015 - Current
Urban Design and Planning Approvals Coordination Lead
MMM Group, Ltd. (now WSP) - TTC contract staffing
07.2009 - 08.2015
Community Planner
City of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
09.2008 - 07.2009
Lead Pedestrian Project Planner - Manhattan
City of New York, Department of City Planning
01.2000 - 06.2000
Manager
City & County of San Francisco, Planning Department
06.1997 - 08.2008
Bachelor of Science - Economics – Business Management & Community Development
Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University (Virginia Tech)
Master of Urban & Regional Planning - College of Architecture - Urban Design & Land Use Planning
Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University
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