Who we are

Bill Price, RLA
Landscape Architect

Acting Executive Director / Board Member 

Bill has extensive experience managing private and public developments, with a particular expertise in the design and entitlements for waterfront and historic preservation projects. An expert in programming, land use planning, and site design, he’s excited to see the popularity of city living and passionate about creating vibrant and interesting urban communities.

 

 

Mariam Yaqub

Interim Board President

Mariam is the Interim Board President of the CDCR, she is particularly interested in the social responsibility of architecture and how design can impact a community. She hones her design skills at CJS Architects as Project manager, bringing a wealth of architectural experience from diverse locations, including Boston, Providence, Binghamton, and Islamabad. She holds a B.Sc. in Architecture and an M.Arch from Roger Williams University in Bristol, RI, where her exceptional academic journey was marked by receiving prestigious architecture scholarships from AIA Rhode Island and Raj Saksena. Notably, her Graduate Thesis, "Open Source Architecture: Redefining Residential Architecture in Islamabad," earned her the RWU Thesis Award.

Mariam's recent projects at CJS Architects demonstrate her expertise in urban development and community-focused design. She played a pivotal role in the development of the Inner Loop Parcels, Micro-Townhouses, affordable housing, and the Strong Neighborhood of Play: Museum expansion, alongside mixed-use residential buildings.

 

Dawn Noto

Office and Communications Manager

 

Roger E. Brown, AIA

Pro Bono Creative Consultant

Mr. Brown has been a practicing architect in New York State for over 35 years. He was Associate Partner with Barkstrom&LaCroix Architects for 27 years and is currently principle of the urban design consulting firm, Urban Architecture. Roger is a member of the American Institute of Architects and Congress for the New Urbanism. He served on the Board of the Common Good Planning Center (1999-2003) and is a founding member of the Community Design Center of Rochester (2003) as well as its predecessor organization, the AIA Rochester Urban Design Committee (1998). While with Barkstrom&LaCroix, Roger designed many AIA Rochester award winning residential and mixed use projects around the Rochester area including Cornhill Landing, the Mills, the Crescent, 70 East Blvd., Elmwood Manor Townhouses, and Cornhill Commons along with Vision Plans for Pittsford Village and Hilton Village Center. Roger regularly gives presentations on urban and community design to neighborhood groups, municipalities, and professional organizations. He has helped plan and facilitate numerous community design charrettes and design conferences/workshops on urban design and planning issues.

 

Our 2024 Summer Interns

Cassidy Kress

Hello and Happy June! My name is Cassidy Kress and I'm from Webster, New York. Currently I am a Fourth year New Media Design Major at RIT and love working with accessible technologies and interfaces. Besides school and interning at the design center this summer I also love crafting and working on projects with my own small design business. I am beyond excited to be working with the team this summer because I appreciate and understand the impact of design and how the Community Design Centers work will continue to lift up our beautiful city! 

 

Casey Shells

Hi all! My name is Casey Sheils, I am a Rochester native currently living in Pittsford, and I’m excited to be a partner with the CDC and Greentopia to support the planning and design of High Falls State Park! I have a degree in Biological Anthropology and Immigration from Binghamton University and have an interest in the intersection of health, climate, and community. I am honored to be a part of this project to strengthen neighborhood resilience and bring nature back to the High Falls area. Outside of work, I enjoy traveling, exploring new restaurants, and staying active outside.

Troa Vimahi

Troa is an intern at the CDCR, and a rising senior student pursuing interior design at RIT with a minor in construction management. His university projects spanning mixed-use neighborhood development, evidence-based spatial design, and collaborations with the Rochester Public Library and the Syracuse-Hancock International Airport have inspired him to delve into the world of public planning projects. After studying abroad in Milan, Italy, Troa hopes to advocate for the potential of all cities and their communities. In his free time, Troa improvises piano and rollerblades near his home in Canadice, New York.