Urban Design, Mass Transit and Sustainable Placemaking with Ana Francisca de la Mora and Donald Verbanac
In this episode of I Hear Design, we're diving into the dynamic world of urban design and mass transit projects. Our guests, Ana Francisca de la Mora and Donald Verbanac from Arcadis, explore the intricate challenges of creating vibrant, functional urban spaces with an eye toward of placemaking. We also discuss how urban planners and architects can design for public safety, security, sustainability, and inclusivity, ensuring that public projects serve the needs of all community members. Additionally, our guests share their insights on effective collaboration with communities and public agencies, offering a glimpse into the future of urban planning.
Meet Our Guests
Ana Francisca de la Mora, Principal, Practice Group Manager, Transit Facilities, Arcadis
Ana-Francisca has 20 years of experience in a variety of projects ranging from large-scale transit stations and urban design projects to corporate and commercial building design. Her work is characterised by its innovative, high-quality architectural design with a commitment to making places more accessible, healthy, and inclusive. Her former parallel career in the performing arts provides her with enhanced creative insight into her design practice, emphasising a priority on the user-experience and placemaking. Ana-Francisca has led large, interdisciplinary design teams through complex architectural programs to achieve internationally recognized design solutions.
As a subject-matter expert in transit and interdisciplinary collaborations, Ana-Francisca is often invited to speak at conferences such as Rail-Volution and WTS as well as universities in Canada and abroad. At Arcadis, Ana-Francisca helped establish the Global Women’s Network and she is a member of the Inclusion Council as well as a dedicated mentor and LEAD Coach. She currently serves as President of the Toronto Society of Architects, has been elected as ULI’s Women Champion and is an elected Fellow of the Royal Architecture Institute of Canada.
Donald Verbanac, Principal, Studio Manager, Arcadis
Donald has 20 years of experience on large scale architectural projects, urban planning, public transportation, and exhibition design. He often works at the confluence of engineering pragmatism and urbanistic aspirations. He has led and managed projects involving Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), Light Rail Transit (LRT) and subway stations as well as bus terminals and on-street transit facilities.
About the Author
Robert Nieminen
Chief Content Director
Chief Content Director, Architectural Products, BUILDINGS, and interiors+sources
Robert Nieminen is the Chief Content Director of three leading B2B publications serving the commercial architecture and design industries: Architectural Products, BUILDINGS, and interiors+sources. With a career rooted in editorial excellence and a passion for storytelling, Robert oversees a diverse content portfolio that spans award-winning feature articles, strategic podcast programming, and digital media initiatives aimed at empowering design professionals, facility managers, and commercial building stakeholders.
He is the host of the I Hear Design podcast and curates the Smart Buildings Technology Report, bringing thought leadership to the forefront of innovation in built environments. Robert leads editorial and creative direction for multiple industry award programs—including the Elev8 Design Awards and Product Innovation Awards—and is a recognized voice in sustainability, smart technology integration, and forward-thinking design.
Known for his sharp editorial vision and data-informed strategies, Robert focuses on audience growth, engagement, and content monetization, leveraging AI tools and SEO-driven insights to future-proof B2B publishing.