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Planning + Design

Merchants Square North Plaza

Williamsburg, VA

In collaboration with The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation and Stemann | Pease Architects, VHB used a process-driven design for transforming public space in Merchants Square, a unique 18th century-style village in Colonial Williamsburg with more than 40 shopping and dining destinations. VHB’s team of landscape architects and engineers collaborated with the owners and architect to develop design plans that convert a parking lot currently used by surrounding restaurants and stores into a “Festival Marketplace” tourist hotspot with ample green space and opportunities for community engagement and entertainment.

Rendering of Merchant's Square development, showcasing modern mixed-use space. Merchants Square is a unique 18th century-style village in Colonial Williamsburg.

Client

  • The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation

Services

  • Landscape Architecture

  • Pedestrian Planning & Design

  • Site/Civil Engineering

  • Survey & Mapping

  • Urban Design & Planning

  • Visualization

Representative Projects

The front of the Lexus building with manicured palms and landscaping.

Lexus of Orlando Orlando, FL

People walking down stone steps with columns.

Festival Drive & Multi-Use Trail Altamonte Springs, FL

VHB booth during a community engagement pop up event in Randolph, MA.

Randolph Digital Equity Plan Randolph, MA

Map view of the Blanchard Wheeler Corridor with red dotted lines depicting roadways and buildings inside representing affiliated developments.

Blanchard/Wheeler Corridor Vision Plan Burlington, MA

Street view of proposed retail establishments along Crawford Road.

Fitchburg Airport Vision Plan Fitchburg, MA

Community gathered in green space and enjoying an outdoor event.

Wellness Way Lake County, FL

Rendering of Patchogue’s Shorefront Park.

Patchogue Shorefront Park Patchogue, NY

View of the Richmond International Raceway from the stands that shows the track, center leaderboard, and garage area.

Richmond Raceway Richmond, VA

Ariel view of Penn Station Neighborhood Conditions Study area.

Penn Station Area Neighborhood Conditions Study New York, NY

A restaurant in with a brick wall and signage that reads Cuban Sandwich

Ybor City CRA Vision 2020 Master Plan Ybor City, FL

Six-foot-wide protected bike lane and an enhanced tree canopy along Penn Ave West.

Pennsylvania Avenue West Streetscape Washington, DC

Exterior of the luxury development at Spruce Peak.

Spruce Peak at Stowe Mountain Stowe, VT

The Soundside Event Site master plan.

The Soundside Event Site Nags Head, NC

Map of Southampton, NY that shows Land Use by Housing Type.

Southampton Housing Plan Southampton, NY

The Grow site map including a 9-acre working farm and 21-acres of community gardens.

The Grow Orlando, FL

Visitors walk along the boardwalk at Underground at Ink Block in Boston.

Ink Block Understory Boston, MA

Rendering of the CC2DCA Intermodal Connector in Arlington County, Virginia.

CC2DCA Intermodal Connector Arlington County, VA

A white sculpture in a park that spells out the word Orlando.

Creative Village & Luminary Green Park Orlando, FL

Wigwam Pond boardwalk and fishing pier.

Wigwam Pond Public Access and Recreation Plan Dedham, MA

Entrance dock to the master building, lined with palm trees.

Boynton Beach Marina Boynton Beach, FL

Rendering of West Central Avenue concept from the 63rd Street N intersection.

West Central Avenue Streetscape St. Petersburg, FL

Stevens Mill from below with a blue sky in the background.

French River TIF District and Stevens Mill Redevelopment Dudley and Webster, MA

The westbound entrance to the South Norwalk train station and its parking garage, with cars parked outside.

South Norwalk TOD and Grant Support Norwalk, CT

View of water with houses across the way.

Town of Groton Zoning & Market Analysis Groton, CT

Plans for the Danbury Transit Center, showing existing railroad tracks, potential mixed-use developments, and green spaces.

Danbury Transit-Oriented Development Plan Danbury, CT

Cityscape with a prominent Boston MBTA transit system 'T' sign, surrounded by modern buildings and a clear blue sky.

MBTA Communities Act Zoning Compliance Support Massachusetts

Commemorative plaque for the Market Landing Park Expansion displayed on a stone in a grassy area with trees and a blue sky.

Newburyport Market Landing Park Expansion Newburyport, MA

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