Peer-nominated recognition celebrates Paula’s professional excellence, ethical leadership, and enduring contributions to planning.
The Urban Collaborative is proud to celebrate Dr. Paula Loomis, PhD, FAIA, FSAME, AICP, LEED AP, SAP, recipient of the Larson Award – Distinguished Professional from APA Virginia. Paula was formally recognized at the APA Virginia Conference in Danville in July.
Named in honor of Glenn Larson, FAICP, the Larson Award recognizes an AICP-certified planner who serves as a model to the profession through extensive experience, broad knowledge, high ethical standards, exceptional skill, and significant achievement. The award also honors Larson’s dedication to advancing integrity, diversity, equity, and volunteerism within the planning profession and Virginia’s communities.
For Paula, the recognition was especially meaningful because it came as a complete surprise.
“I was shocked because I had not put in for the award,” Paula shared. “A planner from another firm took the time to put my name forward. What a pleasant, thoughtful surprise.”
The circumstances of the nomination make this honor particularly special. Recognition from a professional peer at another firm reflects a respect that extends beyond organizational boundaries. It acknowledges not only the quality and breadth of Paula’s work, but also the integrity, generosity, and leadership she brings to the larger planning community.
At The Urban Collaborative, Paula serves as Director of Research, Senior Architect, and Senior Planner. A licensed architect and certified planner, she brings together architecture, planning, research, sustainability, resilience, and decades of public-service experience to help communities and public agencies address complex challenges at multiple scales.
Throughout her career, Paula has demonstrated that excellent planning involves more than producing technically sound plans. It requires listening carefully, working across disciplines, sharing knowledge, serving communities responsibly, and holding the profession to its highest ethical standards. Her commitment to professional service and collaboration has influenced not only the projects she has led, but also the colleagues, emerging professionals, and communities with whom she has worked.
The Larson Award is a fitting recognition of both what Paula has accomplished and how she has accomplished it. We are grateful for the leadership and expertise she brings to The Urban Collaborative, and we are delighted to see her contributions recognized by her peers across Virginia.
