Paula Loomis

Director of Research, Senior Architect, Senior Planner

Dr. Loomis has over 36 years of experience in master planning, architectural design, construction management, facility operations, and support with public-sector projects worldwide including the U.S. Air Force (AF), Army, Navy, Coast Guard (CG), Department of Homeland Security, and General Services Administration. She has completed projects at a range of scales from strategic agency-wide, to real property master plans, area development plans, studies, and projects at over 54 locations worldwide. Her designs and collaborative processes helped set a new standard for military/federal agency planning, programming, and design.

Paula is associated with over 50 design awards including an AF Citation Award for the Dormitory Area Development Plan at Davis-Monthan AFB, an AF Citation Award for the Barksdale AFB Community Center ADP, a Tactical Air Command Design Award for the Bethel Manor Medical Clinic, a Federal Planning Division Merit Award for the Live Mission Operations Capability and 43d Formal Training Unit Customer Concept Document, and First Place in the St Charles Design Competition. She also won the American Institute of Architect (AIA) Virginia Distinguished Achievement Award, the Society of American Military Engineer (SAME) Urbahn Medal for Architectural Excellence, the Hampton Roads Woman of the Year in Engineering and Architecture, and the only person to be awarded the AF Design Excellence Award in both the military and civilian categories.

Prior to working with The Urban Collaborative, Dr Loomis was the Executive Director for the CG’s Shore Infrastructure Logistic Center where she was responsible for the planning, programming, design, construction, and operation of 28,000 buildings and structures at over 2,000 sites nationwide. She also served as the CG Deputy Civil Engineer, the Sustainability Program Manager for the US Army Corps of Engineers, the Command Architect for Air Combat Command, Deputy in the Air Force’s Base Transition Office for Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) 2005, and the Project Manager for the clean-up and rebuilding of Homestead Air Force Base (AFB) following Hurricane Andrew. She currently serves as an advisor to the National Science Foundation for the rebuilding of McMurdo Station in Antarctica. Paula has authored over 50 Base Architectural Standards, Design Guides, Regulations, Instructions and other guidance.

Dr. Loomis holds a Bachelor in Environmental Design, Master of Architecture, Master of Construction Management, Master of Business Administration and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Public Administration and Urban Theory with a cognate in economics. She is a licensed architect, certified planner with the American Institute of Certified Planners, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional (LEED AP), and California’s Office of Emergency Services Safety Assessment Program (SAP) instructor. As an adjunct professor at Stevens Institute of Technology, Paula teaches Temporary Structures for Heavy Construction in the Master of Construction Management program.