More Than Just Lines on a Map: Zoom In on WHA’s Planning Studio

When looking at a bustling community center or a thoughtfully designed master-planned community, our eyes are naturally drawn toward the architecture – the height of the buildings, the materials used, the exterior styles. But long before the foundation is laid, the walls are raised, and the windows are installed, a critical process has already shaped how the space will feel, function, age, as well as how each building and road will flow seamlessly together. That process is land planning, and it’s where the WHA Planning studio begins. Land planning isn’t about placing boxes and trees on a map. It’s about setting the stage for human life.

Land planning can be described as the bridge between a client’s initial vision and a fully realized, lived experience.  As Associate Senior Planner, Yue explains, “the department’s role is to shape the project’s vision and feasibility. Every site is a unique puzzle dictated by its shape, location and specific constraints of the land itself.”

When first being approached for planning on a project, Associate Senior Planner, Deepali describes the early phase as almost intuitive. “The site talks to you”, she says. By stepping back and looking at the virgin undeveloped land or infill site, planners begin to understand what the land wants to be while carefully balancing the client’s desire for high yields with the realities of geography. Often, clients come to the planning team seeking solutions for density: how many homes can fit within an area while still maintaining livability and long-term value. Achieving that balance requires a deep dive into zoning codes and local regulations to determine the “sandbox” in which the team can work. Associate, Senior Planner, Nick notes that the true value of the planning team lies in its ability to pivot. Finding creative ways around constraints and making the seemingly impossible…possible.

One of the most surprising aspects of land planning which most people wouldn’t know is the order of operations. While it’s east to assume the buildings come first Senior Planner, Doni describes the process as “planning from the outside in”. Outdoor spaces are prioritized first, followed by the roads and then buildings. This approach ensures that any “leftover” space does not feel accidental. Instead, every trail connection, park, and open space is intentional, creating a cohesive environment where the community genuinely wants to gather. Senior Principal of Planning/Community Design, Denise also emphasizes the importance of researching and understanding the history of a site in shaping its future. For a community to feel authentic, she explains, it must be grounded in its context.

A successful land plan is never the result of a single discipline. Coordination and collaboration between planners, architects, civil engineers, and landscape designers is essential to creating a cohesive plan. One of the unique aspects about WHA’s planning group is its placement within a full-service architecture firm. While many firms treat planning as a separate discipline, Denise explains that keeping it in-house enables a more holistic design process, one that fully leverages cross-disciplinary collaboration.

The reward for land planners doesn’t come right away. While the drawings may be completed, the most meaningful moments often arrive years or even decades later. From designing bridges to shaping the streets our children grow up on, the Planning Studio doesn’t just draw maps. They shape the future.

Abby McSorley