James Brown -World design Spotlight WDC 2024

Meet James Brown, FAIA, an architect, developer, and advocate for community-driven design. From creating urban spaces for artists to envisioning bold new possibilities for the San Diego Tijuana region, James has spent his career redefining the role of architecture.
In this episode, he shares his journey-from being inspired to pursue architecture as a young student to becoming a Loeb Fellow at Harvard Graduate School of Design, where he began exploring the concept of a binational city. For over a decade, James has been deeply involved in the effort to restore and revitalize Friendship Park, a profound symbol of cross-border unity where families from both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border have gathered to connect since 1971. This historic meeting place, once known as 'the most visited border park in the world,' represents the heart of our binational region's shared heritage and interconnected communities.
Discover how James and his collaborators are using design to create spaces that foster trust, cooperation, and friendship in one of the most unique regions in the world.