PDI Announces New Positions

Gary Johnson, a long time associate of Steve Huh and consultant to PDI, has accepted a position with the firm effective February 1.  He joins Steve, Dave Thorsen, and Kevin Lee as the fourth Principal of PDI.  Gary’s title will be President, and his primary area of responsibility will be the development of international business.  At the same time, Dave Thorsen, Senior Vice-President, was promoted to Chief Operating Officer (COO), with increased responsibility for the overall operations of PDI.

PDI Wins Major Competition in Korea

In late December, PDI was informed that it had won a major new project in Korea, the Tae an Golf Resort.  Hyundai is the primary investor in the project.  PDI won out over two other firms, one from Hawaii and one from Seattle, largely because of a final presentation in Korea made by Kevin Lee, PDI Vice-President.  Work on the project began on January 15, so more news to follow.

Green Asia Habitat Awards

PDI is pleased to announce that it has won two Green Asia Habitat Awards for 2007.  The Regional Settlement Culture Award was given for PDI’s design for U-Lake City. This “ecologically sensitive city” had one overriding design objective: livability.  It is an entire planned community surrounding a beautiful lake in Cheonan, Korea, about two hours from Seoul.  A compact business district is flanked by a variety of housing, from single family homes to dramatic apartment towers, and a new university and research complex dominates one entire corner of the development.  Interspersed throughout are tree-lined walkways and broad expanses of public gardens and play areas.  The entire community is connected via an easily accessible pedestrian greenway.       

The second award, for Best Practice in Planning and Design, was earned for the Hannam Housing Project (Pelage).  This is a $2.5 billion, multi-faceted luxury housing development on the Han River in Seoul, Korea, on the former site of Dankuk University.  The complex consists of four separate types of housing clusters within a unified overall concept, with each cluster having a distinctive look and amenities. Each cluster has its own characteristic outdoor public space, encouraging interaction among the residents.  Great care was taken to preserve the natural vegetation and sloping terrain of the existing site, which is enhanced through extensive pools and fountains.

PDI throws a birthday party for Leonard Parker 

To celebrate the 85th birthday of the noted architect and namesake of Parker Design International, Steve Huh and his staff hosted a party at PDI’s new Loring Park headquarters on January 15, 2008.  Over 50 former students, employees, faculty members and colleagues were in attendance, many of them among the best-known names from the modern era of architectural practice and education in Minnesota.   Probably the most prominent guest was Ralph Rapson, the most celebrated architect from this region, who is a former teacher and long-time friend of Mr. Parker. 

Steve Huh himself is a former student of both Leonard Parker and Ralph Rapson.  He worked with Mr. Parker and eventually succeeded him as CEO of The Leonard Parker Associates (later Parker Durrant) until he spun off PDI in June 2006.  Leonard Parker is still active in the new firm as Chairman of its Advisory Board.