About the Office of Design

Doug Young • Director of the Office of Design

As Director of the Office of Design, Doug uses his long-time experience with and understanding of the City of Atlanta to bring to life Atlanta City Design in all the Office’s work from city-wide plans to small, neighborhood projects. Doug’s interest in history and historic places began in Virginia, where he grew up and attended Virginia Tech.  He moved to Atlanta in 1992 to attend Georgia Tech and received his Master’s degree in City Planning from the then College of Architecture. After helping the city get ready for the Centennial Olympic Games, Doug came to the City of Atlanta Department of City Planning to focus on historic preservation work and to make it an integral part of the City’s city planning and community development work. Contact  Doug at DYoung@AtlantaGa.Gov or contact our Project Manager Leslie  Battle-Williams at LNBattle-Williams@atlantaga.gov

Leslie Battle-Williams • Project Manager

Leslie is a proud Atlanta native and Spelman College graduate. She has 15 (!) years of city government experience including working for City Council. She loves reading, arts and crafts, romantic comedies. She’s known around our office for her wit, cheer, and diligence. She’s a loving wife and mom to two girls who you’ll often see at studio events, joining in for games on Broad Street or gingerbread placemaking. She is committed to serving Atlanta to make it an even better city for her kids and (future) grandkids. Contact Leslie at LNBattle-Williams@atlantaga.gov

Located at Atlanta City Studio: 235 Mitchell St., Atlanta GA 30303

Note: Due to public health concerns, the Studio is closed to the public and staff are working in a hybrid remote and in-office schedule. To contact us, follow these links:

The Historic Preservation Studio is responsible for supporting the successful implementation of Atlanta City Design, the City’s historic preservation program regulations, and policies, the responsibilities of the Atlanta Urban Design Commission, the permitting services of the Office of Buildings, and the initiatives of the Office of Design. Duties at this level include, but are not limited to: providing quality customer service; ensuring that project applications, project design reviews, staff reports, enforcement actions, research projects, and open record requests are processed efficiently and in a timely manner; and performing administrative, analytical and technical functions in support of the development, implementation and monitoring of the City’s historic preservation and urban design programs, regulations, and policies.

For current Urban Design Commission meeting information including agendas, staff reports, and meeting results, please go to the 'Meetings and Agendas' page of the Urban Design Commission.

Matthew Adams • Assistant Director of the Historic Preservation Studio

Matt has been a part of the Historic Preservation Studio team for over 10 years.  He is a preservation and urban design professional who focuses on using historic preservation principals as a tool for retaining identity of place, promoting quality urban design, and building a vibrant public realm.  Matt works to ensure that the historic places, spaces, and stories that make Atlanta special are a part of the plans for her future.   Contact Matt at MDAdams@AtlantaGa.Gov.

The Studio Public Space is the pop-up urban design studio within the City of Atlanta’s Department of City Planning Office of Design. The studio’s mission is to provide leadership in the design of our city with the goal of creating an exceptional public realm and ultimately, a city that all Atlantans can be proud of. The studio accomplishes this through project-specific design leadership and collaboration, educational programming, and inclusive community engagement. The studio moves to different locations throughout the city to make its work as publicly accessible as possible so that residents have an opportunity to play an integral role in the design of our city. View more of our Projects & Initiatives here.

Liza Mueller • Assistant Director of the Public Space Studio

Liza is a designer, inspired urbanist, and A/E/C professional committed to positively impacting people’s lives and the built environment. She applies experience in private sector design, planning, project administration, construction management, and implementation as Assistant Director of the Public Space Studio. Liza’s role is to ensure its programs, projects, and initiatives reflect the core values of Atlanta City Design and represent the interests and priorities of the community and the City of Atlanta Department of City Planning. Contact Liza at emueller@atlantaga.gov.

The Planning Studio of the Office of Design is responsible for leading the exceptional design of plans at all scales—from the entire city, to districts, neighborhoods, blocks, streets and buildings; these plans will ultimately inform better policies and practices to guide the physical and economic development of our rapidly growing city. These plans must thoughtfully and creatively consider how best to leverage infrastructure improvements to achieve desired patterns and densities of development, support new types and levels for diverse affordable housing options, and create opportunities for parks and other public spaces that reinforce the City’s physical identity while also addressing existing community needs. View more on our page: Plans & Studies.

Monique Forte • Assistant Director of the Planning Studio

Monique Forte is a dedicated planner at the heart of Atlanta's dynamic urban landscape, where she channels her passion for collaborative design to enhance the lives of its citizens. With nearly two decades of experience in transit planning, Monique Forte has become a driving force in the effort to transform Atlanta's mobility and design. As a proud native of Atlanta, Monique brings an invaluable insider's perspective to her work. Her deep-rooted connection to the city fuels her commitment to improving its mobility systems and fostering positive change. Monique earned a master’s degree in business administration from Georgia State University, equipping her with a keen understanding of the strategic and operational aspects of government systems. Her bachelor’s degree from North Carolina A&T State University laid the foundation for her career, providing her with a strong academic background. Beyond her professional achievements, Monique cherishes her role as a loving mother to two wonderful sons and a German shepherd who completes her family. Contact Monique at MBForte@atlantaga.gov.