Green Communities, Thriving Spaces: Paula Diaz’s Eco-Centric Approach to Urban Design

When design ignores the environment, communities pay the price. Rising temperatures, flooding, and the loss of green spaces are just a few of the consequences of poor design and decision-making.

This reality is what drives Paula Díaz, a highly regarded architect and urban planning designer, to devote her career to creating communities that balance human needs with environmental care.

From her first architecture class in Bogotá to large-scale projects in the U.S., Paula remains committed to one mission: designing for both people and the planet. She shares: “My focus is to enhance, innovate, and provide an alternative to traditional development and architecture practices by introducing new ideas, designs, and patterns.”

Her journey started in Colombia, where a natural curiosity about how spaces were created inspired her to pursue dual degrees—Industrial Design in 2013 and Architecture in 2014—at Fundación Universidad de Bogotá Jorge Tadeo Lozano. 

Wanting to approach sustainable urban design from multiple angles, she later continued her studies in the United States at Valencia College in Orlando. There, she expanded her skills with an Associate in Science in Graphic & Interactive Design, specializing in Graphic Design, along with several technical certificates in areas ranging from Graphic Design Production to Interactive Design Support. 

She also strengthened her knowledge of business and management by earning additional certifications in Business Management, Business Operations, Business Specialist, and Operations Support and Services between 2022 and 2023.

This diverse educational foundation in architecture, industrial design, graphic design, and business management shaped her holistic approach to sustainable urban design. Moreover, her early professional experience with Concrecentro, a construction company specializing in residential and school buildings, provided hands-on exposure to construction management and the practical challenges of bringing architectural visions to life. 

Later, during her time with Medina Prefabricados, she immersed herself in prefabricated construction, which is an area critical to sustainable development. Judas Germán Medina Muñoz, the company's Legal Representative, commends Paula: "She consistently demonstrated tireless dedication and remarkable impact in the field of architecture. She grasped new concepts quickly and applied her knowledge with enthusiasm and precision."

Paula’s work is already of major significance in the field, as her application of New Urbanism principles and sustainable building strategies has influenced the design of mixed-use and residential communities in both Colombia and the United States.

The Eco-Centric Vision of Paula Díaz

Paula’s early exposure to sustainable methods became the cornerstone of the eco-centric approach which she would later refine in the U.S. At the heart of her philosophy is the belief that architecture should serve people while preserving the environment: “When you design a park where families gather, or a street where people feel safe walking, you’re shaping habits and relationships, not just spaces,” she explains.

That mindset shaped her work in Sweetbay, a transformative community in Panama City, Florida, built on the grounds of a former airport. There, Paula and her team designed walkable neighborhoods, playgrounds made from recycled materials, and energy-efficient homes—all with the goal of putting people before cars. 

Paula recalls: “I’ve seen how behavior changes when you create inviting spaces to walk, bike, or play. Communities become healthier because the environment makes it easy to choose those habits.”

The techniques implemented by Paula and her team have made a sizable impact on the approach to sustainability in design, causing important shifts in approach and considerations.

This skilled urban designer applied the same philosophy in Lake Nona’s Laureate Park in Orlando, where pedestrian-friendly streetscapes, rear alleys, and “mews” formed green corridors that replaced traffic with connection. 

Paula’s “Jewelbox” project tackled housing affordability through compact lots that maximized shared green space: “It’s never just about building a house,” she says. “The goal is to make sure that people live in places that feel dignified, sustainable, and truly supportive of their lives.” 

Paula’s work has had a wider impact in the field by showing that compact, pedestrian-oriented urban design is not only viable but highly beneficial for community cohesion. Such projects influenced developers and urban planners across multiple U.S. states.

Marc Newman, Principal at PLACE Alliance, echoes this: “Paula is uniquely positioned to resolve complex urban design challenges, from downtown revitalizations to large-scale expansions. What most differentiates her is her passion for placemaking. With her dedication, training, and natural talent, Paula is among the finest urban designers I have had the opportunity to work with.”

Weaving Sustainability Into Urban Planning

For Paula, design has always been deeply personal: “What motivates me is knowing that my design decisions can directly improve someone’s life.” This belief drives her focus on creating spaces that foster connection, places where families can play, friends can gather, and communities can thrive, while minimizing ecological footprints. Her work in Sweetbay is a prime example, for over a decade she contributed to parks, residential areas, and public spaces designed with sustainable materials and green infrastructure to reduce energy consumption and enhance livability.

Paula’s expertise in environmental architecture shines through in her ability to seamlessly weave sustainability into every layer of urban design. Armed with advanced tools such as AutoCAD, Revit, and Lumion, she models eco-friendly layouts that prioritize efficient land use and low-impact development. 

Yet what truly sets her apart is not just technical mastery but the way she uses design as a language to tell stories of resilience and harmony. Her background in graphic design is another valuable skill, enabling her to craft compelling presentations that help clients and stakeholders see the long-term benefits of green communities. By combining hand-drawn sketches with digital renderings, she brings to life visions of communities where green roofs, permeable pavements, and urban forests are not just features but foundational elements.

One of Paula’s greatest strengths is her ability to adapt. Whether she’s working on a sprawling 2,000-acre development or a small 5-acre site, she brings the same level of precision and care to each project. 

Living between Colombia and the United States sharpened her global perspective and taught her to design with both cultural sensitivity and climate awareness. Being bilingual also allows her to collaborate seamlessly with diverse teams. This is a significant advantage when it comes to incorporating diverse ideas and perspectives. 

As she explains: “Designing for people in New York is not the same as designing for people in Florida. Each place has its own rhythm, its own needs, its own heartbeat.”

With this sensitivity, this sought-after planner and designer embraces every project as an opportunity to minimize ecological footprints while maximizing human well-being. She integrates solutions such as rainwater harvesting, solar energy, and native landscaping, tailoring them to the unique character of each environment. For her, sustainability is not a one-size-fits-all formula; instead, it is a dialogue between people, culture, and place.

Her commitment to sustainability also addresses one of today’s greatest global challenges: affordable housing. Paula envisions accessible, sustainable and inclusive housing. She shares: “Everyone deserves a place they can call home—not just a roof, but an environment that supports their life with dignity.” 

Her designs champion modular construction, energy-efficient materials, and innovative land-use strategies to reduce costs without sacrificing environmental integrity. By doing so, she reimagines housing as a cornerstone of equitable and resilient cities, where sustainability is everyone, not just the privileged few.

Shaping the Future Together: Collaborative Approaches to Green Urban Design

Collaboration is at the core of Paula’s work. She believes in open communication, mutual respect, and the power of bringing different perspectives together to create stronger results. As a mentor, she shares her expertise in digital tools and U.S. design standards, guiding colleagues and young designers toward sustainable practices. Her project management skills ensure that visions of green communities don’t just stay on paper, and that they become real, well-organized, timely, and meaningful. As she puts it: “I care deeply about creating something that lasts, something that matters,” she says, a belief reflected in every project she takes on.

Her work is proof that environmental architecture is a catalyst for healthier lives and stronger communities. In Sweetbay, residents enjoy shaded walking paths, energy-efficient homes, and playgrounds built from recycled materials. 

These spaces are more than developments; they are ecosystems that nurture both people and the planet. Her projects demonstrate that sustainability can be practical, beautiful, and transformative all at once, offering a model for urban planners around the world.

Through her innovative approaches and leadership, Paula has influenced emerging urban designers and reshaped how communities approach eco-friendly planning. Paula aspires to deepen her impact by exploring new sustainable construction techniques and advocating for policies that prioritize green urban development. 

With a view to being able to contribute to the next generation of urban planners, she is also a member of the Congress for New Urbanism, the American Planning Association, the Urban Land Institute, and the Sociedad Colombiana de Arquitectos. 

She envisions cities where environmental architecture is the norm, not the exception—places where every design decision supports a healthier planet. “I want to be remembered as an architect who made people’s lives better,” she says, a goal she pursues with every project.

Paula’s work is part of a growing movement that redefines the very meaning of progress. True progress is not measured by taller buildings or wider roads, but by healthier air, greener spaces, and stronger human connections. 

Her eco-centric vision reminds us that the future of cities depends on the choices we make today—whether we build for short-term convenience or long-term resilience. Every street, park, and home becomes a chance to design not as conquest over nature, but as stewardship, where thriving communities and healthy ecosystems grow side by side.