Architect
Joined board in 2004
Board President 2014-15, 2010-2011, 2015-17
Executive Director April 2011-April 2012
Jeffrey Blydenburgh believes in the power of place. He knows that excellent design can change and enrich peoples’ lives: be it places for work, play, learning, or living. As an architect, manager and business developer, he looks in new and different directions for solutions based on content. He helps people understand and identify their needs and then helps them organize to provide the resources to answer the needs with innovation, good creative design, and value. He paints the future with distinct and relevant clarity.
Jeffrey is a proven leader and strategic thinker with strong knowledge of complex, multi-dimensional organizations and environments. He has navigated change and growth for several organizations and built their capacities in business development, revenue generation, diversification as well as diversity. He’s a natural (and trained) collaborator who values people and processes and is invigorated by challenges. He takes complexity and ambiguity and makes sense of it all with vision, strategy and innovative design.
With degrees from Pratt Institute, Rhode Island School of Design and Washington University (St. Louis), Jeffrey has spearheaded projects all over the world. He currently works with strategic partners to help clients establish project and institutional visions; recent vision plans include the Orlando Museum of Art and the Alfond Inn at Rollins. He served as the vice chairman of a community group to create Vision Winter Park.
His affiliations span his wide interests – serving as President Elect: Rotary Club of Winter Park; Chairman of the Board, Mead Botanical Garden 2014-2017; Member, American Institute of Architects 1980-2017; Member, Orlando Chapter, AIA1980-2017; Full Member, Urban Land Institute 1980-2000; Former Member, International Council, ULI 1995-2000; Former Themed Entertainment Association, Director, 1998; Member, National Trust for Historic Preservation; Leadership Rhode Island, Class of 1980; President, AIA St. Louis 1995.
Honors and awards include AIA Rhode Island Design Award: Davol Square Marketplace, Providence RI 1980; Providence Preservation Society: Davol Square Marketplace 1980; Survey and Planning Grant: Davol Square, Providence; NE Solar Energy Association Passive Solar Design Award: Simmons Building, Providence RI 1978; NE Solar Energy Association Passive Solar Design Award: Energy Efficient 1978; Multi-Family Housing Unit Prototype 1979; Passive Solar Home Award: Lincoln, MA Solar Home 1982; Progressive Architecture Design Award: Laverne College, LaVerne, CA 1971. He has published articles in “Davol Square,” Preserving New England, Jane Holtz Kay, 1986, “Davol Square,” ULI Project Reference File, ULI, 1985 Second Quarter, “The Marketplace,” Christian Science Monitor, 1/21/83
