Portland

James McGrath, AIA, ASLA

Director of Partnerships and Programs, Urban Corridors Sector Lead
James gives ideas form and brings projects to life.

For more than 20 years James has planned, designed, and built urban multimodal infrastructure projects that improve the performance of our transportation systems, enhance our neighborhoods, and bring a measure of beauty and delight to city life. He specializes in conceptual design and project development of high-capacity transit corridors, carrying projects across the threshold from idea to reality.  

James has supported the planning and design of signature transit and district development projects in Portland, Seattle, Sacramento, Calgary, Austin, and New York. Trained as an architect, landscape architect, and urban designer—but practicing within the planning and civil engineering fields—James works beyond the bounds of traditional planning and design, synthesizing ideas and leading teams toward integrated, sustainable, and refined urban infrastructure solutions.  

James also serves as the Global Practice Chair for Transportation at Perkins&Will and the Mobility Market Accelerate Task Force for the DARGroup.  

Education

M.Arch, Architecture, University of Oregon, Eugene and Portland

B.A., History of Art and Architecture, Middlebury College

Undergraduate Studies, Trinity College, Ireland