News

Williams & Dame Development, Inc., has been selected to receive the 2006 Urban Pioneer Award for Civic Leadership from the College of Urban and Public Affairs at Portland State University.

"This firm has altered how Portland looks, lives and the way it thinks about itself," said Lawrence Wallack, dean of the College. "If you want to understand what everybody will be doing next, look at what Williams & Dame is doing now."

Williams & Dame Development, Inc., (WDD) is a Portland-based company formed by Homer Williams and Dike Dame to develop real estate and provide development services. WDD will receive its Urban Pioneer Award at the fifth-annual Urban Pioneer Awards dinner and banquet on May 2, 2006, at the Portland Hilton. The Urban Pioneer Award was created to honor community leaders who exhibit many of the ideals taught to students, and valued by College of Urban and Public Affairs' faculty and community partners. The college trains and educates the next generation of leaders who will address government, health and urban issues.

"It is a wonderful honor for the company," said Homer Williams. "We are all proud to be associated with the College of Urban and Public Affairs at Portland State University and the current and past recipients."

Williams and Dame specializes in taking underdeveloped or underutilized land and pioneering a new sense of place. Its strategy is to anticipate demographic trends resulting in the creation of a new product type to suit changing lifestyles while establishing new benchmarks in architectural design and quality. Recent projects, such as the South Waterfront District and the Hoyt Street Yards in the Pearl District, have contributed to Portland's changing urban landscape.

Urban Pioneer Awards recognizing public service and outstanding community organization will be announced at a later date. In 2005, Urban Pioneer Awards were given to Mayor Vera Katz (Nohad A. Toulan Urban Pioneer for Public Service), Kay Toran (Urban Pioneer for Civic Leadership) and Central City Concern (Urban Pioneer Community Organization). For more event information, please contact Rod Johnson at 503-725-4044 or rod@pdx.edu.

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For Immediate Release (#05-163)

Source: Trish Hamilton (503-725-5209)
College of Urban and Public Affairs