John Deffenbaugh

John Deffenbaugh is a Project Director with a passion for design in the built environment and experience in architecture, urban planning, and public realm.

John started his career as a qualified architect working on affordable housing projects in Edinburgh, Scotland, but was keen to explore the wider policy context that shapes the spaces
and experience around us. John transitioned to the public sector, working in the planning and development departments of the cities of Edinburgh and then London, where he led the
development of area-wide masterplanning proposals and public realm projects, winning best public realm at the UK Royal Town Planning Awards.

Keen to explore the impact of design in different sector, John moved into airport planning and construction, first as Design Leader and then Commercial Planning Manager for London
Heathrow’s $2.8bn Terminal 2, voted best terminal in the world 2018. After nine years in airport design, John moved back to the sector he loves, community-led urban design and now
works as Projects Director for RiNo Art District, including the BID and GID special districts.

A dual national of the United Kingdom and United States, John is a graduate of the University of Dundee and Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh and hopes to graduate from Colorado State
University next year… go Rams!