About Nate and Space Between Urban Design Strategies (SBUDS)
Let’s Move Your Public Space Forward
Have a public space challenge, an emerging opportunity, or an ambitious idea? Let’s discuss where it stands and identify a practical next step.
Have a public space challenge, an emerging opportunity, or an ambitious idea? Let’s discuss where it stands and identify a practical next step.
Space Between Urban Design Strategies (SBUDS) is a Philadelphia-based public realm consultancy led by Nate Hommel. Drawing on 24 years of experience in landscape architecture, urban design, placemaking, and public space stewardship, Nate helps cities, campuses, business districts, civic organizations, and design teams move from ambitious ideas to practical action.
Nate’s career includes nearly 15 years leading planning and design at University City District, where he helped create, operate, and continually improve some of Philadelphia’s most recognizable public spaces. That experience reinforced a central belief behind SBUDS: successful public spaces require more than good design. They need realistic budgets, effective partnerships, thoughtful operations, and long-term stewardship.
Through SBUDS, Nate provides strategic advising, existing-conditions evaluations, public realm activation and implementation planning, stakeholder workshops, and public speaking. His approach combines pragmatic optimism with a clear understanding of how places are designed, funded, built, managed, and sustained.
Nate has shared his work with audiences across North America and internationally, including engagements in Toronto, Monterrey, and Reggio Emilia. He has also contributed to Urban Land Institute advisory work in Los Angeles and Charlotte and serves as a Strategic Advisor to the Global Institute on Innovation Districts.