Plusurbia Design

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Plusurbia Design

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Plusurbia Design [Architecture & Urban Design]

A finely tuned ensemble of distinct talents, academic interests and professional strengths launched on the shared strength of over 25 years of professional accomplishment in the fields of urban design, architectural design, planning, development and project management +Urbia (PlusUrbia), a practice founded on the precept of collaborative creation. We design cities, towns, neighborhoods, which strive to be beautiful places with lasting value for the communities they serve.

10/30/2026

Our team spotlight series continues with Karla Fidalgo, Designer and Planner at Plusurbia.

A Miami native and first-generation Cuban-American, Karla holds a Bachelor of Architecture and French from the University of Miami. Before joining Plusurbia, she worked on urban design and architecture at DPZ CoDesign, Fleites deleon-Fleites Architecture, and Robert A.M. Stern Architects.

Karla's work is driven by two commitments: historic preservation and resilient city models that respond to sea-level rise and climate change. She served as researcher, site file author, and illustrator on the North Ponce and Flagler Section Historic Property Survey, and has contributed to the design, planning, and public outreach for The Shoreline and Watson Island projects.

Inspired by the spirit of New Urbanism, Karla approaches every project with empathy, collaboration, and a community-first mindset, working toward walkable, accessible, and beautiful places for everyone.

10/29/2026

Yesterday, Founding Principal Juan Mullerat joined the Urban Land Institute (ULI) Fall Meeting in Miami for Redevelopment and Reuse Council Day, which focuses on giving existing buildings and places new life. Juan joined Patrice Gillespie Smith, President and Chief Operating Officer of Friends of The Underline, on a panel about The Underline, the park and trail taking shape beneath Miami’s Metrorail.

Later that morning at The LAB Miami, Juan and Megan McLaughlin, AICP, Director of Preservation Projects, spoke on “Cultural Preservation as a Driver of Value,” a conversation about how protecting a community’s history and character strengthens its future.
Both conversations share a common thread: the most valuable places are the ones that build on what is already there. That might be underused land beneath a transit line, or the culture residents have built over generations.

10/28/2026

A home built in 1922, cafecito ventanitas, and balconies that look onto the street. In Little Havana, history lives on every block, and the people who live there are helping decide what guides the neighborhood's future.

During community walks and workshops at José Martí Park, residents, business owners, and planners identified the elements that should shape design rules for a proposed Neighborhood Revitalization District (NRD). These rules set out how new buildings fit into the existing neighborhood.

Founding Principal Juan Mullerat shared how thoughtful zoning can open the door to more housing while making sure Little Havana remains the heart of Miami it has always been.

Thank you to CiberCuba for sharing this story. Read the full article: https://en.cibercuba.com/noticias/2026-10-02-u1-e199894-s27061-nid341659-ventanitas-balcones-casas-1922-vecinos-pequena

📸: CiberCuba

10/27/2026

When there's no room for a park, where does public life go? Increasingly, to the street.

On Oct. 29, Juan Mullerat joins "When There's No Room for a Park: Streets as the Next Public Space Frontier," a virtual session at ParkFest 2026. The conversation explores how cities can rethink the streets they already have as places for shade, gathering, play, and community life.

Oct. 29 | 12:00 to 1:00 PM EDT | Virtual
Register: https://bit.ly/3W1ro6o

10/23/2026

Our team spotlight series continues with Manuel de Lemos, Office Director.

Manuel is a second-generation architect who spent his after-school hours in his father's office in San Juan, sketching at the drafting table. That early love of hand drawing grew into a career in urban design. After earning his B.Arch at the University of Miami, Manuel led urban design work with developers across the United States, Latin America, and Europe.

His talent is seeing the potential of a place and turning it into a clear framework of streets, open spaces, and buildings. His work includes the Borinquen Trail in Puerto Rico, Playa de Ponce, LaBelle Town Center, Brandon Town Center, and North Station Village.

As he puts it, his mission is to "provide the necessary planning tools to revitalize and protect legacy neighborhoods."

10/21/2026

Ventanitas de café, balcones que miran a la calle y música que se escucha desde los segundos pisos ☕ Estos son los detalles que los vecinos de La Pequeña Habana quieren conservar mientras el barrio crece.

La semana pasada, residentes, comerciantes y planificadores recorrieron juntos sus calles para identificar lo que debe guiar el desarrollo futuro, desde las fachadas históricas hasta los momentos cotidianos que hacen que el barrio se sienta como hogar. Nuestro Socio Fundador, Juan Mullerat, se unió a la conversación sobre cómo la nueva vivienda y la identidad de La Pequeña Habana pueden crecer de la mano.

Gracias a Cuba en Miami por compartir esta historia. Lee el artículo completo aquí: https://www.cubaenmiami.com/miami-prepara-nuevas-reglas-para-la-pequena-habana-y-vecinos-piden-conservar-su-identidad/

📸: CubaenMiami

10/20/2026

Introducing our new team spotlight series, starting with Maria Bendfeldt, Office Director.

Maria grew up in Guatemala, where historic town planning and traditional architecture shaped how she saw cities from an early age. Educated as an architect in Guatemala City, she earned her master's in urban design at the University of Miami and has spent 20 years developing master plans and form-based codes, with a focus on how buildings, streets, and public spaces work together to create walkable, welcoming, and vibrant places for people.

Maria served as primary author of the Wynwood Neighborhood Revitalization District, the Coconut Grove Core Master Plan, and the Village of El Portal Form-Based Code. Her recent work includes Hialeah 2050 and the Miami Beach Resilient Development Code.

Her philosophy is simple: "Work hard and be nice to people."

10/19/2026

Four days in Little Havana, and the neighborhood led the conversation.

From Sept. 30 to Oct. 3, the City of Miami Planning Department and District 3 hosted a community workshop to gather resident input on architectural design guidelines for the proposed Neighborhood Revitalization District. Design guidelines are the shared standards that shape how new buildings look and fit alongside what already exists.

Plusurbia supported the process through a walking tour, open studio hours, and design workshops at José Martí Park Gymnasium. Every session began with Little Havana's history, its architecture, and the people who call it home.

Thank you to every resident, business owner, and neighbor who shared their time and ideas.

The conversation continues. Little Havana residents: what buildings, details, or places should future design in your neighborhood honor? Share in the comments or send us a message.

Pictured: Juan Mullerat, Megan McLaughlin, Karla Fidalgo, and Varsha Gopal.

10/16/2026

Before new development rules are written for Little Havana, the people who live and work there are being asked what matters most.

NBC 6 covered the community workshop led by the City of Miami Planning Department and District 3, where residents and business owners shared what they want to protect as the neighborhood grows. Plusurbia is proud to support a process that starts with listening.

Watch the story: https://www.nbcmiami.com/video/nbc-6-news/residents-help-rewrite-little-havanas-future/3866623/

10/14/2026

Two plans, two cities, one shared goal: places that are livable, connected, resilient, and ready for what's ahead. Maria Bendfeldt joins two panels at the APA Florida Annual Conference on Oct. 15.

Hialeah 2050: Powering a Unified City Vision
Oct. 15 | 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM | Sandringham/Windsor
In 2025, Hialeah adopted a 25-year master plan addressing aging infrastructure, housing affordability, transportation access, and quality of life, all grounded in the city's strong cultural identity. The panel shares how multiple planning disciplines came together around one vision. With Claudia Hasbun of the City of Hialeah, Debora Storch of the City of Homestead, Carie Penabad of Cúre & Penabad, Edward Ng of The Corradino Group, and Fabian De La Espriella of Urbe Studio.

Lessons from the Miami Beach Resilience Code
Oct. 15 | 3:15 to 4:15 PM | Brickell
Adopted in 2023, Miami Beach’s Resiliency Code modernizes development regulations to address climate challenges while preserving the city’s historic character and quality of life. Plusurbia contributed as part of the multidisciplinary consultant team. With Thomas R. Mooney and Rogelio Madan of the City of Miami Beach and Andrew Georgiadis from Dover Kohl & Partners.

Address

1385 Coral Way PH 401
Miami, FL
33145

Telephone

(305) 444-4850

Website

http://plusurbia.com/

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