Nate Otani

We were co-founded in 2007 by Principal Emeritus Steve Shapiro and Managing Principal Blair Didway, with long-time employee and Landscape Architect Nate Otani named Principal in 2021. In 2021, Shapiro Didway was at an inflection point. We set out to discover who we are, and create a brand that reflects our story and mission. As we celebrate the milestone of our 15th year of business, we have released a new brand and website to share our vision. “With co-founder Steve Shapiro’s retirement in 2019 and our leadership team evolving, we felt it was the perfect time to center ourselves, define our core values, focus on our long-term goals, and be intentional about the work we do,” says Didway. With a view toward more collaborative and community-driven projects (while still maintaining a strong portfolio in multifamily housing and education), Didway and Otani have shaped SD’s recent work in the community. “At the core of SD is humanity and a passion for the work we do, its impact on our community, environment, and the partnerships we grow," says Otani, "Our brand is an expression of the values we hold and a representation of our commitment to creating meaningful work.” “We found that there is a deeper story to tell around our innovation in the field. We wanted a brand that reflected those values, our perspective, and a human-centered approach to our work,” says Didway. SD has designed hundreds of multi-family housing developments, more than 25 K-12 campuses, and 50+ private residences just to name a few. We are experienced in public parks, sports fields & courts, playgrounds & nature-inspired play, outdoor learning, stormwater management, green roofs, public plazas & amenity decks, streetscapes, habitat restoration & natural area enhancements, landscape improvements for public works projects, and more. SD has grown to become a home for a team of diverse, experienced, engaged, and aligned professionals.