Cannon Design Joins Forces With Peter Ellis New Cities To Expand Urban Planning And City Design Practice

Cannon Design is proud to announce it has joined forces with Peter Ellis New Cities, expanding the firm’s urban planning and city design practice. Founded by Peter Ellis, New Cities is internationally respected for its work in the design and implementation of new cities from offices in Chicago and New Delhi, India.

Peter Ellis will now lead Cannon Design’s urban planning and city design practice in collaboration with the firm’s executive leadership. This further positions Cannon Design as one of the most highly integrated firms in the world, capable of delivering services to nations around the world facing rapid urbanization, such as India which alone is projected to see its urban population grow by 1,000,000 people per month for the next four decades. In addition to becoming a key resource in this international evolution, Cannon Design will now be in a position to further advance its efforts in revitalizing major urban centers and mid-sized cities across North America.

“This is an exciting moment for our firm as we partner with one of the world’s most creative thought leaders and urban designers,” said Cannon Design CEO Gary Miller. “Peter’s work goes beyond simply designing new cities as he’s truly transforming the way people live and how cities function. Now with an enhanced portfolio of accomplishments in infrastructure design, urban design and urban policy, Cannon Design is well-positioned as a leader in city design.”

Ellis worked for Skidmore Owings and Merrill for 30 years prior to establishing his own firm where he worked on a number of large-scale developments around the world including a new city center for Potsdam, Germany, the plan for renovation of the Xiantiandi District in Shanghai, China as well as the master plan for a new business district in Dubai and the new Sports City near New Delhi, India.

In the case of Jaypee Sports City, Ellis and his team were commissioned by the Jaypee Group, one of India’s most respected private companies to develop a comprehensive city plan for 1,000,000 inhabitants on 5,000 acres. In addition to defining the total infrastructure and open space systems, the team designed several commercial and residential districts as well as apartment, office and community structures.

Ellis and his New Delhi staff will be an integral part of Cannon Design’s planned expansion in India while his U.S. based team has joined the firm’s office in Chicago.