Designforum, a three-partner architectural firm that applies New Urbanism design principles, is profiled this week in the Times Dispatch's Metro Business section. Founded in 2006, the principals relocated from Charleston, S.C., to work on the HHHunt project, Wilton on the James. Since then, their customer base has grown from one to 50.

The company offers services including urban design, community and regional planning, agricultural and rural land-use planning, landscape design and environmental planning, says partner Doug Cole. "Developers have an idea of what they want. They give us the pieces of the puzzle, and we put it all together." 

The company headquarters is located in Jackson Ward, a neighborhood defined by the old urbanism that inspired New Urbanism. The increasingly popular design philosophy emphasizes compact development, walkable streets, a mix of housing types, and proximity to jobs, stores and amenities. The idea is to create communities where people, less dependent upon their cars, can more easily interact socially. Says Cole: "Our goal is qualify of life." (See the Web site.)