Paul D. Bauknight Jr. is a pioneering force in spatial justice, reimagining the built environment to reflect equity, inclusion, and the aspirations of all people. As the founder and president of the Center for Transformative Urban Design (CTUD), Paul leads a groundbreaking interdisciplinary design justice studio dedicated to reshaping cities, neighborhoods, and towns through the lens of justice and equity. 

 

With over 30 years of experience in community-based design and development, Paul has an unparalleled ability to integrate social, cultural, economic, and spatial systems into holistic solutions that empower communities. His work challenges traditional paradigms in urban design, advocating for policies and practices that dismantle inequities and create spaces that foster belonging and opportunity.

 

In 2023, Paul was named the local convener of Reimagining the Civic Commons, a national initiative leveraging civic assets to drive social and economic change in the Minneapolis-St. Paul region. His leadership includes serving as the Spatial Justice and Social Equity Fellow in Residence at GGN Landscape Architects, where he advanced innovative equity-driven practices in urban development. Paul has also held leadership positions with the Minneapolis Parks Foundation, Urban Homeworks, and A Minnesota Without Poverty, and he currently co-chairs the Equity in Place Committee of Reimagining the Civic Commons.

 

Notable projects in North Minneapolis, including Seed Academy, Summit Academy OIC, and the Plymouth Christian Youth Center, demonstrate Paul’s ability to translate vision into transformative action. His contributions as the inaugural Civic Scholar in Residence at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design (2021-23) and as a senior affiliate at the Minnesota Design Center further underscore his dedication to teaching, mentorship, and thought leadership. Currently, Paul teaches the 5th-Year Architecture Thesis Studio at Dunwoody College of Technology, guiding a diverse group of students as they complete their final projects before graduation.

 

Under Paul’s leadership, CTUD has partnered with the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Minnesota on initiatives such as History, Hopes, and Hurdles, an equitable redevelopment strategy for Lake Street following the unrest after George Floyd’s murder. Paul also supports AIA Minnesota’s Equity in the Built Environment Committee.

 

Paul’s philosophy is rooted in the belief that design is a social construct, shaped by—and shaping—systems of power, privilege, and inequity. Through his work, he not only redesigns physical spaces but also empowers communities to challenge and transform the unjust systems and policies that have historically perpetuated spatial inequities.

 

In addition to his professional roles, Paul has a history of community service through board memberships, including Habitat for Humanity, Friends of the Mississippi River (Vice Chair), A Minnesota Without Poverty, NorthPoint Health & Wellness Center, Center for Leadership & Neighborhood Engagement (Chair), Northway Community Trust (Chair), and the Givens Foundation for African American Leadership.