Babcock Ranch

Babcock Ranch is more than a solar-powered town: it’s a bold redefinition of what hometown means. Working in tandem with Kitson’s residential and commercial teams, we clarified the land use, development program, circulation, and, ultimately, the everyday experience of residents. We established a clear framework for three distinct “towns” within Babcock Ranch: WestTown, anchored by Founders Square as the village center, MidTown, envisioned as the urban downtown, and EastTown, a destination defined by its environmental connections.

Through thoughtful master planning, urban design, and landscape architecture, LandDesign supported Babcock Ranch’s evolution from big-picture vision to detailed design. Early concepts incorporated autonomous vehicle technology, leading to adaptable infrastructure where cartways could shift into pedestrian paths. We proposed converting roadways into greenways, refined scale and mobility studies for Founders Square, and designed key civic and open space assets, including the town’s first school and park, to serve as connective tissue between districts. Every decision was made to ensure Babcock Ranch delivers a complete, people-first experience, today and in the future.

Building a new town in the heart of Southwest Florida meant designing with nature as both constraint and collaborator. At Babcock Ranch, LandDesign responded to the site’s isolation and low elevation with a resilient master plan framework, one capable of weathering hurricanes, managing floodwaters, and evolving alongside the region’s shifting climate. Working with Kitson & Partners, our team crafted a plan that not only embraced the site’s natural systems but provided the flexibility to adapt with market needs over time. Designing both the town and its supporting infrastructure from the ground up allowed every decision, from land use patterns to utility corridors, to reinforce the shared vision of a connected, livable, and enduring hometown.

By aligning infrastructure with the natural environment, the master plan makes resilience a lived experience. Streets, parks, and greenways are shaped by the site’s hydrology, transforming stormwater systems into community amenities that invite recreation, education, and everyday connection with nature. The road network draws the landscape into the public realm, weaving native systems through corridors, trails, and park spaces. Through this integration of land planning, urban design, and landscape architecture, Babcock Ranch embodies a sustainable framework, and a shared sense of stewardship, where the town and the land truly thrive together.